Strategies to increase teamwork among nurses Essay

Strategies to increase teamwork among nurses - Essay Example Nurses just as any other category of human resource requires appropriate motivation in order to encourage productivity. Nurses are important in improving the quality and fidelity of medical services (Mu?ller, 2010). The fact that they interact with humans makes their services vital for the growth and sustenance off the society. This implies that they require appropriate management in order to encourage productivity thus the improvement of the quality of health services. Key among the motivational factors employable to nurses is teamwork as discussed in the essay below. Teamwork is a scenario in which all the employees works as a completely unified entity, in situations where people work as a team, every individual undertakes specific tasks that complements the work of the other. This way, the entire organization becomes a system in which the efforts of every individual results in the unified good and efficient service delivery. Depending on the size of a health facility, the number o f nurses would vary. However, the teamwork concept would help develop a formidable and efficient team of nurses who deliver high quality services to their patients. This makes teamwork an essential asset to managers of health facilities. By developing such a staff, a manger rests assured of an efficiently functioning heath facility as every nurse would complete their assignment in time and show concern for each other in the organization. While such sounds ideal and desirable by every manager, the daunting tasks is the creation and sustenance of teamwork among a group of nurses. Key among the most efficient ways of developing effective team works in a group of nurses in a health facility is the development of effective management. The management of an organization is always the pace setter in the organization. They develop the nature of the work place often building specific organizational cultures that influence the productivity of the rest of the staff. This makes the management of a health facility fundamental in the development of teamwork and a group of nurses at the organization (Thomas, 2009). The management acts as a motivational factor thus influencing the development of the staff. Additionally, an effective management apportions every department appropriate resources thus determining the nature of the work place for most of the nurses thereby influencing their ability to work efficiently as a team. A staff that functions as a team operates efficiently and undertakes all their tasks within the appropriate time. Team building is an integral part of management. A key step in developing a team among the staff members is the elevation of the work environment. Nurses require specific work environments. The management must influence the nature of the organization in order to improve the suitability of the work place. The development of teamwork is a management responsibility that involves the determination of the best management features that will endear to the nurses thereby making them love both their jobs and their colleagues. This implies that teamwork is attitudinal and the management must appeal and influence the attitudes of the nurses in order to develop teamwork in the health facilities. Communication leadership is one way of facilitating the development of teamwork in health facilities among the nurses. The management of the facilities must exhibit competence leadership thereby determining appropriate ways of communication at the facilities. This compels the management to heed the

