How Are the Themes of Loneliness and Isolation Explored in “of Mice and Men”? Essay

How are the themes of loneliness and isolation explored in â€Å"Of Mice and Men†? Born in 1902, John Steinbeck, author of ‘Of Mice and Men’, set his book in the 1930’s. The novel revolves around two hard-working men dependant on one another during the Great Depression, a time when most were alone. Many themes are explored in the novel such as racism, loneliness, disability, isolation and friendship. This essay will be talking about how the themes of loneliness and isolation are explored in ‘Of Mice and Men’. Gender is one way in which Steinbeck illustrates loneliness and isolation. The character of Curley’s wife is used to portray this. Throughout the book Curley’s wife is never referred to her name which is unknown. This suggests that she is a possession belonging to Curley. By not having her name mentioned; Curley’s wife remains distant even though she tells Lennie her life story as without a name she remains mysterious. Her marriage to Curley causes for her to be rejected by the ranch workers when she seeks out their attention and friendship. Therefore she is not only lonely but also isolated as there are only men on the ranch who turn away from her. Critics may argue that Steinbeck was too harsh in not giving a name to Curley’s wife but in my opinion John Steinbeck was only portraying the reality of that particular time period. Steinbeck also uses age to explore the themes of loneliness and isolation. Candy, an old ranch worker, is used to display these themes. As the oldest man on the ranch Candy is the most insecure of the men as he knows that if he was to be fired from his job he would have no other place to go to, what with having no family or friends. This knowledge isolates him from the others as there’s no one whom he can relate to this about. Critics may say that John Steinbeck is stereotyping old people as useless. Another way in which the two themes are explored is through racism. For this John Steinbeck uses Crooks. As a stable buck and a black person, Crooks is isolated from the other characters. He has his own room which may be fortunate but only further alienates him from the other workers. Crooks shows that he is lonely while talking to Lennie, he says, â€Å"I tell ya a guy gets too lonely an’ he gets sick. † He talks of how he wakes up in the night and sees something but doesn’t know if he was just dreaming, if had a friend he would have asked him. Because of his race Crooks has many disadvantages one of them being that he is not allowed to enter the bunkhouse. Another being that he is abused by the other workers. Crooks is not given a chance to befriend anyone and is therefore both physically and mentally isolated. Lennie shows how disability can lead to loneliness and isolation. His child-like mentality distances him from the other workers. Though he talks to and is talked to by other characters he is isolated in his mind because there is still a separation. His disability causes the other characters on the ranch to treat him as inferior. Lennie was told both Crooks’ and Curley’s wife’s life story but it doesn’t mention in the book whether or not he was really listening when the two confided in him. This makes you doubt whether or not Lennie is actually as he is described. Critics may say that Lennie’s character was too unrealistic and overdrawn. Euthanasia is used to explore the themes of loneliness and isolation. Again Lennie is used to display this along with Candy’s dog. Both of them were in a similar situation where their death was what was best for them. Throughout the book Lennie is described as animalistic which further connects him to Candy’s dog. Lennie was killed by someone who cared about him, George, while Candy had wished to have been the one who had killed his dog. Without his dog Candy was left as lonely because though he still had the others, his dog was the one who was always by his side. It shows that Lennie was truly lonely because when he died though George was shaken he had Slim as a friend to replace Lennie. John Steinbeck uses dreams to show loneliness and isolation. George’s character is used to show this. Although most of the ranch workers like George, he is mentally isolated. This is because of his dream which distances him from the other characters. His dream acts as a burden because in the end he knows that it will never come true. His awareness causes for him to be isolated, lonely and unreachable. Financial status also displays loneliness and isolation. For this the character of Curley is used. Curley can be viewed as the villain in the novel because of the abusive way he treats the other workers. He uses his small size as an advantage. The main difference though between him and the workers is money. Curley