Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Essay on Outcomes of Gaining and Losing Faith - 900 Words

Everyones future depends on their self-belief and how positively they look at the events that occur in their life. This is portrayed through Suzanne Buffam’s â€Å"Trying† and Alix Ohlin’s novel Inside. The speaker and Anne both face inner conflicts; the speaker gains faith in herself which helps her overcome her conflict and have a peaceful state of mind, whereas Anne loses faith in herself which leads to her failure in overcoming her conflict and losing her confidence. The speaker’s reassuring tone shows her peace of mind contrary to which Anne’s melancholic tone which shows her low self-esteem. Furthermore, the speaker’s use of allusion shows her inner peace, which is the result of gaining faith in herself, whereas Anne’s use of diction†¦show more content†¦She has, â€Å"the feeling of knowing nothing this good could last, of getting away with it now, for as long as she could. Let’s hope† (Ohlin 209). This pr oves that Anne’s inner conflict is that she hopes for her relationship with Diane to last, but does not believe that will happen. After losing faith in herself, she thinks she does not have the ability to maintain a relationship. She even says, â€Å"Other people were destined to keep leaving, over and over again† (Ohlin 229). She is saying that she will always have to abandon the people she loves. She does not understand that if she wants to be with Diane, she needs to have faith in herself. Instead, she keeps thinking the worst of herself and breaks up with Diane. Unlike the speaker who overcomes her conflict by gaining faith, Anne does not overcome her conflict as she loses her faith and ends up being pessimistic. The speaker’s reassuring tone reflects her peace of mind, which is the result of gaining faith in herself whereas Anne’s dejected tone portrays how she does not believe in herself which is the result of losing her faith. The speaker feels at peace because of her faith. She says, â€Å"try not to worry† (Buffam). She is reassuring herself which shows her faith and trying not to worry because she has started to believe that she will eventually get pregnant. She looks in the mirror and says, â€Å"The mirror, perhaps mercifully, was dusty, and I did not get a good look†Show MoreRelatedIntegrative Counseling : Christian Based Counseling1102 Words   |  5 Pagesdesign of man. While we may not know the whole design ourselves but we can use our limited knowledge together with what we know of Gods intentions for man to understand why we do what we do. In the end while some may see integration as selling out or losing the point of the therapy it can still be hi ghly effective on both a religious front and a counseling front. The Differences The key difference between these two kinds of therapies is the techniques used is the methods used. As mentioned one ofRead MoreHistory and Understanding the Past1011 Words   |  4 Pagescondemned to repeat it’ . Basically, it gives us a frame of events to consider the possible outcomes of present and future actions. It helps us understand past triumphs and tragedies, and gives us the opportunity to succeed where others have failed. As Oscar Handlin quoted â€Å"the historian’s vocation depends on this minimal article of faith: truth is absolute; it is as absolute as the world is real. This faith may be philosophically naà ¯ve, may even be philosophically absurd in this skeptical and relativist-mindedRead MoreDecision Making And The Prospect Theory1490 Words   |  6 Pagesindividuals make decisions based on the weighted average of the utility. In other words, risk is treated objectively. However, Kahneman and Tversky (pp.35, 1992) proposed that decisions are no t always made objectively based on the probability of the outcome. They are affected by the decision weights such as ambiguity, which Expected Utility Theory does not take into account (Ellsberg, 1961). One good reason why people still purchase government securities is because of lack of information or ambiguityRead MoreThe Arguments For The Existence Of God940 Words   |  4 Pagesperson. In a way, there is no predetermined outcome: instead, the essence and purpose of each person are the summary of their own choices in life determining. 2. The crisis of meaning that John Stuart Mill has experienced is indeed a significant event which everyone is most likely to encounter at some point in their own lives. When all the purpose and meaning in the life of each individual have been proven wrong, that person is likely to experience losing the value of his or her life, unable to moveRead MoreThe Culture Of The Western Culture Essay1368 Words   |  6 Pagesadult is different from when he was a child. Unlike the days when he used to find comfort at home when the family spoke Spanish, he no longer sees any pride in speaking a language that only made him different from the rest of the people. Through gaining an education, he has a new way of looking at things. He considers not knowing how to speak proper English embarrassing and a drawback to achieving more in life. Contrary to this Castillo is keen on the preservation of one’s identity despite the acquisitionRead MoreOdysseus: A Hero Essay1074 