Abstract This study explores the effects that motivation has on the job satisfaction of nurses and on nurse retention. It is hypothesized that nurses who are more motivated in their jobs are more satisfied, and are thus less likely to leave the profession. The findings from this study provide information as to what changes can be made so that nurses are more motivated in their profession.
From the Paper "Nursing retention is a prominent factor in the current nursing shortage, and it has been found that nurses change jobs and careers because of issues in the workplace, including the culture of the hospital (Donley et al., 2002). Recently, several studies have explored the growing trend of nurses leaving the profession. Why is nurse retention becoming increasingly difficult? Several theories have been posited. Sumner and Townsend-Rocchiccioli (2003) suggested that the cause of nurses? abandonment of the profession might lie more in intrinsic factors rather than overtly expressed reasons. These authors cite various reasons, such as bureaucratic factors, issues related to the medical profession and scientific discourse, and factors within the nursing profession, as contributing to dissatisfaction that causes nurses to leave. Also, nursing is emotionally stressful work, which may add additional stresses to influencing factors. The above authors suggest changes in the work environment to make nurses feel valued for their skills and therefore increase nurse retention."
Abstract This paper examines the life, work, and leadership of Margaret Sanger, an advocate for women's rights and, in particular, reproductive rights. It looks at her selfless fight to legalize contraception in an era in which many were ready to hear such a message, but many others were ardently opposed to her work and to the possibility that women might, indeed, gain greater rights in American society.
From the Paper "Sanger believed that it was the right of everyone to have enough information about birth control to make their own decisions about the morality and practicality of using it and began a magazine titled The Woman Rebel that attacked the restrictions placed on the circulation of information about contraception by the an 1873 piece of federal legislation called the Comstock Law. This highly restrictive law made it a crime to distribute any device or medicine that could be used as a contraceptive or abortificient or any information about birth control or abortion or even to cite in print the name of any sexually transmitted disease. The law also banned doctors and nurses from providing such information to their patients."
Tags: reproductive, rights, contraception, comstock, law
Abstract This paper begins by providing an analysis of the pharmaceutical industry. It presents a summary profile of the dominant economic characteristics of the pharmaceutical industry and then analyzes the industry through Porter's Five Forces. This is followed by an identification of key industry trends in the pharmaceutical industry. It then applies these findings briefly to the pharmaceutical company called Merck Inc.
From the Paper "Drug packaging demand is predicted to grow at a rate of 4.3 percent annually in the United States through 2006. According to the report by the Freedonia Group, "Blister packaging will remain the top group based on strength in unit dose, compliance, clinical trial, high barrier and high visibility formats. Pouches and strip packs will compete with blister in unit dose. Prefillable inhalers and syringes will grow the fastest in market value" (Freedonia Group)."
Abstract This paper discusses heroin, a powerful, highly addictive drug that is derived from opium, which was first synthesized from morphine in the 1890s and was initially considered to be an effective pain killer and cough suppressant. It looks at how its manufacture and sale is now illegal in most countries because of its widespread abuse and habit-forming qualities and focuses on the long-term and short-term, harmful effects on the human body.
From the Paper "In the longer term, the heroin user becomes totally dependent on the drug until his whole life revolves around the effort to get the next ?fix.? Other long term psychological effects of heroin include loss of enthusiasm and involvement in everyday affairs, withdrawal from hobbies and sports, reluctance to make new friends, irritability and overreaction to criticism, sudden changes in mood and compulsive lying. A heroin user goes to great lengths to deny that he is a drug abuser. Devious and manipulative behavior aimed at getting money for supporting the drug is also a typical long term effect of heroin. Distorted perception, hallucinations, and paranoia are the other long-term psychological effects of heroin."
Abstract The first part of this paper examines the background and reviews the current literature regarding pain management. The next part then examines the key pain management issues and the pros and cons of establishing pain management standards.The paper then examines these proposed guidelines from a nursing viewpoint in line with the 2001 Code of Ethics, as well as the ANA's "Nursing's agenda for the future." Next, the paper addresses how a proposed set of pain management guidelines affects nursing practices and the practice of health care, in general. In the last section, the paper makes further recommendations on how pain management strategies could be tailored to facilitate the practice of nursing.
From the Paper "Pain management takes a backseat in a variety of medical specialties. Tanabe and Buschmann (1999), for example, found that 78 percent of patients experience severe pain in the emergency room. Furthermore, clinicians often followed a standard pain treatment program that did not take into account the severity of an individual patient's pain. As a result, many patients did not receive adequate pain medication, despite the availability of pharmacologic solutions."
Abstract Should physicians be allowed to assist in patient suicide? This paper discusses this issue and explains it in detail. The writer discusses its pros and cons and argues against making such assistance legal. The writer concludes that the negative consequences of the act far outweigh its purported benefits.
