Patient ratio to nurse affects patients ans nurses in canadian health Essay

Patient ratio to nurse affects patients ans nurses in canadian health care - Essay Example Effects of Patient-Nurse Ratio to the Nurses, Patients, and Canadian Health Care Introduction Canada’s health care system has undergone enormous change (Forest, 2004, p. 150). One of these changes involves the Health Human Resource Planning (HHRP) and has posed challenges related to patient-nurse ratio. The HHRP drastically affect the role of the health care providers such as registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, caregivers, and even patients. That is why the Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada proposed that health care must be matched as closely as possible to the health needs of the population (Forest, 2004, p. 151). I had been on practicum in a care home and I noticed how nurses are responsible for 25 patients and 8 patients for each care aid. Based on observation, that nurse and care aid ratio to patients had a huge impact on patient care. Because of that number, a lot of things were missed, poorly done, rushed, and worst commission of negligence. Nur se-patient ratio is not fair especially in care homes and in hospitals. During my practicum as an LPN, I had observed that the quality of care an LPN could give was compromised due to extra load. The LPN cannot bring out the best care for patient and the nurses became task oriented. Both the nurses and LPN cannot spare an enormous amount of time to build a good relationship with the patients. In addition, care aids are given some responsibilities that should be done by a nurse. For example, range of motion (ROM) exercises was performed by LPN although these persons might not know the importance of ROM exercises. As I was talking and taking care of these patients, I noticed presence of contractures because their exercises are not being carried out even though it is written in the chart. Also, topical medications application was assigned to the care aid but it is not applied everyday committing this mistake repeatedly. The unfair patient-nurse ratio diminished the time nurses spend wi th patient. If a nurse had a little bit extra time to spend with patient, it might relieve patient’s anxiety and will ask questions about their health. But instead, patients are given sedatives and nurses no longer sit with the client to alleviate anxiety. More and more drugs are given and it just adds to the drug toxicity in the body. Most of the patients admitted to the hospital are seriously ill. They went to the hospital for cure and not to have additional serious complications on top of it. Studies found out that lower nurse-patient staffing was linked to the occurrences of increased urinary tract infections, pneumonia, thrombosis, pulmonary lung congestion, and other lung-related problems following major surgery. This nurse-patient ratio caused nurses’ burnout as they have to give medications to 25 patients including the tube patient’s medication, IV medication, and insulin injection which were time consuming. Nurses look like robot in giving care and donà ¢â‚¬â„¢t have enough patient time. In some instances, old patients take medication slowly consuming a bulk of time nurses could provide to other patients. In hospitals, nurses are given extra load of acute patients. Later on, this compromised care and adds extra stress on the part of the nurse. In general, the lower nurse

Turning Algae into Gasoline Essay Example for Free

Turning Algae into Gasoline Essay Studies about converting algae into biodiesel started during the 1980s. However, the idea is still not yet fully developed nowadays. With the increasing value of oil in the market some people are finding other alternatives. Many organizations are now starting to develop algae into fuel.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Algae are easy to find and those living things grow faster which means that supply of algae is not going to be a problem. Those can be found on ponds, rivers, mostly in watery places. Those creatures can even grow in man-made environments. Algae can live in salt water and even in low temperature.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Using algae as an alternative for gasoline has several advantages. One is that algae do not have to use big amounts of agricultural places in order to be produced. So, there will be enough places to plant more crops for foods. Also, cultivating algae will also help to lessen the carbon dioxide in the world since those creatures needs carbon dioxide. The emissions of carbon dioxide upon refining the algae into gasoline are lesser than fossil fuels.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   However, turning algae into gasoline is not that easy. Algae should have enough amount of sunlight in order to produce good quality gasoline. And since algae grew faster, those creatures sometimes destroy the carbon dioxide they use to make foods and leads to the blockage of sunlight they need to survive. After all, it is not easy to found algae that have the right quality in order to be converted into gasoline.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Also, to produce gasoline, some chemicals, such as methanol or hexane, are used to extract oil from the algae. There are possibilities that the chemicals used will affect the water and land where the plant is located.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   There are disadvantages and advantages on turning algae into gasoline. As of the moment, the study is young and needs more experiments and further studies regarding this issue. This study needs to have more development. References Crooks, E. (2007, December 12).Shell bets on algae to make biofuel. The Financial Times. Retrieved May 31, 2008, from http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/0c2d084a-a857-11dc-9485-0000779fd2ac.html?nclick_check=1 Douglass, E. (2008, May 29). Sapphire Energy turns algae into green crude for fuel. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 31, 2008, from http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-greencrude29-2008may29,0,1053218.story Kanellos, M. (2007, May 10). The Math on turning algae into fuel. Retrieved May 31, 2008, from http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9717949-7.html Montana State University (2008, January 19). Renewed Interest In Turning Algae Into Fuel Generated. ScienceDaily. Retrieved May 31, 2008, from http://www.sciencedaily.com ­ /releases/2008/01/080115132840.htm Svoboda, E. (2007, July 1). The greenest green fuel. Retrieved May 31, 2008, from http://www.popsci.com/scitech/article/2007-07/greenest-green-fuel

