Abstract This research examines the life, work and legacy of Dorothea Elizabeth Orem, a nursing theorist whose ideas emerged in the 1950s, exerting a great deal of influence on nursing education and practice. This paper analyzes Orem's theory, also known as the self-care deficit theory of nursing (SCDT).
From the Paper "Based on the assessment, the nurse may provide different degrees of "compensation" for the individual patient's "deficits" or relative inability to care for himself/herself(Orem, 1985). The theory is consistent with notions of wellness, preventive intervention, and patient empowerment that have been observed to foster recovery in a variety of venues and with a variety of illnesses (Shea, 1992; Neergaard, 1990)."
Abstract This paper presents an overview of the short-term and long-term effects of cigarette smoking, including effects on children and the effects of second-hand smoke.
From the Paper "There are many effects of cigarette smoking on the actual smoker. They include lung cancer and other cancers, cardiovascular malfunctions, strokes, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema. Cigarette smoking may even lead to changes in the smoker's appearance such as early wrinkling and yellowing of their teeth."
Abstract This paper discusses the pros and cons of euthanasia or assisted-suicide. The author discusses the case of Dr. Jack Kevorkian and looks at the impacts of his death.
From the Paper "Euthanasia is the act of putting someone to death for his or her own benefit. This is why it is also called ?mercy killing.? The general idea is that a doctor would decide that a patient is suffering enough in their current condition that death is the most desirable option. Needless to say, this practice is not widely accepted. Nor is it legal in a majority of countries. There are essentially three viewpoints one can have; you are either for it or against it, or you agree with a modified version of it."
Abstract The paper examines the reasons why people do and do not wear seatbeats in their cars. It shows the results of not wearing a seatbelt when involved in an accident and discusses the deaths of two professional athletes, Mike Darr and Derrick Thomas, who were involved in fatal accidents when they didn't wear seatbelts.
From the Paper "People shouldn"t believe every story flying around these days. The truth is that ALL driving can be dangerous, seatbelt vs. no seatbelt. However, drivers and passengers should ALWAYS wear a seatbelt, whether it's going a block from the house or on a road trip. It's a dangerous game to play when driving without a seatbelt. With the help of two pro athletes" deaths, Mike Darr and Derrick Thomas, this essay illustrates that wearing a seatbelt will not only save a life, but also make people feel more secure while they are in a car."
Abstract The purpose of this paper is to define stress and how it affects the body's physiological systems. The paper includes the normal functions and organs involved in the following five physiological systems, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, respiratory, immune and musculoskeletal. It also includes a description of a chronic illness associated with each physiological system and how the illness is affected by stress.
From the Paper "Stress means different things to different people and stress effects people in different ways. Some people think stress is something that happens to them such as an injury or a promotion and others think that stress is what happens to our mind, body and behaviors in response to an event. While stress does involve events and how one responds to them these are not the critical factors, but our thoughts about the situation in which we are involved are the critical factors. Essentially, stress exists whenever homeostasis is disturbed or cannot be maintained (Stress and the Social System Course Guide, 1993). Homeostasis refers to the body's ability to keep the internal chemical and physical environments constant. As your body begins to react to stress several changes occur. These changes include increased heart rate, blood pressure and secretion of stimulatory hormones. One's body prepares itself in stressful situations to either stand ground and fight, or to flee from the situation. Walter Cannon called this stressful reaction the fight-or-flight response (Greenberg, 1999)."
Abstract This paper presents the issues surrounding childhood vaccinations. Many parents today worry that autism and other side effects can be caused by vaccines given to their children. This paper includes research on the complications of vaccines, information on the amount of shots children should receive and an explanation on how vaccines work in the body.
From the Paper "The theory of vaccinations has never been successfully tested. Perhaps we are lab rats. In fact right now there is a growing debate over whether vaccinations are linked to the increased incidence of lung, brain and bone cancers seen in children and adults. The bottom line is that vaccines prevent diseases that are very real. We have to weigh that against the theoretical concern for which there is no proof."
