New York City Fighting Influenza :: Journalism Influenza Health Essays

New York City Fighting Influenza New York City's public health officials are pioneering a program to reduce the spread of the influenza epidemic that hit the city over one month ago. The city's approach to disease control is unlike that of any other city in the nation and has been met with much criticism and fear for the lives of New Yorkers. The city's Health Commissioner, Dr. Royal S. Copeland, has refused to close schools, theaters, churches, and places of "public amusement" despite many requests to do so from prominent members of the government's medical community. Public health officials in Philadelphia, Washington, Boston, and Baltimore have taken such measures to reduce crowding--a known cause of the spread of disease. But according to Copeland, closing places of public amusement does not necessarily lessen the instance of physical contact among citizens. Rather, it displaces it and causes panic. (However, he does advise against attending dance halls.) In defending his position to keep schools open, Dr. Copeland commented, "Now how much better it has been to have those children under the constant observation of qualified persons than to close the schools, let the children run the streets and assemble when and where they would and if they get influenza to let them get it under conditions of which the Health Department had no knowledge and in which it was not prepared from the start to deal with the situation in the best way." Copeland went on to explain that the children are inspected from the start of the day and those who have symptoms are either sent home or to a hospital, depending on the caretaking conditions of their homes. Copeland also believes that the schools serve as places of educat ion about the epidemic for children who may also carry the information back to their parents. In response to this approach, former Health Commissioner, Dr. S. S. Goldwater, has announced that Copeland's plan is failing at the expense of the public. He said that the measures to exclude sick children from school are "lamentably weak" and that there is "almost criminal laxity" for carrying out education on the epidemic. Goldwater is currently working to get schools and theaters ordered closed to avoid the dangers that crowding brings. But Copeland's first concerns are ventilation, sanitation, and education. Therefore, theaters are used as centers of education and must remain open.

Developing Orientation Program

Med-Veal handles all administrative functions from the time of the referral until the medical report is delivered to the requesting party. Their goal is to focus on providing excellent customer support while providing high level services to clients all over the country. It is a relatively small company, employing fewer than one hundred employees, many Of which are located at the corporate site in Sterling, Virginia. Med-Veal provides an innovative solution to insurance providers by providing medical examiners that are board certified in their specialties and specialties.All physicians that are contracted with Med-Veal are qualified and free from sanctions or judgments that could compromise their credibility on medical reports. They also provide these services through the united States, so they can be relied upon to locate a qualified provider virtually anywhere. Lastly they provide discounted diagnostic service for Worker's compensation insurance providers, again with facilities avai lable all over the country. The corporate human resources team recently conducted a thorough needs assessment in April of 201 3, and found many positive happenings and orgasm already in place in the company.There were however, several issues that they found during this process that needed to be addressed if they wanted to find contain due success in the industry. One major concern that corporate human resources and management felt needed to be addressed immediately was the high turnover rates within the company. The assessment also showed low employee satisfaction, and much of the staff expressed concern with the fact that was no orientation or onboard program in place, and they were often left to learn the job on their own.There was no formal orientation, with employees spending about 30 minutes with one of the human resource managers to discuss benefits and fill out paperwork, and then about a day being trained by fellow employees on how the computer systems work, and how to sched ule patients for various studies or evaluations. Human Resource Development Intervention Once the needs assessment had been completed, human resources determined that changes needed to be put into place in order to improve employee satisfaction levels, to reduce turnover rates, and to employ a more denaturized onboard and orientation process.If was felt that much of the emphasis should be placed on developing an onboard process and training program, and in doing so it was felt that the turnover rates would drop and the satisfaction rates would rise. Therefore an action plan was implemented in order to create an onboard an orientation program. According to author Patricia Duration (2007), there are three key elements of a successful onboard program. These include a clearly identified process, having the support of managers and other organizational leaders, and aging sure there is timely follow up at the close of the orientation class.Because there was no formal onboard program or ori entation program in place, it was quickly realized that these were all areas that required improvement. There was no traditional onboard process. Employees were brought in, and immediately put to work with very little training. The expectation was that they would learn about the values of the company as they worked. Training was limited and provided on the job. This complaint was felt amongst many of the employees, especially those that were in the independent medical evaluation group which requires being very detail oriented, and able to handle many tasks quickly and effectively.There was no clearly defined program to bring new employees up to speed and train them properly on their respective positions. As the human resources team evaluated these events, they realized that the first step was to come up with the objectives of what they want their new onboard and orientation process to accomplish. This starts with creating a proper training program for new hires. Instructional Design Plan In order to address this problem effectively and create an effective unbarring and orientation program it is important to assess what measures need to be taken.It is imperative that human resources has a broad understanding of the learning style of the participants in order to create the proper objectives for the instruction. In this case, what is needed is a plan to create a more comprehensive onboard and orientation. The objective here would be to create an onboard that answers all questions that new employees might have, to make sure that employees are properly oriented to the company and their position, and that training rules are in place so that employees do not feel that they have been placed in a sink or swim situation.Learning Objectives By completing the instructional design plan, and combining that with the results of the needs assessment, as well as feedback from surveys given to management and employees, it is possible for the Human Resources team to be able to de termine what objectives are important for them to meet in order for new orientation classes and onboard sessions to be successful. In this case the first training session will need to focus on the importance of the onboard program.In this particular case, this session needs to involve a ore detailed overview of the company structure, as this will assist new employees in better understanding the inner workings of the company, and know the proper protocol to follow when questions arise. Objective number two relates to the fact that this is a very specific type of work