Causes of Animal Extinction and Disappearing Species

Causes of Animal Extinction and Disappearing Species Newler argues that, animals become extinct when they die and no longer exist; at that death of the only existing members of the species. Extinction simply means to be away forever. The process takes place over a period of time. A species may be regarded to as functionally extinct before it is fully extinct when only a few of them exist. The existing group is for one reason or another unable to reproduce and propagate the species, hence termed as functionally extinct. The process begins from the time when the death rate is higher than the birthrate. The number of animals then slowly decreases to extinction, (Newler, 102). Newler also adds that in biology extinction is the end of a given species of animals in an ecosystem. Though not documented, scientist believe that 99.9% of the species that have existed before have so far been extinct. A certain species of animals may get extinct because it cannot survive in the changing environmental conditions; allowing only the species that are well adapted to the environment to survive. This shows that there are certain natural factors within the environment that causes extinction, (Newler, 102). According to Manwel, a number of animals that existed several years ago have since been extinct. These include: tyrannosaurus Rex (extinct 65 million years ago), Stellers sea cow: the defenseless beast (extinct since 1768), Thylacine: the Tasmanian tiger (extinct sine 1936), Quagga: half Zebra, half Horse (extinct since 1883), Irish Deer: the largest deer that ever lived (extinct about 7,700 years ago), Caspian Tiger: the third largest (extinct since 1970), Aurochs: a very large type of cattle (extinct since 1627), Great Auk: largest of all Auks (extinct since 1844), Cave Lion: one of the largest lions ever (extinct since 2,000 years ago) and Dodo: the archetype of extinct species (extinct since late 17th century), (Manwel, 75) Causes of animal extinction Although some cases of animal extinction is attributed to natural factors within the environment, it is however evident that human activities play a very key role in the process. Scientists have studied the human activities that causes immense environmental changes which makes the environment unfit for the existence of a particular species of animals. Since humans have become the dominant species on earth, increase in human activities leads to exploitation of the resources within the environment and leads to emissions that may cause serious climatic changes which reduce the chances of survival of the animals. Some of the causes of extinction include the following. Global warming According to Manwel, there is a close association between global warming and extinction of animal species on earth. Scientist argue that 251 million years ago, life on earth nearly came to an end when there was mass extinction that saw the death of over 90% of all species on earth. This was caused by a volcanic eruption that caused an increase in atmospheric temperatures by 6 oC setting off a greenhouse effect that led to the mass extinction. The greenhouse effect was caused by the emission of carbon dioxide from the volcanic eruption. The accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere creates greenhouse effect, (Manwel, 77). Ruckler adds that with the increase in human activity and industrial advancements lead to the emission of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere which causes greenhouse effect. As the levels of carbon dioxide increases, the evidence of its effects on the planet becomes more glaring. At present, a number of animal species are at the verge of extinction because of the serious environmental changes cause by global warming. Global warming leads to increase in atmospheric temperatures and reduces the amount of oxygen both in the atmosphere and the water bodies. This greatly affects the existence of animals. For example, when the amount of oxygen dissolved in water is reduced, anaerobic bacteria increases and the number of the other aquatic animals reduces drastically. Global warming also affects migration of animals, hatching of eggs and distribution of animal species in the planet. There is factual evidence that global warming is tied with animal extinction. In Australia for example, White Pos sum is believed to be extinct as a result of global warming. The animal died because it could not withstand the high temperatures, (Ruclker, 56). Overhunting and overfishing According to Raloff, overhunting