Why I Choose Nursing

There are many different views of nursing. Some people view nurses as angels that step in to save the day. They see nurses as women who are calm, peaceful, and elegant. Others may see nurses as rock stars who are confident and professional among the chaos. Are nurses angels or rock stars?

The intent of this paper is to explain how my personal experiences contribute to my definition of nursing, explain why nursing is unique in the healthcare industry, evaluate the concept of caring in nursing, define the nursing profession through the American Nurses Association, identify nursing theorists that I relate with, provide a plan for how I will use my definition of nursing and experiences that shape it in my practice.

I will also note how I intend on contributing to the nursing profession. When I was younger, I wanted to be a rock star like the eighties hair bands. My family loves music, and I wanted music to be my life. I have always wondered what it would be like to rise above the chaos in an arena. I had dreams of fireworks shooting through the sky as a crowd erupts.

I wanted to look across a crowd, and I wanted to see the joy on the faces as people dance, throw their hands in the air, or just stand in awe. The chances of anyone becoming a rock star are minuscule, but my chances never existed. I have two sisters. Ashleigh, my oldest sister, is three years older than me, and Kathryn is two years older than me.

By the time I was born my parents were seeing unusual things in Kathryn that they did not see in Ashleigh. Kathryn was behind. My parents thought that maybe Ashleigh was just gifted, and they were not certain if they should be concerned. They waited, but after Kathryn turned two she was still unable to speak. My parents thought she might be deaf, and they began taking her to specialist all over the state. I was born in the chaos of the mystery that caused my family to struggle.

My parents diligently searched for answers, and finally, a physician gave them a diagnosis. Kathryn was diagnosed with autism. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy says a diagnosis of autism is reached if social communication and interaction are impaired and restricted or repetitive behaviors are present. If my parents would have known this prior to my birth, I am positive that I would not be here. The nurse that entered the room following the physician gave my parents horrifying information.

She told my mom that many children with autism never learn to speak, and most women who have a child with a disability this severe end up divorced. She went on to say families with more than one child separate them from the disabled child due to violent tendencies. She concluded by saying the child has a high potential to be institutionalized.

My parents wanted to defy those odds. Two days each week they took Kathryn to therapists in Shreveport, and two weekends each month they went to therapists in New Orleans. They managed this with both working full time jobs, and they received no financial help. They spent money they often did not have, and it was tough financially.

Eventually, they reached the point where they could not sustain their efforts. Kathryn learned to speak after she was seven. The struggles did not stop, but there was a steady hope of improvement. They firmly believe she would not be able to speak today without doing so. Ashleigh and I were forced to grow up quickly. Kathryn does not have good motor skills, and she often gets upset over simple things.

A couple of examples are changes in her routine or pickles being on her hamburger. Normal people can adapt easily to changes, and they are not absurdly upset about an issue with food. Kathryn sees these things as the end of the world. Kathryn repeats herself frequently, and she becomes almost obsessive about certain things like movies or music.

Every day must be perfect for her, and no one is permitted to show anger, fatigue, or sadness. Growing up with this was difficult, and that difficulty will never go away. Despite all the differences and struggles, Kathryn has taught me more than I can express, and those things define who I am. They contribute to my definition of nursing.

She has taught me how to be compassionate to all people, and she has taught me to look past the surface to see who people truly are. I have learned patience, and I have learned how to find peace among the chaos. Kathryn has taught me that kindness and love will always have value. Nursing is my major because I saw how important peace was in the worst parts of my life as well as my family. Nurses are like the rock stars on stages.

They rise above the chaos, they are confident, they can multitask, they are able to adapt, and do not get distracted. I want to see the faces as people dance, throw their hands in the air, or just stand in awe. They may play the same setlist every day, but they must possess the skill to present it to drastically different audiences. Kathryn is not my only personal experience that led me to choose to be a nurse.