environment, because you are dealing with workers compensation, and the specific rules and regulations that each state has.It is understood that many of the new hires do not have specific training in workers compensation programs, and that significant time will need to be spent explaining workers compensation ales and regulations, and how they differ from state to State. The third major objective that needs to be address ed in this program is customer service and the importance of provident excellent service to the customer. New employees need to be trained on how to handle various issues when they arise, while keeping the customer informed of the situation at all times.New staff needs to have an onboard and orientation process of at least two weeks. The first week in the onboard sessions, learning about company culture, and having in-services on customer service. In the second week of employment the new employee should be assigned to a senior team member whom they can shadow and be properly trained in their position. Lesson Plan According to Werner and Decision (201 2), an effective lesson plan lays out the step by step agenda of the training process.In the case of Med-Veal, this lesson plan is being established for a new employee onboard and orientation class. Onboard and orientation are to take place at corporate headquarters in Sterling, Virginia, and this will not change. Or in the case of SST. Choir Hospice, the plan for the new employee orientation class. As previously mentioned the first week will be the onboard process, where they will learn company culture, meet various staff members including members of human resources, management and payroll.A sample lesson plan would be as follows: Med – Veal On – Boarding Day 1 Objective: To Introduce new employees to Med – Veal. To inform them of the corporate culture, history and mission of Med -? Veal. Preparation Required: 1. Physical Environment – This course will be taken in the main conference room. All participants will meet there. 2. Equipment and Materials -? Materials ill be provided by Med – Veal. They will include paper and pen for note taking. Employee handbook will be provided during this session. We will require a laptop and projector set up, to be provided by IT. 3.Instructor 4. Participants -? DB – New Hires to Med -? Veal: Onboard class to be the First Monday of each mo nth as necessary to accommodate new employees. Day 1 9:00 -? 9:30 – Introduction and ice breaker. Have new employees get to know 5 facts about their new coworkers, and share these with the rest of the group. 9:30 – 10:30 Introduction to Med – Veal. This session will include history of Med – Veal, and discussion of the company mission. Also discuss code of ethics. 10:30 – 12:00- Meeting with HER staff. Discussion of benefits, and services offered to Med-Veal employees. 2:00 – 1:00 – Break for Lunch 1 -? 2:30 – Introduction to MIME department. Discuss the purpose of MIME. Overview of breakdowns within the department and the differences that can be found from state to state. Discuss the differences between a deposition, an MIME and a DAME. This section with be covered by Shannon Checker – MIME Manager 2:30-3:30 – Introduction to CICS and Diagnostic Department – Discuss duties of this department. Explain differ ences between CICS and MIME departments. Discuss where the referrals come from. Explain the process of getting referrals, and provide overview of procedures.This section will be covered by Lindsey Jensen -? CICS Manager 3:30 – 3:45 -? Break 3:45 – 4:30 – Introduction to CSS department. Discuss how this department provides support to MIME department. Provide overview of job duties and responsibilities. This section will be covered by Even Wagner -? CSS Manager 4:30 – 5:00 – Review of material covered in day one. Answer any outstanding questions. Provide overview of onboard session for day 2. Instructional Methods The instructional methods for this program will be handled in an lecture setting, using instructor led live programs.There will be discussion Of corporate culture, set in a question and answer forum. With the use of audio visual devices they will be able to provide the necessary information to the new hires. There will also be industry spec ific material presented, as worker's compensation has very specific rules that need to be adhered to. There will be a question and answer period at the end of each session, and then there ill also be testing will be given at the end of each day to determine what the new employees have learned, and what they are retaining.Instructors can then determine based on the testing results where and if any additional training needs to be provided to the individual new hires to ensure that they are retaining the necessary material. These training sessions will be provided during working hours which are from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday. They will break for a one hour lunch daily. Once the first week of onboard has been completed the employee will then move on to the second week of the orientation process which will be done in a one on one setting with senior team members.This on the job training will allow new employees to sit with various senior team members to be trained in multi ple aspects of the position, and also for them to see that they have several different resources available to them. This will provide additional support to the new employees not just from management, but also from senior team members who have the experience. By doing this new hires should feel more secure in their job before they begin, and should ultimately reduce the mount of turnover that Med-Veal is facing.

Dr. Seuss’s -Too Many Daves Essay

The search for personal identity is said to be a lifetime endeavor. At a certain point of their lives, most people eventually recognize who they truly are. Others live all their lives in confusion or fear of confronting their real selves because these might be something they would not like. Some people search long and hard to discover their essential Self. Others grow up truthful to themselves so that they develop an identity early in their lives and thus are able to develop more fully throughout their lifetime. Some people, meanwhile—the confused and afraid—construct an image that they use to deceive others and even themselves. Identity, therefore, is an issue that normal individuals grapple with. It is not only a grown-up issue, too. Even children have to deal with understanding who and what they are. They face the issue of a more simplistic but no less relevant nature than adults do on the subject. Dr. Seuss’s children’s poetry â€Å"Too Many Daves† can be interpreted as a piece that deals with the subject of personal identity and individuality, discussing it on a level that a young child could understand and find enjoyable and interesting at the same time. The persona in the narrative verse is a disinterested third-person speaker who simply would like to tell a story that he thinks others would be interested to know. The characters in his story is Mrs. McCave and her twenty-three sons, all named Dave. Maybe Mrs. McCave thought that it would be easier to simply choose one name for all her sons rather than think of a unique one each time she bears another son. She had twenty-three of them, after all. The disadvantage of this, she finds out later on, is that when she calls one son, all twenty-three Daves would come to answer her call. Ironically, she only realizes this when all of them are grown-ups already and it has become too late to rename them. Furthermore, now that they are all grown-ups, she is now able to think of unique and creative names by which she could call each one. The most obvious and catching attribute of the poem, even before its funny story, is its lilting cadence. All lines uniformly begin with an iamb followed by three anapests. This particular pattern may have been used by Dr. Seuss not so much in consonance with the meaning of the poem but because of its musical effect. When a storyteller or anyone reading-aloud this