refers to the harvesting of wild animals beyond the growth rate of the population; such that the total population of the animals gradually reduces. Both overhunting and overfishing reduces that number of animal species. For example, a number of fish species are facing extinction because of overfishing. Overhunting in the high seas has reduced significantly the population of whales, sea turtles, sea cows and other fish species, (Raloff, 23). Most humans hunt for wild animals for their hides and meat. Human encroachment into the forest and new habitat has seen the extinction of animal species. In North America, 11,000 years ago, when people first migrated from Serbia to Alaska, it is thought that some species of animals including the mastodon, mammoth and Saber-toothed tiger became extinct within a few centuries because of hunting and resource exploitation. The effects of global warming are evident from the extinction of a member of the primate group in Ghana and Ivory Coast. The red colobus and the red-checked monkey became extinct from the African forest because overhunting and destruction of its habitat brought about by human inhabitance. Raloff argues that in the past, the extinction of animals such as elephant birds and lemurs in Madagascar, kangaroos in Australia, Moas in New Zealand, herbivores in America are overhunting. Hunting poses major threat to animals and has lead to the increase in the number of endangered species. The most endangered groups of animals in the world today are the mammals and birds. For mammals the main disadvantage they have is that they are big (require more food and water) and reproduce at a slower rate hence they can be easily wiped out through overhunting. Birds are susceptible for overhunting because of their conspicuous nature. This makes the two goops the most endangered groups in the modern world, (Raloff, 23). Habitat degradation Manwel and Mwenda pointed out that most animals live well in given set of condition provided in a given habitat. Habitat degradation means that the conditions are altered making it unsuitable for animal inhabitance; which may cause the extinction of a species of animals, which directly depend on the environment for food and shelter. The environment is changing from time to time in a slow pace. Human activities cause rapid changes in the environment to the disadvantage of animals which are slow to adapt to the fast changing environment. Increase in agriculture, mining, logging and fishing are just but a few human activities that expedite the extinction process through environmental degradation, (Mwenza, 96). Habitat degradation may cause extinction of animal species either directly or indirectly. The industries and farms produce a lot of toxic products. The effects of these products include; reduced reproductive capacity, short life span and reduces that ability of the animals to survive the environmental conditions. The availability of food and shelter from the environment is reduced by habitat destruction. Overpopulation Manwel and mwenda said that overpopulation in animals stiffens the competition for food and shelter. When the population of animals is higher than the carrying capacity of a given ecosystem, there will be a shortage of resources which definitely leads to the death of some animals. Overpopulation leads to overexploitation of the existing resources. When there is overpopulation of predators, the population of the prey reduces to and becomes one of the endangered species. If the increasing population of the predators is not controlled, the prey soon becomes extinct, (Manwel and Mwenda, 29). Conclusion The number of endangered species in animals increases with time. This means that the total population of animals on earth reduces gradually. A number of animal species are now facing extinction. The main causes of extinction can be either natural causes or human activities that affect those animals directly or indirectly. The causes include: global warming, overhunting and overfishing, overpopulation and habitat degradation. The main effects of these factors is that they endanger some animals species. Work cited Manwel, Paula. and Mwenda, J. Earths Endangered Creatures. 5th ed. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc, 1998. Newler, Martin. Disappearing Species. London: McGraw-Hill publishers, 2000. Raloff, Geoffrey. Extinction and Environmental Changes. 2nd Ed. Boston: Allyn Bacon publishers, 2004. Ruckler, Benjamin. Species Disappearing at an Alarming Rate. (3rd Ed.). New York: John Wiley Sons, Inc, 2006.