From the Paper "Euthanasia is, quite literally, a "life and death" issue. It is no surprise, therefore, that it evokes heated debate among doctors, lawyers, philosophers, academicians as well as the general public all over the world. Although, recent developments in modern medicine have given it a new dimension, euthanasia is by no means an exclusively modern-day concern. Even the ancient Greeks had pondered over the issue centuries ago, albeit without reaching a definite conclusion about its merits or otherwise. In more recent times, euthanasia has been the subject of discussion in various forums including the Supreme Court of the United States with similar inconclusive results."
An examination of how osteoporosis could be treated by the Health Belief Model (HBM), which is a systematic mode of predicting and, thus, preventing health behavior.
Abstract The Health Belief Model is a psychological health promotion method that locates the problem and allows a solution before the onset of the problem. Osteoporosis is a silent disease and, thus, clinically dangerous. This paper examines how, by perceiving the problem through the HBM, the physicians would predict the barriers and the benefits and allow for a measure of control in the spreading of the disease. It explains how, in a clinical setting, the disease could be assessed through questionnaires and personal history taking, and the at-risk population could be motivated to act in a manner that would allow control of the disease. It concludes that the problem is preventable and, thus, an excellent component for the HBM.
From the Paper "By focusing on the relationship between the practices and the behaviors of health services it aimed to create a theoretical presentation of the same. Later it was revised to motivate the general health for the 'purpose of distinguishing illness and sick-role behavior from health behavior'. [Brown, 1999] The HBM is essentially a concept that integrates psychological motivators with physical and social settings. Its said to have been initiated in 1952 by three socio-psychologists, Godfrey Hochbaum, Stephen Kegels and Irwin Rosenstock. During the 1950's the society realized a need to prevent disease rather than cure it. The US Public Health Service was more concerned with preventing outbreaks which would have a nationwide impact than with trying to solve and cure the symptoms that individuals came up with. The HBM was created under the influence of Kurt Lewin who suggested that the perceiver could determine the actions of the people of the world. Through a series of studies over a decade the originators of the HBM conducted systematic studies in order to present a mode of behavior that would help prevent health problems. Consider that in 1952 Godfrey Hochbaum presented the first research study that would provide the identification of symptoms pointing towards a chest x-ray in order for the early diagnosis of TB. [Brown, 1999]"
Abstract This paper looks at some of the controversy surrounding health care directives. The paper explains what a health directive is, looks at the purpose of health directives, explores the problems and controversy associated with them, and suggests a possible solution to these problems. Appended to the paper are notations concerning laws on health care directives, quotes about advanced directives from medical professionals, and a statement on health care directives made by a bioethicist.
From the Paper "The past few decades have seen an increase in law suits revolving around the final medical wishes of those who fall ill. Media coverage has provided the nation with front row coverage when it comes to people in comas, vegetative states, and no hope of recovery. Family members are often pitted against each other and the hospitals as the patient lays waiting for a decision to be made. One of the things that has been increasing in popularity to prevent such problems is the use of advance directives. While advance directives are gaining in popularity and power their relative infancy creates an atmosphere for problems. Advance directives can lay to rest painful family decisions, as well as doctor decisions that may or may not agree with the family. They provide a blue print of the patient's wishes that everybody can follow."
Explores the controversy within the medical profession and the general public regarding the political ramifications of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide.
Abstract This paper looks at the controversial topic of a patient's right to die and some of the moral and legal arguments that have been made regarding the topic. Examples of court cases and quotes from legal and medical professionals are cited to help illustrate the complexity and controversy of the right to die concept.
From the Paper "One of the largest concerns of modern society is the amount of control that is ethically possible within a social system that prides itself on democratic ideals of individuality. The rights and privileges of the individual are meant to be balanced with the judicial system's attempts at providing parameters of safety within the community. The political ramifications of euthanasia and physician assisted suicide (PAS) are very controversial, both within the medical community and the general public. The issue encompasses the patient's rights, the debate over pain and suffering and the religious prohibitions that bind many people."
Abstract This paper begins by stating Orlando's theory of nursing: "The field of nursing requires the utmost care on the part of nurses if they are to understand their patients." The writer explores the life of this woman, whose impact on nursing and nursing studies is still felt today.
Contents
Introduction
Life of Ida J. Orlando
Ida Jean Orlando's Nursing Career
Orlando's Theory in General
Purpose of Nursing
Major Theoretical Concepts
My Personal Opinion
Conclusion
From the Paper "The effect of communication coupled with the intuition that nurses are allowed to use according to Orlando's theory demonstrates the autonomy that nurses have been presented with in contemporary times. However, it should also be realized that nurses need to be careful when deciding upon treatments, especially in emergency situations, as these can be a matter of life or death for some patients."