Abstract The healthcare industry in the United States is facing a significant shortage of nurses, which is creating a major supply and demand problem in the country. The failure of the industry to meet the rising demand for efficient and experienced nurses calls for immediate attention and change as the dearth of nursing staff is resulting in compromised patient care. The paper addresses these issues and recommends some changes.
From the Paper "Nursing shortage is a serious problem in the United States, as some 500,000 positions are lying vacant. It has been noticed that hospitals and care units in our country are faced with an extreme shortage of nurses and there are various reasons why the nursing workforce is diminishing resulting in a dearth of qualified people in this field. It has also been noted that women entering the workforce have more options available and thus few choose to enter managed health care units. The country is also facing a dearth of nurses due to a similar situation globally and lower employment rate locally. Nurses in our country are mostly above the age of 50 and the average age of nurses in the United States is 49. This shows that fewer younger people are entering the field, which is a complex issue and needs to be analyzed closely in order to seek an effective solution."
Abstract In recent years the high costs of prescription drugs have generated a great deal of controversy. From the individual who is hit hard by rising drug costs, to insurance companies, federal politicians and large drug companies, almost every player in the controversy has an opinion on why prescription drugs cost so much money. This essay summarizes the reasons prescription drugs have risen in cost from several different points of view. First, a thorough discussion of the state of prescription drug costs is presented. Second, the drug companies? position on why prescription drugs cost so much money is given. Third, criticisms of the drug companies, and advocacy for decreasing the cost of prescription drugs are presented. Finally, a thorough conclusion contrasts the drug companies? position with criticisms and advocacy plans for decreasing prescription drug costs.
From the Paper "The cost of prescription drugs has been increasing steadily over the past decade, and now has reached staggering amounts. In fact, prescription drug costs are currently the fastest growing expense in healthcare. For managed care companies, prescription drug costs are rising from between 16 to 22 percent each year. Further, the total cost of prescription drugs topped over $83 billion in 1997, marking an astronomical increase over the 1992 figure of $49 billion (BlueShield of Oregon, 1999). The cost of brand name drugs has been the primary contributor to this increase (Turkel)."
Tags: federal, medicine, health, care, patient, generic, pharmaceutical, welfare
Abstract This paper details the state of nursing up until the mid nineteenth century and gives a history of the life of Florence Nightingale. The paper explains her contribution to the development of nursing theory and its application to nursing practice. It shows how she raised nursing to the level of a medical profession with high standards of education and important responsibilities. The paper also explains her promotion of public health care systems.
From the Paper "Nurses, until the mid nineteenth century, were usually volunteers (often men and women belonging to various religious orders) with little or no training. As late as the end of the 18th century nursing was considered an unsuitable occupation for "proper" young women, partially due to the fact that hospitals in those days were dirty and unhygienic places where patients invariably died. As a result, nursing care was commonly provided by persons who had been imprisoned for drunkenness or who could not find work elsewhere."
Abstract This paper provides a succinct analysis of Dorothea Orem's nursing theory in terms of the nursing metaparidigm, person, environment, health and nursing. The author also addresses the congruence of her theory with Rural Nursing theory and how her theory is applied to the Medical Surgical area in an acute care setting
Abstract This paper looks at the escalating problem of obesity in children and how many people attribute the problem to the marketing strategies of fast foods. The arguments supporting this position and the need for fast-food regulation are discussed in the paper, and the factors and statistics used in these arguments are cited. The paper then presents the arguments that oppose the regulation of fast-food marketing strategies and concludes with the author's suggestion on how best to solve the problem of childhood obesity.
From the Paper "Many nutrition experts blame this trend on poor nutrition and sugar snacks. Deborah Crooks criticizes the sale of unhealthy snacks in schools, saying many of these snacks are "high in fat and sugar" (Crooks, qtd in "Sale of snack foods in schools may contribute to obesity in children"). Many of these snacks are dispensed from bright vending machines and packaged in wrappers containing popular cartoon or movie characters and even celebrity endorsers."
