A Doll’s House †Henrik Ibsen Essay

Henrik Ibsen’s in one of his most revolutionary plays, A Doll’s House, filled his set and narrative with symbols that emphasised the idea that above everything, one must be an individual. Doors, macaroons and the tarantella are all symbols that are used by Ibsen to convey to the audience that the life of Nora and Torvald isn’t what it seems to the naked eye. The doors in the ‘doll’s house’ set, are emphasised, to symbolise the separate ‘world’s ‘ Nora and Torvald live in; the illusive macaroons symbolise the control Torvald has over his wife and the wild tarantella dance is symbolic of Nora’s desire to escape from her restricted and heavily defined existence. Doors in A Doll’s House are not just a wooden blocks that can be used as a thoroughfare between rooms; they are used to distinguish between the two different spheres, Nora’s sphere and Torvald’s sphere. All throughout the play, Nora never enters her husband’s ‘world’. Guests for Torvald were instructed to ‘not come in here (Nora’s living room)’, and they went on into Torvald’s study. As Krogstad ‘slammed’ the door on the way out of his house, Nora’s world was smashed into a million shards of tiny fragile pieces. The character of Nora is sent into a spiral of depression, anxiety and out-right craziness that turned a seemingly normal dance into a 19th century movement of oppressed emotions. The macaroons that Nora possesses in the beginning of the play are more than just a common snack. Nora has the macaroons in the early stages of the play, with Torvald around. They give the audience the knowledge of Nora’s child-like behaviour and emotions. All through ‘A Doll’s House’, Torvald treats Nora like an ‘inexperienced child’, and the macaroons are one of many indications of this. She offers it to guests as they enter her ‘world’, but not to her husband, in which she hides them from him. The child-like behaviour is also witnessed in the scene where Nora is playing with her children, calling them ‘little dolls’ and playing with them like they are her friends and she’s not their mother. This child-like behaviour was encouraged by Torvald, by simple nicknames, such as ‘skylark’ and ‘mockingbird’, to make Nora be more immature towards Torvald and keeping her youthfulness that he li ked so much. The infamous dance, the tarantella, was an expression of the oppressed society that woman had to go through in the 19th century. The tarantella was used to convey emotions that woman couldn’t express in normal, everyday life. They used raw energy to express that raw emotion. In ‘A Doll’s House’, Nora uses, just as other woman have, to express and release the oppressed emotion that was given by Torvald towards her. In the scene where Nora is dancing for Torvald as practice of the dance and Dr. Rank comes in, Torvald keeps telling Nora to ‘stop it’ and ‘do it as I said’. Nora is completely oblivious to Torvald and keeps on dancing in her own style. Dr. Rank comes in and takes over Torvalds role as piano player to fuel the flame that Nora was burning. The dance becomes more and more wild as the scene progresses, until the music stops and Nora is just ‘still’. The oppressive moment of woman in the 19th century created this dance. ‘A Doll’s House’ uses this symbols of child-like behaviour, different worlds and an oppressed dance to show the audience that the world of the 19th century wasn’t a blissful place where men and woman were equal in everything they had rights to, like they do now. Torvald showed that he was a man of conformity and tried his best to bend his family into the social norms of the time. Torvald never let Nora have her way and treated her like a child, making her regress into one and even making her be his child. She was scared to wrong by her husband, even hiding a simple sweet from him so he wouldn’t find out that she was eating it. By the end of ‘A Doll’s House’ , Nora grows up. After the problems arisen by Krogstad, she learns that her husband isn’t her saviour anymore and she doesn’t love him. The party ended when Torvald wanted to leave. Nora got home and changed out of her formal attire, and into outdoor wear, making Torvald wonder, ‘Why are you dressed like that?’ The taking off of her formal clothes gives the impression that Nora is now taking off her old life, her oppressed life, and starting afresh. After an emotional discussion with Torvald, she ends up leaving him and the children. Walking out of her house, through the door, again is symbolising the end of something. This time it’s Nora’s life with Torvald. As the door closes, this time it’s Torvald who breaks down, mirroring Nora’s emotions when Krogstad leaves the  letter in the letter box. Symbolisation is a major part in any play, even more so in ‘A Doll’s House’. The emotion scenes with Nora, Torvald, Dr. Rank and even Krogstad wouldn’t be the same without objects such as the doors or macaroons, or the two different spheres dividing Nora’s world and Torvalds. The dance itself plays a vital role of showing emotion without the notice of Nora’s own husband. Without such devices, ‘A Doll’s House’ wouldn’t be the same revolutionary play that we see today; it would just be mere words on a page. Bibliography: ‘A Doll’s House’ Henrik Ibsen

Journeys Involve New Experiences and Personal Growth

â€Å"Journeys involve new experiences and personal growth† Growth and new experiences are themes that occur in most journeys which can strengthen individuals by learning from their past. Wright’s poetry contains themes that are addressed to the audience about journeys and also reflects on her personal experiences. A film called burlesque also shows Ali’s growth as a performer as she learns and practices at the club which reflects on her growth.The life of Pi trailer depicts a journey that is unexpected with new experiences and shows the personas grow in wisdom and knowledge. Judith Wright’s poem, ‘Legend’ is an example of a journey that involves new experiences and personal growth. This poem is about a boy who starts off his journey with his rifle, a black dog and his hat and aims to get the rainbow. Throughout the poem we realize that all his possession have abandoned and turned against him. Near the end of the poem we can see how the person a has accomplished his mission and aim without his possessions.From this we can how the persona at first thought he needed his possessions to help him but through his experience of losing them he realized he didn’t and accomplished what he aimed in the first place. The persona has achieves something he might possibly not realized he could without his possessions and this is an example of personal growth. ‘This Time Alone’ is another example where the persona faces new experiences. In the poem, the persona talks about her companions death and how she has struggled with it. The poet quotes â€Å"this time alone.This time alone. † The next stanza begins with â€Å"I turn and set that world alight†. Through these two stanzas we can see how the persona emphasizes her loneliness and her struggle to be alone and in the next stanza we see that her struggles might have to the point where she can’t take it anymore so she burns that world with her husba nd. Through these stanzas we can see how the persona is facing a new experience of death of her companion. We also see how this experience has made her lonely which can shape her personal growth.Through both of these poems we can see that ‘Legend’ and ‘This time Alone’ greatly supports the idea that journeys involve new experiences and personal growth. Burlesque is a film that continually shows Ali’s journey of growth as a performer. Ali’s journey started from working at a small pub around her area but she felt that she wasn’t getting paid properly so she left and tried to find a better career to pursue her dreams. As she finds a place she really likes she does what she can to get a job there.As Ali practices her routines and grows in confidence, her unidentified talent of singing became known and for this reason she became the star of Burlesque. From having no confidence and not being treated properly, she became someone who is a star and ends up saving Burlesque. From this film we can see how journeys involve new experiences and these new experiences depict the growth of the persona. She experienced working in a pretty busy club where her colleagues were very pretty. She experienced finding a job and how hard it was to find one that she was interested in and when Burlesque came up, she worked so hard just so she can get in.As she grows in confidence in performing on stage, so did her confidence in making friends and being sexually attractive. All her rehearsals and costumes depicted her confidence as a performer. Her growth has increased incredibly because of the experiences that have come her way and this has been shown through her confidence. Burlesque greatly supports the idea that journeys involve new experiences and personal growth. ‘The life of Pi’ trailer explains the personas journey and his struggles in the journey. The director explains it through picture and also music to set a mood and a tmosphere.At the start of the trailer we see 2 older men talking and one asking the other about how he heard he has an amazing story and then the trailer continues. Using this effect can suggest that the rest of the trailer is a flash back of his journey when he was young and the experiences he had. It also can be used to show a contrast between the younger version of him and how he has grown into someone different than what he was before; perhaps it was because of the experiences that have reflected upon him. Also throughout the trailer we see how the persona has moved his zoo half way around the world.Just from that image we can already think of many obstacles that the persona might have faced. The trailer depicts to the audience the persona’s obstacles of the waves and how this is all new to him and through these obstacles the persona experienced his personal growth. These ways raged into his ship and the ship was gradually going to sink. Also we see the tiger being used i n the trailer at first trying to kill the persona but as the trailer progresses we see that the persona acts like a tiger and overtime their bondage has changed and how they are on the same team.From this we can see the personas maturity and wisdom growing and how this experience has shaped his journey. ‘The life of Pi’ trailer is strongly supporting the idea that journey involve new experiences and personal growth. To conclude, Judith Wright’s poetry, Burlesque and the Life of Pi trailer are all examples of texts that support the idea of ‘journeys involve new experiences and personal growth’ to many extents. These have been explained in the above paragraphs with examples.