Words   |  5 Pagest he fictional world, a hero is someone who has learned from his or hers journey to come out a changed person. Some characters complete the journey, while others do not quite make it to the end. In The Odyssey, Odysseus takes more than one leap of faith on his journey to become a hero by learning from his mistakes, making personal sacrifices, and becoming a better man. After making mistakes, Odysseus realizes his wrong doings and changes his actions for the better. Throughout the story, OdysseusRead MoreBrave New World Government1086 Words   |  5 Pagesamongst the citizens of the country. Earning respect can be achieved by conducting one s self honorably and proving one s capabilities. Huxley presents another technique of acquiring respect by employing â€Å"hypnopaedia† as means of earning respect and gaining control over the nation. Of course they don t. How can they? They don t know what it s like being anything else. We d mind, of course. But then we ve been differently conditioned. Besides, we start with a different heredity(Huxley,5). BraveRead MoreLegal Framework Of The Interaction Between Trusts And Relationship Property Essay1380 Words   |  6 Pagesbalance between trust and relationship property rights under the current law. Firstly the interaction between trusts and relationship property will be looked at in depth before goi ng on to consider what avenues are currently available for either gaining access to trust property or being compensated for being denied access (wording). The current position favours trust rights over relationship property rights. This is a concern because it creates the potential for injustice in relationship propertyRead MoreI Discovered One Perspective By Talking With Mrs. Bonnie Yost1452 Words   |  6 PagesAdulthood can be a time of distress or fulfillment. It will likely include deep feelings of loss and grief, and may also include a sense of hope and joy. Despair can come from the experience of loss, missed opportunities in the past, declining health, losing friends and family, and an ever-approaching unknown future. Hope and positivity are derived from a sense of purpose and meaningfulness (Berger, 2014, p. 733). How does someone in Late Adulthood successfully navigate this time of life? I discoveredRead MoreEssay on The Balance Between Positive and Negative Thinking1503 Words   |  7 PagesThinking†, a New York Times bestseller. His book outlines principles and techniques for gaining achievement, happiness, and health. Peal states that â€Å"these principles have worked so efficiently over so long a period of time that they are now firmly established as documented and demonstrated truth† (Peale xii). The proof that Peale’s techniques can work is seen in the lives of millions who put their faith in Peale’s teachings. They are experiencing energy like never before, peace of mind and improved

Monday, December 16, 2019

Performance Enhancing Drugs in Sports Essay examples

Performance Enhancing Drugs in Sports When involved in sports, you have to be competitive. You need to win more than anybody else. However, athletes are taking winning to the extreme. As the use of performance enhancing drugs is becoming more popular amongst athletes, many of them do not understand the risks involved in taking these drugs. Many people are looking for a quick way to build muscles, or to get stronger the fastest way possible. Using these performance aids may very well be a quick fix for many athletes, but taking the drugs is unethical and dangerous. Using special drugs to boost an athlete’s performance is degrading to sports and to the athlete, but after they stop using the drugs and lose some strength, you become†¦show more content†¦If the athlete is patient and works hard, he or she too can achieve the same strength that they would obtain using steroids. Athletes are trying to cheat using unnatural shortcuts to gain their muscle instead of spending the long hours in the weight room. People today go through many different avenues while striving for excellence in sports. Pressure to perform and win can be a heavy burden for players. Every player wants to be the best and become the next superstar of their sport, as Michael Jordan is to basketball. As with many areas of life, the better you perform on the field, the more prestige, money and power you will receive. These rewards are very enticing to young athletes, and many would sacrifice profusely to achieve such goals. Getting to such greatness requires a great amount of time, skill, hard work, and luck. Nevertheless, instead of sacrificing time and hard work, athletes look for the easy way to reach stardom. This seems to be a theme that is growing more common in the realm of sports. Still, some athletes may not be as gifted as others may, so they likely will try to make up for deficiencies by using steroids. Whether it is a good or bad way to achieve excellence, everyone still holds some sort of determination. Whether you are at the top of your game and you are the best at what you do, or you are at the bottom and at the worst, deep inside everyoneShow MoreRelatedPerformance-Enhancing Drugs in Sports1078 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿Performance-enhancing drugs in