A couple of years ago, I was asked to go on a mission trip to Belize with a local church. I was not sure what I was stepping into, but I decided to go. At this point in my life, I was looking at engineering because I wanted to make money, but the things I saw in Belize changed my outlook on life. It rains twice a day in Belize, and it is over 100 degrees year-round. I witnessed people walking barefoot in a place that is constantly wet because they could not afford appropriate shoes.

Their feet were necrotic and literally rotting off. I saw people severely dehydrated. There were mothers caring for sick children, and they did not have any health care. The places that had health care did not include dental. There were few vaccinations, and there was little hygiene. It broke my heart.

When I returned to the United States, I was aware that these people needed health care, but they also needed a miracle. Most of the things I saw were damaged beyond repair, and more are falling into a pit that they will never be able to escape. I am a Christian, and I believe I am called to help those who desperately need it. I want to be an angel and a miracle for people.

I want to be a beacon of hope for people who have none, and I want to provide peace for people who are unaware that such a thing exists. I want to relieve physiological, emotional, and psychological pain. Nurses have the potential to completely change a life without even saying a word. I chose nursing because I am confident that I can provide that level of care.

Nursing is like no other health care profession because of the level of care nurses provide. A nurses’ care for patients is holistic, and holistic care consists of physical, social, emotional, spiritual, psychological, environmental, and occupational factors. These things are critical to the care nurses provide, but nursing is the only health care occupation that includes emotional and spiritual care.

Nurses are the individuals who are supposed to console a mother who is told her child is severely disabled. Nurses are not supposed to look that mother in the face and say there is nothing anyone could do for her or her child.

Nurses should not leave a mother with the thought that she may never hear her child say I love you, and they should recognize the depression in parents who cannot celebrate the best moments in the lives of their children because in the back of their mind they cannot forget even for a moment that they have a child who will never experience those things.

Nurses did not provide adequate emotional and spiritual care for my family when it was desperately needed. Doctors and therapist are not taught holistic care, but nurses should know the toll a child with autism can have on a family. I have struggled with my sister’s disability, but I have not suffered like my parents.

I have watched them fight each other looking for answers. I watched as they sat up late at night with bags in their eyes as they read whatever they could in search for an explanation or something more they could do. Women who are on drugs have healthy children, why not me? What did I do to deserve this?

What happens when I run out of money on treatment? What happens when I am not here to care for her? I have watched them with eyes full of tears at an alter beg God for an explanation or for any help at all. I want to be a nurse because I want to give the care that my family should have received. I want to provide hope. I want to help the children with the disabilities as well as the families of those children.

I never want to see people give up hope. Nurses cannot successfully accomplish their duties without caring for their patients. Caring can be simple like giving a sad child a piece of candy. Caring is not always that easy, and in situations where there is little hope, it can be hard. The best way to care for a patient is to let the patient express positive and negative emotions, and the patient cannot lose hope. Anger, frustration, and sadness can be detrimental if it bottles up.

Patients will reach a breaking point if they cannot express what they are going through. My family would argue and fight with each other because of an elephant in the room that no one wanted to address, and it still happens. Occasionally my mom will come home from a stressful day at work, and she does not get a peaceful break because Kathryn will not allow my mom to be fatigued or stressed.

My mom may yell at anyone in the room, but we all know it has nothing to do with us. The expression is therapeutic on a level that people are not aware of. Caring for someone includes providing hope, or at the least not removing what hope a person has. A person cannot take hope away from someone and still care for them.

Sometimes doing nothing is showing more care. Sometimes a nurse can care for a patient just by standing in the room with a patient that is upset. That shows the nurse will not let the patient suffer alone. A nurse genuinely cares and loves patients when they suffer with that person instead of separating themselves from the patient.

They can empathize while still accomplishing their duties. There are many nursing theorists are have provided critical elements to nursing, but there is a theorist I relate closely with. Florence Nightingale’s theory aligns closely to how I believe. Barba Wall’s analysis of Nightingale highlights her ideas of a calling, cleanliness, and compassion.