Organization Behavior Reflection Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Organization Behavior Reflection Paper - Essay Example One of conditions of successful choice of profession is presence of a complex of psycho-physiological and the personal qualities necessary for successful work. As leading characteristics of a person’s readiness to the certain professional work should be considered not only theoretical knowledge, the mental abilities, and special skills, but also own outlook, personal characteristics, valuable orientations, motivations, physical development, and particularities of behavior. On coming to some company or organization a worker has his own purposes, needs, values, norms, style of behavior and certain demands to the employer (conditions of work, salary, etc). A company in turn has own purposes and goals, and makes certain demands to an employee’s education, qualifications, productivity, discipline, etc. It expects the worker will fulfill all rules, social norms, and respect and follow the developed traditions of the organization. Except for a professional role a worker of any company carries out some social roles (becomes the colleague, subordinates, or the head, a member of the trade-union organization). Here we deal with the process of adaptation of own personal style, values, and preferences with job preferences, skills, and ability to work with others Process of adaptation will be the more successful, the more values and norms of behavior of the company will become simultaneously values and norms of behavior of a worker. As for me I consider myself as a person who should be occupied with some job connected with communication with people. I am really communicative and open person. I can easily come to an understanding with different people. Moreover to my opinion one of the most necessary features of character that a person working with people should process is a capability to keep out of conflict situations. All my friend and relatives admit that I am very sociable person. I am sure that sociability on one

The kurdish language Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The kurdish language - Research Paper Example However, the Kurdish language is independent since it has its distinct grammatical system, continuity, rich vocabulary and an independent historical development. The language is based on an ancient language known as Proto Kurdish or Median. Despite the diversity of the Kurdish language, its dialects are classified into three key dialects - Southern Kurdish dialects, Central Kurdish and Northern Kurdish dialects also known as Kurmanji or Badinadi. The Southern dialect is referred by some groups as Pahlawnik or Pehlewanni while the Central version is also known as Sorani. Additionally, there are two other core branches of the Kurdish language known as Hewrami or Gorani and Dimili or Zaza. Different sources cite different names for these groups of the Kurdish language. The two groups of the Kurdish language are then further subdivided into more groups of other different dialects. The Kurdish language classification is not standard as there are many other languages that have been connected to the Kurdish group of dialects such as the Lurri group, which according to certain linguistic sources, cites the Lurri group as being part of the Indo Iranic languages from the South West. However, even though Lurri/Luri is comprised of numerous Kurdish words, the link between the other Kurdish language and the Lurri group remains contentious. According to Boulden, there is no one form of classifying the groups of the Kurdish dialects since native linguistics have agreed that the dialects are founded on the way the dialect sounds when spoken in relation to another dialect. That is why for example, Sorani speakers call Gorans, who speak Gorani as Mecu Mecu and call the Badinadi speakers Ji Babu. The Gorans in turn call Sorani either Wawa or Kurkure. The Dimili dialect is referred to by the Badinani speakers as Zaza unlike the Dimili speakers who refer to it as (Dimili), which is mainly due to the use of the Z sounds in the pronunciation of the

Organizational Change Management, Change, Talk and Sensemaking Annotated Bibliography

Organizational Change Management, Change, Talk and Sensemaking - Annotated Bibliography Example This is a particularly different approach from implementing change in-house because much of the language analysis prepared in this article would not be necessary if everyone involved in the change used common language that is familiar to all within the organization.   Outsiders may use terminology differently, which may be the actual cause of confusion. The analysis provides an example of why clear and concise communication is necessary, particularly during periods of change. If outsiders are brought in, their language should be adjusted to that of the firm, or a list of This article shares the results of a survey taken by the authors, that examines trends in how organizations change. The findings indicate that true organizational change only occurred about 40% of the time. The best results, as high as 80%, are achieved by companies that abide by principles such a strong senior leadership, clear vision of goals and consistent communication of goals. The survey also found that companies that were under pressure to change from external forces usually failed because they tried to have â€Å"troubleshooters† take care of the transformation in secret rather than appealing to the broad base of employees. This article is valuable to research, as it provides a strong argument against secret or covert actions taken to bring about change in an organization. Outsourcing decisions that do not communicate a clear set of goals will not receive a broad base of support within the organization. This will lead to less than desirable results in the change process. Lack of open communication and secretive ventures of this nature can create a great deal of distrust. The research also suggests that change which is expected to bring about improvement within an organization should be proactive, rather than reactive. This means that taking measures to prevent the problem before they occur, being able to anticipate them and having solutions in place if they do occur can help organizations weather storms much more successfully.  

Marbury v. Madison Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Marbury v. Madison - Essay Example In the confusion of changing from the Adams administration to the Jefferson administration Marbury’s commission was not delivered. Madison, following Jefferson’s orders, did not deliver the commission but withheld it from Marbury because he was a Federalist. The commission was signed by Adams and all was in order except the commission was not delivered. Marbury was denied his commission and prevented from becoming a Justice of the Peace in Washington. At the time of the Jefferson administrations refusal to deliver the commission to Marbury the Supreme Court had been appointed but was a relatively weak institution. John Marshall (a Federalist and cousin to Jefferson) was the Chief Justice and was appointed by Adams during his administration. Although Jefferson was Marshall’s cousin, both disagreed greatly when it came to politics. Jefferson was a Democratic Republican while Marshall was a Federalist. So, it was assumed that when Marbury brought his case to the Supreme Court he would receive a ruling that, influenced by a Federalist, would benefit him. William Marbury did bring his case directly to the Supreme Court and requested a ruling that included a Writ of Mandamus which forces a government official to follow through with official duties and, in this case, deliver the commission. Marshall was in a tough predicament as he needed to deliver a fair ruling but knew that the Supreme Court had little power. Jefferson could have possibly ignored a ruling that did not benefit his administration further degrading the power of the Supreme Court. Marshall was tasked with answering three questions (from Supreme Court Cases: The Dynamic Court): With these questions in mind Marshall deliberated with the court and then delivered the unanimous ruling of the Court. The ruling was given on February 24th of 1803. The ruling concluded that Jefferson and Madison were wrong in denying Marbury the commission as Marbury had a right to the job as

Organisational Change in the Oticon Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Organisational Change in the Oticon - Essay Example The above issues regarding creativity appear in all aspects of life including business activities. In the case of Oticon, creativity has been expressed mostly through the initiatives taken by its president, Lars Kolind, who managed to apply an innovative strategy of change in all the company’s sectors within the 10 years that remained in the firm’s presidency. The whole creative management response of Kolind regarding Oticon is presented in Appendix Ia where the most important strategic decisions of Kolind had been summarized in order to create an ‘alternative Creative Management Response Model’ as presented in Appendix I. As shown in Appendix Ia, the main characteristics of change management applied by Kolind were the redefinition of the company’s vision, the creation of the project-based scheme of operation, the enhancement of the trust towards the employees, the development of technology used in all corporate sectors (from the administration depar tment to the production area) and the set of short-term goals rather than the long term plans which were proved to be inadequate for the company’s development in the modern commercial area. On the other hand, the reduction in the number of employees as taken place in the initial phase of change (in fact in the first two years of Kolind’s presidency) was only temporary and the restructuring of the company’s administration, as well as the reassignment of activities, led to the development of company’s performance on a continuous basis. Towards this direction, the enhancement of communication in the internal environment, as well as the promotion of the team work (through the cooperation of groups on a specific project), also supported the effectiveness of the strategy of change applied by Kolind. Every form of metaphor has its particular role in the business strategy (in accordance with the targets set by the organization’s leader) and it can be used along with other tools of strategic management in order to lead to specific results.

Traditional Preoperative Fasting And ASA Preoperative Fasting Research Proposal

Traditional Preoperative Fasting And ASA Preoperative Fasting - Research Proposal Example In addition, the study also aims to identify if there is a significant difference between shorter-duration fasting and longer-duration fasting in prevention of the risk for aspiration. The study would intend to benefit the patients as discomforts experienced during fasting such as thirst, hunger, pain, nausea, vomiting, and anxiety (Brady, Kinn & Stuart, 2003, n.p.) will be addressed in the study. Theoretical Framework No appropriate theoretical frameworks were identified. Instead, illustrate the anatomy and physiology of the gastrointestinal system during fasting prior to a preoperative procedure. Discuss complications such as aspiration and how does and when will it possibly occur in most instances (Soreide, Eriksson, Hirlekar, Eriksson, Henneberg, Sandin, & Raeder, 2005, 1041). Literature Review – how extensive, steps, evidence of nursing practice Extensive review of literatures is necessary in order to support the hypothesis and justify the findings of the study. Steps nec essary are identification of the key concepts/phrases to search such as â€Å"fasting in the preoperative period† and â€Å"ASA guidelines in preoperative period.† After the right key search, proper search strategy of related literatures will be made in electronic databases, conference proceedings, and reference lists from relevant articles in the preoperative fasting. Literatures must include findings during medical practice in the 90’s and year 2000 and up to determine advances made in the practice of perioperative fasting and to analyze the outcome of both traditional and ASA preoperative fasting guidelines. Google scholar, PubMed, Medline, and Wiley Online Library contain electronic sources with an array of related journals, studies, and literatures that can... No appropriate theoretical frameworks were identified. Instead, illustrate the anatomy and physiology of the gastrointestinal system during fasting prior to a preoperative procedure. Discuss complications such as aspiration and how do and when will it possibly occur in most instances (Hirlekar, Eriksson, Henneberg, Sandin, & Raeder, 2005, 1041).Literature Review – how extensive, steps, evidence of nursing practiceAn extensive review of literature is necessary in order to support the hypothesis and justify the findings of the study. Steps necessary are the identification of the key concepts/phrases to search such as "fasting in the preoperative period" and "ASA guidelines in the preoperative period." After the right key search, proper search strategy of related literature will be made in electronic databases, conference proceedings, and reference lists from relevant articles in the preoperative fasting. Literature must include findings during medical practice in the 90’s and year 2000 and up to determine advances made in the practice of perioperative fasting and to analyze the outcome of both traditional and ASA preoperative fasting guidelines. Google Scholar, PubMed, Medline, and Wiley Online Library contain electronic sources with an array of related journals, studies, and literature that can support the study also with evidence-based nursing practice. Sample Characteristics/ Sampling MethodA randomized controlled trial or sampling method will be used in the pursuit of the study.