sports: A literature review A number of prominent athletes have recently experienced a fall from grace, because of the revelation that they used performance-enhancing drugs. Perhaps the most famous example of this phenomenon is Lance Armstrong. In an advertisement for Nike that his former sponsor now no doubt regrets, Armstrong is shown asking the viewer what am I on? Im on my bike, busting my ass six hours a day. Professional cycling is often cited as one ofRead MorePerformance Enhancing Drugs For Sports1227 Words   |  5 PagesPerformance Enhancing Drugs Sport records are becoming harder   to break and seeing records are starting to become a thing of the past.. Players aren’t being able to hit these home runs or score long touchdown’s. Injured   players are getting kicked off the team or even quit because they can’t get to their peak performance that they were at before they got injured.   If more players were to use performance enhancing drugs they would be able to compete to the performance of past players. A performanceRead MorePerformance Enhancing Drugs For Sports Essay1514 Words   |  7 PagesPerformance-Enhancing Drugs in Sports A tremendously large problem in sports is whether or not athletes should be able to use performance enhancing drugs. To most people, it doesn t make any sense for athletes to be using them. They have to know what affect it has on their body not only physically, but also mentally. Around the early 2000’s is when all this starting coming up and it has made a dramatic impact on the sports world. The few people who want performance-enhancing drugs in sports don’tRead MorePerformance Enhancing Drugs in Sports1686 Words   |  7 PagesPerformance Enhancing Drugs in Sports Athletes use performance enhancing drugs to boost their game. The professionals who use these drugs are ruining the integrity of the game. Many people don’t understand why professional athletes would go to such extreme measures to be better when they have already proven themselves. Athletes are just taking away from their natural ability by using these dangerous drugs. The risk of using performance enhancing drugs is a lot greater than the reward, because anRead MorePerformance Enhancing Drugs in Sports1207 Words   |  5 PagesThe growth and use of performance enhancing drugs makes them no longer a taboo subject among professional athletes, and is starting to become in fact rampant among athletes. There appears to be no end in sight when leagues like the NFL and NCAA have weak testing programs. Traditional locker rooms in the NFL have a few steroid users and have many HGH abusers due to the NFL’s weak testing programs. HGH has become a rampant issue for the NFL, because it allows the average NFL player to gain an edgeRead MorePerformance Enhancing Drugs in Sports527 Words   |  2 Pagesuse of performance-enhancing steroids in sports is forming a problem. The sports that they play end up being cheated by these frauds. This is a disgusting epidemic. For example, â€Å"The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) recently estimated that over half of a million 8th through 10th grade students are abusing AAS, and that many high school seniors do not believe their use constitutes a health risk† (steroidabuse.com). The problem exists in professional sports and below. Steroid use in sports is becomingRead MorePerformance Of Sports And Performance Enhancing Drugs2051 Words   |  9 PagesPerformance Enhancers in Elite Sports Performance enhancing drugs are as old as sports themselves. Even the ancient athlete that competed in some of the first Olympic Games were know to use substances to boost their performance. It is on record that â€Å"Olympian Thomas Hicks won the marathon after receiving an injection of strychnine during the race in the third Olympiad†. (Savulescu, 1) It wasn’t until the 70’s that athletes began being tested for performance enhancing drugs and they became bannedRead MorePerformance Enhancing Drugs For Professional Sports1703 Words   |  7 Pagesthe use of performance enhancing drugs. The debate on whether or not performance enhancing substances should be allowed in professional sports has been going on for years, decades even. Many believe that using steroids and other performance enhancers should automatically disqualify an athlete from ever being able to be a member of the Hall of Fame, in sports in general, not just in Major League Baseball. However, there is an argument to be made to make the use of performance enhancing drugs legal inRead More Performance-Enhancing Drugs in Sports Essay1678 Words   |  7 PagesPerformance-Enhancing Drugs in Sports In all areas of sports, professional, college, and even high school, there is widespread illegal use of performance-enhancing drugs. Although there are many reasons for athletes to choose to use these drugs, the cost of such use, both to the athlete and to society can be extraordinarily high. It is important to understand why performance-enhancing drugs are used and what are the consequences of their use to the athlete and society. One of theRead MoreSports and Performance Enhancing Drugs Essay1221 Words   |  5 PagesPerformance enhancing drugs in todays pro sports have become a big deal, because of health stimulants and the benefits that such studies have on good development of the person and on fair athletic games. Pediatricians or trainers can play a huge role in helping the athlete or player that is using or taking performance enhancing drugs. By taking factual info about the true benefits and medical problems of these drugs and giving information about healthy food and working out. Tries to create a change