These ideas were brought to life by Nightingale, and they are important to my definition of nursing. I do not believe anyone can be a nurse without a calling to the profession. No one willingly does the duties expected of a nurse without a higher purpose. Nurses provide basic care such as brushing teeth and giving baths.

They see people at their worst and most vulnerable times in life. Nurses must also have a genuine love and compassion for all people to provide individual care. They must be able to reach past the surface to provide holistic care. A calling helps nurses be selfless, obedient, flexible, and durable. Cleanliness is taken for granted, and it is important to nursing care. Barbra Wall emphasizes Nightingale’s beliefs on cleanliness.

Walls states, “Her superhuman efforts to improve ward cleanliness and to provide wholesome meals were based on her belief that holistic care was essential to recovery”. Cleanliness is an aspect of holistic care. Unsanitary conditions lead to infection, slow healing, and safety concerns. A nurse can always prove cleanliness, and it might be the only thing a nurse can contribute.

Clean clothes, floor, sheets, and body are basic care. Wall uses Nightingale’s ideas to form her opinions, and she states, “If a patient is cold, if a patient is feverish, if a patient is faint, if a patient is sick after taking food, if he has a bed sore, it is generally not the fault of the disease, but of the nursing”.

Nurses can promote care in simple ways. Nurses can easily assist a patient who is cold or hungry, and nurses are held responsible if a patient gets a bed sore while in their care because bedsores are easily avoided. Nightingale was known for her compassion. Catalano references Nightingale as the “lady with a lamp,” and he informs, “As Nightingale and her nurses made their night rounds, caring for the wounded in unlit wards, they carried oil lamps to light the way.

For the wounded and suffering, these lamps became signs of caring, comfort, and often the difference in life and death”. The lamp Nightingale carried gave hope to the soldiers. The soldiers knew help was on the way, and they knew someone cared for them. Nightingale sacrificed her nights due to understaffing instead of letting her patients suffer. The lamp is a symbol of caring, hope, and compassion because of Nightingale.

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My Goal Is to Become a Physical Therapist

Life like an incomplete book, we are young and our stories are just beginning with indefinite twist and turns. The way we respond to these twist and turns in our stories could forever change our futures. As all storys do there are, hardships, happiness and struggles. My story is much more filled than most others, as I have had to make some life changing choices that were very challenging to chose. In third grade I was diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic scoliosis, a disorder that causes your spine to grow in an s shape. I was immediately put in back braces and wore it for twenty three hours a day every day. I wore the braces religiously for a few years and did physical therapy, where I was asked if I could model for training physical therapist around the world.

Physical therapists came to Milwaukee from all over the world. Sadly over time my spine got worse, doctors started mentioning surgery, which I refused for as long as could, for I was deathly afraid of surgery. I worked harder to do my physical therapy more often. Eventually I needed surgery as my spine was curved 70 degrees. A little over a year ago I had 14 vertebrates fused together, luckily I still have all my flexibility and am able to bend over to pick up a pencil. Not something you would normally hear about someone, but I like many others all have different stories.

I am glad to have had to deal with such a situation, as I believe it has changed me for the better. Having scoliosis has made me more responsible, and I have to make some hard choices early on. As all twist and turns in our stories have an effect on us, but it the way we respond to them that can change our stories, and our future for the better or for the worse. But we have time to define who we are and what we can and will become someday. We all have dreams and goals to aspire to be or do some day. Like a incomplete story we will change, and become who we’re meant to be. Our Experiences, and the people we meet leave us with stories to tell and can change what our future would or will be like. I plan to be a physical therapist to help kids like me, because people impacted my life too. Everyone has a plan a dream, or something they aspire to be or do someday. But it’s what we do that will change us to help the world for the better one day.