The Home Depot SWOT Analysis Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Home Depot SWOT Analysis - Article Example This paper seeks to do a SWOT analysis of this giant specialty retailer by evaluating its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in order to make suggestions on how to keep the company growing and profitable. Home Depot has ensured continued success and lead in the home improvement industry due to various strengths which include: The home depot’s continued growth is as a result of continuously renewing and working on its culture aimed at producing good products, sustaining its employees and customers thus effectively maintaining its competitive edge in the retail industry. The Home Depot culture is focused on taking care of its employees by paying those modest wages and benefits, providing them with excellent and superior training and granting them opportunities for advancement. The employees are regarded as the most important people after the customers due to their role in interfacing with the customers (Marcus and Blank, 271) Home depot also provides their customers with value, loyalty and low pricing. Through the company’s focus in customer satisfaction, the company’s NPS, (Net Promoter Scores) has improved significantly allowing it to wrest a further market share from rival companies. Home Depot’s success is also attributed to its ability to form alliances with strategic partners. Through its partnerships with the industry’s leading manufactures it is able to deliver exclusive and innovative assortments such as to do-it-yourselfers and professional contractors alike, with combination of other brands like LG appliances. Home depot’s continued upgrading of its computerized systems and implementation of satellite communication increased its operational efficiency. This was evident as significant reduction in operational costs were realized thus supporting the overall growth of the company and better

Online Dating Service and Long-term Relationship Essay Example for Free

Online Dating Service and Long-term Relationship Essay In the last couple of weeks, eHarmony, a dating website that promises to help you find a long-term relationship for a relatively modest monthly subscription fee, has been offering a free trial: 10 days of free communication. This marketing campaign is designed to attract new customers and convert some of the existing ones to become paying members (currently it claims more than 20 million registered users). This seems like a reasonable growth strategy: more paying customers will help eHarmony grow and improve its bottom line. As with any platform business, eHarmony relies on having lots of people in its database. Having more people to choose from makes it more likely that the site will find a good match. Clearly, offering a free trial period is a good way to attract more people to the site. But in fact, for reasons my colleague Misiek Piskorski and I study (pdf), it may not be good for eHarmonys business. eHarmony is not your usual online dating site. Unlike Match. com or OkCupid, users do not get to browse tons of profiles to see if there is someone they might like. Instead, eHarmony does the choosing for you, sending you a limited number of compatible matches — candidates the sites proprietary algorithm thinks will make a good match. The company also differs because it aims at people who are looking for long-term relationship or even marriage, not those who look for casual dating. To successfully match people who are looking for a long-term relationship, eHarmony needs not just a lot of people in their database, it also needs people who are ready for a long-term relationship. This seems self-evident, but cluttering up the site with those looking for something else will increase the noise-to-signal ration and make matching harder. In its everyday business, eHarmony does an excellent job by discouraging potential customers who may not be so serious about dating. They ask potential members to complete a very long questionnaire of more than 250 questions. And if the answers suggest that you are not serious enough, they reject you. eHarmony also charges more than Match. com — up to a 25 percent premium. As a result, only people who really care about establishing a long-term relationship will end up at the site. If the value youre offering your customers rests on exclusive membership of similarly minded relationship seekers, what happens if you make it easy for others to get in for a while? You might get a lot of people who dont care that much about a serious relationship, or who are looking for a different product, like a quick adventure. When such people roam around your site, they create a negative externality for your core members, who may discover that its more difficult to find a long-term relationship — the very service they had paid a premium to get. In a nutshell, when you lower the barriers to entry, you threaten your core value proposition to your most valuable customers. So promotion strategies that work well for Match. com or other platforms — like job-hunting sites — may be dangerous for eHarmony, as they may unintentionally undermine the sites core value proposition. Fortunately, eHarmony didnt really get it wrong. It has instituted a number of safeguards that prevent not-so-serious people from getting on the site even during the free trial. People who want to try the site for 10 days still need to complete the long questionnaire, and may still be rejected if their answers suggest they are not serious enough. Only after jumping this major hurdle can the potential members enjoy the free trial. And if they are not serious enough to pay the membership fee after the 10th day, they will exit the pool of potential matches. This tension between a seemingly natural marketing tactic and a companys value proposition may not be obvious, but it does affect many companies that operate platforms similar to that of eHarmony. Increasing the size of your tent isnt always in your companys best interest. It pays to ask, Who is your customer and what product do they want from you?