Sunday, December 8, 2019

Promotional Mix Woolworth Supermarket

Question: Discuss about thePromotional Mixfor Woolworth Supermarket. Answer: Introduction Sustaining a stable market for the products and services remains one of the key objectives of any business organization. This can be achieved by creating and implementing strategies which would ensure that the consumers are adequately made aware of the products (Greenblatt, 2013). The promotional approach used by a business depends on a number of factors which include; the core business goals, types of brands that characterize the business as well as the nature of the market. In this report, we focus on Woolworths supermarkets as one of the retail outlets. The report outlines advertisement and sales promotion as the core promotional mixes used by the business entity. Promotional Mix used by Woolworth Supermarket A promotional mix involves the process of coordinating marketing activities in a bid to improve the clients perception and probably increase sales. There are various approaches of promotion for instance; personal selling, sales promotion, advertisement, direct marketing as well as publicity. For the supermarket, research indicates that the management largely prefers then use of advertisement and sales promotion. As mentioned by Adeniyi (2009), advertisement strategies involve various steps which the business management uses to increase the awareness about their brand. The supermarket uses television, radio, periodical articles in addition to bill boards to announce their products and services. The contents of the advertisement are made to be as appealing as possible. The process of advertisement does not only involve mentioning the effectiveness of the products on promotion but also the product prices. While carrying out the advertisements, Woolworths is always keen on clarifying their specific location to the consumers. This would enhance convenience and access to the business premises where the consumers are then treated to a variety of goods and services at flexible prices (Cohen, 2008). Additionally, the incorporation of information technology in business management has made online platforms the most convenient arenas for advertisement. The online platforms used by supermarkets to enhanc e advertisement include business websites in addition to other social media. They also harness the merits associated with e-Commerce to improve the popularity of their products. Through the various online platforms, the supermarket outlines their products, their effectiveness, access points, aftersales services available as well as the product prices. The online media equally allows the supermarkets to obtain and review the customer feedbacks with regards to products and services. Consequently, the management establishes the areas in need of adjustments in a bid to enhance sales. Apart from advertisements, supermarkets largely depend on sales promotion to enhance the awareness and market of their brands. One of the commonly used sales promotional strategies is giving sales presentations. In this case, the sales personnel directly interact with the clients and give them useful information about the products for instance the product uses, advantages and prices. These interactions are effective because they give the business entity a direct link with their clients who can ask more questions and get clarifications on the products before making informed choices. Sales presentation can be a sure way of enhancing the popularity of a product or service especially when the conversation is effective and persuasive enough. The other form of sales promotion used by Woolworth is the issuing of free samples. In this strategy, free samples are attached to products and placed on the supermarket shelves (Williams, 2009). For instance the management can have a washing determined attached to a cooking utensil on sale. This idea is aimed at attracting the customer to the cooking utensil. Studies indicate that products in the supermarket which contain attached free samples take the shortest time on the shelves. Other methods of sales promotion include offering of gifts to loyal customers (Harper, 2009). Through this strategy, Woolworths identifies and motivates loyal and consistent customers at a particular outlet. The clients are then treated to various advantages for instance receiving discounts on prices (Ross, 2007). In addition, supermarkets enhance then popularity of their products through event sponsorships. In this case, Woolworth takes up an event and sponsors the activities by providing resources like vehicles and clothing. Then T-shirts, for instance are imprinted with business logo and some of its products. In the process of sponsoring the events, the supermarket equally goes a long way in improving the popularity of their brands. Recommendations