Columbine -Type Students In American Public Schools :: science

Columbine -Type Students In American Public Schools Don’t â€Å"kid† yourself. There’s trouble in paradise that escapes the vision of folks wearing rose-colored glasses. I’m not a contemporary Chicken Little running around screaming â€Å"The sky is falling!† And I’m not a little boy crying out â€Å"Wolf!† I am a former English teacher with thirty-four years classroom experience. I’ve taught through wars, recessions, political assassinations and public anti-war protests. I’ve seen and broken-up hundreds of bloody â€Å"student† fights. I’ve been threatened by enraged â€Å"students† and by their irate â€Å"parents.† Been there; done that! Columbine-type â€Å"students† attend most high and middle schools across the country. They attend Hammonton High, Hammonton Middle, Edgewood, Oakcrest and even Beverly Hills High. They might not always wear trench coats and carry concealed guns and grenades. But the Columbine â€Å"student† mindset is definitely present. These troubled Columbine-type youths are scarier than the obnoxious wise guys that daily defy teacher authority and they are more frightening than the â€Å"student† bullies that terrorize weaker peers and start brawls in the school cafeteria or hallways. The tacit behavior of Columbine-like students makes them a formidable challenge to school authority. Sure, high schools have â€Å"peer mediation.† The basic problem is that these â€Å"Columbine-like† students don’t want to communicate with representatives of standard academic school society. The sinister-minded teens often don’t even communicate with each other. That’s what makes them walking and sitting time-bombs ready to detonate. They prefer having an insular existence that does not want to be disturbed. They don’t express themselves until it’s too late. The â€Å"Columbine student mentality† has a certain behavioral â€Å"profile.† That’s right all you politically correct critics out there, I emphatically stated the improper word â€Å"profile.† The kids say little or nothing at all. They keep their feelings and thoughts mainly to themselves while sitting in their desks, often seething beneath cool external faà §ades. Columbine-type kids seldom participate in classroom discussions or volunteer to do constructive things in school. To them athletics, school clubs and awards are not worth pursuing. Their rebellion is silent, stealthy, cold, cunning and calculated. Their ongoing rage is adroitly camouflaged; they could erupt and explode at any minute. These kids, probably around five percent of any middle or high school’s student body, are individual sticks of dynamite ready to be lit. Not even the â€Å"students’† guidance counselors have any psychological handle on what these wily youths are thinking, feeling or plotting. The Columbine-type kid often feels picked-on, frustrated, alienated and persecuted.