is married and yet because he is the boss’s son he doesn’t have to work like the others characters do. He uses the fact that he has authority and dominates the ranch workers. But being the boss’ son only further alienates him from the other characters and causes him to be lonely. Curley’s wife would constantly flirt with the other ranch-hands. This made him a subject of ridicule and further isolated him. Another way in which John Steinbeck uses to explore the themes of loneliness and isolation is through marriage. Curley and his wife are used to depict this. Both of them are stuck in a loveless marriage. Curley’s wife revealed to Lennie that she didn’t like Curley. Ways that you can tell Curley doesn’t love his wife is like the fact that he went to a cat house with the other men. In addition, when his wife was killed he set out to punish Lennie instead of mourning her; this shows that he was more interested in getting back at Lennie for personal reasons instead of losing his wife. Curley and his wife are therefore viewed as lonely. Their title as a married couple also isolates them from others on the ranch as there are expectations of how they should act and who they should talk to. Friendship is used by John Steinbeck to display loneliness and isolation. There are many forms of friendship in â€Å"Of Mice and Men†, the main one being George and Lennie’s friendship. The two of them are dependent on one another for different reasons. Lennie needs George to help him because of his mental disability. While George needs Lennie for company. Critics may argue that Steinbeck showed their friendship as abusive and forced. Another friendship brought together by loneliness is Curley’s wife and Lennie. This shows that they were all lonely as they settled for each other purely because they wanted companionship and someone to talk to. John Steinbeck also used other features to display loneliness and isolation. The novel began with a lonely atmosphere as he described the setting. This indicated that there was no-one around to describe or mention which gave you the feeling of isolation. Also the name of the city, Soledad, means solitude and loneliness in Spanish. In conclusion, John Steinbeck explored the themes of loneliness and isolation in many ways, using other themes and features. Although Steinbeck doesn’t allow you to clearly see his characters so you are unable to discern whether they are really lonely and isolated or if they are just portrayed and viewed as lonely and isolated.

Managing in Today’s Health Care Organizations Essay

Design and functionality of Upper Chesapeake Medical Center (UCMC) This memo contains a brief analysis of the welfare of Upper Chesapeake Medical Center (UCMC). The memo zooms in on the architecture and operation of the facility. It also elaborates an overview of the mechanism of UCMC. Upper Chesapeake Medical Center resides in Bel Air, Maryland in Harford County. The design of each room presents a relaxed, private and calm atmosphere for patients and visitors. In 2008, the facility opened its doors but continued to expand in usefulness and size. A renovation ended in 2008. It brought a new and larger Emergency Department. It also created a facility especially for pediatric patients and surgical and inpatient bed accommodation. The renovation also designed a new and necessary parking garage and physician office structure. The new parking garage offers convenience to patients visiting the new outpatient services. An area beside the Medical Center includes an Ambulatory Care Center. This center houses multiple physician offices, outpatient imaging and laboratory procedures, outpatient pre-assessment testing and Upper Chesapeake Cardiovascular Institute. Upper Chesapeake Health (UCH) distributes health care through Harford County, eastern Baltimore County and western Cecil County. Upper Chesapeake Health employs 2,700 team members and more than 550 medical staff physicians. Upper Chesapeake Medical Center ranked on a high national level in the U. S. News Best Hospitals in three adult attributes. Attributes include Geriatrics, Gastroenterology and Neurology and Neurosurgery. The facility contains 186 hospital beds. It employs 35 full-time physicians and 244 registered nurses. During 2012, the Medical Center received 14,223 admissions, delivered 1,388 babies, and performed 3,925 inpatient and 6,179 outpatient surgeries, and 62,168 emergency room visits. Over 1,000 volunteers donate time to Upper Chesapeake Medical Center and other medical facilities in Harford County. Thank you for taking the time to review my data pertaining to Upper Chesapeake Medical Center. Our Medical Center contains a dedicated staff along with a hospitable design that warms patients upon arrival along with comforting them and visitors during their stay.