particular story begins with the first line â€Å"Did I ever tell you? † (1), the upward inflection on the second and fourth words, he would certainly pique the interest of any child-listener. The succeeding lines proceed with a gallop-like speed and sound so that the even if the listener cannot follow the story behind the lines or is simply too young to understand, he would enjoy the rhythm of the reading—as long as the reader places the proper emphases in the proper places, of course. Most Dr. Seuss books are notable for their nonsensical words that appeal not so much for the content or subject matter of the verse but for the effect of the words on speech when the verses are read or on the ear when they are listened to. â€Å"Too Many Daves† is no exception to this Dr. Seuss trademark. The regular rhythm of the verses and the inclusion of words which are purely Dr. Seuss’s inventions and, therefore, not meant to be understood, gives the piece a tone of playfulness prompts the reader to treat the story lightheartedly. The charm of Dr. Seuss’s stories is how they allow the reader to explore beyond the common and everyday things, whether he was conscious about this or not while he was writing them. â€Å"Too Many Daves† has a story which sounds too incredible to be true, but for its young listeners or readers, children whose ability to accept the fantastic and impossible are not yet hindered by the imagination-constricting ability to rationalize which adults are unfortunate to have developed along with growing-up. Aside from the rhythm, the element of heavy musicality is also affected by the profusion of rhyme, alliteration and assonance within the twenty-four lines. The reason that the mother-character is named Mrs. McCave is so that it would rhyme with the son’s name, Dave. The entire poem is composed of couplet rhymes with a different rhyme for every couplet. Alliteration is evident in lines like â€Å"twenty-three† (2), â€Å"she wishes that when they were born†(9) and in some of the names the mother enumerates for her sons like â€Å"Stuffy† and â€Å"Stinky† (14), â€Å"Ziggy† and â€Å"Soggy Muff† (17), â€Å"Buffalo Bill† and Biffalo Buff† (18) and â€Å"Weepy Weed† (19). Assonance, meanwhile, is present in almost all lines starting with the â€Å"a† sound in â€Å"that wasn’t a smart thing† (3) to â€Å"Yoo-Hoo† (4), â€Å"come on the run† (6), and the names â€Å"Hoos-Foos† (11), â€Å"Hot-Shot† (12), â€Å"Marvin O’Gravel Balloon Face† (16), â€Å"Soggy Muff† (17), â€Å"Sneepy† and â€Å"Weepy Weed† (19), â€Å"Oliver Boliver Butt† (23) and â€Å"Zanzibar Buck-Buck McFate† (23). The enumeration of possible names that the mother wishes she has named for her sons is the most interesting aspect of the poem because of the creativity that must have gone in the writer’s mind in thinking of aurally appealing as well as thought-provoking names for the McCave boys—although Dr. Seuss might have intentionally meant to make them nonsensical and meaningless when he wrote them. The reader of â€Å"Too Many Daves† can assume, however, that the mother must have been inspired to think of these names in particular because they represent the personalities of her children, which she only sees and observes as each child grows up. Every reader can employ his own creativity as he imagines the metaphorical or literal meanings behind every name. Perhaps Bodkin Van Horn is the son who dresses sharply. Hoos-foos sounds like someone who does not take things in life seriously. Simms is the average guy who is liked by everyone. Hot-Shot is an athletic jock. Sunny Jim is the optimistic one. Shadrack is a homebody. Blinkey has something wrong with his eyes. Stuffy is always serious and uptight. Stinkey does not like to take regular baths. Putt-putt is cute but childish. Moon Face is overweight and loves to eat. Marvin O’Gravel Balloon Face is like his brother, Moon Face, but more lazy. Ziggy is nice and ordinary. Soggy Muff is untidy. Buffalo Bill always figures in a fight. Biffalo Buff is always safe and stays away from troubles. Sneepy is sickly and weak. Weepy Weed is a crybaby. Paris Garters dresses well. Harris Tweed, too. Sir Michael Carmichael Zutt thinks too highly of himself. Oliver Boliver Butt is a simpleton while Zanzibar Buck-Muck McFate hates the small town life and dreams of being an explorer or an astronaut someday. The final line of the poem summarizes the message that the speaker would like to emphasize regarding the weird situation of the McCave boys’ being singularly named: â€Å"But she didn’t do it. And now it’s too late. (24). One’s name is the first step by which the individual defines his identity. Personality would eventually emerge whatever one’s name is, but it would have helped the McCave brothers if they were given unique names by their mother, and hence unique identities in her regard of each son. By depriving them of individual names, it appears like she had liked her sons to be the same in every aspect. It could also be interpreted to mean that she does not care much about his sons as individuals with their respective identities and personalities. She just realizes too late that even if they are all her sons she could not control the nature of humans to grow differently from each other. On the other hand, however, one could argue that the mother did not name her children with various names because she does not want them to be burdened by the expectations that some names may have on their owners. For instance, if a person were named Lovely at birth, it would be unfortunate if she grows up be unattractive. Mrs. McCave would like his sons to develop their own identities and personalities and later on, decide to get a name appropriate to them. Work Cited Dr. Seuss. Too Many Daves.

Economic, Social And Political Economy Essay

Introduction In 1920, the independent kingdom of Korea was forcibly annexed to Japan, it lasted until the end of the second World War. After World War II, the United States (US) decided to occupy the southern half of Korea to prevent the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) from taking control of the entire peninsula. USSR was helping North Korea’s fight against the Japanese forces. The US divided Korea at the 38th parallel to keep Seoul within the American-occupied area. USSR did not oppose the division. (Korean War, 2006) Both the USSR and the United States started to organize the governments in their half of Korea. When they did so, the political factions that used to be united against Japan started to emerge again. These factions represent the left-wing and right-wing views. The left-wing wanted an overhaul of Korea’s land ownership laws, which unduly favored rich landowners. And the right wing vehemently refused the reform. (Korean War, 2006) From 1945 to1948, the US suppressed the widespread leftist movement and backed Syngman Rhee. Rhee had lived for decades in the United States and has a solid anti-Communist credentials. He was also popular with the right. (Korean War, 2006) The USSR, on the other hand, supported the left and Kim Il Sung. Kim II Sung received support from North Koreans and China. Kim fought with Chinese Communist forces against the Japanese in Manchuria in the 1930s. Kim forced a radical redistribution of land when he first came into power. By the end of 1946 the regimes of both North and South Korea were in place. The division of Korea was formalized until 1948. The South established the Republic of Korea while the North established the People’s Republic of Korea.   (Korean War, 2006) The regime was barely in placed South Korea when it had to contend with a rebellion in the south from the left-wing, particularly in its southernmost province. North Korea supported the rebellion. It was South Korea that first provoked North Korea into a war, but and Kim II Sung was willing to fight the war, too, with the help of USSR and China. In 1949, fighting in the 38th parallel broke out between the North and the South. In 1950, the army of North Korea crossed the dividing line. The Korean War reached its height from 1950 to 1953. In 1953, a cease fire agreement was signed. It ended the fighting but the Korean peninsula remained divided. (Korean War, 2006) The Korean War was considered as one of the most destructive of the 20th century. There was an estimated death of 2.4 to 4 million Korean, mostly civilians. The other countries who supporter either side also experienced casualties. China, who supported the North, lost almost 1 million soldiers. The US, who sided with the South, lost a little more than 36 thousands. The economic and social damage to the Korea Peninsula was incalculable. In the North Korea, the three years of bombing destroyed most of the modern buildings. (Korean War, 2006) Because of the Korean War, the US and Japanese economy received a much needed boost after World War II.   Japan became the source of materials for the war. Meanwhile, defense spending in the US nearly quadrupled in the last half of 1950. (Korean War, 2006) The North Korean Economy after the War   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Because North Korea endured 3 years of US bombing, a new capital had to be rebuilt after the war in North Korea. By 1960, the discipline and forced-labor policies of the Kim II Sung’s regime resulted in recovery and development. The general standard of living of the people remained low.   There was an emphasis to heavy industrial growth but not production of economic goods. (North Korea, 2006) In 1995, there was a nationwide food crisis. In 1996, it became a widespread famine. USSR and China withdrawal of its food subsidies, the government’s agricultural policies, and a series of floods and droughts are factors that contributed to the food crisis. International humanitarian relief agencies provided food aid and other relief efforts. In 1998, an estimated 1 million people had died of starvation and famine-related illnesses. The food crisis continued into the early 2000s. (North Korea, 2006)   The Juche Idea Juche is the official state ideology of North Korea. It is also the basis for its political system. Juche literally means â€Å"main body† or â€Å"subject†. In North Korean sources, it had been translated as â€Å"independent stand† and the â€Å"spirit of self-reliance†. The core principle of the Juche ideology has been that â€Å"man is the master of everything and decides everything†. (Juche, 2006, para. 1) It was Kim Il-sung which advanced Juche as a slogan in speech titled â€Å"On Eliminating Dogmatism and Formalism and Establishing Juche in Ideological Work†. It was made in rejection of the policy of de-Stalinization in the Soviet Union. It became a systematic ideological doctrine in the 1960s. Kim Il-sung outlined the three fundamental principles which are as follows: (1) independence in politics, (2) self-sustenance in the economy, and (3) self-defense in national defense. (Juche, 2006, para. 2) In 1982, Kim Jong-il authored a document titled â€Å"On the Juche Idea†. An article in Wikipedia said: According to Kim Jong-il’s On the Juche Idea, the application of Juche in state policy entails the following: 1) The people must have independence (chajusong) in thought and politics, economic self-sufficiency, and self-reliance in defense; 2) Policy must reflect the will and aspirations of the masses and employ them fully in revolution and construction; 3) Methods of revolution and construction must be suitable to the situation of the country; and 4) The most important work of revolution and construction is molding people ideologically as communists and mobilizing them to constructive action. (Juche, 2006, para. 3) One of the first application of the Juche idea in North Korea was the Five-Year Plan known as the Chollima Movement. The Five-Year Plan involved rapid economic development, with a focus on heavy industry. This is to ensure independence from the USSR and China. (Juche, 2006, para. 4) But the reality of the Juche Idea is its economic program of â€Å"self-reliance† has resulted in economic dependence. North Korea has been an aid-dependent regime. From 1953 to1976 it depended considerably on Soviet industrial aid. The USSR remained North Korea’s greatest economic benefactor until its 1991 collapse. It experienced a food crisis in the early part of its regime which later developed in to a famine. It has accepted aid from China, South Korea and the international community. In 2005, the country was the second largest recipient of international food aid. In 1998, Juche made pragmatic adaptations to capitalism. (Juche, 2006, para. 5) The state ideology has been an alternative to traditional religion. Juche have incorporated religious ideas into the state ideology. Juche is considered the largest political religion in North Korea. Practice of all other religions is overseen and subject to heavy surveillance by the state. (Juche, 2006, para. 6) Improving Relationship with the South After the Korean War, North Korea developed a hard stance against the South. In the 1960’s, an assassination team nearly succeeded in killing Park Chung Hee, the South Korean president at that time. In 1968, North Korean gun boats seized a US intelligence gathering vessel and subjected its crew to extreme circumstances for a year. In 1969, a US reconnaissance plane was shot down. There were guerrilla raids launched against the South. These attacks made the South even more dedicated in renewing their defense measures and influenced the formation of a harder political order in South Korea. (North Korea, 2006) Through the 1970s and 1980’s, there were efforts to affect the unification of the North and South Korea, but these efforts failed. In June 2000, the leaders of North and South Korea, agreed to promote reconciliation and economic cooperation between the two countries. This was the first face-to-face meeting between the leaders of the two countries since the country was divided. (North Korea, 2006) The meeting of the leaders of these two countries led to the first cross-border visits of family members separated since the Korean War which was officially authorized by both states. The agreement also led to many favorable consequences for both countries. Trade and investment increase. There was a more relaxed military tension. It also partially reopened road and rail links severed by the Korean War. There was also a start of mail service between the two countries. (North Korea, 2006) During the opening ceremonies of the 2000 Summer Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, the athletes from North Korea and South Korea paraded together under one flag, the neutral flag of the Korea Peninsula. But the athletes still competed separately in the different events. (North Korea, 2006) In October of 2000, Kim Dae Jung was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to bring about reconciliation between the two countries. (North Korea, 2006) South Korea, together with China, is instrumental in bringing almost 1 billion dollars in aid and investment to North Korea. South Korea’s help prevent the collapse of the North Korean economy (Fajola & Fan, 2006). However, recent political developments may trigger old hostilities in the region. The insistence of North Korea to develop and test nuclear weapons may bring war in Northeast Asia again (Fajola & Fan, 2006). South Korea, despite its own pressing need, offered to supply North Korea energy if it would cease the production of nuclear weapons (David 2006). There is still no news whether North Korea has accepted its offer. Politics and International Relations Before the Korean War, The Workers’ Party of Korea was established. Kim Il Sung emerged as the leader of North Korea. He enjoyed the military support of the USSR until the soviet troops withdrew in 1948. Under the Workers’ Party leadership, political and economic changes had been made. The egalitarian land reforms were enforced. There was a radical redistribution of land from the land owners to laborer and tenant farmers. The landless labor and tenant farmers supported these reforms. Because of these reforms, there was massive confiscation of land and wealth