and Conclusion Based on the analysis of the promotional strategies above, it would be important for managers to adopt the most effective rational in a bid to improve product awareness. By reviewing the customer feedbacks through trends in sales, the management can establish the effectiveness of a promotional strategy. When the implemented strategy doesnt lead to a corresponding improvement in sales, the management ought to put in place alternative approaches. In addition, the promotional mix ought to be evaluated after a given period of time to determine their effectiveness. It is also important to have enough information regarding the changing trends in consumer needs and preferences. This enables a manager to align their promotional strategies with the client needs which plays a pivotal role in enhancing brand awareness and sales. Consequently, a good promotional mix is determined by the extent to which it triggers positive response from the customers. The best of the best ought to be used by bus inesses to achieve their sales objectives. References Adeniyi, A. (2009) Marketing Principle and Practice. New York: Malhouse Press Ltd. Greenblatt, E. (2013) Woolworths Supermarkets. Journal of Financial Review, 2(1), pp. 2-6. Cohen, M. (2008) Productivity and Efficiency in Human Service Organizations as related to Structure, size and Age. The Academy of Management Journal, 23(1), pp. 21--37. Harper, S. (2009) Configurations of Organizational Effectiveness and Efficiency. The Academy of Management Journal, 36(6), pp. 13451361. Ross, T. (2007) Marketing as a concept. New York: Practice Hall press. Williams, J. (2009) Fundamental of Marketing. Tokyo: McGraw Hill.

Sunday, December 1, 2019

Nursing Process Essay Example

Nursing Process Paper The nursing process is a comprehensive, holistic five-step process that helps registered nurses to become united by a common thread in their patient care practices (ANA, 2014). The tool was developed to maintain consistency and efficacy in the nursing sector of healthcare. The process is the nurse’s core tool for providing patient-focused attention. The first of the tool’s five-pronged nature is assessment. Nurses are required to carry out an in-depth analysis of the patient’s symptoms, not only those manifested biologically, but those tied to sociocultural, economic, and spiritual factors as well. For example, a nurse investigating a patient suffering from acute migraine need not only focus on the headache itself, but also on the patient’s response to the condition. Diagnosis is the second step that involves the nurse giving their professional opinion on the nature and cause of the patient’s condition. The diagnosis is a clinical judgment that identifies the patient’s condition, the nature of their suffering, causative agents, and any potential special needs. A patient suffering from migraines can be diagnosed with high stress levels. Outcomes/planning provide the nurse with a provision for laying out the expected outcomes from treating the patient and how to achieve those outcomes. Planning is the result of the findings from the assessment and diagnosis stage. Based on these findings, the nurse sets measurable goals, short and long-term, medicinal and therapeutic aimed at alleviating the patient’s condition. Such actions might include drinking plenty of water and minimizing exposure to stress raisers for the migraine patient. The implementation phase is the fourth one, where nurses carry out the remedial actions proposed or outlined in the planning phase. Medication is given to the patient for the stipulated timeline, in the prescribed dosages. We will write a custom essay sample on Nursing Process specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Nursing Process specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Nursing Process specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer For the migraine patient, treatment might include THE NURSING PROCESS 3 administering painkillers and engaging them in relaxing exercises to relieve stress. Finally, the last step is the evaluation phase. This phase closely interleaves with the implementation phase. The nurse takes data on the patient recovery status and compares it to the benchmarked outcomes. The rate of recovery is determined and corrective action on the treatment plan done to bring patient recovery on track (ANA, 2014). Increasing the dosage or varying the strength of the pain relieving agent might be alternatives implemented on the treatment plan to expedite the patient’s recovery. Direct and Indirect care as described by the Nursing Intervention Classification (NIC) project Direct care is care administered through interaction with the patient, such as giving them medication, talking to them or changing their bedspread. Indirect care involves things done to aid the patient’s recovery but are not directly performed on the patient. These include checking the patient’s emergency chart or talking to their family to solicit increased support for the patient. In both these instances of indirect care, the nurse is proactively trying to improve the patient’s health status without directly interacting with him/her. The three (3) types of Nursing Interventions Interventions carried