Is The Role Of Political Parties In Decline Politics Essay

Is The Role Of Political Parties In Decline Politics Essay Before one speaks of a consolidated democracy, one must first ensure that the three minimal, but necessary, conditions are satisfied. Firstly, one can argue that there must be a state for democracy to exist. In other words, there must be the existence of a state which is a modern polity; which holds free elections; protects the peoples rights, and ensures the efficiency of the rule of law. Secondly, democratic transition must be complete before consolidation takes place, and it is deemed to a necessary condition to hold free elections which are rid of authoritarian control at this stage. Thirdly, for a regime to be called democratic the rulers must govern democratically, that is, governments must not infringe the constitution, or violate individual rights, and must rule within the bounds of a state of law. Hence, when one refers to a consolidated democracy one is not referring merely to liberal nondemocratic regimes, or hybrid democracies. Juan Linz and Alfred Stepan  [1]  assert that a consolidated democracy is a political regime in which democracy, as a complex system of institutions, rules, and patterned incentives and disincentives has become the only game in town. Moreover, democracy becomes the only game in town when no significant political group attempts to overthrow the democratic regime or to promote domestic or international violence in order to secede from the state.  [2]   Political Parties and Their Roles in Society Political parties have been deemed necessary since the early societal grouping of man. Men would find a pattern of the state that would subsume societal conflict and which would allow the rule of law to function and apply it to their state. Thus, one can argue that political systems deal with conflicts and the political institutions they create. Giovanni Sartori  [3]  defines a political party as any political group identified by an official label that presents at elections, and is capable of placing through elections candidates for public offices. It has been argued that political parties are necessary and cannot be replaced by civil society or by any other organized structure created to give representation to citizens because political parties have formed the cornerstone of democratic society and serve a function like no other institution. Hence, in a modern society, democracy cannot seem to function properly without political parties. The active support and collaboration of strong, inclusive political parties in partnership with an effective civil society is fast gaining acceptance as the correctly balanced formula to achieve a somewhat more transparent and participatory system of government. In strengthening democratic institutions in consolidated democracies, it is not a matter of having to choose between building a strong civil society or strengthening political parties and political institutions such as parliaments. The real challenge lies in balancing support for democratic institutions and organizations that are more a ccountable and inclusive, while at the same time continuing to foster and nurture the development of a broadly based and active civil society. In recent years, it emerged that the positions of political parties in the politics of consolidated democracies have decreased drastically. Many argue that the reason behind this decline is primarily the change in the roles of the parties, and in fact Hague and Harrop  [4]  argue that the question for the twenty-first century is whether political parties are undergoing a crisis or whether is merely a change in their role. It is important to emphasise that the parties have not declined in the sense that they have ceased to be important in government, but they have changed, and today perform rather different functions or perform traditional functions in a different manner. Declining role of political parties? Hague and Harrop  [5]  question whether parties are facing a crisis or whether they are declining into weak, decentralized organizations. Amongst other reasons, they argue that major parties no longer offer radically different visions of the good society, and electors party loyalties are weakening as traditional social divisions decay. Furthermore, they state that party members are older than the average person and are becoming less active; and party membership is falling at a fast pace and will continue to do so as older members leave the electorate; young people are more likely to join single-issue groups than parties, and parties have become charity cases, relying for funding on state handouts. Moreover, the trust in parties is lower than for other political institutions, and is declining. On the other hand, Crotty argues that the demands of society have changed, and thus parties change to meet them. Too often, models of what parties ought to be like are drawn from the narrow experience of Western Europe in the twentieth century. Today, it is rather unrealistic to expect the rebirth of traditional mass membership parties with thousands of working-class members and their supporting pillars of trade unions. In an era where mass media and electronic communication play an important role such an organisational format is gone for good. Instead, we have a rather new format of parties found in the consolidated democracies which are somewhat lean and flexible, with communication from leaders trough the broadcast media and the internet. Rather than relying on outdated notions of a permanent army of members, new-format parties mobilize volunteers for specific, short-term tasks, such as election campaigns. The form of parties will continue to evolve but their purpose of giving direction to government continues unchanged. According to Hague and Harrop  [6]  , political parties are said to perform four main functions: Directions are given to government by ruling parties and thus some political parties have the vital task of steering the ship of state; Political parties function as agents of political recruitment, and serve as the major mechanism for preparing and recruiting candidates for the legislature and executive; Political parties serve as devices of interest aggregation, filtering a multitude of specific demands into more manageable packages of proposals. Thus, parties select, reduce and combine policies; and Political parties also serve as a brand for their supporters and voters, giving people a lens through which to interpret and participate in a complicated political world. The decline in the role of political parties has been identified mainly in terms of a constant erosion of the above listed functions. In what is already a highly fragmented political system, the decline of these functions has very often led to inefficient government and the wearing away of the legitimacy of institutions. The parties have the task of bridging the link between parliament and the government, sine the party which gets an overall majority in parliament then forms the government. The parties also provide for the scrutiny and control of the government since the party which does not win the election and becomes the Opposition then has the job of constantly attacking and criticizing the government and exposing its failings to the public as well as putting forward alternative ideas of its own. However, in recent years amid the entire furore over the decline of traditional parties, not a single third party has emerged with even the slightest appearance of electoral strength. Third-party candidates have sometimes done very well, but they very often represent more of a protest vote than some distinct social movement. Weaker party identification is producing a more inconsistent electorate prone to sudden shifts in loyalty, to vote splitting and to voting for individual candidates or issues rather than according to traditional party ties. Generally, over the past few years these activists have become more candidate- and issue-oriented, one of their main motivations being to promote a particular candidate or to support just one special issue. Critics argue that these trends have weakened party organization and coherence even further. Parties are the main means through which democratic leaders are recruited and fed into the political system since parties provide us with the personnel who govern that state. There has been a dramatic decline in the membership of the major parties people (especially young people) appear to be less willing to get actively involved in party organisations. Parties are said to provide the most important way in which people become involved in politics. This can be done on a number of levels. However, established political parties have experienced a declining membership that is ageing. Young people are hesitating to join or become associated with political parties. At the same time, support has risen for independent candidates, and interest parties. There has been a dramatic decline in party membership between the 1960s and the 1990s. In Scandinavia, Sundberg  [7]  argues, since the 1970s and the 1980s, membership decline has set in at an unprecedented rate. Denmark is a particularly extreme case, with membership falling from one in every five people in the 1960s to one in twenty by the 1990s. By voting for a party, people are able to express their political opinion and help choose the government. It is parties which give people the choice at elections between alternative views and policies. The parties also provide the voters with a choice in elections by presenting programmes and taking stands on issues parties allow the voters to choose between rival policy packages. Parties produce policies or ideas which they hope will win them power so these ideas have to appeal to a large enough section of the electorate. The parties have to produce policies on a whole range of issues covering all aspects of politics if they are to be taken seriously as a potential government. This gives the voters a genuine choice of alternative packages to choose from. Policy formulation is another role of the parties since they come up with the policy proposals which the voters can choose from and then put those policies into motion if they win the election. Hence, parties initiate the policies / ideas which then govern the nation in a wide variety of areas e.g. foreign policy, environment, health, education etc. In recent years, the parties have become less attached to a fixed set of ideas and are more willing to shape their beliefs and policies to respond to public opinion rather than leading people to follow them, and it can also be argued that parties now also deliberately keep their ideas and policies very vague and refuse to go into detail because this might antagonize voters and also open them to attack about the details. Nowadays, the number of programmatic parties has decreased, and they are in turn becoming catch-all parties. Programmatic parties tend to have definite and fixed set of ideas and beliefs which they firmly believe in and wh ich they can apply in all circumstances. However, parties have now become pragmatic that is they are willing to change ideas to suit changing circumstances. While the former were more interested in transforming society to bring it in line with their ideas over a long period of time, the latters policies are designed to win the next elections and to deal only with current and short term issues. The programmatic parties aim to bring the people around to their way of thinking and to agree with their principles, while the latter seek to find out what the people want and then fit their ideas and policies to match so that they can gain popularity and elect candidates. Catch-all parties tend to change their policies on a regular basis to match changing circumstances and public opinion, while the programmatic parties tend to stick to long held policies and not change them. Representation is also of the main functions of political parties in a democracy. They are to serve the interests of their people as party representatives, and they are also supposed to represent the nation as a whole. Through representation, parties help to link the government to the people because they attempt to match their policies to public opinion as much as possible and then if they win the election they can carry out those policies hence, translating what the public wants into action. However, recently it has been argued that the parties are not representing those who elect them properly because many MPs are elected by a minority of their constituents, for instance, in Britain, the first past the post system means that MPs do not have to be chosen by a majority of the voters in their area. E.g. some Scottish seats the MP were elected with only 1/3 of the vote. Furthermore, the government itself can be elected to rule with minority of the vote. Conclusion Therefore, one can say that the roles of political parties have declined, and this is evident if we compare

My Philosophy of Education Essay -- Philosophy of Education Statement

Philosophy of Education What is my philosophy of education? For hours I have tried to decide what exactly that is. However after much thought I have not been able to come up with an exact answer. After much consideration I have decided that I have no real philosophy but I have goals that one day I will achieve. Although the goals sound simple I know that they will be difficult to attain. I have almost always wanted to teach. I grew up in a single parent household and my mother was an elementary school teacher. When I was younger I didn’t really appreciate what my mom was doing for her students. I only liked what it meant for me. I was allowed to leave with my mother at lunchtime and go out to eat, and I always received special privileges like using the principal’s computer. However as years passed I began to see the impact my mother had on students. Peers in high school would always tell me that my mother was their favorite teacher or how she sparked an interest in a specific subject or how she helped to understand a difficult subject. Therefore, my mother has always been an influence on why I wanted to teach. Even today when my mother asks or when I have time to I will go help her with school functions, classroom projects, or assistance in anything else my mother might require of me. Another reason I wanted to teach is because of the teachers I had in high school. I saw how respected and approachable they were, and ho... My Philosophy of Education Essay -- Philosophy of Education Statement Philosophy of Education What is my philosophy of education? For hours I have tried to decide what exactly that is. However after much thought I have not been able to come up with an exact answer. After much consideration I have decided that I have no real philosophy but I have goals that one day I will achieve. Although the goals sound simple I know that they will be difficult to attain. I have almost always wanted to teach. I grew up in a single parent household and my mother was an elementary school teacher. When I was younger I didn’t really appreciate what my mom was doing for her students. I only liked what it meant for me. I was allowed to leave with my mother at lunchtime and go out to eat, and I always received special privileges like using the principal’s computer. However as years passed I began to see the impact my mother had on students. Peers in high school would always tell me that my mother was their favorite teacher or how she sparked an interest in a specific subject or how she helped to understand a difficult subject. Therefore, my mother has always been an influence on why I wanted to teach. Even today when my mother asks or when I have time to I will go help her with school functions, classroom projects, or assistance in anything else my mother might require of me. Another reason I wanted to teach is because of the teachers I had in high school. I saw how respected and approachable they were, and ho...

What sparked WW1, How Did it End? :: World War I History

What sparked WW1, How Did it End? World War I was a war that took place I Eastern Europe during the years of 1914- 1918. This war involved the countries of Austria-Hungary and Serbia. The Serbians sparked these wars. In 1912, several Balkan states attacked Turkey. This sparked wars over these lands. Economic tension was also present. As international tensions grew, the great powers expanded their armies and navies. This gave the possibility of wars emerging at any time. Fear of war also gave military leaders great influence. British and German generals and admirals received the respect of the people and funding to build their forces. Serbia also wanted a South Slav empire, at this they would not stop for. A terrorist group called the Black Hand planned to kill the Archduke of Hungary Francis Ferdinand who planned to visit Sarajevo. On June 28th Gavrilo Princip assassinated Francis. Since he was under 20 years of age he was not executed. Instead he was sentenced to life in prison. He died in 1918 of tuberculosis. This severely angered the Austrians. They issued the Serbians an ultimatum. In it Austria stated to avoid war Serbia must end all anti-Austrian agitation and punish any Serbian officials involved in the murder plot. It must even let Austria join the investigation. Serbia agreed to most of the terms in the treaty, but not all. On July 28th Austria declared war on Serbia. Austria might not have declared war on Serbia if not for its longtime ally, Germany. In Berlin, Kaiser William II was horrified at the assignation of Francis Ferdinand and advised Francis Joseph to take a stand against the Serbia and assured him of German support. Instead of urging restraint, Germany gave Austria a "blank check." Serbia sought support from Russia. From St. Petersburg Nicholas II telegraphed William II. The czar asked William to urge Austria to soften its demands on the ultimatum. When this plea failed, Russia began to mobilize its troops. Russia then appealed to its ally, France. In Paris, nationalists saw this as a chance to avenge Frances defeat in the Franco-Prussian War. Italy remained neutral while Britain had to decide whether they should back their ally, France or remain neutral. Germany then decided to join the Russians and quickly defeat France in order to avoid a war on both sides of the country. This was their biggest fear.