Quines son indocumentados y cules son sus derechos

Quines son indocumentados y cules son sus derechos La definicià ³n de los indocumentados en Estados Unidos es clara. Son los extranjeros que no tienen estatus migratorio legal y su presencia en los Estados Unidos es objeto de gran debate polà ­tico. En este artà ­culo se explica quià ©nes son indocumentados, cules son sus nà ºmeros y procedencia, quà © sucede si son arrestados, por quà © no regularizan su situacià ³n y, finalmente, cules son sus derechos. Quià ©nes son los indocumentados en Estados Unidos Son las personas de otros paà ­ses que se encuentran en Estados Unidos y  carecen de estatus legal desde el punto de vista de las leyes migratorias. En general, hay 3  formas en las que un extranjero se convierte en indocumentado: En primer lugar, por cruzar la frontera sin ser examinado por un oficial de inmigracià ³n que autoriza la entrada como admitido o parole. El caso tà ­pico es el de cruzar la frontera entre Mà ©xico y Estados Unidos, principalmente por el desierto. Esta es una actividad cada vez ms difà ­cil, por el incremento de seguridad en la frontera. Y tambià ©n muy peligrosa, por el tipo de personas inescrupulosas que controlan el cruce ilegal de la frontera y tambià ©n porque cada vez se realiza ms por rutas que cruzan el desierto durante varios dà ­as, lo cual hace que decenas de personas fallezcan cada aà ±o por deshidratacià ³n. Cruzar ilegalmente la frontera se considera como la forma ms frecuente de convertirse en indocumentado. Por la propia naturaleza de que este cruce no est registrado es difà ­cil realizar un clculo exacto. Pero se considera que aproximadamente por cada migrante arrestado cuando intentaba ingresar ilegalmente, 2 migrantes lo han conseguido.   En segundo lugar, entrar con una visa o legalmente como la tarjeta de Cruce o una ESTA por ser de un paà ­s en el Programa de Exencià ³n de Visados y quedarse ms all del tiempo autorizado. En el aà ±o fiscal 2015 un total de 525,127 migrantes lo hicieron. Esto es lo que tambià ©n se conoce como overstay de la visa y tiene serias consecuencias. Y, en tercer lugar, cometer una  violacià ³n migratoria.  Un caso tà ­pico, es trabajar sin autorizacià ³n. Nà ºmero de indocumentados en EE.UU. y origen Se estima que aproximadamente en la actualidad hay unos 11.3 millones  de indocumentados, este nà ºmero es menor al mximo histà ³rico del aà ±o 2000. El 52 por ciento del total de indocumentados ha nacido en Mà ©xico. Es decir, aproximadamente 6.5 millones de personas. El segundo paà ­s con ms indocumentados es El Salvador, con ms de medio millà ³n, seguido de Guatemala y Honduras. Muchos indocumentados forman parte de los que se conoce como familias mixtas, es decir, uno o varios de sus miembros carecen de estatus legal y otros son residentes permanentes o, incluso, ciudadanos americanos. Se estima que en la actualidad aproximadamente 4 millones de nià ±os estadounidenses tienen al menos un progenitor que es indocumentado. Pero estos infantes nada pueden hacer por sus padres, desde el punto de vista migratorio, hasta cumplir los 21 aà ±os. E incluso entonces no siempre es posible solucionar el problema. Indocumentado e ilegal Sà ­, desde el punto de vista migratorio es lo mismo un indocumentado que un ilegal. Sin embargo, se considera polà ­ticamente incorrecto dentro de la comunidad latina llamar ilegal a una persona sin estatus migratorio en regla. De hecho, existe una fuerte campaà ±a meditica para conseguir que los medios de comunicacià ³n eviten el uso de esa palabra, que se considera despectiva y que se use exclusivamente la de indocumentado. Quà © les puede suceder a los indocumentados si son detenidos por la migra Los indocumentados pueden ser enviados a prisià ³n mientras se tramita su caso. De hecho, como media cada dà ­a hay ms de 31 mil migrantes detenidos. Adems, pueden ser deportados, expulsados inmediatamente, liberados o pueden incluso en casos muy particulares ajustar su estatus y obtener asà ­ la green card. Cabe destacar que algunos migrantes aunque teà ³ricamente son indocumentados estn protegidos frente a la deportacià ³n, como por ejemplo los muchachos que en su dà ­a aplicaron por DACA y estn renovando el programa. En la actualidad, estas son las  categorà ­as de prioridades de deportacià ³n  establecidas por orden ejecutiva de Donald Trump. Cà ³mo un indocumentado puede regularizar su situacià ³n No es imposible pero es difà ­cil. Y es que a diferencia de lo que ocurre en otros paà ­ses en Estados Unidos no existe la posibilidad de regularizar la situacià ³n por radicar en el paà ­s por un nà ºmero de aà ±os. (No es verdad que si se viven 10 aà ±os se obtiene la green card. Eso es un malentendido de una medida de alivio que existe en algunos casos de procedimientos de deportacià ³n ante un juez migratorio). Estas son 15 posibilidades de legalizacià ³n de indocumentados. En ocasiones es necesario pedir un perdà ³n y obtener su aprobacià ³n. Estas son las opciones para solicitar un perdà ³n migratorio, tambià ©n conocido como waiver. Son situaciones muy particulares y delicadas por lo que es aconsejable hablar con un abogado especialista en esos temas, si es posible y si no al menos ponerse en contacto con una organizacià ³n reputada de ayuda legal a migrantes o con clà ­nicas legales de universidades. Derechos de los indocumentados Uno de los conocimientos ms importantes para los migrantes indocumentados es  saber cà ³mo hacer para saber si un indocumentado est detenido por la migra. Tambià ©n es importante saber que se tienen derechos, como a recibir el salario mà ­nimo por el trabajo realizado, a no ser abusado en el trabajo, a recibir ciertas prestaciones sociales, como asistencia mà ©dica de urgencia o alimentos por el programa WIC para lactantes y embarazadas.   