Personality Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Personality - Essay Example Summary of the journal article The article begins with a brief introduction about the process of cognitive development and the changes happened in human brain anatomy and psychology across childhood and adolescence. It illustrates about different areas development process like neuro-anatomical development of the human brain, functional organization of the developing human brain, development of human brain connectivity, performance differences versus maturational differences and cortical organization with learning. Existing neuro-imaging methods and studies give information about cognitive and neural changes underlying human development. But this information is not sufficient for explaining brain structure and function. MRI based anatomical studies highlights various structural changes with development over the period of childhood and adolescence. The study explains various stages of changing in numerical status. Sub serving primary functions like sensory and motor systems come first. Secondly, sequential and parietal connection cortices related with basic language skills and spatial attention maturing appears. Higher order association areas including prefrontal and lateral temporal cortices, language process and sensory motor processor comes in final (Casey et al. 2). The study clearly mentions that structural changes that happened in human brain affect the cognitive development and behavior formation. Association between structural maturation and memory function is identified through the using of neuropsychological measures. The study offers detailed discussion about the functional organization of the developing human brain. It reveals that the development of prefrontal cortex plays an important role in the maturation of higher cognitive abilities. Mature cognition is related with the ability to filter and ignore irrelevant information. The ability to filter unimportant information continues to develop first two decades of a child’s life. Children with a strong response inhibition did not collect the same prefrontal region as those active by adults and they received a subset of same posterior areas. Children with poor response inhibition did not activate that subset of same posterior areas. The significance of tracking cortical changes in human brains over time is most evident in the area of higher research. The study concludes with some notable concepts and viewpoints about the process of maturation and cognitive development. Brain regions associated with more basic and important functions like motor and sensory processes mature first, control of thought and actions followed next. This way of development is paralleled by a change from disperse to more focal recruitment of cortical regions with cognitive development and learning process. The article illustrates cognitive developments and neurological changes happened in human brain. Authors put forward relevant thesis for the paper which facilitates reliability and authenticity. T hey introduces the thesis statement that neurological changes which occurred in human brain affect the cognitive developments and both of them have significant role in development process. The entire paper is developed through analyzing the key words and phrases which mentioned in the thesis statement. The methodology mainly consists of literature review and the paper draws its conclusion from the vast number of literature. Previous studies about MRI-based anatomical researches, MRI- morphometric

Unit 1 Discussion Board Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 5

Unit 1 Discussion Board - Essay Example igh the strengths and weaknesses of the basic forms and choose the one -- or the combination -- that is most congruent with the strategy (Daniels, 2004). As the twenty-first century rapidly approaches, numerous questions are being raised in an attempt to guide health care policy toward greater social harmony, to alleviate social dilemmas created by competing sets of values, and to confront the realities of current health care economics. Instability, volatility, and incredible change are forcing a reexamination of societal values along with changing consumer expectations of health care (Kozier 2004). I agree with the statement that management is both science and art because it demands creative application of traditional theories and concepts. In healthcare, those values of individualism, competition, cost containment, efficiency, and technology that are currently driving health care policy and health care systems are also influencing nursings ability to provide quality care. A look to the past demonstrates the evolution of the changing scene in nursing practice. As health care increasingly runs along business lines, competition occurs through mergers, acquisitions, and the expansion into new markets (Mckenna, 1997). What becomes clear is that quality of care is not the major focus of the competitiveness. Reduced revenues have even led to a reduction in the registered nurse workforce as unlicensed assistive personnel are hired to reduce labor costs and act as nurse extenders. It is clear that new and creative approaches to health care and nursing care are needed (Daniels, 2004). Regulations in healthcare demand flexibility and creativity, new vision of old theories and practices. On the other hand, they stipulate strict limits and rules important for healthcare professionals. Now is a time of transition for health care institutions and health care in general (Kozier 2004). The issue of allocation of scarce health-related resources has become almost paramount,

Advantages and Disadvantages of Green Building

Advantages and Disadvantages of Green Building Green building was developed in the 1970s, during the energy crisis, when people finally realised that they needed to save energy and alleviate environmental problems. The idea originated on the United States, as they were one of the largest contributors of pollution in the world. Due to the fact that Buildings account for a large amount of land, energy and water consumption, and also contribute hugely to air pollution, green building aims to reduce the environmental impact buildings have on the environment. Practices and technologies used in green building are constantly improving. Many are different from region to region, however there are fundamental principles that must be followed. Green building is an outcome of a design philosophy, which focuses on increasing the efficiency of 4 main resources: Energy Water Materials Health Along with increasing efficiency, green buildings also aim to reduce the impact buildings have on human health and the environment during the buildings lifecycle. This is achieved by improved design, construction, operation, maintenance, and removal of waste materials. It is generally agreed that green buildings are structures that are sited, designed, built, renovated and operated to energy-efficient guidelines, and that they will have a positive environmental, economic and social impact over their life cycle. Green specifications provide a good set of guidelines for the building industry, but these are still in the process of being formalised into UK regulation and many are open to interpretation.