Mansfield Park, the novel, or Mansfield Park the film? Essay -- essays

There have been many adaptations of Jane Austen's books over the years; all six of her novels have been made into films or television dramas with varying degrees of success, from the classics of Persuasion, Pride & Prejudice and Sense & Sensibility, to the funny modern version of Emma in the form of Clueless. In this paper I want to show how director Patricia Rozema has made Austen's novel Mansfield Park much more modern, accessible, and, as some claim, radical, by skipping parts of the story that would make the film version drag, and importing events and dialogue that have significance into scenes, often created by Rozema, that are more appealing. There is always controversy whether a Jane Austen masterpiece can be adequately conveyed through the medium of film. It has been said that ‘seeing a movie or television adaptation of any of Jane Austen's works is like hearing a symphony of Mozart played on a harmonica’ which suggests that the adaptations are cheapened by the filmmakers and sometimes wildly misinterpreted. Andrew Wright says that many adaptations of Austen's work are made to ‘entice the demi-literate or those of presumably short attention span.’ This is the criticism that faced director Patricia Rozema with her film version of Mansfield Park, which states the very start that the film is only loosely based on the film, but also draws inspiration from the early journals and letters of Jane Austen. There are two schools of thought on the adaptation of Jane Austen's novels, whether they are beneficial or not. It is clear that Rozema’s version of the film makes it more accessible to viewers . M. Casey Diana has experimented on Austen adaptations with her class group: ‘She divided her students into two groups; one read Sense and Sensibility first and then saw the Thompson/Lee film, the other saw the movie first and then read the book†¦the first group had a hard time comprehending (never mind responding on any deeply imaginative level to it), and both groups used the movie as a "gateway" into the book or an explanation afterwards. The film version certainly gives us a more vivid view of the story, especially in scenes set in Fanny’s Portsmouth home, where we can see the squalor you end up in when you marry for love. The film is also more poignant on the issues of slavery and abuse of human rights. I am referring to the wailing Fanny hea... ... and other Film/Video adaptations http://www.pemberley.com/janeinfo/jabbcvid.html 01 May 2005 Wright, Andrew Jane Austen Adapted Nineteenth-Century Fiction, Vol. 30, No. 3, Jane Austen 1775-1975. (Dec., 1975), pp. 421-453.Stable URL: http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0029-0564%28197512%2930%3A3%3C421%3AJAA%3E2.0.CO%3B2-U Diana's "Emma Thompson's Sense and Sensibility as Gateway to Austen's Novel: A Pedagogical Experiment," http://www.jimandellen.org/austen/janeausten.onfilm.html 31 April 2005 Elley, Derek http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=upsell_review&reviewID=VE1117752061&cs=1 Posted: Mon., Aug. 30, 1999, 01 May 2005 Bezanson, David 05/05/04 http://movieweb.com/movies/reviews/review.php?film=1386&review=2451 02 May 2005 Martin, Melissa. SparkNote on Mansfield Park. 2 May. 2005 . Bezanson, David 05/05/04 http://movieweb.com/movies/reviews/review.php?film=1386&review=2451 02 May 2005 Martin, Melissa. SparkNote on Mansfield Park. 2 May. 2005 . Romero,C. Antonio Culturekiosque movie reviews NEW YORK, 31 December 1999 - http://www.culturekiosque.com/nouveau/cinema/rhemansfld.html http://www.haro-online.com/movies/mansfield_park.html 01 May 2005

Development through the Implementation of Physical Activity to Patients Suffering from Mental Illness.