The Word of God

We should read and study the Bible because it is totally reliable and without error. oThe Old Testament writers claimed many times they were speaking the word of God. Isaiah 1:2 â€Å"Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for the Lord has spoken: â€Å"Children have I reared and brought up, but they have rebelled against me. † oThe New Testament writers confirmed the Old Testament was God speaking. Hebrews 4:12 â€Å"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. oThroughout the Bible, God warns not to add, to take away from His Word. Rev. 22:18-19 â€Å"I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, [19] and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of l ife and in the holy city, which are described in this book. † oJesus in His sayings confirmed the Old Testament as being without error. Luke 24:44 â€Å"These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled. † oThose involved in science say the Bible is not accurate, but every time science tries to disprove the Bible, it ends up proving it. The Bible has never changed over the thousands of years since it was written. The Bible is authoritative and can be trusted as such. No piece of literature even approaching its age comes close to having the supportive textual evidence indicating authenticity that the Bible has. It is simply the most reliable text in existence. We should read and study the Bible because there is so much false teaching. The Bible gives us the measuring stick by which we can distinguish truth from error. Amos 7:8 â€Å"And the Lord said to me, â€Å"Amos, what do you see? † And I said, â€Å"A plumb line. † Then the Lord said, â€Å"Behold, I am setting a plumb line in the midst of my people Israel; I will never again pass by them;† All Christians should study the Bible each day. Psalm 119:15 â€Å"I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. Psalm 1:1-3 â€Å"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; [2] but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. [3] He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. † Th e best time to study is in the morning because the Bible refers frequently to things being done early in the morning. Isaiah 50:4 â€Å"The Lord God has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. Morning by morning He awakens; He awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught. † It is highly recommended that two Bibles be used. One is the main Bible and the other is a study Bible with full notes. The Bible should not be read as a textbook but as the word of God. Before even opening the Bible to read, it is best to ask the LORD to reveal something fresh that will help in one’s daily walk. The different approaches to reading the Bible are: oHearing oReading oWriting oStudying oMeditating oMemorizing. oApplication The following study aids will also be necessary to help understand the Bible: oA concordance (Young’s, Strong or Cruden’s) A Bible dictionary oA commentary on the Bible oVines Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words oA good English dictionary oA notebook to record impressions oA Bible marker to highlight certain passages that make a special impression The Bible can be read through from beginning to end or a daily program followed where both Old and New Testament portions are read each day until the whole Bible is read. But keep in mind that the goal is not to get through the Bible as quickly as possible but rather to absorb it as the word of God. For centuries the Bible has been a fixed point of reference and no matter how far society and individuals have strayed, the Bible has served as a guide for human conduct, a moral framework producing a sense of right and wrong, a source of truth, an inspiration for the arts, music, literature and a beacon for personal behavior. Philip. 4:8-9 â€Å"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9] What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you† Bible meditation Meditation means pondering by talking to oneself, musing, thinking, or reflection. It involves allowing the mind to become saturated with God’s words. Meditation involves the heart; memorization involves the mind. Bible meditation contains the secret t o happiness, fruitfulness, freshness, progress, prosperity, success and victory over enemies. 1 Tim. 4:15 â€Å"Practice these things; devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress. Some ways to meditate are: oMemorize a section of the Bible oQuote the section (verse) to the Lord as a personal prayer oRepeat the section several times each time, emphasize a different word oVisualize the significance of each word as far as you can oRepeat the section and ponder on the full meaning of each word oRest – let the words grow in your mind, will and emotions. oUse section to talk with God oPonder each word for personal application oExpect God to bring this section to your mind for decisions and show you ew insights from it. The Bible equips us to serve God. Ephesians 4:11-13 â€Å"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; (12) For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: (13) Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ† Memorizing Bible verses is important – more important than many people realize. It is not to score well with God and others, but to help disciples become more equipped for ministry. John 14:26 â€Å"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. † Jesus subdued the enemy at the temptation simply by quoting verses He had memorized from Deuteronomy. Jesus demonstrates both the importance and effectiveness of knowing and applying Scripture to combat temptation. (Matthew 4:1-7)

The Effect Of Advertising on Personal Appearence essays

The Effect Of Advertising on Personal Appearence essays What does it mean to be physically fit? Does it mean you can throw a football like John Elway, or hit a baseball like Sammy Sosa? Does it mean you can run a mile in one hundred degree weather under twelve minutes, or swim fifteen laps across a pool in one minute? Is physical fitness being anorexic or being on steroids. Thats what the media makes it look like. The average female super model is up to fifty pounds underweight. Sixty-two percent of football players take some form of muscle enhancing product. Many girls worry about their physical appearance. They want to look like the model in this add for Calvin Klein and other advertisements. They think thats how everyone wants them to look. Many will go to any length to get that way. That often leads to serious eating disorders like anorexia. Its crazy because even the models dont look like the adds. Almost ninety-six percent of magazine and t.v adds are touched up by computer to look perfect. The effect advertising has on some peoples personal appearance is bad. Even people that dont develop eating disorders still feel bad about themselves at one point or another because they dont look like the advertisements, like society wants them to look. The standard that the media shows has other negative effects besides eating disorders. It can also lead to shame, guilt, stress, depression, and a lack of confidence. Its not just girls that are shown in these ads. Guys are shown that they should be muscular, and well built. They sometimes turn to steroids to get like that. Some even develop eating disorders. Guys also get a lack of confidence, they just wont admit it. Most advertising discourages acceptance of people that are different than you. They show you people that look almost perfect, and a lot of people judge you on how you look compared to the models on t.v and in magazines. ...