Adems, algunos estados algunas categorà ­as de  inmigrantes indocumentados son considerados como PRUCOL. En estos casos podrà ­an tener acceso a beneficios sociales de los que con carcter general estn excluidos los migrantes sin papeles. Asimismo, no olvidar que todos los nià ±os tienen derecho a la educacià ³n obligatoria, sean ellos indocumentados o sà ³lo sus paps. Estos son los puntos bsicos que se recomienda conocer sobre el sistema educativo en Estados Unidos.  Todos los nià ±os tienen derecho a la mejor educacià ³n disponible. Es de Justicia y se juegan, en muchos casos, su futuro. Por à ºltimo no olvidar que Estados Unidos es un paà ­s muy grande y que los estados tienen distintas posiciones respecto a los indocumentados. Mientras que algunos permiten derechos como la licencia de manejar otros han aprobado leyes que hacen muy difà ­cil vivir el dà ­a a dà ­a. Es por eso que conviene pensar bien dà ³nde vivir, si es que hay esa opcià ³n. Tambià ©n recordar que algunas ciudades mantienen polà ­ticas pro-inmigrantes. Por ejemplo, convirtià ©ndose en ciudades-santuario que no comparten informacià ³n con Inmigracià ³n o emitiendo I.D. para poder abrir cuentas de banco, canjear cheques, etc. Adems, los consulados de varios paà ­ses emiten matrà ­culas consulares que pueden utilizarse como I.D. para gestiones como probar identidad para solicitar permiso de manejar en los estados que lo permiten, etc. Este es un artà ­culo informativo. No es asesorà ­a legal.

Technology in the 20th Century

Technology in the 20th Century Introduction The constant advancements in technology have continued to affect different aspects of human lives since the 20th century. The impact of technology on man comes about due to the connection between the technological component and the behavior of people towards such advances. As Sander (1999) notes, the 20th century can be said to be the period within which man progressed constantly in terms of technology (Sanders, 1999, p. 1).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Technology in the 20th Century specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Technology advancements in the 20th century Astronomy is one of the major scientific advancements made in the 20th century with the invention of satellites which have been used for communication purposes, monitoring of weather and observation of sites by military. The invention of astronomy has helped humans in understanding the universe and most importantly, measurements of weath er which has in turn allowed for weather forecasting by meteorologists. These different types of manmade orbits were invented by man during the late 90s to serve their specific functions as mentioned above. Examples of satellites developed in the 20th century include; telescopes, space probes and crafts. Another very significant technological advancement in the 20th century is genetic engineering invented as a biological advancement. Genetic engineering was developed to widen the understanding of the development process of living things. The understanding of development of living things was meant to enable humans attain the capacity to control some calamities such as hunger and diseases (Treat, 2006, p. 1). Similarly, genetic engineering has been used to control behavior of living things such as humans, other animals and even plants by modifying genes into desirable characteristics. Since its invention, genetic engineering has enabled the manipulation of organisms through the proces ses of reproduction and heredity. Similarly, biomedical interventions have since been developing which include; cloning, in vitro fertilization and production of sperm banks among others. The invention of computers and the internet is an equally significant advancement of the 20th century. The internet was invented way back in 1969 in the department of defense in the U.S. Its invention was aimed at enhancing effective communication in all researches related to defense (Bellis, 2011, p. 1). In conjunction with the National Science Foundation, the defense department developed the use of the internet not only within U.S.A, but all over the world. However, the use of internet was still unfamiliar to many until the late 90s when millions of people around the globe claimed internet access. Since then, the internet has been used as a network through which information can be shared all over the