Education For Media Literacy Media Essay

Education For Media Literacy Media Essay Media literacy is an approach to education which provides a framework to analyze, evaluate and access messages in various forms and thereby building an understanding of the role of media in the society as well as self-expressions required for citizens of a democracy. Media literacy is the ability to know and understand how the mass media works. This includes how they are organized, how they produce their meanings and how they use them wisely. A person who is media literate can clearly describe the role of media in their lives. He or she understands the basics of various media and enjoys using them deliberately in a conscious way. He or she has full recognition that protects them from being unnecessarily frightened and therefore has a full control of his or her media experiences. Often, the media is lumped together as a single entity but in reality it is actually many forms of communication like the newspapers, billboards, television, radio, magazines, video games, computer games and videocassettes. Education for media literacy uses the inquiry-based pedagogic, model which encourages the people to ask questions in relation to what they read, hear and watch. Media literacy provides tools which help people analyze messages and offer them opportunities to broaden their experience of media. It assists them develop creative skills in coming up with their own media messages. Critical analysis includes identifying the author, his purpose and point of view, examining the construction techniques and genres, patterns of media presentation and detecting any bias, censorship and propaganda available in the news and public programming. Media literacy explores how structural features like the media ownership and funding model affects the information presented. Media literate people are skillful in creating and producing media messages to facilitate understanding of specific qualities of each medium and at the same time create independent media and participate as active citizens. Media literacy has contributed to an expanded conceptualization of literacy which treats mass media, popular culture and digital media as types of texts that require critical evaluation and analysis. Due to the transformation process of media consumption into an active and a critical process, people have gained a bigger awareness of the potential for manipulation and misrepresentation through public relations techniques and get to know the role of mass media in constructing the views of reality. Sometimes, media literacy is viewed as a channel to address the negative side of mass media, digital media and popular culture which includes gender, media violence and racial stereotypes, concerns about loss of privacy, internet predators, the sexualization of children and cyber bullying. Media literacy provides a type of protection for children and helps them make good decisions in their consumption habits and the patterns of their use. Learning abilities linked to media literacy can be used to create learning and teaching methods for example through mobile phones, internet based learning and interactive whitboard. Media interprets the past and shows us what has made us into being the way we are. Like geography, it defines for us our place in the world. Media literacy also helps us understand the workings of our immediate world and also our places individually in it. The media is also a major source of modern culture and entertainment and also requires us to learn and use the critical thinking skills. Media literacy helps us define how we communicate with others and also helps us to adopt the edge of modern technological innovations. Media literacy also helps us determine much of the cultural diet and weave part of the fabric part of our lives. Media literacy also helps us to understand ourselves as well as misunderstand ourselves and others. It helps us interpret our world, its ideas to us and its values. Media literacy helps us understand how things work, because it has carefully planned constructed and designed products. By helping kids and teens to become media literate, we can help them protecting them against pressures from advertising and several others media forms to drink, use drugs, eat unhealthy foods and have sex. We also help them build good communication skills , put portrayals of others as well as themselves, encourage them to look into multiple interpretations of media messages and also improve their media usage habits like changing the ritualistic viewing behaviors. The goal of media literacy is not bashing or to ridicule the media because it is a dominant force in our culture and therefore should be evaluated fairly and not denigrated. Media literacy is also not a magic wand or a silver bullet to solve all our problems but rather our best defense to resist manipulation and to keep a perspective of the images and messages that are a part of the youth culture and the media. Media literacy is therefore about helping students to become competent and critical in the various media forms so that they are well equipped to control the interpretation of what they observe and hear instead of letting the interpretation to control them. To be media literate is not about memorizing or taking statistics about the media but rather learning to raise the appropriate questions about what is seen, heard or read, in other words it is the ability to think for oneself. Without this ability, an individual cannot have the full dignity to exercise citizenship in a society which is democratic.

Overpopulation, Overcrowding, Poverty and Conflict Essay -- Explorator

Overpopulation, Overcrowding, Poverty and Conflict At present, there are 6.5 billion people in the world and the number continues to multiply. In contrast, there are only a limited number of natural resources. On a global basis, the human population has shown a J-shaped pattern of growth over the past two thousand years, while the availability of natural resources mandatory for human survival is in slow decline. The implications of this are not limited to mass starvation, poverty and overcrowding of poorly sanitized cities. In fact, the current stress created by the imbalance between a burgeoning population and a finite number of resources are also one of the main factors contributing to the rise of violent inter-group conflict. Clearly, something must change in order to insure our own survival and the survival of our planet. Unfortunately, human nature adopted its current manufacture and consumption habits during a time when the balance between the number of humans and their available resources was not nearly as stressed. The world’s population early in the agricultural revolution (about 8,000 BC) was probably no more than 10 million. (Southwick 159) In addition, the number of natural resources available for human use was much greater. Thus, humans are continuing to live as though there were an unlimited amount of natural resources, setting themselves up for dire consequences in the future. According to a contemporary anthropologist and writer, â€Å"Most ecologists consider human population growth to be one of the greatest problems in global ecology and a major driving force of environmental degradation. They see excessive consumption as an equally important cause of pollution and environmental deterioration.... ...ver before. If we can maximize this connection by adopting policy compatible with those ecological and demographic areas it might affect, than we might work together to solve the greatest crisis that we will ever encounter.    Sources: Dolan, Edwin G., Ch. 5 from "TANSTAAFL: The Economic Strategy for Environmental Crisis" 1974, pp. 55-72. Ehrlich, Paul R., "Ch.11: Gods, Dive-Bombers, and Bureaucracy" in Human Natures: Genes Cultures, and the Human Prospect, Island Press, 2000. Homer-Dixon, Thomas. Article in Klare, Michael T. and Ghandrani, Yogesh; World Security: Challenges for a New Century. Bedford/ St. Martin’s. NY. 1998. Miller, GT. 1992. Living in the Environment: An introduction to Environmental Science. Belmont, CA: Wordsworth. Southwick, Charles H., Ch. 15 from "Global Ecology in Human Perspective" Oxford Univ. Press, 1996, pp. 159-182.