† (Source: www.sustainablebuild.co.uk) Green building requires a holistic approach that looks at each component of a building and how it relates in context with the whole building. This allows us to look at the impact the building will have on the wider environment and community around it. Green Building is a difficult approach, which needs builders, architects and engineers to think creatively, and increase the level of integration throughout the project. There are several resources and published guides that can help builders with the green building process, such as BREEAM (Building and Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method), the Code for Sustainable Homes, and EcoHomes. In Conclusion: â€Å"Green Building is not simply about protecting the biosphere and natural resources from over-exploitation or over-consumption, nor is it simply about saving energy to reduce our heating bills. It considers the impact of buildings and materials on occupants and the impact of our lives on the future environment.† (Source Tom Woolley, Sam Kimmins, Paul Harrison and Rob Harrison 1997. Green Building Handbook. Oxford: Spon Press . 5.) Green Building Essentials There are four main criteria that need to be considered in green building. They are: Materials. Energy. Water. Health. Materials The materials used in Green Building projects need to be: From a natural, renewable source that has been managed and harvested in a sustainable way. Obtained locally in order to reduce the embedded energy costs of transportation. Sourced from reclaimed materials at nearby sites. Materials are graded using green specifications which look at their life cycle and analyse them in terms of their embodied energy, durability, recycled content, waste minimisation, and their ability to be reused or recycled. Some examples of building materials that are considered green include: Renewable plant materials such as straw. Timber from sustainably managed forests. Recycled stone Recycled metal. Products that are non-toxic, reusable, renewable, and/or recyclable eg. linoleum, sheep wool, compressed earth blocks, rammed earth, clay, flax linen, cork, sand stone, and concrete. Building materials should be sourced and manufactured locally to the building site where possible in order to minimise the energy used through transportation. It is also desireable for building elements to be manufactured off-site, then delivered when needed. The benefits of this include minimising waste and maximising recycling as manufacturing is in a set location. Energy Energy consumption is a major issue, which green building principles aim to address. Nearly all UK houses are extremely inefficient when it comes to heating and lighting consumption. One method of reducing heating and ventilation costs for a building is to incorporate Passive Solar Design. This is when the suns energy is used for heating and cooling various living spaces. These passive systems are extremely simple in design, having very few moving parts and usually require no mechanical systems therefore they have a minimal maintenance issue. Common features of passive solar heating include windows that can be opened and closed. Passive solar design incorporates the use of thermal mass also. This is when materials such as masonry, concrete and water actually store heat for a period of time this can prevent rapid fluctuations in temperature. High levels of insulation and energy-efficient windows can help to conserve a lot of energy from escaping through the buildings envelope. In regards to lighting a building, natural daylight design reduces the need for electricity in a building while improving the occupants health and productivity. Green buildings also incorporate energy-efficient lighting, low energy appliances, and renewable energy technologies such as wind turbines and solar panels. Water Reducing water consumption in a ‘Green’ House is an important aspect in many of the green building rating systems. It is therefore essential that water can be recycled around the house. This can be achieved by installing greywater and rainwater harvesting systems which will re-use water for tasks like watering plants or toilet flushing. Incorporating water-efficient appliances in kitchens and bathrooms, such as low flow showerheads, self-closing or spray taps, low-flush toilets, or waterless composting toilets, will all aid in reducing the amount of water required for the day to day running of the house. Health This aspect of Green Building refers to the health of the buildings occupants. Using non-toxic materials in construction will help to improve indoor air quality, which can reduce the rate of respiratory illnesses such as asthma. The materials and products used in a green design need to be emission-free and have very little or no VOC (Volatile organic compound) content. They also need to be moisture resistant in order to prevent moulds, spores from growing inside the house. Indoor air quality can be improved through ventilation systems and using materials in the construction of the house that control humidity and allow a building to breathe. A major factor which isnt included in the main four topics I have discussed above is what happens after the construction of the building has been completed. It wont matter how sustainable the design and construction stage of the project was if the building is not maintained responsibly. This needs to be considered at the planning stage of construction and the occupant must be briefed on the green building concept. They should also be informed that in order to keep the ‘green’ status the building will have, careful and considerate maintenance methods will need to be employed, with the possibility of the need to upgrade aspects of the building to keep up to date with changing regulations and standards. It is also important that the occupier continues green practices such as recycling throughout the life-cycle of the building. A green building should provide cost savings to both the builder and occupant. It should also benefit the community through the use of local labour. Advantages and Disadvantages of Green Building I am going to first outline some of the disadvantages of green building, as most people tend to focus only on the positive aspects. Considerations such as cost, funding, material availability and location restrictions must be taken into account when planning a green build project. One of the most common disadvantages of Green Building is the additional cost incurred. This is due to the increase in the quality of construction methods and materials used. Although energy savings can balance the extra costs out, it is still seen as a disadvantage the fact that extra money needs to be spent at the construction stage. Eco-friendly building materials are often difficult to find in many areas of the UK, which can lead to prices being much higher than standard building materials. While projects close to larger cities may have no difficulty finding green building materials, suppliers may be scarce in other areas. Many materials require special ordering, which could increase costs. Some other materials may only be available through Internet orders, which will increase the cost due to shipping and handling. The green building market is becoming much more