world, within organizations and between individuals.Advertising Looking for research pape r on other technology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Nuclear energy is also a technological advancement of the 20th century involving the science of physics. The advancements in nuclear energy began way back in 1942 and have continued to develop until 1998. The production of nuclear energy results from reactions which occur as a result of changes in the nucleus of atoms and hence nuclear energy has been presented as the safest source of energy ever since its invention (ThinkQuest. ND, p. 1). This is because its production does not involve environmental risks associated with activities such as burning of fossil fuels. In addition, the invention of nuclear physics has led to the development of nuclear weapons which have been regarded as safety tools. Another important technological invention of the 20th century is in medicine especially the invention of penicillin. Penicillin was initially invented by Alexander Fleming in 19 28 but his discovery was modified in the 1950 with more refined isolation and purification techniques (Mason, 2011, p. 1). This followed the production of various penicillin antibiotics which have been used widely for the treatment of bacterial infections. Some of the most significant uses of penicillin are in the treatment of infections of the urinary tract and the treatment of typhoid and enteric fever. Being the first antibiotic to be discovered, penicillin is the most trusted antibiotic being used worldwide. The technology advancements of the 20th century also saw the invention of synthetic fibers as part of chemical science. The process of producing synthetic fibers was invented in 1902 though the very first developments were made in 1945 in the United States (Jupiter scientific.1999, p. 1). Almost all the materials and products used today originate from synthetics. Similarly, synthetic food additives were also developed in the late 80s including flavorings, sweeteners and colo rants. In addition, the technological advancements of the 20th century on synthetics, led to the development of synthetic chemical agents which have been used for the treatment of bacterial infections. Conclusion Of all the technologies developed in the 20th century, the advancement of computers and internet has had the greatest impact on modern lives. This is because the world is becoming more and more business oriented and the use of computers and the internet in running every day-to-day operation for businesses has been an effective venture.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Technology in the 20th Century specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Computers have made business operations much faster and efficient such as record keeping and financial analysis. Similarly, the use of computers has lessened the number of individual workers and hence reduced expenditure for business in terms of wages. In addition, the int ernet has enabled people and organizations to share information at a faster speed compared to other modes of communicating such as letters and telegrams. Reference List Bellis, M. (2011). 20th century timeline: 1900 – 1999. Retrieved from, http://inventors.about.com/od/timelines/a/twentieth.htm Jupiter scientific. (1999). A century of discoveries in physics. Retrieved from, jupiterscientific.org/sciinfo/apscentennial.html Mason, R. (2011). Technological advances in the 20th century. Retrieved from, articlerich.com/Article/Technological-advances-in-the-20th-century/567549 ThinkQuest. (ND). Nuclear energy. Retrieved from, http://library.thinkquest.org/C005271F/physics.html Treat, A. (2006). Major developments in instructional technology: during the 20th  century. Retrieved from, indiana.edu/~idt/shortpapers/documents/ITduring20.html Sanders, R. (1999). Technology in a paradigm of century. Retrieved from, cosmosclub.org/web/journals/2000/sanders.htmlAdvertising Looking for research paper on other technology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More

What Deferred or Waitlisted Students Can Do to Improve Their Chances

What Deferred or Waitlisted Students Can Do to Improve Their Chances Students that have been deferred or waitlisted from their top choice school face a big dilemma. Should they just sit tight or is there anything they can do to better their chances of getting accepted? Understanding the Difference Between Deferred and Waitlisted Being deferred from a college is not the same as being placed on the waitlist. Most college deferrals occur when a student has applied early action (EA) or early decision (ED) to a college.  When a college defers an applicant, it means their application has been changed to a regular decision (RD) application and will be re-considered during the normal admissions review.  