Tags: patient, care, health, medical, hospital, home, treatment
Abstract This paper defines new legislation enacted under HIPPA and outlines concrete measures and steps managers and employees should take to ensure the new legislation is enacted correctly in patient and medical offices. It defines the HIPPA law, which provides certain protections that are guaranteed to citizens of the United States who have preexisting medical conditions.
From the Paper "On August 21, 1996 a new law was signed called the Health Insurance Portability and Accounting Act of 1996, which is abbreviated as HIPPA (HEP-C, 2003 & Regence, 2003). The law guarantees many things to American workers, including continuous healthcare coverage for people who are changing jobs (DC, 2003). HIPPA also includes a provision that details the manner in which health information can be disbursed, and also seeks to ?combat waste, fraud, and abuse in health insurance and health care (DC, 2003). Recently rules and regulations were developed by the government that mandate new requirements for creation, storing, transmittal and care of health related data manually and electronically (DC, 2003). Additionally, a Privacy Rule was enacted that regulates the manner in which private medical and health information can be shared or disseminated among health care entities and health plan providers, which includes employers (Regence, 2003)."
Abstract This paper explains that the theories of the causality of alcoholism have changed dramatically over the last fifty years from being a learned behavior to being genetic. But now, the pendulum is slowly swinging back to viewing alcoholism as a learned behavior, with some element of genetic predisposition to the condition. The author points out that, if alcoholism is a learned behavior, it would, in fact, influence the way in which social workers treat alcoholics and their families. The paper concludes that research insists on addressing the issue of alcoholism as a complex one that, in all likelihood, includes genetic, behavioral, social, and psychological elements.
From the Paper "A number of researchers have investigated the question of whether or not alcoholism has a genetic component and, if so, how powerful that component is. This literature review summarizes some of the most recent research in this area. In general, researchers have found that there is a genetic element to alcoholism but that this element is not as important as the learned-behavior element of alcoholism. Research, such as that performed by Dawes et.al. (1999), reinforces the fact that even highly dysfunctional behavior can be learned."
Abstract This paper explains that Alzheimer's is a degenerative disease of the brain that results in memory loss, impaired thinking, difficulty finding the right word when speaking, and personality changes. It explains that it is found predominantly in the elderly population and discusses specific characteristics, symptoms, and treatments. Focus is placed on different treatment options available.
From the Paper "Alzheimer's illness is common in the elderly population. Studies (Knopman, Boeve, & Petersen, 2003) reveal that over three million people living within the United States have been diagnosed with the disease. As a person ages, the condition worsens and usually people having Alzheimer's also have a long life expectancy. Except for advancing age, a family history of Alzheimer's and cardiovascular disease, there is no evidence to support that environmental or health-behavioral factors strikingly increase a person's risk. There continues to be ongoing arguments that the onset of the disease may be a result of low education, head injury, and being of the female sex."
Abstract After a general outline of sleep and what happens while we are sleeping, this paper goes on to discuss the body's biological need for sleep, the sleeping problem known as insomnia, and how it can affect one's health. The paper also looks at some possible causes of insomnia and how it can be treated.
From the Paper "We spend about one third of our life sleeping. Sleep is defined as the suspension of consciousness during which the powers of the body are restored (ThinkQuest, 2003). The brain is not at rest during sleep as popularly thought, but is extremely active and it is the brain that tells us when it is time to sleep. Sensations of light taken in from the retina are transferred through the nerves to an area of the brain determines the amount of light exposure and adjusts the body accordingly. The exact purpose of sleep remains a mystery, but researchers speculate that during certain stages of sleep, the brain is testing, strengthening, or somehow improving our neurons."
This paper discusses the five stages from the novice to expert theory created by Patricia Benner and the incident, which triggered the author's "Ahha" experience.
Abstract The paper explains that an "Ahha moment" is usually a sudden realization of an understanding of a concept. The author relates that her "Ahha" happened during an operation in which she, as a surgery nurse, was able to use her prior experience to pick up cues from the situation and act quickly, thus demonstrating Benner's fifth stage of professional nursing development. The paper stresses that experience is essential for the development of professional expertise.
From the Paper "In Stage One of Benner's theory, the novice has little or no experience. The circulating nurse who had to be told to get the crash cart is an example of this stage. Stage Two is identified as the advance beginner. According to Benner, in this stage the nurse has experienced enough real situations to make judgments. In Stages Four and Five, the nurse is able to see the big picture. These two stages define expertise. A nurse finding herself in these two stages could trigger an "Ahha experience". Hence, in the scenario, being able to extract from prior experiences highlighted my appreciation of the concept that nursing experience is crucial for the development of expertise skills."