competitive due to the increase in demand for this type of construction, and Green Building costs are predicted to decrease in the near future. Apart from the initial cost of green building, finding a mortgage company or bank that offers loans for a building that is not built in the traditional way may be difficult. The time taken to complete a green building can also be viewed as a disadvantage. Green building projects encourage the use of recycled materials and trying to source these can add to the time to complete a certain stage of the build that the contractor and client haven’t allowed for in the project. One overlooked disadvantage is the fact that in recent years houses have become more airtight, which has added to the problem of indoor air quality. Houses have become so sealed that there is now an increase in indoor pollution. An example of how this can occur is if a builder decides to use some recycled material but is unaware of any chemicals that may be contained in it. The chemicals may give off volatile organic compounds, which have in fact been found toxic to humans. Most green building guides have a section on Indoor Air Quality, ventilation, filtration systems, and suggestions for low or no VOC products in the building process to address this issue. The benefits of green building are what most people want to know nowadays, and below are some of these advantages. They have been categorised into three main areas, Environmental, Economic and Social Benefits. Environmental Benefits: Reduction of Emissions: Using green building techniques such as solar power and daylighting increase the energy efficiency of the building, and also cut down harmful emissions released by fossil fuels. This can help reduce air quality issues such as smog and acid rain. Conservation of Water: Significant water savings can be created by introducing methods such as rainwater and greywater harvesting. These methods use and recycle various water sources, which can then be used for irrigation in gardening and for flushing toilets. Stormwater management can also be helpful to the environment by reducing localised flooding, which can carry pollution into water sources, and erosion. Rainwater harvesting and using building materials that are permeable for driveways can help reduce this risk. Waste Reduction: Green building promotes increased efficiency both during and after the construction phase. Recycling and reusing waste materials will lead to a decrease in the amount of waste that needs to be dumped in landfills. Economic Benefits: As I mentioned above, some people believe green building to be too expensive. Previous studies have shown that costs are not substantially higher than traditional developments. As long as the designer and client have decided to go down the route of green building, the high construction costs can usually be avoided. Although the costs may be higher at the beginning of a projects life cycle, they can be recouped throughout the life of the building. Due to the increased efficiency from green design and new technology, operation costs from heating, electricity and water can all be reduced dramatically, resulting in a low payback time on the money invested at the beginning of the project. Green buildings can also be sold or rented quicker, and at a premium rate because of the low maintenance and utility bills. This will prove to be a unique selling point if the cost of fuel continues to rise. Social Benefits: Another very impressive advantage of a green building is its ability to improve the occupier’s health. Conditions such as respiratory problems, skin rashes, nausea and allergies, which can result from insufficient air circulation, poor lighting, mould, toxic adhesives and paints, can be significantly reduced in a green built house. This is because green building emphasises the need for proper ventilation and the reduction in use of toxic material, which will create a healthier living environment. Another key element of green building is the need to preserve the natural environment. This can provide a variety of recreation and exercise opportunities. Green buildings also seek to facilitate alternatives to driving, such as bicycling by awarding points for providing bike docks (In the Code for Sustainable Homes), which eases local traffic while increasing personal health and fitness. Summary of Advantages and Disadvantages of Green Building Below are the disadvantages and advantages summarised in point form. Disadvantages: Initial cost. Funding for projects from banks hard to get. Location Factor. Availability of Materials. Timescale. Implications on air quality due to the use of some recycled materials. Advantages: Environmental Benefits. Reduction of Emissions. Conservation of Water. Reduced localised flooding. Waste reduction. Economic benefits. Low utility bills. Increase in likelihood for the property to be sold or let. Social Benefits. Improvement to the occupant’s health. Preservation of the natural environment. Increased recreation and exercise opportunities. As you can see there are significantly more Advantages than Disadvantages of Green Building. Green Building Rating Systems In this section of my report I am going to give a brief introduction to the main Green Building rating systems used in the UK. These systems review a building or construction project, and score it on different sections. Points are usually awarded for issues addressed and an accreditation is awarded depending on the amount of points scored when the project is completed. Although I have focused on Green building in houses, I will look at some systems that are used for commercial building and civil engineering works. Below are some of the systems I will be discussing: BREEAM BREEAM is an abbreviation for the ‘BRE Environmental Assessment Method’. BREEAM is the leading and most widely used environmental assessment method for buildings. It sets the standard for best practice in sustainable design and has become the primary measure used to describe a buildings environmental performance.† (Cited from the BREEAM website – www.breeam.org) BREEAM was established by the BRE in the UK in 1990 as and aid to help measure the sustainability of new buildings. BREEAM has grown since then with reular updates according to changes in building regulations and government legislation. The BREEAM guidelines cover many different types of building, including Industrial, Residential, Education, Healthcare and Retail. The BREEAM guidelines were last updated in 2008. In this upgrade, a new two stage assesment process was introduced. This means that the building will be assesed at the design stage and also after the completion of construction. Mandatory scoring credits were introduced and a new rating level of BREEAM Outstanding was created. The BREEAM standard is not only being used in the UK, it is fast turning into a global accreditation. The BRE have set up a new division called BREEAM International. This division has already created versions of BREEAM for Europe and the Gulf, adapting them in accordance to local regulations. The information below is also from the BREEAM website. This information outlines the reasons why BREEAM should be used: BREEAM provides clients, developers, designers and others with: * Market recognition for low environmental impact buildings. * Assurance that best environmental practice is incorporated into a building. * Inspiration to find innovative solutions that minimise the environmental impact. * A benchmark that is higher than regulation. * A tool to help reduce running costs, improve working and living environments. * A standard that demonstrates progress towards corporate and organisational environmental objectives.