Introduction Efficient delivery of care is the essence of nursing. Being a successful nurse revolves around the capability to deliver care which contributes to the wellbeing of the patients (Barker, 2005). In exploring the efficient delivery of care to patients suffering from mental illness, this paper consists of two parts. Part One outlines the practical and theoretical aspects of my chosen Service Improvement Initiative, and Part Two focuses on my personal development plan. The Service Improvement Initiative outlines a plan that strives to create a healing environment through the use of mental and physical activities, from sports to board games as a means of providing nursing care to patients. Apart from the medical aspect of this initiative, I will also analyze the theoretical aspects of health care to determine the professional role of nurses in providing care and support that aims to contribute to the wellbeing of patients. Additionally, I intend to discuss the importance of harnessing leadership qualities, management and communication skills of nurses in order to provide high-quality patient care. Mental Health and Physical and Mind Activities In the course of my observations in a psychological ward for adolescents aged 10-17 years, I noticed that there are very little, if any, physical activities such as sports (table tennis, basketball, snooker, etc.). However, over the years, an overwhelming wealth of evidence from nursing practice and research has clearly demonstrated the benefits of such activities (Hainsworth, 2006). Researchers have established that physical activity promotes physical health and brings about physiological benefits (Department of Health, 2004b). For example, Benloucif (2004) found that daylight exercises significantly improve neurophysiological performance and sleep quality especially when they emphasize extensive duration rather than intensity. However, not only does physical activity lead to physiological benefits, but it can also generate psychological benefits such as empowerment of patients and reduction of boredom, which in turn improve clinical outcomes (Ainsworth, 2006). Another major benefit of physical activities in hospitals and wards is the creation of a social environment in which patients thrive (Frost, 2010). For example, physical activities allow service users to socialize and engage in light conversations without showing aggression towards each other (Briles, 2005). Over time, patients will learn the importance of effective communication with other people, the purpose of staying at the hospital/ward, as well as the advantages of participating in decision-making and different activities (Wilkes-Whitehall, 2004). This is particularly important for patients who are vulnerable and are in need of re-establishing their social skills in a controlled environment, such as adolescents suffering from mental illness. In fact, research has demonstrated that a warm and supportive social environment is an important factor in the etiology of mental illness, but also in the therapeutic healing process (Cohen, 2004). Physical activity, such as exercise and sports, has also been found to generally improve mental health conditions, such as anxiety, depression and general wellbeing (Schmitz, 2004). According to Strohle (2009), sports and exercise can moderately reduce anxiety and depression in mentally ill persons. Martinsen (2008) has also demonstrated that some activities (e.g. resistance, aerobic) can prevent the risk of depression. Goodwin (2003) reported the low scores of depression among adolescents as a result of engaging in exercise. Drawing on a large sample of 8,098 adolescents and adults from the ages of 15-54, Goodwin (2003) found that individuals who regularly kept themselves physically active were less depressed. Other researchers (Penedo & Dahn, 2005) have further supported the claim that exercise may be associated with therapeutic benefit among individuals with major depressive disorder. Moreover, the majority of cross-sectional studies have showed that an improved cognitive performance is related to physical fitness (Callaghan, 2004). There are implications of these findings. For example, patients who frequently engage in physical activities may become much more open to considering alternative therapies and treatments. Aside from their physiological benefits, those who participated in this exercise-therapy also showed a generally more resilient and healthier psychological state. In fact, it is well-documented that physical activities and exercise are vital in strengthening self-image and self-esteem in all age groups, especially among children and middle-aged adults (Folkins & Sime, 1981). Research has demonstrated that people who participate in physical activity have an improved self-image (Elavsky et al., 2005). As self-image is an important factor in helping patients to be less vulnerable during social re-integration, clinical outcomes are improved. Additionally, Kirkcaldy, Shephard, and Siefen (2002) presented evidence that participating in physical exercises alleviates social withdrawal, low self-esteem, and depression which are the negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Taking the above-mentioned case studies as well as other relevant literature together, it is clear that there is considerable evidence showing that physical activity through exercise and sports is effective in improving the mental and physical conditions of mentally ill service users. These physical activities promote better life quality via boosting self-esteem, reducing anxiety, improving mood, sleep and resilience to stress (Ekeland et al, 2009). However, further research is still needed to identify the effective exercise regimes and feasible delivery modalities for patients with varying illnesses. It is advised that activities that are any way strenuous or too rigorous would not be suitable for mentally-ill patients with cardiovascular conditions. Also, in order to prevent any form of musculoskeletal injuries, the duration and intensity of exercises should be increased gradually. It is therefore clear that a full assessment of patients must be carefully done by the appropriate medical practitioner before such activities are implemented (Richardson, 2005). Prior to outlining the Service Improvement Initiative, I will first outline the theoretical aspects that need to be considered when implementing a new initiative, and how these can be applied in practical terms. Theoretical Aspects In order to implement a service improvement initiative and effectively manage the changes that ensue, a clear understanding of theoretical aspects must take place. In this paper, the theoretical aspects will be drawn from John Kotter’s model and Pender’s Theory of Health Promotion (1996). In the former model, Kotter’s eight distinct phases will be organized into three broad phases: 1) creating a climate for change; 2) engaging and enabling the whole organization; and 3) implementing and sustaining change (Campbell, 2008). In the latter model, an action can directly motivate the behaviour of others through an extensive and rigorous plan of commitment from which the expected benefits will result (Pender, 1996). This author will examine theoretical aspects such as change management; accountability and responsibility, leadership and management skills, and professional/inter-professional collaboration. The first phase will focus on the importance of urgency, the building of guiding teams and getting the vision right. In fact, it is particularly important that a multi-disciplinary team has a sense of urgency in achieving the programme’s aims. The team must possess four main skills as highlighted by Campbell (2008): up-to-date knowledge about the necessary changes, an ability to justify and add credibility to the changes, awareness of any relevant knowledge on the changes and a sense of leadership in carrying out the changes. Moreover, the vision of the team must be summarised into a short-statement that encapsulates the goals of the initiative. Thus, in the case of the service improvement initiative, it is pivotal that the team of nurses and other staff has exposure to the benefits of physical and mental activities. This can be achieved through a day of seminars given by external scholars and practitioners, as well as take-away booklets and handouts that emphasise the need fo r integrating physical activity into healthcare. The second phase involves communicating the proposed changes that will enable action to take place. On the communication of the proposed changes, it is vital that all individuals involved in the initiative are completely knowledgeable about the changes that are being proposed. There must be a constant dialogue among the people involved to ensure that all parties are kept in the loop (Campbell, 2008). In fact, a clear communication strategy is also important for raising sufficient funds for a server improvement initiative. In order to garner both emotional and financial support, it is imperative that the short-term and long-term benefits of a service improvement initiative are communicated. For example, in the case of the service-user initiative for improving physical activity, the importance of improving the patient experience and the overall clinical outcome needs to be emphasised. Finally, the third phase highlights the importance of keeping a momentum when implementing change By creating a drive and motivation amongst employees, it becomes necessary to ensure that change does not become institutionalized but is a forward-looking process (Campbell, 2008). According to Kotter, â€Å"culture change comes last.† In other words, when change has been successfully implemented for a certain period of time, that is when attitudes and opinions change. In light of this, one would expect that it would take a certain amount of time for the service user initiative to become rooted in the culture of the health-care community. Other important theoretical aspects that also need to be discussed include accountability and responsibility. It is important that each member of the multidisciplinary team, in particular the nursing staff, are vigilant in maintaining both accountability and responsibility. In this case, responsibility is equivalent to the duty of care in law. This applies to all nursing tasks, from simple things such as bathing a patient to complex ones such as surgery. There is a certain degree of risk in any nursing task. When practitioners accept responsibility to perform a task, they must ensure that they accomplish it with competence and at least to the accepted standard (Scrivener, 2011). Accountability is commonly defined as â€Å"an inherent confidence as a professional that allows a nurse to take pride in being transparent about the way he or she has carried out their practice† (Caulfield, 2005, p.24). This reflects the positive aspect of accountability and puts focus on the development and demonstration of competence in practice (Scrivener, 2011). The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC, 2008) states that all nurses are accountable for their own actions in practice. As the last few years have seen a rise in litigation for nurses (Diamond, 1995), accountability can be a source of anxiety for nurses. It is therefore imperative that nurses follow strict protocols and guidelines, verifying when unsure and being constantly alert to new situations and information. In relation to responsibility and accountability, according to the NMC, nurses must always ensure that they take complete responsibility for their actions, and always act in according to what is agreed with their patients, their families and carers, and in line with the laws of professional health bodies (Scrivener, 2011). Given these guidelines, in my service improvement initiative, I will ensure that the appropriate responsibility is handed to managers and nurses. Whilst the manager will be ultimately accountable and oversee and be the primary point of contact regarding the actions of the nurses and other staff, there will also be others responsible such as administrative staff. It is therefore essential that there are good management and leadership practices in place so that nurses should have to achieve the proper provision of health care. Another important theoretical aspect to consider is the importance of managing in order to achieve the goals of an organization. Thomas and Worley (2009) describe management as a process of coordinating actions and allocating resources to achieve organizational goals. Similarly, Hersey and colleagues (2001) explained that management is a way of working with and through individuals and groups to accomplish organizational goals. The researchers identified management as a special kind of leadership that concentrates on the achievement of organization goals. Koontz and Weihrich (2008) stated that management is the process of organizing and maintaining an environment in which individual working together in groups efficiently accomplishes selected goal or aims. In application to nursing profession, Sullivan and Decker (2011) define management as the abilities to plan, manage, organize and deliver care. It includes the process of discovering a good way of caring for patients. The goals of the service improvement initiative must therefore be clearly structured and outlined to ensure that both individuals and groups can work towards the initiative’s aims which are to improve the quality of patient care. Leadership may be defined as the ability to direct and influence the task or activities of the members of a group in its efforts to achieve certain objectives (Huczynski & Buchanan 2007). These authors further define leadership as the process of influencing the activities of an organized group in its efforts towards creating an environment focused on goal achievement. Mullins (2007) stated that leadership is a relationship through which one person influences the behavior or action of other people. According to Gopee and Galloway (2009), the key elements of leadership are leader’s personal characteristics, interpersonal relationships, team working and being a role model. They also identified four styles of leadership which include autocratic, democratic, laissez-faire and bureaucratic. In the context of nursing, Sullivan and Garland (2010) list many leadership and managerial skills required from a nurse. These skills range from the initiation and implementation of change, criti cal thinking, problem-solving, effective communication, time-management, appropriate delegation, budgeting and allocating resources and understanding power and politics. In the service improvement initiative, it is therefore important for nurses to acquire both leadership and management skills to be able to function effectively (Marquis and Huston, 2009). In fact, Barr and Dowding (2008) explained that management and leadership skills should be integrated in order to provide high-quality care to the patients. Finally, another critical element for a successful implementation of the service improvement initiative is a culture of â€Å"inter-professional collaboration†. The World Health Organization defines inter-professional collaboration as a process in which â€Å"multiple health workers from different professional backgrounds work together with patients, families, carers, and communities to deliver the highest quality of care.† An expert panel of Inter-professional Education Collaborative (2011) defines inter-professional competencies in health care as â€Å"integrated enactment of knowledge, skills, and values/attitudes that define working together across the professions, with other health care workers, and with patients, along with families and communities, as appropriate to improve health outcomes in specific care contexts†. In the context of the service improvement initiative, a panel of inter-professionals will be involved from the first day to actual implementa tion to ensure that the highest quality of care is given to patients. The Service Improvement Initiative To improve the nursing services in the ward, I plan to execute a six-month program involving 10 adolescent patients from the ages of 10-17, from the psychological ward. Patients will be invited to partake in a range of physical activities, such as exercise and sports, as well as mind games. The overall aim of this initiative is to establish whether such activities have any effect on the behavior or wellbeing of patients. A secondary aim of the initiative is to explore various aspects of the delivery of care, taking into consideration the different theoretical aspects of the nursing practice. The budget will be need to be closely decided in liaison with the manager to ensure that there is sufficient funding for purchasing the sport equipment and the personnel for facilitating and monitoring physical activities. Although the programme is to be conducted in a normal hospital setting, funding will also need to be allocated for the services of the experts and all the administrative and logistical aspects of the initiative. Whilst as a nurse, I can initiate the set of activities for patients, I will need to draw on the assistance and expertise of other medical practitioners for the intervention to be successful. It will also be necessary to set up a multidisciplinary team that will aid in the implementation and completion of the initiative. Team members will be psychiatrists, physical therapists, mental health practitioners, and other experts. It is particularly important to draw on the expertise of a Physical Therapist as it is essential to determine the capabilities of mentally ill individuals when it comes to engaging in physical activities. Psychiatrists also play an important role in assessing the clinical outcomes of patients within a certain time-frame. Given previous research on the risks of physical activity for mentally ill patients (Richardson, 2005), careful considerations shall also be made to ensure that the types of physical activity will depend on the psychological condition of the patient and all physical activities will be limited to light exercise and light sports, such as table tennis. The assessment of the clinical outcomes of the service improvement initiative for adolescent patients will take place on a weekly basis. The assessment criteria will be decided by consulting experts and mental health practitioners. The amount of exercise given in the following week will then depend on the clinical results of the patients at the end of the week. This allows a continuous assessment of patient improvement. It is important to note that the proposed initiative may face a number of challenges. These challenges include the specific culture of a workplace in which some staff may oppose the change, funding costs, fear of increase in work load amongst nurses and a subsequent increase in staff anxiety level (Paton and McCalman, 200; Sharma, 2008). Professional Development Plan Introduction In this section, I will focus on one of the aspects of my personal development which I intend to concentrate on within the first six months of registration. In my personal development plan I will explore my strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) and write an action plan that is specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely (SMART). Using the reflective tools and SWOT analysis (Appendix B), I have identified my strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, One of the main areas of expertise where I see the weakness and where I would like to see improvements in my knowledge and abilities in the management of medications. Being a nurse does not only require clinical skills but also good leadership, management and communication skills that are learned from practice. Action Plan Administration of medicines is a key element of nursing care. Drug administration is one of the major parts of the nurse’s clinical role. Although doctors traditionally take control of prescribing medicines, a registered nurse does have primary responsibility in administering the correct dosage of medicines. Nurses are responsible regarding the preparation of medicine, verifying and checking appropriate medication, monitoring the effectiveness of treatment and in certain cases, reporting any adverse drug reactions. Given research findings that patients do not always receive the correct medication at their drug rounds, nurses must be vigilant in ensuring appropriate medicine management (Andalo, 2006). However, there has been evidence that medicine management has not been given considerable priority by health care services, and that it is commonly excluded from pre-registration training or in practice (Snowden, 2011). The development of competency in medicine management requires an explicit academic component is present. This is particularly important given recent failures such as those highlighted in Francis Report (Wright, 2013). In this report, Robert Francis revealed the failure among nurses and healthcare assistants to feed patients and give them the basic elements of care such as dignity and respect. Initiatives to combat such behaviour in the future included holding nurses personally and criminally accountable, as well as holding hospital boards responsible should they fail to ensure that all patients are receiving high quality care (Wright, 2013). As I am a student who is in the transition period to a staff nurse, I am aware of the changing responsibilities and accountabil ity that are inherent to being a nurse. Personal Development Plan Nagelkerk (2005) highlights the importance of setting and identifying goals that are intrinsic to your personal development, as it allows you to reflect on your practice and also highlight your strengths and weaknesses, which gives you the opportunity to initiate and implement change. With this in mind, I plan to draw on Snowden’s â€Å"clusters on essential skills for medicine management†. This is relevant to the current service improvement initiative as it highlights the need for newly registered nurses to be completely briefed on patient history and able to responsible administer medicines (Snowden, 2011). Moreover, I will draw on the SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time) bound framework to set a time scale for my action plan. I will also draw on Snowden’s clusters on essential skills for medicine management as it is a parsimonious model that allows me to evaluate educational needs and professional development. During the first month of the programme, I will ensure that I am completely knowledgeable of the commonly administered medicines that the patients are taking, their actions and side effects. I will do this by liaising with doctors and psychiatrists, and also attending weekly ward rounds. Within the second month, I intend to increase my confidence when it comes to managing my medication round effectively using the eight rights checklist: â€Å"right medication†, â€Å"right patient†, â€Å"right dose†, â€Å"right time†, â€Å"right date†, â€Å"right route†, â€Å"right preparation† and â€Å"right documentation† (Morgan, 2000). I will also develop my knowledge of pharmacology such as the interaction of medicines with different systems of the body. In the third and fourth months of training, I will build up my knowledge on the necessary techniques for administering medicine. I will attend a series of sessions on medicine management as well as observe trained professionals. This is in line with research that nurses must constantly build their body of knowledge and develop their professional skills (Burton & Ormrod, 2011). The fifth and sixth months will focus on the application of the knowledge I acquired. This is where safety management, administration and monitoring of drugs come in. I will practice my skills in ordering medication, their storage and disposal of used medication. I intend to keep a reflective diary about all that I learnt from my own experience and experience of colleagues. The support and assistance of an experienced professional is very important and vital for a newly qualified nurse to gain confidence and practice effectively (NMC, 2008). With the right support and guidance from experienced colleagues, I should be able to manage medications safely and effectively. This will greatly enhance my professional confidence. Having clearly identified my goals and assigned a time limit to achieve them will help me to monitor my progress. I will work hard to make sure that my goals are achievable within the clinical setting. Conclusion Over the course of this paper, it has become clear that the responsibilities of a newly registered nurse are vast. The transition from a student to a nurse is not without its challenges and requires continuous training, support and guidance. To ensure that I am progressing in my knowledge of nursing, I will constantly engage in evaluations and assessment of my learning. For example, I will verify my learning in accordance with the standards of the Nursing and Midwifery Council. APPENDIX A Service Improvement Activity Notification Proforma Details of service improvement project/activity: The main aim of the Service Improvement Initiative is to provide physical activity to mentally ill adolescents aged 10-17 years. The initiative will assess the clinical outcomes following the physical activity intervention, as well as the development of nursing skills needed for the efficient and effective delivery of care. Reason for development: Based on my observations in a psychological ward for adolescents aged 10-17 years, there are no opportunities to be involved in activities such as sports (darts, snooker, etc.). These activities are proven to provide multiple benefits to the service users, both in terms of physical fitness and mental health. Time spent on the project/activity: The program will take place over a span of six months. Resources used: There are a number of resources needed for this initiative. Resources include sufficient funding for paying for the services of team members and experts, as well as a range of sporting equipment, such as table tennis tables. Who was involved: A multidisciplinary team consisting of a group of nurses a physical therapist, psychiatrists, mental health practitioners, and other experts will be set up. Future plans: The initiative will be implemented in six (6) months. It is hoped that the program will become successful and beneficial for the service users and the multidisciplinary team. APPENDIX B Strengths  ·Good communication skills,  ·Good team player  ·Positive attitude  ·Good interpersonal skills  ·Motivated and enthusiastic  ·Responsible Weaknesses  ·Assertiveness  ·Medicine management skills  ·Professional boundary issues Opportunities  ·Access to training  ·Learning from other members of inter-professional team.  ·Education, development and research  ·Effective supervision  ·Effective feedbackThreats  ·Lack of time  ·Staff attitude on ward  ·Staff shortage  ·My inexperience APPENDIX C Objective 1. Improve my knowledge of medication management. Where I am now Insufficient knowledge about medication. Goal To become competent in medication management. Action plan Read British National Formulary Check NICE guidelines on medication Work with colleagues on the ward. Administering medication regularly with supervisionTime 2 weeks 1- week 1- week continuouslyEvaluation Self-evaluation and evaluation by experienced professionals 2. Develop good knowledge of NICE guidelines on medication and current government policies on medication.Insufficient knowledge of NICE on medication management.Competency and ability to practice independently.Read through NICE guidelines on medication (internet, Nursing publications) Administering medication regularly with supervision. 2-month.Self- evaluation and evaluation by experienced professionals 3. Attend training on medication. Insufficient knowledge of certain medicinesGood knowledge about drugs, their use, dosages and side effectsAttend training and seminars on medication 4-monthReflects on the experience gained, discuss with mentor 4. Develop confidence in ordering medication, organising its storage and disposal. Inadequate knowledgeAbility to practice with confidenceActively participate in the daily running of the ward 6-monthEvaluation by mentor and reflecting on practice REFERENCES Andalo, D. (2006). Medicines management in English care homes: a grim and chaotic picture. The Pharmaceutical Journal. 276, 198-199. Barker, P., (2005). The tidal model: A guide for mental health professionals. London: Routledge. Barr, J. & Dowding, L. (2008). Leadership and Healthcare. London: SAGE Publications Limited. Beebe, L. H., Tian, L., Morris, N., Goodwin, A., Allen, S. S., & Kuldau J. ( 2005) Effects of exercise on mental and physical health parameters of persons with schizophrenia. Ment Health Nurs, 26, 661-676. Benloucif, S. (2004). Morning or Evening Activity improves neuropsychological performance and subjective sleep quality in older adults. Sleep, 27(8), 1542-1550. Briles, J. (2005). Zapping Conflict Builds Better Teams. Nursing Times, 35(11), 32. Burton, R., & Ormrod, G. (2011) Nursing Times: Transition to Professional Practice. London: Oxford University Press. Callaghan, P. (2004). Exercise: A neglected intervention in mental healthJournal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 11(4), 476-483. Campbell, R. J. (2008). Change Management in Health Care. 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What are the benefits of activities in nursing homesLivestrong Publications. Accessed March 21 2013 from: http://www.livestrong.com/article/151544-what-are-the-benefits-of-activities-in-nursing-homes/ Goodwin, R, D. (2003). Association between physical activity and mental disorders among adults in the United States. Preventive Medicine, 36(6), 698-703. Hainsowrth, T. (2006), The benefits of increasing levels of physical activity. Nursing Times, 102(20), 21. Hersey, P., Blanchard, K. & Johnson, D. (2001). Management of Organisational Behaviour: Utilising Human Resources. 8th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall. Gopee, N., & Galloway, J., Eds. (2009) Leadership and Management in Healthcare. London: SAGE Publications Limited. Huczynski, A., & Buchanan, D. A. (2010). Organisational behaviour. 7th Ed. Harlow: Prentice Hall. Inter-professional Education Collaborative Expert Panel (2011). Core competencies for inter-professional collaborative practice: Report of an expert panel. 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A Sicilian Romance by Ann Radcliffe Essay