from the Japanese or to enemies of the regime. Aside from the reforms, there was also party-directed economic planning and development. (North Korea 2006) Kim II Sung fought against the Japanese and, in 1949, welcome the war against South Korea. When North Korean forces crossed the dividing line to the South, the US joined the fighting with the approval of the UN. There was also a small contingent from Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and Turkey to help with the Americans. USSR, an ally of North Korea refused to vote during the deliberations in the UN. In October 1950, China supported North Korea in the War. When cease fire was finally agreed upon, thousands of lives where lost on both sides. Millions worth of infrastructure were also destroyed, particularly in the North which experienced massive bombing operations from the US. (North Korea 2006). In the political front, North Korean leadership began to veer away from USSR influenced. The intensifying conflict between China and the USSR, allowed North Korea even more independent action. (North Korea, 2006) North Korea actions after the Korean War seemed to be geared towards building of nuclear might. When both North and South Korea joined the UN in 1991, they signed agreements regarding nuclear and conventional arms control and reconciliation. In 1992, North Korea signed an agreement allowing the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to inspect the country’s nuclear facilities. In 1993 the North Korean government refused the inspection of nuclear waste sites which is believed to contain undeclared nuclear material for nuclear weapons. This resistance continued until the first half of 1994. (North Korea, 2006) South Korea suspended its formal acceptance of the 1968 Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) which it signed in 1985. In 1993, the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) suspected North Korea of building at least one atomic weapon from plutonium extracted from fuel rods at a nuclear power plant. (North Korea, 2006) In 1994, the US and North Korea reached an agreement called Agreed Framework. In this agreement, North Korea will suspend the operation of designated nuclear facilities capable of producing and reprocessing weapons-grade plutonium and allow IAEA inspectors to verify the suspension. The agreement called for annual deliveries of heavy fuel oil to North Korea. The U.S. agreed to take steps to end economic sanctions against North Korea, sanctions in placed since the Korean War. (North Korea, 2006) The 1994 Agreed Framework is also a step towards normal diplomatic relations between the US and North Korea. North Korea agreed to suspend operation of the nuclear facilities in return for two new reactors that will be built by US, South Korea and Japan. In 1995, the construction of the two reactors started. In 2002, US abrogated the agreement. It charged North Korea of violating the agreement by initiating a secret weapons-grade uranium-enrichment program. North Korea denied that it had such a program. Because the US abrogated in 2002, North Korea resumed plutonium production. In February 2005, it issued a statement that it was now a â€Å"nuclear weapons state.† (North Korea, 2006) While relations between the two Koreas are improving, the relations between the US and North Korea became even more strained because of the issue of nuclear weapons. The US had placed North Korea on a list of countries supporting terrorism and had characterized North Korea as being part of an â€Å"axis of evil†. China attempted to act as a mediator between North Korea and the US, but the US refused to meet in one-on-one negotiations. To compromise, China fashioned a series of negotiations which would take place among China, Japan, Russia, North Korea, South Korea, and the US. The talks were held in Beijing, China. (North Korea, 2006) Without reaching an agreement, the six-party talks recessed in early August 2005. When the talks resumed in September 2005, North Korea pledged to abandon all nuclear weapons and programs in exchange for economic aid and security guarantees. The talks stalled. Early of July 2006 North Korea launched seven test missiles, including a long-range Taepodong-2 missile, which fell into the Sea of Japan. Even if the test were considered successful, these raised tensions in the area. Concerned international community, through the UN Security Council, called for economic sanctions against North Korea. (North Korea, 2006) The 2006 Nuclear Testing Analysts are saying that North Korea’s gaining bragging rights as a nuclear power may have political and economic fallout. Many fears that the nuclear tests being done by North Korea can trigger instability in Northeast Asia. China, which had been a supporter of North Korea, is reconsidering its support for the Kim Jong II. China, with the help of South Korea, had given billions of dollars in aid and investment to North Korea. Both countries helped prevent the collapse of the economy for fear that such will send refugees pouring into their own borders. An Asia Times Online writer said that South Korea offered to supply North Korea’s energy needs if the latter will abandon its nuclear arms. China’s foreign minister, Li Zhaoxing expressed the Chinese government opposition to the nuclear test. (Fajola and Fan, 2006) Because of the tests, South Korea stopped the delivery of emergency assistance to help the North deal with recent floods. President Roh Moo Hyun said, â€Å"The South Korean government at this point cannot continue to say that this engagement policy [sunshine policy] is effective. Ultimately, it is not something we should give up on, but objectively speaking, the situation has changed. Being patient and accepting whatever North Korea does is no longer acceptable,† (qtd. in Fajola and Fan, 2006, para. 7). Analysts say that the shift in position of China or South Korea is partly based on the possible reaction of Japan, the nation most threatened by North Korea’s ballistic missiles. A nuclear-armed North Korea could lead Japan arm itself more aggressively. A U.S. congressional report may lead Japan, South Korea and Taiwan to develop their own nuclear weapons. It would start an arms race in the region and feed regional disputes. (Fajola and Fan, 2006) Japan has already said that it would impose harder measures against North Korea. The measures can include a ban on the remittances sent home by North Koreans working in Japan. (Fajola and Fan, 2006) Another motivation for China’s position is its failed attempt to mediate between US and North Korea in the series of negotiations in Beijing. To save face and to meet international pressure, China may impose tougher economic sanctions and reduce aid to North Korea to force the latter to stop production and testing of its missiles. (Fajola and Fan, 2006) Seung Joo Baek, an analyst from the Seoul-based Korea Institute for Defense Analyses also said: North Korea’s message is that no matter how hard South Korea, Japan, the United States gang up on them, they won’t budge. They want to be recognized as a nuclear power. They are assuming that it is the only thing that will keep them safe. We will have to wait and see if they are right. â€Å"(qtd. in Fajola & Fan, 2006, conclusion)       References    Korean War. (2006). In Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica. Retrieved November  30,  2006, from Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica Online: http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9046072. Korean War (2006). In Microsoft ® Encarta ® Online Encyclopedia 2006. Retrieved November  30,  2006 from http://encarta.msn.com. North Korea (2006). In Microsoft ® Encarta ® Online Encyclopedia 2006. Retrieved November  30,  2006 from http://encarta.msn.com. Nguyen, D. â€Å"South Korea Enters the Great Game.† May 13, 2006.   Retrieved November  30,  2006 from http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Korea/HJ10Dg02.html. Juche (2006). In Wikipedia 2006. Retrieved November  30,  2006 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juche Fajola, A. & Fan M. â€Å"North Korea’s Political and Economic Gamble.† October 10, 2006. Retrieved November  30,  2006 from http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/08/AR2006100801169_2.html   