† (Cited from www.breeam.org) BREEAM addresses wide-ranging environmental and sustainability issues and enables developers and designers to prove the environmental credentials of their buildings to planners and clients. * BREEAM uses a straightforward scoring system that is transparent, easy to understand and supported by evidence-based research * BREEAM has a positive influence on the design, construction and management of buildings * BREEAM sets and maintains a robust technical standard with rigorous quality assurance and certification† (Information sourced from the BREEAM website – www.breeam.org) CEEQUAL CEEQUAL stands for, The Civil Engineering Environmental Awards Scheme. It is a scheme for improving the sustainability of civil engineering and public sector projects, in the UK. The aim of CEEQUAL is to encourage civil engineering companies to achieve improved environmental and social performance in the specification, design and construction areas of their projects. Launched in September 2003, CEEQUAL was mainly developed by the ICE (Institute of Civil Engineers) and various government departments and agencies also gave their support to the idea and helped to finance the initiative. Since 2003, CEEQUAL has grown to be the main scheme for assesing the sustainability of civil engineering works. In 2008 CEEQUAL was included in the Government report â€Å"Strategy for Sustainable Construction† as a scheme to be used that can comply with the governments design agenda for civil engineering works. Just like the BREEAM assessment, CEEQUAL uses a credits or points to score various aspects of a civil engineering project, including environmental aspects such as, water, energy and land usage, as well as other categories such as nuisance to neighbours, waste minimisation and management, archaeology, community amenity and ecology. A project that has achieved an award from CEEQUAL will show the public that the designers, contractors and clients, have completed a project that is above the minimum environmental standards, which will portray that they care about sustainability in the construction industry. Benefits of CEEQUAL: * Provides a benchmark standard for environmental performance; * Demonstrates the commitment of the civil engineering industry to environmental quality; and celebrates the achievement of high environmental standards in civil engineering projects A CEEQUAL Award for a civil engineering project identifies an organisation that: * Measures and compares standards of performance; * Respects people and the society in which it operates; * Undertakes its work in an ethical and sustainable manner; * Acts in a socially and environmentally responsible way; * Protects and enhances the environment; and * Is concerned about the major impacts of construction on the environment and the earth’s resources. Source http://www.cpdni.gov.uk/index/guidance-for-suppliers/ceequal.htm There are several different CEEQUAL Award levels that a project can achieve, depending on the percentage number of points scored against the scoped-out question set. These are: * more than 25% Pass * more than 40% Good * more than 60% Very Good * more than 75% Excellent Five types of award can be applied: * Whole Project Award, which is normally applied for jointly by or on behalf of the client, designer and principal contractor(s) * Client Design Award * Design Only Award, applied for by the principal designer(s) only * Construction Only Award, applied for by the principal contractor(s) only * Design Build Award, applied for the designer(s) and constructor(s) of a project. Irish CEEQUAL Certified Projects Below are some examples of the Civil Engineering projects that have achieved CEEQUAL Awards in Ireland in the last few years: 2008 – 2009 Awards: * Custom House Square, Belfast Award: Excellent  § Derry City Centre Public Realm Award: Excellent  § Armagh Environmental Improvement Scheme Award: Very Good  § Downshire to Whitehead Sea Defences Boneybefore to Edenhalt (section 3) Award: Good  § Balloo Waste Transfer Station and Recycling Centre, Bangor Award: Very Good  § Moneymore Flood Protection Scheme Award: Excellent  § N229 Newtownards Road Environmental Improvements Award: Excellent  § Belfast City Centre Streets Ahead Award: Excellent  § Knockmore Lurgan Track Upgrade Award: Excellent 2006 – 2007 Awards  § N7 Naas Road Widening Interchange Scheme Award: Very Good  § Carran Hill water treatment works Award: Excellent 2003-2005 Awards: * abbey Kircubbin Wastewater Treatment Works Award: Excellent * Newtownstewart Bypass Award: Very Good (Source http://www.ceequal.com/all_awards.htm) LEED LEED stands for ‘Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design’. The United States Green Building Council (USGBC) developed LEED in 1998. The scheme was created to offer an American equivalent to BREEAM, a green building scheme that was created in 1990 in the UK. Aswell as being a US equivelant to BREEAM, LEED was invented to help define what green building was, by recognising environment leadership in the construction industry. By doing this LEED also hoped to raise awareness of the benefits of green building and try to create some competition in the green building market. The LEED evaluation method is voluntary and covers all types of buildings such as, homes, offices and retail space. The main division of the LEED initiative is ‘LEED for New Construction’. This LEED assessment is also used on some international building projects. LEED has eight key categories where LEED points can be achieved. 1. Location and Planning 2. Sustainable Sites 3. Water Efficiency 4. Energy Atmosphere 5. Materials Resources 6. Indoor Environmental Quality 7. Innovation in Design 8. Regional Priority In each of these six categories, multiple points can be achieved when specific needs have been met. The more points achieved, the higher the LEED rating will be. LEED has also introduced certain criteria, which is mandatory in each level of LEED. The LEED assessment is a two-part process, involving a design phase review and also a construction phase review. After these reviews, a LEED certificate can be presented if the project is up to standard. This table compares the old LEED v2.2 points system with the new LEED v3 system. (Table has been sourced from the Reed Construction Data website – http://www.reedconstructiondata.com/articles/read/leed-rating-system/) Below is a table showing the nine different rating systems and also the five overarching categories to correspond with the specialities available through LEED. A comparison between BREEAM and LEED More and more organisations are realising that having green credentials is a must in todays society. This is because the public are more sustainably aware thanks to the increased coverage for the subject of sustainability in the news and papers. Having a Green Building as part of your companies