If the original application was a binding ED, it no longer is and the student can choose to go to another school even if accepted in the regular process. Waitlisted means that the applicant has not been accepted but could still be considered if enough students that were accepted choose not to attend the college. Even though being waitlisted sounds better than being rejected, odds of getting off a waitlist are not in a student’s favor. Christine K. VanDeVelde, journalist and coauthor of the book College Admission: From Application to Acceptance, Step by Step, explains, â€Å"Waitlists were much smaller 15-20 years ago before the common application. Colleges need to meet their enrollment numbers. With more students sending in applications, it is harder for schools to predict how many students will accept their offer so waitlists tend to be larger.† Re-Evaluate if the School Is the Right School Not being accepted to a first choice college can be upsetting. But before doing anything else, students that have been deferred or waitlisted should re-evaluate and determine whether the school is still their first choice. Several months will have passed since a student has sent in their application for consideration. In that time, some things may have changed, and it is possible a student may not be as confident that their original first choice school is still the right choice. For some students, a deferral or waitlist turns out to be good thing and an opportunity to find another school that is a better fit. What Can  Students Do if They Have Been Waitlisted? Students are not usually placed on a waitlist but told that they can choose to be placed on the waitlist.  VanDeVelde explains, â€Å"Students need to respond by submitting a form or emailing the college by a set date. If you dont, you will not be placed on the waitlist.† The waitlist letter will also let students know what, if any, additional information they will need to submit to the school, such as sending in recent grades or additional letters of recommendation. VanDelde cautions,  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Colleges usually give clear directions. Its in the students best interest to follow them.† Students that have been waitlisted may not find out until August if they have been accepted, so they do need to make a deposit at another college even if the school they have been waitlisted at remains their first choice. What Can  Students Do if They Have Been Deferred? If a student has been deferred and is 100% confident he still wants to attend the school, there are things he can do to improve his chances. Call the Admissions Office VanDeVelde says, â€Å"A student, NOT a parent, can call or email the admissions office to ask for feedback on why the student wad deferred. Maybe they are concerned about a certain grade and want to see if the student improves over the semester.† VanDeVelde advises students to advocate for themselves in a clear and articulate manner. Says VanDeVelde, â€Å"This is not about bringing pressure. It is about whether the school has room for the student.†Ã‚   Send Additional Information Make sure updated grades/transcripts have been sent in a timely manner. Beyond recent grades, students can also update the school on their recent accomplishments, honors, etc. Students can email this information to admissions along with a letter reiterating their interest and commitment to attending the school. Students may consider sending additional recommendations.  Brittany Maschal, a private college counselor, says, â€Å"An extra letter from a teacher, coach or someone else close to the student who can speak to what they have done to contribute to the university may be helpful.† Do not send recommendations from successful or famous alumni of the school unless the person truly knows the student. Maschal explains, â€Å"Many students ask if these types of letters are helpful and the answer is no. A big name vouching for you generally will not help as a stand-alone factor.† Ask Guidance Office for Assistance An admissions office may provide additional details as to why a student was deferred to a school counselor. A school counselor can also advocate on a student’s behalf. Request an Interview Some schools offer applicant interviews on or off campus with alumni or admissions representatives. Visit the College If time permits, consider visiting or re-visiting the campus. Sit in on a class, stay overnight, and take advantage of any admissions events/programming you may not have during the initial process. Consider Re-Taking Standardized Test or Taking Additional Tests As this can be time consuming, it is probably only worthwhile if the school has directly expressed concern over the test scores. Keep Grades Up and Continue With Activities Many students get second semester senioritis.  Their grades might fall or they may slack off on extracurricular activities–especially if they are feeling dejected about not getting an immediate acceptance from a first choice school.  But these senior year grades can be a determining factor for admission. Guest columnist Randi Mazzella is a freelance writer and mother of three.  She primarily writes about parenting, family life and teen issues.  Her work has appeared in many online and print publications including Teen Life, Your Teen, Scary Mommy, SheKnows and  Grown and Flown.