Discussing Act.1 Scene 7 of Macbeth

The scene takes place in the Madison Square Garden's basketball courts after scheduled training. Chris Anderson, reserve point guard, a position recently appointed to him after Jason Hart sustained a serious injury, considers jeopardising Chauncey Billups position as point guard and captain of the Denver Nuggets. Chris talks to head cheerleader and girlfriend Ashley Reynolds and discusses ways to jeopardise Chauncey's position on the team. (Chris dribbles ball across court to Ashley) Chris: If only I could get rid of Chauncey without any suspicions or consequences (Thinks) I could purposely hurt Chauncey in a practise session, but the risk of suspicion would be way too risky. It would be much easier and beneficial to have someone do it for me. (Looks to Ashley in a strange way) Ashley: No, no way would I put my cheerleading career in jeopardy, and besides, who am I to do such a thing! I'm not a violent person! Chris: There's got be some way I can get his position. My basketball coach in college had a prophecy that one day I would be drafted to the NBA. He also stated that I would become a true leader of a NBA team. I've been drafted now and all there is left to do takeover Chauncey's position and captaincy. (Ashley thinks of ways in which Chris could become captain) Ashley: I have a perfect idea. Chris: Out with it then. Ashley: Well, I am head of the cheerleading team and everyone knows, players loooove cheerleaders. Chris: What are you trying to get at? Yes we all love cheerleaders. Ashley: Well, I could jeopardize Chauncey's position on the team by making false accusations that he sexually assaulted me. Chris: (Thinks) No, I couldn't do that to him, Chauncey is a loyal friend and besides, I don't want to ruin his career. What happens if the plan falls through? There's a chance it will ruin my NBA career as well. All the NBA endorsement I have received will be lost. I don't think I'm ready to throw that all away for a starting position on the team. Ashley: You are wrong! Chauncey isn't a loyal friend, he is a team-mate and that's all. Nothing bad will happen to you and your career. You don't have to be involved, no one will ever know! Chris: Ashley, we are a couple now, if news spreads that we are together and then gets linked back to the sexual assault a lot of attention will be brought upon me. I don't know what to do, I'm only a newly recruited player to the Denver Nuggets, I should be appreciative of what has been given to me. Not everybody receives a deal like mine. Chauncey is very deserving of his position on the team and is a very good role model in which I should aspire to. He is so well respected in the NBA. There would be many assumptions as to why he would sexually assault women, let alone a cheerleader from the same team, besides Chauncey has a wife and is a very good friend of yours. Ashley: What are you talking about Chris? Ever since you were drafted to the NBA you've wanted Chauncey's position! You've wanted leadership and you should be granted recognition. What girl doesn't want her boyfriend to show leadership and dominance? I would love you even more if we were to pull this off. Chris: No, the Consequences of these circumstances are far too severe. Chauncey has done nothing to me in order for me to jeopardise his position on the team let alone his career in the NBA. If the predications from my college basketball are true, maybe I might get that leadership role as captain of a team, but who's saying that its going to be captain of the Denver Nuggets, who says that its Chauncey Billups position and role of the team in which I'm going to overthrow. In time, the prophecy will come true. It's better to hide my ambitions then expose them and run the risk of ruining my NBA career, a friends NBA career or my friendship with Chauncey.