assets will show that you want to reduce the impact you have on the environment, as well as cutting utility bills and increasing the occupants health. With this increase in green buildings, there is now competition between the method of assement. For years, BREEAM has been the main environmental assessment method for UK buildings. Now with the expansion of LEED out of America there is increased competition. The principles of BREEAM have also spread worldwide, and while similar assesment methods have been created for other countries, BREEAM and LEED are the main methods used today. The way in which projects are assesed is the main difference between BREEAM and LEED. BREEAM uses assessors that have been trained by the BRE, who check for evidence in the building and score it against the specified criteria. The BRE then check the assesors report and award a BREEAM certificate. LEED on the other hand does not require a trained assesor, however points are awarded if a LEED Accredited Professional is used. Evidence from the project is gathered and submitted to the USGBC who will review it and award the appropriate certificate. Both BREEAM and LEED help to keep the market to improve building design. Both also regularly update their scoring criteria to keep up with changing regulations. BREEAM is more relevant in the UK as it uses UK policies, however LEED can be used as a global accreditation. BREEAM will more than likely be the favoured system in the UK, as it has backing from the government as they require BREEAM ratings for all of their buildings. Below is a table that compares the similarities of BREEAM and LEED: (Table sourced from http://www.bsria.co.uk/news/breeam-or-leed/) Code for Sustainable Homes The ‘Code for Sustainable Homes’ is an environmental impact rating system for houses in the UK. The Code was launched in December 2006, and addresses new standards, above current building regulations, for energy usage and sustainability issues. The aim of this new code is to try and decrease the impact that housing has on the environment. The code was created to try and help relieve the problems we have brought upon ourselves through climate change. Buildings contribute nearly half of the UK’s carbon emissions. In order to reduce these emissions by 80% by 2050, housing needs to become more sustainable. Following this code can help minimise the environmental damage that has occurred during the construction process in the past. It also gives homebuilders the chance to create a revolutionary design for new homes to be put on the housing market, promoting a more sustainable lifestyle. Adopting the code for sustainable homes is a major step in reaching the Government target of all new homes being zero carbon from 2016. A house that is built in accordance to the code for sustainable homes will be more energy efficient, use less water and create less carbon emissions. This in turn is better for the environment. Houses that follow the code are built in a more efficient way as they use materials that are from sustainable sources. Because they are built in a more efficient manner, less waste is created, and the use of recycled materials is promoted. Due to the increase in quality and efficiency, running costs will be lower than that of a traditional build. This way of sustainable building also encourages the occupier of the house to try to live a more sustainable lifestyle. The Code for Sustainable homes has 9 separate categories with set scoring points covering: 1. Energy/CO2. 2. Water. 3. Materials used in the home. 4. Surface water run-off. 5. Waste. 6. Pollution. 7. Health and Well-being. 8. Management 9. Ecology When the client incorporates a specific feature they are awarded points. At the end of the build these points are added together, and the total score forms the basis of a 1-6 star rating system. The code for sustainable homes uses a ‘star’ rating system, which ranges from 1 to 6. Level 1 equates to a 10% improvement over current Building Regulations energy standards, Level 3 is a 25% improvement on building regulations, and level 6 is a Zero Carbon house. A home rated as 6 stars will have achieved the highest sustainability rating. Diagram showing the points scoring to achieve each code level: (Source – The Code for Sustainable Homes) In February 2008, the Government decided that all new homes must have a rating against the Code for Sustainable Homes by May 2008. Also whenever houses are sold it has been made madatory that they have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). If a house has not been assessed for an EPC then it will receive a rating of zero. This was brought in as an incentive for builders and developers to aim to score higher ratings in the Code for Sustainable Homes as home buyers could now easily see a house’s performance from the EPC. Below is an copy of the EPC carried out for my house: Diagram explaining 1*, 3* and 6* energy requirements: Diagram sourced from â€Å"Greener Homes for the Future†. In 2006 the Government made publ

My Career as a Nurse or Elementary School Teacher :: Career Essays

Throughout my young life, I have had multiple encounters with the medical field. In both ways, good and bad, which fuel and spark my interest into a nursing program. Growing up, I have always had a particular interest in becoming a nurse. From experiencing, my young cousins and nephew being brought into the world, to feeling and seeing cherished loved ill family members fading away. The love and pride the nurses brought to my family and I is indescribable. Knowing that they cared is among the most desired aspect, I feel that can accommodate me into this particular field. My mother is the inspiration soul behind my will and want in life. Her, being a single mother of two, I have been shown firsthand the struggles of just living above poverty. The extent where we weren’t allowed help, so struggling to make ends meet was the only answer. I want to overcome the dread of witnessing my mother a â€Å"9-5† job that drained the life right out of her. I push my studies with such a quote mentioned by many â€Å"you will never work a day in your life, if you love what you do.† Believing and achieving that status refreshes me into jumping headfirst into school. Having to deal with multiple family deaths, I am all too familiar with the hospital environment. In such ways that I have almost built a bond with a select few staff in the hospital. Some in which shared their background with me through their schooling experience. They all love their job and education they received. It all truly inspired me to pursue my education. Personally, I feel my loving and caring attitude is beyond the typical description. In particular, my devotion for infant and young kids. Knowing I can make a difference can ultimately drive me into being the best student and a good person. Anyone considering a job in the health care should take a personality test. Results of mine was â€Å"social†. Social people that enjoy and thrive off of helping others and promoting a learning environment. They like to teach, to give advice, or in other words provide service to people. In other words a person that is willing to go out of their way to determine the illness of another being. It all rolls out to be a major role of a nurse.