Nutrition and Vegetables Essay

Vegetables are a very important part of our diet. Vegetables are an excellent source for fiber, vitamins A and C, potassium, calcium, and iron. Researchers have discovered that having a good diet of fruits and vegetables can lower blood pressure, reduces the risk of heart disease, stroke and possibly some types of cancers. It can also lower your risk of eye problems and digestive problems. Vegetables are eaten in a variety of ways such as main meals or for snacks. The nutritional content in vegetables can vary considerably. Most vegetables do not contain protein or fat. The dried beans, peas, and lentils are a good source of complex carbohydrates and can have high protein content. Sometimes these types of vegetables can be used to some extent as a meat substitute. Potatoes and corn are very starchy vegetables. These types of vegetables turn into sugar. Vegetables have a variety of colors. They can range from dark green to a beautiful orange color. The dark green vegetables are usually the leafy vegetables, and squash, pumpkin, and sweet potatoes are examples of the orange family. Some vegetables have a red/blue coloring such as eggplant and red cabbage. Many articles today have different ideas on the amount or servings of vegetables a person should eat per day. The amounts can range from two (2) up to nine (9) servings per day. The majority of nutrition specialists suggest 2-1/2 cups per day. Potatoes do not count in your servings per day! The best bet for servings are the dark leafy greens, tomatoes, and anything that is yellow, orange, or red color. According to the National Cancer Institute, not enough fruits and vegetables are produced or imported to supply all of the people in the United States for a healthy diet of five servings per person per day. Another problem affecting vegetable growth is bugs and insects. Scientific studies have been conducted that support the claim that insects attack plants that do not receive the proper balance of nutrients. The number of documented outbreaks of human infections associated with raw vegetables and unpasteurized fruit juices has increased in recent years. Most of the outbreaks were identified primarily as Salmonella. Tomatoes, seed sprouts, cantaloupe, apple juice and orange juice are the most recent vegetables to be linked to the Salmonella bacteria. The E. coli infection has been found in lettuce, sprouts, and apple juice. It is very hard to determine the source of contamination for the bacteria for vegetables. Unlike beef and chicken that are thoroughly inspected, methods for fresh produce are not as advanced. The contamination could occur at any point throughout the production process. Some of the potential sources of contamination include soil, feces, irrigation water, dust, insects, and human handling. Recently the Center for Disease Control has had a nationwide recall on alfalfa sprouts with the Salmonella bacteria and for romaine lettuce containing the E. coli bacteria. In conclusion, people have been consuming meats and vegetables since the beginning of time. I am sure many people died back in the beginning of time from the diseases and bacteria we have discovered today. We must consume meats and vegetables to survive. Humans cannot live on water alone. If individuals today will use common knowledge on preparing meats and vegetables, a lot of issues such as the contamination and bacteria would not exist. All in all the meats and vegetables today are safe and nutritious. If consumed in the right amounts, we will have a healthy, long, enjoyable life.

Mrs. Thomas: Holistic End of Life Care

Governors university Scenario A brief synopsis of the scenario explored in this paper will be forthcoming so the following observations and detail will have context. The key points in the scenario explored for Mrs.. Thomas, her husband and family are as follows. Mrs.. Thomas is a candidate for palliative care; In specifically hospice If she Is given a prognosis of six months or less. She has suffered breast cancer twice In the past year.A year ago she had a right mastectomy with removal of five auxiliary lymph nodes, with chemotherapy and radiation. Six months ago she had a second mastectomy on her left breast, followed by chemotherapy and radiation. After said treatment it was discovered that the cancer had metastasis's to her lungs and further surgery is not a feasible option. She has not been taking her pain medication as she does not want to procure an addiction problem. Her pain has Increased and she spends most of the time In bed crying.She had to leave her job, but has a small stipend via disability. She and her husband, a police officer, are struggling to make ends meet financially Her husband suffers from chronic depression that is being managed by medication, but he is resorting to take his medication often. He is a supportive and able caregiver however, he Is showing signs of caregiver strain and Job stress. In response Mrs.. Thomas Is worried that he Is becoming classical because of the circumstances of her condition and this In turn Is causing her further suffering. Core family support Is minimal.Mrs.. Thomas' close female relatives are dead from the very disease that is killing her. Because she is sick, she and her husband no longer socialize; she does not seek help from her female friends. Her sons live far away, and call often but they do not come to see her. Mrs.. Thomas is saddened that her sons are not here, but Quality of Life and Health Promotion This nurse believes that quality of life is defined individually for each patient. Each individ ual is unique and how they perceive life and what their life circumstances are define what is needed for end of life care.Quality of life during a time when aggressive treatment is no longer possible needs to be focused on comfort and support of the patient, caregivers and family. This nurse believes comfort (quality of life) includes the right to be free from pain, unless the patient chooses to experience main in trade for mental clarity. It includes the right to not participate in aggressive treatment or in clinical trials if the patient has no wish to do so. Quality of life to this nurse is helping the patient to do the best with the situation in life in which the patient finds themselves.It includes helping the patient with what he or she perceives as unfinished business and helping the patient conclude this business to the extent possible. Holistic end of life care includes care of all aspects of the patient (physical, social and spiritual) and care for those who love the one d ying?the family. The family is whatever blood or non-blood ties this entails; whatever â€Å"shape† of family the patient has at this time. This nurse believes that holistic end of life care encompasses not only physical comfort for the patient but promotion of healthy interactions for the patient with those who love and comfort them.These sensitivities are the goals of this nurse and if applied diligently may provide the best outcomes for the patient in this time of life. Strategies Four holistic nursing goals to begin to improve quality of life for Mrs.. Thomas, her husband and family are the nursing diagnoses: Pain Management, Addressing Anticipatory Grieving and Situational Low Self-Esteem, as well as, Altered Family Processes. First one must establish a rapport with the patient. By providing an open nonjudgmental conversation the nurse can encourage an open and realistic dialogue about what Mrs..Thomas is feeling. By reviewing past life experiences one can get to know th e patient and what interests her and establish trust. This trust is of most importance as all nursing care success depends on creating a team effort with the patient. Family involvement in this time needs to be