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Nursing as a Profession

Nursing as a Profession The Purpose of this paper is to discuss whether nursing is a profession based on Pavalko’s eight dimensions describing a profession. Firstly, we must understand the definition of a profession before one can accurately judge the validation of the nursing profession. According to Webster dictionary, the definition of a profession is “a calling requiring specialized knowledge and often long academic preparation” (Webster dictionary, 2008).

The nursing profession is one that needs specialized knowledge and training. It also applies to an occupation that requires formal education or qualification. The nursing field includes a set of skills that combines flexibility, creativity, knowledge and communication that are learnt in a formal setting. As we analyze Pavalko’s eight dimensions describing a profession, we will incorporate it into the nursing profession to justify or disprove if nursing is truly a profession. A profession has relevance to social values.

The nursing profession is rooted in its ability to serve all people with their acquired skills. The nursing profession has the power to make a huge difference in today’s health care system. They advocate for the individuals and focuses not only on the treatment component of an individual, but also on prevention and health promotion. They also seek for the protecting of human and legal rights and the securing of adequate care based on the notion that the patient has the right to make informed decisions about their health.

According to nursing standards (2010) “people value nurses but do not understand how complex the profession has become and how key nurses are to the health care. Nurses are devoted to patient care and community involvement as a whole. The nursing profession provides various activities in the community as a whole such as volunteering for health – related activities such as screening, blood drives and educational programs. They serve as role models for health practices and healthy lifestyles. With these given attributes I believe the nursing rofession has relevance to social values. A profession has a training or educational period. There are various education preparations for the nursing practice and it various based on the location, length of time, course work, clinical component, advance educational opportunities, and competencies on graduation. The three main type of educational programs that lead to licensure as an RN includes the diploma, associate degree, and baccalaureate programs. The diploma requires a basic nursing education in a 3-year, hospital based diploma school of nursing.

The Associate degree nursing (ADN), based on a research project carried out by Dr Mildred Montag in the 1950s, at the time there was a shortage of nurses, and the project was created to meet the needs of society by preparing nurses in less time than was required in diploma program (Taylor, Lillis, Lemone and Lynn, 2008). The Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN) is geared towards building on a general educational base, with concentration on nursing at the upper level. All graduates of these programs are mandated to take an NCLEX-RN examination set by the board of nursing.

It is much different from nursing school exams which are knowledge based. The NCLEX-RN exams are application based which test one’s ability to be able to think critically as to make nursing judgments. The nursing profession incorporates specialized skill and application of knowledge based on theory and clinical practice components. It is also an evidence based practice based on research and not just intuition. Given these criteria, I believe the nursing field qualifies as a profession because of the training and educational period.

Elements of self-motivation address the way in which the profession serves the patient or family and larger social system. The American Nurses Association (ANA) has been involved in advocating for health care reforms for many years, in order to guarantee high-quality health care for all. Today, with the increase cost of health care, under insured and uninsured individual there has been disparities in the quality and health care for individuals. The ANA saw the efforts of many registered nurses come to fruition, culminating in President Obama’s signing of H.

R. 4872, “The Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010” (McNamara, 2010). This reform allows for greater protection against losing and denial of health care coverage, and it also allows for better access to primary care, wellness and prevention programs which will keep the patient healthier. This reform serves as a significant victory for the patient that the nursing profession serves. The ANA continues to be an advocate for building an affordable health care system that meets the needs of everyone (McNamara, 2010).

In world where nurses are under pressure to deliver production-line care, it expresses the value of the “soft” aspect of caring that affect wellbeing (Wright, 2009). This attribute proves that the nursing profession is a profession that serves the patient and the larger social system. A profession has a code of ethics. Professional ethics and codes of ethics are the primary means for expressing the values and regulating the conduct of professionals in relation to their clients (Liaschenko, Peter, 2004). The ANA house of delegate adopted and first published the nursing code of ethics in the 1950’s.