Case Study : Barriers of Communication Essay

Barriers of communication are the complex of problems which appear during the conversation of people whose native language is different. Many years ago the problem did not exist, because people of different countries did not cooperate greatly and most people lived in the mono-linguistic communities. In the long run of time people all over the world started to travel, get education and work in other countries. Evidently, the importance of knowledge a foreign language is really great, because it solves many problems and opens wide opportunities. International business, world economics, scientific progress of the humanity and simple exchange of experience and knowledge is impossible without being good at foreign languages. Nevertheless, if one knows a foreign language, he will definitely have problems with it because of the linguistic barriers of communication. In spite of it, there are other forms of communication barriers and they do not depend on the mother tongue. There are physical barriers of communication which do not let people express their thoughts in a proper way. For example, there are disorders which influence people’s ability to speak and they have to communicate with the help of gestures. Then, deaf people also have problems with communication, because they do not hear anything and can read information from gestures. Then, there are professional barriers of communication. For example, every profession possesses a list of specific terms which are understandable only for the people of the same occupation. There are many types of barriers of communication which make the life of people complicated. Students who decide to research the problem of barriers of communication should investigate the problem in detail and understand what the kinds and the reasons of this phenomenon, what factors cause the existence of these barriers. If one wants to research a particular example of communication barriers, he will need to read a lot about the chosen case to find trustworthy information about it. One will need to read books and periodicals where the case is mentioned to be able to analyze it and draw the right conclusions. Students should present the cause and effect of the problem, offer good solutions to the problem occurred in the case under investigation. There are many reasons why interpersonal communications may fail. In many communications, the message may not be received exactly the way the sender intended and hence it is important that the communicator seeks feedback to check that their message is clearly understood. The skills of Active Listening, Clarification and Reflection may help but the skilled communicator also needs to be aware of the barriers to effective communication. There exist many barriers to communication and these may occur at any stage in the communication process. Barriers may lead to your message becoming distorted and you therefore risk wasting both time and/or money by causing confusion and misundersta nding. Effective communication involves overcoming these barriers and conveying a clear and concise message. Some common barriers to effective communication include: * The use of jargon. Over-complicated or unfamiliar terms. * Emotional barriers and taboos. * Lack of attention, interest, distractions, or irrelevance to the receiver. * Differences in perception and viewpoint. * Physical disabilities such as hearing problems or speech difficulties. * Physical barriers to non-verbal communication. * Language differences and the difficulty in understanding unfamiliar accents. * Expectations and prejudices which may lead to false assumptions or stereotyping. People often hear what they expect to hear rather than what is actually said and jump to incorrect conclusions. * Cultural differences. The norms of social interaction vary greatly in different cultures, as do the way in which emotions are expressed. For example, the concept of personal space varies between cultures and between different social settings. A skilled communicator must be aware of these barriers and try to reduce their impact by continually checking understanding and by offering appropriate feedback. Most people would agree that communication between two individuals should be simple. It’s important to remember that there are differences between talking and communicating. When you communicate, you are successful in getting your point across to the person you’re talking to. When we talk, we tend to erect barriers that hinder our ability to communicate. There are seven of these types of barriers to effective communication. 1. Physical barriers are easy to spot – doors that are closed, walls that are erected, and distance between people all work against the goal of effective communication. While most agree that people need their own personal areas in the workplace, setting up an office to remove physical barriers is the first step towards opening communication. Many professionals who work in industries that thrive on collaborative communication, such as architecture, purposefully design their workspaces around an â€Å"open office† plan. This layout eschew s cubicles in favor of desks grouped around a central meeting space. While each individual has their own dedicated work space, there are no visible barriers to prevent collaboration with their co-workers. This encourages greater openness and frequently creates closer working bonds. 2. Perceptual barriers, in contrast, are internal. If you go into a situation thinking that the person you are talking to isn’t going to understand or be interested in what you have to say, you may end up subconsciously sabotaging your effort to make your point. You will employ language that is sarcastic, dismissive, or even obtuse, thereby alienating your conversational partner. Think of movie scenarios in which someone yells clipped phrases at a person they believe is deaf. The person yelling ends up looking ridiculous while failing to communicate anything of substance. 3. Emotional barriers can be tough to overcome, but are important to put aside to engage in conversations. We are often taught t o fear the words coming out of our own mouths, as in the phrase â€Å"anything you say can and will be used against you.