Epidemics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Epidemics - Essay Example For example, the fear about epidemics is growing in Nepal at present because of the recent earthquake. Many of the people in Nepal are still struggling because of this earthquake. Majority of the people in Nepal are living in open streets at the moment. These streets are not much clean at the moment because of earthquake. Diseases or epidemics can develop in these streets at any time. It is difficult to control or treat an epidemic once it occurs. There are no effective methods for the treatment or controlling of epidemics. Each epidemic may have different characteristics and different control measures are required to prevent them. In any case, vaccination is the first method of prevention of spreading of epidemic. Once, the epidemic starts striking an area, all the people in that area should be vaccinated first. Moreover, people in the affected area should be educated about the necessities of taking precautionary measures that prevent the spreading of the epidemic. The victims should be advised to wash their hands with soap and water or alcohol based hand cleaners before taking foods. Victims should be advised to avoid touching mouth, nose and eyes with dirty hands. Moreover, the victims should be advised to wear face masks in order to avoid breathing of contaminated air. Epidemics are severe diseases that can spread within a short period to much wider areas. It is caused by natural disasters and changes in the ecology. Victims of epidemic should be given vaccines first and they should be advised to take control measures such as washing hands before food and wearing mouth

An interventional approach for patient and nurse safety Dissertation

An interventional approach for patient and nurse safety - Dissertation Example The theoretical framework that was used in this study was the model of impaired sleep developed by Lee et al. The framework is based on a scientific theory (Burns & Grove, 2009) as it uses previous research linking sleep quality with errors and lack of alertnessTheoretical Model Discussion The theoretical framework is clearly discussed as having a direct significance with the research topic It is stated impaired sleep consists of either sleep deprivation (inadequate sleep) or sleep disruption (fragmented sleep). The model implies that impaired sleep results in cognitive, behavioural, physiological, social, and emotional responses. The paper elaborates how a targeted fatigue countermeasures program for nurses (FCMPN) can intervene and prevent or alleviate the cognitive and behavioural impacts (like sleep duration, daytime sleepiness, and alertness) and reduce patient-care errors. The following figure from the paper captures the conceptual and the theoretical framework employed: The fr amework is therefore discussed well to outline what variables are to be measured pre and post the FCMPN intervention. 2. Major Study Variables Research Variables: 1. Sleep Quality 2. Sleep Duration 3. Daytime Sleepiness 4. Vigilance 5. Risk for Accidents and Errors 6. Short Term Memory 7. Problem Solving and Coping. Conceptual Definition Sleep Duration was defined as the time duration that participants spent in uninterrupted sleep. Sleep Quality was clearly conceptualized to mean sleep which is not fragmented and which is of adequate duration. While the remaining variables were not clearly defined, conceptually they could be understood to mean the following: Daytime Sleepiness – tendency to doze during the daytime work-hours Vigilance – Drowsiness and Unplanned Sleep Episodes during work hours Risk for Errors – Any perceived deviations from standard practice Short Term Memory – Recall of errors Problem Solving and Coping – How errors were managed O perational Definition Sleep Duration was measured using the log book entries made by the participants. Sleep Quality was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index PSQI (Buysse, Reynolds, Monk, Berman, & Kupfer, 1989). Daytime Sleepiness was measured using Epworth Sleepiness Scale (Johns, 1991) while other variables (Vigilance, Risk for Accidents and Errors, Short Term Memory, Problem Solving and Coping) were measured using the log book entries using the self-report method 3. Sample and Setting a. Sample Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria Full-Time Hospital Staff Surgical nurses were used as the sample. In addition, the selection criteria included that the nurses should be working at least 36 hour per week. Advanced practice nurses, nurse managers, or nurses in specialized roles such as discharge planning were excluded. b. Sampling Method The paper mentions using three surgical nursing units in Michigan using convenience method for selection, though the rationale or the specific fa ctors that led to the selection of the method is not listed. The qualifying nurses were contacted using the official mailing list and out of the 126, 62 consented to participate in the research. c. Sample Size 62 Power analysis indicated that 30 sample size would be sufficient to establish the impacts of FCMPN on the variables that are researched. d. Refusal to Participate Number and Percentage 62 out of the 147 full-time hospital staff nurses (43%). e. Sample attrition or Mortality Number and Percentage Out of the 62 selected for participation, 15 (24%) did not continue with the study for the complete duration. f. Informed Consent Process/Institutional Review Board The 147 nurses that comprised of the qualified the inclusion criteria were sent a preliminary survey to provide demographic information and give their interest to participate. Once the intent of