It has then been altered and revised to meet the changes in the profession and in society. The “Code” is the foundation upon which registered nurses provide care, it provides a framework for decision-making and basically guides the action of the registered nurse (Rafferty, 2010). It is a non-negotiable ethical standard that expresses the nurse’s own understanding of commitment to the society. The nursing profession qualifies as a profession because it has a code of standard that guides its existence. A professional has a commitment to a lifelong work.

The term nursing is derived from the word nurse, which means one that nourishes, foster, protect the sick, injured and restore health. The nursing profession is considered a career and not a job which involves commitment, promotes growth and increases various levels of responsibilities. The profession provides gratification for the individual’s personal accomplishment rather than entirely from a paycheck. The nursing profession has four main aims that define it. They aim to promote health, prevent illness, restore health, and facilitate coping with disability or death.

The nurses can successfully achieve these aims through acquired knowledge, skills and critical thinking in order to give care in a variety of traditional and expanding nursing roles (Taylor, Lillis, Lemone and Lynn, 2008). The nursing profession is a profession that has a commitment to a lifelong work. Members control their profession. The nursing profession is autonomous as the nursing board in each state has set up rules and guidelines that nurses are required to adhere strictly (Orem, 2008). There are numerous professional organization that set standards for the nursing practice and education.

These entities are set up to help maintain the code of ethics that guides the nursing profession. The registered nurses work under professional and legislative control. The state board of each state set practice act for the registered nurse. These organizations helps to maintain the code of ethics, promote the registered nurse profession to the public, advocate for both the patient and other members of the organization and help to set a standard of practice for the profession. It also serves as a platform where one’s voice can be heard.

Organizations such as the American Nurses Association (ANA), The American Association of Critical-care nurses (AACN), The National League for Nursing (NLN), The National Student Nurse’s Association (NSNA) and the National Black Nurses Association (NBNA ) are just a few of the professional organization that plays a significant role in empowering nurses in the nursing profession and also helping to facilitate network. They educate its members to incorporate client interaction, personal interaction with the public, public speaking and community activities and participation in political activities to be effective in the field of nursing.

Overall, I believe the nursing profession qualifies as a profession because it has members that control the profession. A Profession has theoretical framework on which professional practice is based. The nursing field has always been evidence based. The first nursing theory was born in the 1950’s. In 1952, Dr. Hildegard Peplau published a nursing model that described the importance of the “therapeutic relationship” in health and wellness (Zerwekh and Claborn, 2009). Thereafter, other nursing theorist such as Martha Rogers, Dorothy Johnson, Nola Pender, Lydia hall, sister Callista Roy, Dorothea Orem, and Betty

Neuman have contributed to theory based nursing. The Theory-based nursing is geared towards a common goal with the ultimate outcome resulting in improved patient care. It provides rational and knowledgeable reasons for nursing actions, based on organized written description of what nursing is and what nurses do (Taylor, Lillis, Lemone and Lynn, 2008). Members of a profession have a common identity and a distinctive subculture. In the past, nurses have been identified by the white gown, shoe, cap and pin. They were identified mostly by how they look instead of what they did.

The modern-day trend emphasizes that it is not what is worn but what is done that reflects one’s role in the nursing profession (Zerwekh and Claborn, 2009). The nursing profession has a distinctive subculture that is identifiable. These include affiliation with alumni association, student nurses association, and nursing honor societies or clubs. Involvements in such organization provides for social interaction and networking in later years. The BSN nurse plays a variety of roles in relation to patient care such as being a caregiver, teacher, advocate, manager, colleague and expert.

The role of the caregiver is the primary role of a nurse which includes promoting wellness through activities that prevent illness, restore health, function as a nurturer, comforter and provider, provide direct, promote comfort of client and showing concern for client welfare and acceptance of the client as an individual. As a teacher, the BSN nurse must use his or her communication skills to implement, asses, evaluate and execute individual teaching plan to meet the learning needs of the patient and the family (Zerwekh and Claborn, 2009).