† Overcoming this fear is difficult, but necessary. The trick is to have full confidence in what you are saying and your qualifications in saying it. People often pick up on insecurity. By believing in yourself and what you have to say, you will be able to communicate clearly without becoming overly involved in your emotions. 4. Cultural barriers are a result of living in an ever shrinking world. Different cultures, whether they be a societal culture of a race or simply the work culture of a company, can hinder developed communication if two different cultures clash. In these cases, it is important to find a common ground to work from. In work situations, identifying a problem and coming up with a highly efficient way to solve it can quickly topple any cultural or institutional barriers. Quite simply, people like results. 5. Language barriers seem pretty self-inherent, but there are often hidden language barriers that we aren’t always aware of. If you work in an industry that is heavy in jargon or technical language, care should be taken to avoid these words when speaking with someone from outside the industry. Without being patronizing, imagine explaining a situation in your industry to a child. How would you convey these concepts without relying on jargon? A clear, direct narrative is preferable to an incomprehensible slew of specialty terms. 6. Gender barriers have become less of an issue in recent years, but there is still the possibility for a man to misconstrue the words of a woman, or vice versa. Men and women tend to form their thoughts differently, and this must be taken into account when communicating. This difference has to do with how the brain of each sex is formed during gestation. In general, men are better at spatial visualization and abstract concepts such as math, while women excel at language-based thinking and emotional identification. However, successful professionals in highly competitive fields tend to have similar thought processes regardless of their gender. 7. Interpersonal barriers are what ultimately keep us from reaching out to each other and opening ourselves up, not just to be heard, but to hear others. Oddly enough, this can be the most difficult area to change. Some people spend their entire lives attempting to overcome a poor self-image or a series of deeply rooted prejudices about their place in the world. They are unable to form genuine connections with people because they have too many false perceptions blocking the way. Luckily, the cure for this is more communication. By engaging with others, we learn what our actual strengths and weaknesses are. This allows us to put forth our ideas in a clear, straightforward manner. Communication is not a one-way street. To have others open up to you, you must be open yourself. By overcoming these barriers to communication, you can ensure that the statement you are making is not just heard, but also understood, by the person you are speaking with. In this way, you can be confident that your point has been expressed. Case study writing requires accuracy, creativity and well-developed analytical skills. In order to cope with the assignment successfully, one will need a good example for writing. A free sample case study on physical barriers of communication will be a good source of data for every student, because experienced writers always research interesting questions and share their knowledge with young people. With the help of the Internet and free example case studies on barriers of business communication one will learn to compose properly-structured well-formatted papers of this type successfully. http://casestudyhub.com/case-study-on-barriers-of-communication/ – See more at: http://www.opin.ca/article/seven-barriers-communication#sthash.LMuGVzsq.dpuf Madaming problema ang nangyayari, pagdating sa pakikipagusap sa mga tao. Batay ka si sa nabasa namin, ang isa sa mga nagiging problema pagdating sa pakikipagkumunikasyon ay ang kakulangan sa kaalaman sa madaming lenggwahe. Sa panahon ngayun iba’t – ibang mga tao na ang ating nakakasalamuha o nakakausap sa ating paligid. Halimbawa, may isang ahente ng lupa ang nagaalok ng lupa sa isang dayuhang di naman sanay mag salita ng tagalog. Ngunit yun ahente di marunong magenglish. Paano sya nakakabenta ng lupa kung di nya makakausap ng maayos yun isang dayuhang may balak bumili ng lupa. Imbis na magkaroon sya ng cliyente, ay nawala pa dahil nahirapan itong makipagusap sakanya. Marami pa tayong makikitang problema. Isa pa dito kapag hirap umintindi ang kausap o may mahinang pandinig. Ang komunikasyon ang isa sa pinaka mahalagang katalinuhang pwede nating pag aralan. Sa pamamagitan kasi ng komunikasyon ay maipapakita o masasabi natin an gating nalalaman. Sa pamamagitan din nito ma ibabahagi natin ang ating nalalaman at ang ating nalalaman. Mas mabuti kung mas marami tayong nalalamang lengwahe o klase ng mga salita, dahil magagamit natin ito sa mga dadating na panahon o pagkailangan natin ito. At kapag nagpunta tayo sa iba’t – ibang bansa hindi na tayo mahihirapan pang kausapin sila. Pagdating naman sa business ang komunikasyon ang kailangan, dahil sa pamamagitan ng ating mga salita o sinasabi makukuha natin ang loob ng mga investors o mga mamimili. Sa pamamagitan ng komunikasyon makakausap natin ng maayos ang mga taong ating makakaharap. Sa ating bansa ang tagalog ang pangunahing lengwaheng ginagamit sa pakikipagusap. Pero sabi ng ilan ingles daw ang pangunahing lengwahe sa buong mundo. Sa aming nahanap may mga nakalagay doon na ilang klase ng problema sa komunikasyon. Sinabi doon na maraming klase ng problema. Solusyon Para maiwasan ang mga problema sa komunikasyon, dapat marunong tayo tumanggap ng pagkakamali. Maging mabuti tayong tagapakinig para hindi tayo mahirapan sa mga susunod na panahon. Intindihin natin ang posisyon ng aking kausap o tagapagsalita. Wag tayo masyadong mapagmataas matuto tayong making sa mga nagsasalita. Wag tayong matakot harapin ang mga problemang sumasagabal sa atin para makipagkomunikasyon. Reaksyon Maging bukas tayo sa lahat ng bagay. Maging maintindihin tayo. Mas okay kung babasahin natin ang mga bagay na ganyan, para malaman natin ang tama. Para na din sa aming mga future managers, dapat mas marunong kaming makinig para ganon din ang gawin samin ng aming mga kinakausap. Dapat naming matutunan ang mga bagay na nasabi sa taas, kasi dadating ang tamang panahon magagamit naming lahat iyun o mangyayari sa buhay naming yun. Makakaharap naming ang iba’t – ibang klase ng tao.