The happening takes place at the end of 16th century in Sicily, better in the Castle of Ferdinando Mazzini: â€Å"a man. His first wife, Louisa Bernini, died after giving him two daughters, Julia and Emilia, and a son, Ferdinand. After the death of his first wife, he committed the education of his daughter to Madame Menon and married Maria de Vellarno then he moves to Naples with her and his son while Julia and Emilia remained back at the Castle. The Castle was divided into two main parts and only one was lived by the two young girls, Madame de Menon and some servants. The south wing was left empty and there happed strange events, such as terrifying sounds and strange lights. As soon as Ferdinand’s birthday arrived the count of Mazzini decided to celebrate it within the Castle. Lots of people were invited to join the party; one of them was Hyppolito, count of Verona. Julia felt in love with him as soon as she saw him for the first time even him started to feel something strong for the girl. Also Maria de Vellano, who had already known Hyppolito in Naples, liked him so she tried in every way to separate the two young lovers. In the meantime strange facts continued to happed in the southern wing of the Castle. Julia and Emilia, whose bedrooms were next to this part of the castle, were scared by these terrifying sounds so Ferdinand decided to go and control what was going on. Afterwards he decided to talk to his father about the events and the count of Mazzini revealed him a secret concerning the Castle: there was a ghost that wandered in the south wing, a spirit that belongs to a killed persons. While Julia was falling deeper and deeper in love with Hyppolito, the count of Mazzini decided to led she to marry the Duke of Luano, because of his social class and economical position that was very well, and so in this way he could increase his prestige and his power. He proposed it to his daughter and when Julia refused he constructed her to do his will saying that if she didn’t marry the duke of Luano she would have to became nun. Julia, hopeless, decided to run away with Hyppolito to avoid her father will. While they were escaping from the castle, helped by Ferdinand, they were found and the count of Mazzini hit Hyppolito with his sword. Hyppolito pretended to die. Julia and Ferdinand were imprisoned in two different cage of the Castle. By now everything was ready for the marriage between Julia and the Duke of Luano but when the count of Mazzini went to say his daughter to prepare herself for the ceremony he couldn’t believe to his eyes when he found the room completely empty. Suddenly he sent some servants to look for her in the Castle surroundings, but she was vanished and they couldn’t be able to find her. However researches continued and one day a servant told the count of Mazzini to have found the young lady in a house in the middle of Marentino Forest. Immediately the Duke of Luano and his men rushed towards that place but they didn’t find Julia so they thought she could have run away from the house. During the following days the Duke of Luano deceived to see Julia and Hyppolito so, reached them, he laughs against the man. The man is recognised not as Hyppolito so the two people were set free. At the same time at the Castle Madame de Menon decided to leave the instruction of Emilia and to move to her family property in another area of Sicily. Madame de Menon during her trip across the region found a lady who she recognised as Julia, she has found a refuge in the house of a servant. The day after the two women continued their travel but they were soon stopped and taken prisoners by a group of men. They believed to have been caught by the Duke of Luano instead of by the men who had operated the capture. The women found another refuge in a monastery where they met the sister of Hyppolito, Cornelia. The abate informed the Count of Mazzini about his daughter and so he imposed to the abate himself to give him Julia without any conditions although he would have gone with his servants to the monastery and he would have forced her to follow him. The abate, jealous of his power, didn’t accept the proposal so the girl was safe for the moment.  Mazzini returned back to take his daughter but the abate threatened him to reveal his secret if he would have dared to force the monastery. At this, Mazzini said that he would have returned with many soldiers in order to enter into the monastery. Julia was called by the abate, during the night, to be informed about her chance to live free: accept to live in the monastery. The following day Julia received a visit of his brother Ferdinand who was escaped and who informed Julia that Hyppolito was alive, saved by a servant and moved to the coast. The two people decided to try the escape during the night. During the escape they were imprisoned another time but soon set free by the action of Hyppolito. However Ferdinand was not found yet and the couple decided to persist in their intention when they were surprised by the arrival of the Duke of Luano and his soldiers. Julia went into a cave while Hyppolito fought the Duke. Wandering in the cave Julia discovered a door which lead to the cave where her mother was (She was imprisoned 15 years ago by Mazzini); Julia decided to stay with the mother in the cave telling her about Ferdinand and Hyppolito. In the meantime Mazzini had found the infidelity of Maria and this fact made him very upset. Maria de Vellano desperate about being discovered by her husband decided to suicide. Ferdinand decided to return back to his Castle when a strong storm surprised him during the trip so he was constricted to search for a refuge in a small house where he found Julia, his mother and Hyppolito. A Sicilian Romance ::: Setting Events take place in Italy, precisely in Sicily according to the tradition of gothic novels. Sicily, with its layers of lava forming curious involutions and burning whole houses and villages, is the appropriate setting. For a story so concerned with the interpretation of inside and outside, and the permeable cave. The second half of the 18th century saw the increasing of English travellers going to the natural and artistic beauties of â€Å"Il Bel Paese†. There is an alternation of outdoor and indoor spaces and particularly the presence of subterranean settings, that couldn’t be completely included in the indoor sphere. An example could be the cave of Louisa’s incarceration that is a mediating position between nature (open space) and culure (the caste and generally the human expression). In fact the cave can be reached both from the castle and the natural landscape outside. In concomitance with the presence of subterranean locations there is also the presence of high spaces like mountains and hills. The intention of Ann Radcliffe is to create a link and mediation between high places and low ones along all the narration. In spite of detailed descriptions are frequent imprecision: locations are wrong situated, and big mistakes regards the topography of the places; an example can be the confusion between Alps and Apennines. A Sicilian Romance ::: Characters Characters are stereotyped: Julia, the lady persecuted by the villain, the Marquis of Mazzini (and the duke of Luano), the antihero, (Ferdinand and) Hyppolito. The role of the villain can be considered double, in fact in the novel could be traced two villains: Mazzini and the duke of Luano who helps him. Opposed to the villains there are the antiheroes: the Count of Vereza and Ferdinand the Second. The lady is the piece contended by the two parts of the history: the good and the bad respectively the antiheroes and the villains. The character are all flat because they didn’t change during the story. They are analyzed especially from their actions and their behavior. Apart frm Julia they aren’t analyzed physically. All the most important characters are nobles even if there are some servants who haven’t’ a great influence in the story.