out by nurses on patients are categorized into three; those that are entirely proposed by the nurse (nurse-initiated), those proposed by a clinical officer or doctor (dependent) and finally those arrived at as a result of discussion between the nurses and the doctors (interdependent). Nurse initiated interventions, for the case of a patient suffering from migraines and refusing to take medication, might involve taking measures to educate the patient on the dangers of refusing medication. A dependent intervention will require an order or directive from another health worker, such as a physician (Doenges Moorhouse, 2013). THE NURSING PROCESS 4 For example, the physician might advise the nurse to try a different way of administering medication to the patient. Interdependent interventions require joint input between the nurses and associated medical personnel to deine the best course of action. For the migraine patient, interdependent intervention may be a physiotherapist educating the patient on the need of leading a cheerful life, while the nurse advises them on punctilious drug taking. Role of Nursing Process as a tool for aiding Nurses provide safe and reliable patient care As an organizational framework, the nursing process is a lighthouse that guides registered nurses to make the best possible healthcare plans for their patients (Basford Slevin, 2012). Based on a five-step process, the framework interrogates the comprehensive nature of the patient’s condition, then formulates a clinical judgment, followed by outcomes or objectives and plans to achieve patient wellbeing. Implementation is carried out where the carefully thought out action plan is followed to the letter. The overall effects of the treatment regimen or therapeutic intervention are assessed in the evaluation step to determine the level of efficacy of the treatment program. If the treatment is effective in curing the patient, no changes are necessary, and the plan is carried on. Lack of discernible progress towards wellbeing on the patient indicates a deficiency in the assessment, diagnosis or planning step. Therefore, the nurse has to revisit their diagnosis and critical evaluation of the patient’s condition to see if they missed important information. The plan is consequently adjusted according to new information and the effect of the modified treatment regimen evaluated. The nursing process builds on the client or patient participation in the process of building an all-encompassing health profile of the client. As a result, involving the patient in formulating the healthcare plan makes the process an efficient tool that covers all relevant nursing bases. Being outcome based and client-centric, evaluation of patient response to THE NURSING PROCESS 5 formulated healthcare plans provides an effective way of troubleshooting malfunctioning treatment or therapies. How Registered Nurses evaluate overall use of the Nursing Process and variables that affect Outcomes Registered nurses evaluate the overall use of the nursing process through identifying the treatment cases that have been successful after implementation of the process. Achievement of patient outcomes is the ultimate goal of the process. The result is a comprehensive and holistic patient care plan that meets or exceeds the expected outcomes, thus paving the way for the evaluation of the overall program as successful. One of the variables that can influence the ability to achieve desired outcomes is inadequate or insufficient assessment of the patient. For instances where the patient is debilitated to a degree where they cannot effectively communicate, the nurse might end up with an incomplete or inaccurate conditional profile. Underlying and subjective symptoms are difficult to gather in such a scenario. Such insufficient information makes it difficult to give a fitting clinical judgment on the patient’s condition. Diagnosis is another variable that banks on the nurse’s proper knowledge of medical conditions and their symptomatic nature to give accurate diagnostics. Wrong diagnostics lead to improper healthcare outcomes and planning schedules that inadvertently offer the wrong medication. Planning is the third variable in the nursing process that involves a thorough analysis of the available treatment alternatives present for the patient. The most effective treatment plan is chosen that provides the best emotional, spiritual, and psychological comfort for the patient. Plan Modifications when Outcomes are not met The plan is modified by revisiting and adjusting one of the first four steps of the nursing procedure based on the evaluation of the outcome. The patient can be reassessed to see if THE NURSING PROCESS 6 condition details were missed or omitted, the diagnosis can be reviewed and changed if erroneous information was presented, or the proposed planning/outcomes were not properly formulated. The implementation of the corrective action can also be adjusted to give more appropriate medication if the prescribed medication was not the best choice. Registered Nurse’s use of the Nursing Process to prioritize care Care prioritization is a possible outcome of the nursing process through the capability it gives the registered nurse to select the most