Engineering Ethics Essay

â€Å"The need for safety is proportional to the danger of having an accident. Nothing is fool-proof, yet we must try to minimize risks. If the public is willing to run or to take such risks, who are engineers to refuse and to say no? † (a) In my opinion, the above is a very good argument. The relationship between measures to ensure safety in engineering processes or products of such processes may be linear in the short-term, but at the end, it is found that safety goes down to a participant (or worker) or the user of a product designed and implemented by engineers. The theories relating accidents to bad or unethical engineering practices are largely based on fallacious arguments. Even though it is the ethical and moral responsibility for us engineers to ensure safety during design and construction of projects, there can never be a guarantee no matter how perfect we want things to be (Davis, 1998). The society needs innovation, and it is our professional responsibility as engineers to design innovative products to meet this demand. One thing is important though. All design procedures are based on both theoretical and empirical methodologies where some factors have to be held constant (Davis, 1998). In real life, these factors sometimes may not hold constant due to some unforeseen eventualities. This is one cause of accidents, and it is unavoidable. The society, through its demand for engineering innovation, mutually chooses to engage these risks. b) By definition, a risk is a source of danger or the possibility of incurring a misfortune. Safety, on the other hand, safety is a state of having some degree of certainty that danger or misfortune will not occur (Davis, 1998). In the engineering process, risk and safety are inversely proportional. The lesser the risks associated with a process, the more the safety of the process; and by extension the product. Engineers have, in the process of delivering their services be it in the design or implementation of technical projects, to make sure that the process or project is characterized by as few risks as can be possible (Davis, 1998). As argued in part (a) above, it is virtually impossible to have zero risk. There therefore has to be some degree of safety compromised no matter how insignificant it may be. (c) Engineering ethics is a field of applied ethics which is primarily concerned with setting and examining standards that should ideally govern engineers’ practice, their obligations to the society, their employers and to the profession itself (Davis, 1998). A competent engineer should practice with diligence, professionalism, and morality. When an engineer overlooks any element of this set of standards, the consequences may be minimal or disastrous. If divergence from the engineering code of ethics and professional competence and conduct by an engineer causes an accident, then the engineer is responsible for the accident. Unanticipated mishaps may not be due to lack of diligence on the part of an engineer or engineers in charge of a process or the product of such a process (Davis, 1998). However, where there is sufficient proof that the engineer did not follow standard precautions and the required standards of professionalism, the engineer should be held accountable for any accidents or mishaps resulting from such. The engineer may admit to being negligent due to his or her personal moral principles; but until there is proof of negligence, he or she should not be held responsible. The standards of due diligence applying here are clearly defined in engineers’ code of ethics, of which there are several defined for the various engineering disciplines (Davis, 1998). The National Institute for Engineering Ethics (NIEE), the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) and a host of other local and international engineering societies each have a well defined set of ethical standards that each of their members is expected to adhere to. Professional engineers should enforce the standards of due diligence outlined in the applicable code of ethics by first of all liaising with educational institutions that train engineers so that the standards can be taught as part of engineering courses. After graduation, young engineers should further be examined on their levels of competence before being admitted to engineering societies. These examinations should be repeated on a regular basis to ensure that engineers remain competent. In cases where registered engineers fail to comply with due standards of diligence and standards of ethics, their operational licenses should be suspended for some time depending on the seriousness of their negligence and the gravity of its consequences (Davis, 1998). 2. Competence, Personality and Morality (a) Competence in an engineer can be measured by his or her level of knowledge, expertise and cast-of-mind as exhibited in his or her delivery of service (Davis, 1998). A good (or competent) engineer will therefore have the knowledge and expertise required to deliver in his or her engineering discipline as well as the right attitude towards the profession. These qualities must go hand in hand: skills alone cannot qualify an engineer as competent since he or she must have the moral and ethical obligation to take responsibility for all professional activities undertaken. A bad (or incompetent) engineer on the other hand lacks at least one of the above attributes. He or she might have the skills and expertise but lack the moral edge, compromising the safety and satisfaction of clients and employers and therefore bringing the profession into disrepute (Davis, 1998). (b) There is a relation between being a good engineer and being a good person in that the principles upheld in one’s personal life are likely to be transferred into professional practice (Davis, 1998). A good person conducts him or herself with honesty and claims responsibility for his or her actions. Engineering ethics are about exhibiting sufficiently high standards of obligation to the public, clients, employers and the profession. A person who cannot be held responsible in the society or in his or her personal life will most likely be irresponsible in professional practice and vice versa; so good people are most likely to make good engineers (c) Someone’s moral competence can be established by recording their approach to situations or by establishing what values are placed on the means and ends of a problem (Davis, 1998). Morally competent people tend to weigh situations carefully so that a balance is created between the values placed on the means and those placed on the end. In the engineering context, a morally competent engineer will seek to practice in a manner that meets engineering ethics so that his or her practice ensures safety and comfort for others. (d) Moral competence evaluations are difficult because morality itself is a very complex issue. Morality is determined by an individual’s world view, and world views vary from one person to another (Davis, 1998). There cannot be a mechanism to justify some moral values as more righteous than others since everyone is entitled to his or her point of view which has been formed by his or her experiences and environment. However, evaluations of moral competence are still necessary since as engineers, we have to build a consensus on the standards which can be termed as mutually satisfactory and recommendable for the practice of engineering. ? References Davis, M. (1998). Thinking like an Engineer: Studies in the Ethics of a Profession. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

man versus nature essays

man versus nature essays So God created man in His own image And God saw every thing that He had made, And, behold, it was very good. From the beginning of time, writers and philosophers alike have been setting Man apart from beast, but what is it that makes this partition factual? It is widely believed that Man, by nature, has the capability of consciously contemplating a situation and determining whether the outcome is right or wrong, that Man reacts to a situation by ruling of outlook rather than stimuli, and that Man has more priorities than self-fulfillment; such as religious obligation, parental duties, and cooperative behavior amongst his own kind through social contract. Though these positive characteristics that separate us from our other earthly inhabitants seem superior, these same characteristics may lead us to our own destruction, as well as that of our own planet. Author Mary Shelley discusses the issue of Mans nature through her greatly renowned novel Frankenstein, in which a knowledge crazed scientist is determined to put himself on the scientific map by creating a human-like creature of enormo us strength but with a less than human state of mind. Another author who approaches this idealistic matter is John Locke, who makes clear of this issue in his Political Writings, particularly in Chapter Two: Of the State of Nature. Through the examination of these well-respected minds as well as my personal experience, it is made clear that certain unique characteristics separate Man from animal. As one observes a pet, it is obvious that there are tremendous differences between the observer and the animal. My seven-year-old obese beagle, Muggsy, has no value of right and wrong. He holds no respect towards those who supply him with the necessities of living or the requirements of comfort. For example, Muggsy tends to steal objects around the house and refuses to giveback the item. He...