Abstract This paper examines how embryonic stem cells are on the cutting edge of modern science and how they have become a controversial issue. It looks at how the ongoing debate over federal funding for research in this field has highlighted many of the ethical problems involved. The author puts forward a pro-stem cell argument by providing three fundamental reasons why research must continue together with government support and funding.
Outline
Introduction
The Scientific and Medical Potential of Stem Cells
A Humanitarian Approach to a Controversial Issue
A Third Reason for Support
The Argument
Conclusion
From the Paper "There are many reasons that the government should financially support stem cell reason. Most importantly, the lack of federal funding places scientific research in the hands of privately funded projects. This research is far too important and too new to be left to private researchers. Because researchers are required to share data when their work is federally funded, public support of stem cells is of vital importance (Wildmoon, 2001). All stakeholders, including scientists, researchers, ethicists, and investors should be kept up-to-date on stem cell projects. This would be a reality if more federal funding was available."
Abstract This paper examines the statistics on smoking and the tactics that tobacco companies use to advertise their products in order to show how advertisers convince smokers to use their products, despite the obvious risk to their health.
From the Paper "Advertising is defined as the activity of attracting public attention to a product or business, as by paid announcements in print or on the air. Advertisers make public announcement of their products, especially to proclaim the qualities or advantages of a product or business in order to increase sales. But in order for a product to be effectively advertised, it must have a major selling point in order to appeal to consumers. In the case of tobacco products, there is no obvious benefit to the consumer other than the gratification of their nicotine habit, and the advertisers are not interested in pointing out that their products are potentially addictive. Consequently, tobacco companies downplay the possible health risks associated with smoking and secondhand smoke. In addition, the Federal Trade Commission has prohibited tobacco companies from using television to advertise their products since the 1970s in order to discourage impressionable consumers from beginning the smoking habit. Therefore, the problem is that advertisers for tobacco companies have had to seek ways to present their products to the consumer without having to disclose the health risks that cigarettes pose to their customers and those people in the smokers? environment without violating FTC rules. Some of the ways that they have persuaded consumers to use their products is through icons such as Joe Camel, the sponsorship of sporting events, through Websites that oppose the findings of researchers, and through direct mail advertising campaigns that rally smokers through an appeal to their rights and freedoms. "
Tags: cigarettes, minors, ethics, joe, camel, family, cancer
Abstract This paper analyzes the ethical and moral issues concerning the cloning of human beings. The author touches on some aspects of cloning, how it has developed and its side-effects. The author gives an opinionated argument about the effects that cloning of human beings will have on society's perception of what it means to be a human being, as well as questions about a cloned individual's personal identity, uniqueness, and individuality.
From the Paper "Recent news that scientists in Scotland had succeeded in cloning an adult sheep ignited a worldwide debate. Of particular concern are the ethical and social implications of the potential application of cloning techniques to produce human beings. The Scottish announcement marked the first time that researchers were able to produce an exact genetic replica of an adult animal."
Abstract This paper argues that voluntary euthanasia preserves dignity. Examined in this paper are such ideas as the right to die, the ethical parameters of euthanasia, the quality of life perspective and a place for euthanasia within varied perspectives. The author argues that one of the greatest ways to preserve another person's dignity is through an act of mercy. Voluntary euthanasia is an act of mercy, which therefore, preserves dignity with the bestowment of final compassion.
From the Paper "A step in awareness is the enactment of careful laws that permit forms of voluntary euthanasia. In the United States, the state of Oregon's Death With Dignity Act, allowing ?limited physician-assisted suicide,? is an example of a start for public understanding. In ideal cases of merciful euthanasia, a person makes a painstaking, well thought-out decision. Voluntary euthanasia is rarely carried out at the first knowledge of impending death, especially if medical help is available to treat the terminal disease. Voluntary euthanasia is an act of mercy, and therefore, preserves dignity with the bestowment of final compassion. "