Luck Co. Case Study

Luck Companies Case Study Mngt 393 1. Physical Environment Segment. I would have to say neutral effect on industry because even though the resources this industry excavates is positive for the industry, scouting locations, availability of resources and diminished resources offset those positives. Also important but NOT the most important would be Economic (Neutral) and Demographic (positive). 2. Most influential of 5 forces would be Rivalry among competing firms (High) and Threat of Substitute Products (moderate). The industry Luck Company operates is composed of a few big players who compete against each other.Substitutes of stone/rock would be a threat to the industry, depending on what building materials are needed there are some alternatives such as wood, metal, steel, aluminum and other new artificial building materials. This is not an attractive industry for new entrants. Barriers to Entry are very high. These companies in the industry are operating on economies of scale that c annot be replicated. Incumbents who are operating with positive returns should continue their strategy and look for opportunities for growth. 3. Major competition in the mid-eastern region consists of Vulcan Materials and Martin Marietta Materials.Both of these companies operate on cost-leadership strategies and will continue because Luck Companies uses a differentiation strategy. 4. The most critical value chain activities for Luck Companies would be Operations (superior- industry leader of industry technology) and Distribution (neutral- I didn’t see anything to suggest they are superior/inferior to their competition) and the major support functions are their human resources departments (superior – Luck Companies operates under a â€Å"values driven culture† that is intended to achieve greater financial outcomes and better performance 5.Significant Financial Factors – 25% Market share in Virginia as of 2010. Net Sales of 2. 5 billion in 2009, down from 3 . 0 billion in 2006 but economic factors weight in on those numbers. Non-financial Factors – Excellent Reputation – Over 3 generations of Luck Family running the company and giving back to the community. As of recent, a renewed campaign called â€Å"The Values Journey† has been implemented with many different core values of leadership to advance the values-based culture of Luck Companies and to build exceptional experiences with their customers and drive differentiated growth. . SWOT analysis – STRENGTHS – Operations, distribution, Human Resources a. Opportunities – Keep Status as Industry Leader in operations of mid-Atlantic region. Expand on industry market share. Continue good relationships with customers – Industry (rock crushing, excavation) is primarily focused on serving general geographical area where the site is located, distribution channel relationships will be maintained as long as they are respected and nurtured. Keep Hum an Resource focus on core values to enable Luck’s reputation to stay intact. b.Threats – Threats to market share are limited because Luck is industry leader in customer service and logistical excellence which is valued by their customers. Human Resource focus with core values training ensures that the company’s core values are evident throughout all departments of Luck Companies. WEAKNESSES- Industry depends heavily on economic conditions. Luck Companies is diversified which is a potential weakness. Availability of Natural Resources. a. Opportunities limited – Economic downturn can devastate the industry which is mostly comprised of home building & furnishing.As shown in Lucks case during 2008 when they had to lay off 1200 associates. Diversification can a weakness if oversight gets lost and core values fade. Industry is dependent on natural resource harvesting (rocks/minerals/etc. ). Depletion is a major concern. b. Threats enhanced – Reduction in market share of economic downturn. Inability to locate more resources due to depletion of resources. 7. Major competitive advantage would be their efficient operations and excellent customer service. c. OPERATIONS V- High value for company and customers (sustainable)R- Rare but not obsolete (parody producing) I – Costly to imitate. Hard to copy economies of scale (sustainable) N – NOT – non-substitutable, there are industry substitutes d. Human Resources V – High Value for customers (sustainable) R – Rare – Luck’s Human Resources are leader in industry (sustainable) I – able to imitate but at high price. Years of core value training has developed excellent HR skills throughout company (sustainable) N – Non-substitutable. Customer care and follow up care are not substitutable. (Sustainable) 8.Current Strategies- Business Level strategy is differentiation – Luck Companies is the industry leader in logistics and exc ellent customer service. Competitors focus on cost leadership strategy. Corporate level – Luck focuses on value training and up keeping their core values that give them a competitive advantage. Cooperative strategy- Luck has acquired formerly known Lee Tennis Court and changed the name to Har-Tru. They are the global leader in tennis court surfacing and their current focus is brand image building in china, then taking their reputation to other markets.International strategy is similar to their cooperative strategy because their only international strategy in based on their Har-Tru acquisition. 9. Firm seems to be excelling in many areas. I don’t see many problem areas other than sustaining market share of Stone division and building brand recognition of Har-Tru in china to promote in other geographic locations around the world. 10. Q1: Do you see Luck Companies entering any other excavation markets such as oil, natural gas, coal (energy)? Q2: How and what benchmark goa ls does Luck Companies have for Har-Tru?