proactive to help Mrs.. Thomas' mental state and via this her physical functional ability. Nurseries) A beginning conversation with Mrs.. Thomas needs to be about the importance of pain relief. By bringing the patient to an understanding of how this relief of pain will benefit those around her, Mrs..Thomas may be more likely to try the medication for said relief. This may be the initial hook with which one can get her to take said medication. The nurse must determine a comprehensive pain history, including frequency, duration and intensity using a scale dependent upon the patient's perception of pain throughout her life span. Zero pain for no pain; ten for the worst pain ever. This call gives the nurse a baseline from which to assess pain management. Her pain has been increas ing for the last six months and this nurse would designate that as chronic pain, perhaps with acute episodes.Also, the nurse must ask about and continue to monitor when said pain is occurring, as well as where and how much. Morning or when? Identifying precipitating factors of pain will help in its long term management. (Nurseries) Pain is what the patient says it is; we as nurses need to accept that premise. Within the realm of pain lie both physical and emotional response. Because Mrs.. Thomas is no longer seeking aggressive cancer treatment, he â€Å"variations of aggressive treatment† pain control will not be discussed.However, as her disease progresses it is most likely that her pain will increase. Which brings up another point?reluctance of the patient to report pain because of fear that the disease is worse or that the pain is deserved somehow. The nurse must also be aware of unmanageable side effects (like hallucination) which if experienced must be dealt with in a ma tter of fact fashion and by trying another medication regime. To address pain management with Mrs.. Thomas one must address her fear of addiction. By talking with Mrs..Thomas openly and honestly about the need for pain relief, it is hoped that she is lead to the conclusion that pain management and pain medication abuse are two different things. At the end of life, pain medication addiction is not an issue. This idea needs to be gently but openly professed. One could point to the relief of stress for her husband if she is not in pain; as well as the physical benefit (and hence mental benefit) of remaining pain free. If she remains pain free she will be more able to take care of herself and her activities of daily living.She will be able to live in this time instead of living in dread of each day. Once she is taking said pain medication it must be monitored, adjusted and changed as needed for optimal effect and to support the ability to participate in activities of daily living to the fullest as possible. Also discussing non-pharmacological comfort measures like massage and diversionary activities like music is in order. What does Mrs.. Thomas respond to; what does she like? What kinds of non-pharmacological pain intervention has worked for her in the past?Ask questions so that she can verbalize these things to help herself. Being able to relax will help her focus her attention. Encouragement of stress management skills and complimentary therapies (relaxation techniques, biofeedback, LAUGHTER, music, aromatherapy, acupressure, acupuncture and touch are a few) helps the patient to actively participate and enhances a sense of control. Heat and cold may also help by decreasing muscle spasms and inflammation. Pain makes stress, stress makes stiff muscles and increases self-focus which, unfortunately, increases pain.As the nurse interacts with the patient it is important that the patient comes up with ideas about care and becomes a proactive member of their healthcar e team. (Nurseries) Mrs.. Thomas is also suffering, â€Å"Anticipatory Grieving. This is related to loss of her physiological health and change in lifestyle. It is interconnected to the knowledge that she is going to die, for real, and most likely soon. This nursing diagnosis is needed because of her change in social activity level, her reluctance to tell her sons that she needs them?now.It is evidenced by her denial that she does need them and help and support in general from her friends. (Nurseries) Outcomes that are desired include the patient being able to feel her feelings and express them. By doing this she will hopefully come to the place where she is able to take one day t a time and continue her normal activities; even planning for the future. Being able to admit that she is dying, understanding and verbalizing the process is a beginning is done, she must feel supported in her grief work. One must beware of debilitating depression, the like of which is indicated by the sce nario.To address this the nurse must be frank and direct in asking questions about the patient's mind state. (Nurseries) Frequent visiting by the nursing team and care providers, family and social support of friends can help relieve feelings of isolation and abandonment. Her ones need to be contacted with a â€Å"for your information† talk about coming to see their mom (and dad) and possibly who could be of help with caregivers as it is needed. Mr.. Thomas is also a source to find out about who may be able to help with this care this, as well.The nursing diagnosis, â€Å"Situational Low Self-Esteem† is related to how Mrs.. Thomas feels about her disfiguring surgeries and subsequent treatment side effects (aliped, muscle wasting, and more) as well as feelings of self-doubt and lack of control in her life. It is about the doubt about being accepted by others–of still eyeing a human in the world. It is also about her anxiety and fear of her disease process. This is evidenced by her not taking responsibility for self-care (not taking pain medication; crying in bed all day. ) Acceptance of her situation is an outcome that is looked for.She needs to be able to develop mechanisms to cope with her problems and set realistic goals. What coping skills has she used in the past? She needs to be able to participate in her own life by learning to adapt. The nurse can help her through this process by asking proactive questions about how she feels and perceives her world. By getting her to voice where she's at, she will also perhaps start to voice how she can manage. (Nurseries) This diagnosis ties in with the aforementioned, â€Å"Anticipatory Grieving† diagnosis. By defining diagnosis and disease process beginning problem solving can occur.By anticipating what can happen, some measure of control can be taken. By working with Mrs.. Thomas and planning how daily activities can be managed, adaptation can occur. (Nurseries) Discussion about her roles in life, as a worker, spouse, and mother and problem solving about how to accomplish her goals for these roles may help reduce problems that interfere tit her self-esteem. It may help her to see how she can cluster activities at home to conserve energy but be productive. It may help her to be more able to reach out to those who love her for inclusion and support.The nurse must acknowledge troubles she is experiencing and validate the patient's reality; this opens the door to the patient being able to seek measures that are necessary to cope, like counseling, and support groups. The nurse should readily be able to supply information about said resources so as to facilitate the patient in procuring more support. If Mrs.. Thomas is n hospice the social worker of the interdisciplinary team can help facilitate and direct this work; but the nurse must always continue it during her visits. Holistic Nursing Plan Amongst personal revelation the nurse must explore who may be able to help Mrs ..Thomas with her activities of daily living. Her husband is doing the Job, but he is suffering from care giver strain and could use some help. It may be that the people she has cut herself off from socially miss her and would love the chance to be able to help in some way. Caregivers avenues and their affordability need to be explored before they are needed. These