Tkam Reflection

Gem an d Scout have a life head of them that Tactics can look forward too. With this, Attic's good sense e of morality partially comes from the fact that he has to teach his children the right lesson. If the book went on for another twenty years, I believe that Gem and Scout would have a better life with a better sense of morality that Male would. Also, Bob's bad sense of morality affect De the characters around him and even caused the life of a human. Since, Bob has a poor sense of morality, he does not feel bad blaming his beating of Male on Tom Robinson.Tom was obviously innocent and died trying to escape jail which Bob put him in. In a way, Bob is r expansible for Tom's death. Did not realism how the morality of someone could be affected and how morality makes a difference on a person before reading To Kill a Mockingbird. Throughout this essay, I had a lot of positives and negatives. I would say had more negatives than positives but eventually worked them out. The easiest part of the essay for me was writing the parts the parts not about the quotes and research.For exam el saying, â€Å"Bob Lowell lives a very poor life with nothing to look forward to. † was a lot easier that n explaining a quote. This is because quotes and evidence were extremely hard to come by when writing this paper. Most of the entrees by scholars I looked through did not explain how morality affected the characters, yet they explained that â€Å"Bob's sense of morality was not right†. Ho waver, would eventually find a good article such as Laurie Champion's that explained morale TTY in the book in depth. I also wrote two essays.The first one finished well before the due data but realized I was talking about the wrong information. Deleted most of it and started over. The sees were some challenges and some positives of writing this essay. Learned some interesting facts about myself as a writer when wrote this sees ay. One of the biggest one was the fact that I talk about my opinions and what I have to s ay too much. When started to write this essay, actually wrote the whole thing without maybe on e or quotes. I believed the essay was perfect but I knew I had to add quotes.I learned that I could write a lot eased on what I read throughout doing my research. Also learned that if I pr ovoid myself with an outline, can write the essay a lot smoother. When I started writing the sees ay, I had no idea what points I was going to bring up when talking about the specific topic. I ma De myself an outline and was able to write the essay a lot smoother. If I could go back and fix anything about my essay I would probably add more quotes and evidence. I did not use that many quotes compared to my friends and if I had time would find more information.