pertinent care plan to alleviate the client’s condition. In the case of the patient suffering from migraines, the nursing process can help the nurse prioritize stress relief practices over medical prescriptions if the patient is exposed to extremely stressful circumstances. Prioritizing care ensures that patients receive the best treatment first in line with their conditional dictations. THE NURSING PROCESS 7 References Doenges, M. E. , Moorhouse, M. F. (2012). Application of nursing process and nursing diagnosis: An interactive text for diagnostic reasoning. Philadelphia, PA: F. A. Davis. ANA. (2014). The Nursing Process. Retrieved from http://www. nursingworld. org/EspeciallyForYou/What-is-Nursing/Tools-You- Need/Thenursingprocess. html Basford, L. , Slevin, O. (2012). Theory and practice of nursing: An integrated approach to patient care. Edinburgh: Campion Press. Nursing Process Essay Example Nursing Process Essay The nursing process is described as being an individualised problem solving approach in which patients receive nursing care. The nursing process consists of four distinct phases, each having a discreet role in the process, theses phases of the process are: assessment, planning, intervention and evaluation. (Oxford Dictionary of Nursing 2003) It is important that the four stages of the process from assessment to evaluation are carried out sequentially because each phase follows logically from one to the other. As a result the maximum well-being of the patient is always the key issue and the nurse is aware and confident of action to be taken during intervention. This essay will describe the nursing process and the importance each of the phases in turn. It will highlight the significance of each element not only in ensuring the physical and general well-being of the patient but also treating the patient as an individual. Finally the importance of evaluating the complete process will be discussed in order that nursing staff may reflect on the success of their actions. Assessment is the initial and a very important stage of the nursing process. It involves the gathering of information on the patient’s overall state of health from which a care plan may be created (Oxford Dictionary of Nursing 2003). It is suggested that the ability to assess a patient is to find out their health needs, and to highlight fears and expectations that the patient may have. Questions will focus on the medical, social, psychological, spiritual and cultural needs of the patient, rather than just focusing upon medical and physical needs as each patient is different (Nursing Midwifery Council (NMC 2010)). We will write a custom essay sample on Nursing Process specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Nursing Process specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Nursing Process specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer That may be resolved through additional questioning of family or friends if required, examining medical records and taking into account the doctor’s diagnosis. This is vital to the nursing process to allow a high standard of care to be reached for each patient. Assessment is important as it helps the nurse gain knowledge and understanding and the ability to identify the patient’s needs (Linda Nazarko 2008). However it has been proposed that in certain care setting in depth assessments are not carried out resulting in the patient not receiving holistic care. Sometimes elderly patients in a care home may need continual assessment which may not always be possible due to lack of staff. (Dingwall L 2008). The NMC (2010) recommend that nurses refer and adhere to the code of conduct at all times when carrying out assessments in order to offer support to the patient and to recognise that treating each patient as an individual is essential and respecting their dignity is vital in maintaining a high standard of care. A high standard of assessment will ensure the efficiency of the next element, planning. Planning consists of the nurse working with the patient and other members of the multi-disciplinary team, in developing a care plan to assist the patient and staff in reaching short-term and long-term goals that were identified in the earlier assessment process. Its focus is holistic and is based on the clinical judgement of the nurse and other medical staff, using assessment information such as the patients individual needs and wishes in relation to their health (Royal College of Nursing (RCN)). According to the International Journal of Palliative Nursing (March 2007) as nurses are in a unique position to assist in the planning process, they require knowledge, skills and resources to provide the highest level of care. This could become a major issue if the nurse does not have the appropriate information about the patient. According to John McKinnon (2004) the involvement of patients in decision-making to improve patient compliance with medical advice between a practitioner and patient, can be regarded as having a positive sequential link with patient-centred care planning. It is suggested to be a process of co-operative care that underpins the principles of patient centeredness and partnership working. This shows the importance of working along