interactions; providing pain control, helping with grief and esteem issues, and helping the patient to discover what will work best to live disease state progresses, but before it is needed, preparation for a lesser level of self-care must be addressed.Medicare provides a â€Å"compassionate allowance† for hospice care for those of any age with a metastasis cancer with a prognosis of six months or less. She needs to apply for this care in the beginning of the nursing visits if she qualifies. To receive hospice care via Medicare she must be eligible for Medicare Part â€Å"A†, be certified as terminally ill a nd then apply for hospice care. This care would be in her home. By signing an election of benefits Mrs.. Thomas would be choosing hospice care in lieu of routine Medicare-covered benefits.Hospice would pay for pain medications and those required by her terminal diagnosis, as well as services included in the palliative plan of care. Often the hospice doctor confers with the patient's primary doctor and others on the hospice interdisciplinary team are included. (â€Å"Your Medicare benefits,† 2014) Hospice of Kits County provides an interdisciplinary team consisting of the doctor, the patient's primary provider and nurse practitioners, sitting nursing care, a medical social worker, a chaplain, a home health aide. Also provided are complementary services, which include massage and music therapies.Volunteers are also enlisted to help with such things as grocery shopping and the like or simply for company. These persons come to the patient's home for service. Hospice care differs with regional coverage. Durable medical equipment is also covered, so if Mrs.. Thomas is in need of a hospital bed, oxygen, bedside commode, wheel chair and so on, it will be provided at no cost to her family via Medicare coverage. Grief and loss counseling is also provided. â€Å"Hospice of kits,† ) Providers for home care must be explored as Mrs.. Thomas declines.Often the expense precludes coverage of duties in this way. Exploration of service providers and means of payment need to be explored as a way to cover Mrs.. Thomas' needs as she declines. Medicare covers the cost of a short term inpatient care in a Medicare approved hospice facility, or nursing home if the caregiver is suffering from caregiver strain (for up to five days) or if it is determined by the hospice physician that symptoms must be managed in an inpatient setting. Because Mrs.. Thomas has no Eng term care health insurance this care could be instrumental in providing for her final days. â€Å"Your Medicar e benefits,† 2014) The fourth nursing diagnosis, â€Å"Altered Family Processes† must be addressed for the holistic health of Mrs.. Thomas. This holistic care includes her husband as well as Mrs.. Thomas' sons and families. Situational crises can develop when a family member has a long term illness. There is a change in roles in caring for a parent and an anticipated loss of said parent. (Nurseries) Those involved need to learn to express feelings freely and demonstrate individual involvement. This individual involvement must include a problem solving process that promotes suitable solutions for the situation.Mrs.. Thomas' sons need to be contacted and requested to attend a family conference. If they are unable (because of finances or schedule) to attend then this could be accomplished via phone. They must understand the need of their mother to see them in person and will hopefully comply. The reality of the situation must be broached to them in a caring way. It may be that the Thomas' or Mrs.. Thomas can go and stay with them for more available for care and support of their mother. Speaking with family members in a caring, respectful manner and providing information both written and spoken helps promote feelings of empathy.It stimulates individual feelings of value and capability in ability to handle the present situation. In answering questions and providing information one can empower Mrs.. Thomas' loved ones. Identifying patterns of communication and interaction between family members is an important nursing intervention. It provides information about how active said communication is. It can also identify what problems may exist that interfere with the family in helping the patient and what problems there are in adjusting to the prognosis.Role expectations must be explored and how each individual sees the situation, in sharing these thoughts the family can promote understanding within its unit. Assessing the way members are expending their ene rgy with which to deal with the situation is needed so as to provide guidance in positive focus for the well-being of patient. Acknowledging the difficulty of the prognosis, as well as, encouraging appropriate expressions of anger helps resolution in the stages of grieving. The nurse must remain centered.Stressing the importance f continuing dialogue that is open and honest between the family members helps communication to remain open and thus facilitates problem resolution. Mr.. Thomas must be educated by the community health nurse as with regards to how anti- depressants need to maintain a certain blood level to be effective. If he is not taking them regularly this will not happen. To help achieve this goal, a pill box with days on it can be set up; perhaps an alarm set to the same time each day enlisted, so that he can remember to take his medication and thus be better able to function at this time.To provide holistic nursing care to Mrs.. Thomas her needs as a person must be add ressed. Physical, social and spiritual realms must be explored. Plans of action to provide for her physical care and the demise of her abilities must be explored; help must be sought out from the aforementioned sources. Method must be applied via nursing diagnosis and indications of said diagnosis. Desired outcomes must be planned, as well as nursing interventions to work toward these outcomes. Mrs.. Thomas must be approached with honesty and treated as a human being, with a life, in her time of need.

Homework Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 36

Homework - Essay Example In the ensuing years, beginning 2010, the economy started to pick up, as the firms that had closed down during the financial crisis resumed and people were slowly but surely getting back their jobs. As early as 2013, the fight against the fiscal cliff was almost concluded and every other macroeconomic element looked to be back in their right shape. Since the end of the credit crunch, the US has enjoyed years of uninterrupted economic gains. Unemployment has significantly reduced, as well as the inflation rate. However, much as things have been improving, economists argue that the pace is a bit slower than the one that was witnessed in the wake of World War II. Statistically speaking, the US economic growth rate has averaged about 2.25% since it started bouncing back from the effects of the 2008/9 credit crunch. In 2014, the growth rate was thought to have gone below 1%, and unemployment hasn’t reduced to desired levels (Recession and Recovery, 2014). The dragging growth rather is mainly attributed to the budget problems. The fiscal cliff did not do enough to reduce the budget deficit which was almost $0.98 trillion in 2014. In the years preceding the global financial crisis, the United States economy was growing at a rate of about 3.25% and the budget deficit was as low as $0.5 trillion. As it stands currently, the budget deficit needs to be cut by about $0.3 trillion for the economy to be said to be recovering at a good pace. Unemployment: For four years since 2009, the unemployment statistics in the US had been coming down at a slow but a steady pace. For instance, by the start of 2014, about 160 jobs opportunities had been created and the unemployment rate stood at 7.7%. Taxes: The fiscal cliff debates were mostly about raising taxes for the rich, but it emerges that most of the middle-class Americans part with an additional $600-1200 annually. This is mainly attributable to the expiration of the payroll