with a patient when creating a care plan in the planning stage of the nursing process. However this may lead to conflict as the nurse and the patient may have different priorities from each other, for example, if the patient requires a blood transfusion but they are a Jehovah witness. It has been accepted that planning is a process which offers patients active involvement in deciding, agreeing and knowing how their health will be managed, thus allowing the patients ethical belief to stay intact. (Department of Health 2006 (DH)). Once the planning stage of the nursing process is completed the next stage is intervention. The intervention phase of the nursing process is the beginning of the practical nursing care to the patient. Details of treatment are clearly given to and are acknowledged by the patient. Thus goals laid out in planning will be achieved by the patient and nursing staff. Throughout this phase the nurse will continually review the patient to ensure that the interventions are successful (Jyoti Beck 2011). It has been suggested that the early phase of intervention is time consuming. However as soon as the procedures are integrated into daily standard care they become more manageable even when they are in addition to the current workloads as long as the goals are in suitable practice (Maria Dunckley et al 2005). This suggests that the nurse must ensure that they never undermine the care of a patients everyday needs as these are as important as the action plan is in part of the nursing process. Furthermore, another important part of the intervention phase is documentation. As the intervention stage is an accurate, up-to-date account of the patients progress, it must be signed by each nurse engaged in delivering the care as detailed in the care plan. (NMC Code 2010). Nursing interventions are designed to promote and maintain holistic wellbeing of the patient. In order to prevent further ill health, the nurse carries out these interventions by using a range of knowledge and skills acquired using evidence based practice (British Journal of Nursing 2010). Evaluation is the final stage of the nursing process, it is the final phase in the previous stages of care. It reviews how assessment, planning and intervention have identified the specific needs of the patient, how successful the delivery of nursing care has been. (www. rcn. org. uk). It will also examine patient satisfaction. Evaluation is on-going and is an active process which may involve the change in the patient’s health, resulting in further planning of care or indeed discontinuation of the treatment at the intervention stage. When nurses carry out evaluation they should analyse the previous phases of the nursing process in order to determine whether expected outcomes for the patient have been met. This will define the level of recovery the patient has reached and their ability to cope with their own health care needs independently. Evaluation is a feed -back mechanism for judging the quality of care given on the patient’s progress. It specifies if the patients problems have been resolved and if there is a need to re-assess, re- implement and re-evaluate the care plan. In conclusion this essay has demonstrated the four different stages of the nursing process and its value to practice. It is of utmost importance that a professional working relationship exists between the patient and other members of the multi-disciplinary team in order for the patient to receive the best outcomes for their health and well-being. The nursing process enables nurses to continually question the care they give to patient and acquire better knowledge and understanding of working for benefit and safety of the patient. It can be seen that each phase of the process of nursing is essential, as each part contributes to the patient having maximum holistic health outcomes and patient satisfaction from the treatment that they receive from nurses. The nursing process encourages nursing practice to improve the effectiveness and quality of healthcare to be beneficial to the patient. This assignment also discussed the issues where the nursing and patient may have their differences of opinion when receive treatment in clinical practice, and the nurse must adhere to respecting the patient’s dignity in every case. Without the nursing process the efficiency and quality of care that the patient would receive may not be patient centered as nursing care would rarely involve the patient but focus on the illness. The process of nursing helps to keep nursing practice current as nurses apply Evidence Based Practice in the care they provide. It is the nurses duty to stay currently informed and educated on any treatments as nurses must provide a high standard of practice and care at all times by using the best available evidence. Each section of the process helps the nurse to contributes to improved patient outcomes because nurses must make decisions on a regular basis on what is the appropriate care to provide for the patient. The four elements comprising assessment, planning, intervention and evaluation will help reduce the negative outcomes since the care is based on a plan incorporating the use of evidence-based practice and ensures patient satisfaction.