The role of the nurse as an advocate involves choosing the best plan of action on behalf of the client by making sure that their needs are met and protecting their human and legal right. They also provide detailed and understandable explanation and information to support the client’s decision. The nurse as a manager helps to make decisions, plan, instruct, evaluate care, and coordinate activities and representation of the staff and health care facilities as needed. The role of a colleague is an important role in the nursing field.

It deals with effective communication and conflict management amongst peers working towards a purposeful goal to provide adequate care for the client and other synergy among other health care professionals. The nurse as an expert specializes in a specific area of practice acquired through advanced formal or informal education. They include researchers, clinician, educators, theorist and leaders within the nursing profession. They share information with other nurses through mentoring, continuing-education programs, writing articles and guest-speaking.

Overall, the bsn nurse must embrace the roles that provide a wealth of knowledge about the ever evolving field of nursing. In conclusion, the nursing profession is definitely a profession based on Pavalko’s eight dimensions describing a profession. It has relevance to social values, requires training or educational period, self motivating to serve the patient and their family and the larger social system, guided by a code of ethics, commitment to a lifelong work, members control their profession, has a theoretical framework and have a common identity and a distinctive subculture.

It is a true profession that is considered the largest and most powerful of all the health care professionals. References Ajiboye, Peace. (2010). Profession’s popular image. Nursing Standard, 24(25), 14. Liaschenko, J, ;amp; Peter, E. (2004). Nursing ethics and conceptualization of nursing: profession, practice and work. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 46(5), 488-95. McNamara, M. (2010, March 30). Ana’s nurses’ efforts pay off in historic health care bill signing. American Nurses Association, Retrieved from www. nursingworld. rg Orem, O. (2008, February 8). “What’s in a name? ” Chinese Medicine Therapy, Retrieved fromhttp://www. chinesemedicinetherapy. com/nursing. Taylor, C, Lillis, C. , LeMone, P. & Lynn, P. (2008). Fundamentals of Nursing: The Art & Science of Nursing Care (6th ed. ). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins. Wright, Steven. (2009). The Ethics of care. Nursing standards, 24(8), 26-27. Zerwekh, J. , & Clayborn, J. (2009). Nursing today transition and trends (6th ed. ). St. Lois: Missouri. Saunders Elsevier.

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Accounting Profession in United Kingdom

The press has a tendency to emphasize the role of the accounting profession in the UK in some of the more flagrant and unethical business practices. Some may argue that the ethical standards in our society are relatively low, which should explain the role accountants have played in some business scandals. In addition, the profession’s commitment to the general public and to the protection of the public interest is not exactly part of the accountant’s environment.

D. F. Linowes argues the same point as follows: What is needed is an environment which establishes an attitude. on the part of the practitioner so that he personally practices his profession using his best technical judgment, supported by the counsel and guidance of his peers, and constantly striving toward his appropriate role in society. Unfortunately, there are few guidelines in the accounting profession in the UK concerning which clients accountants are to serve or what services they are expected to render.

In some cases, the British government or the courts intervene to pinpoint the kinds of services expected. Due to this lack of identification of their role, accountants wind up serving various masters. One consequence has been the frequent use of footnotes to avoid making hard and fast professional judgments.

Accounting data — seen as an integral part of financial, and therefore, social control — can be interpreted from different perspectives. The existence of different views naturally results in conflicting sentiments. Inasmuch as different views can be associated with different political and philosophical positions, they are also reflected in arguments pertaining to the spilt in accounting profession in the U.K. (WCED 69)

If it could be rationalized, from logical argument and empirical investigation that accountants generally act in the interest of public welfare, then the classical framework, which implicitly defines accounting as a neutral institution concerned only with the objective measurement of economic performance, would be valid. To the extent the accounting profession in the U.K. does not always act in the best interests of the public, the classical framework is less valid and a new framework is needed to resolve new accounting issues.

To the extent that the institution of accounting becomes concerned with its own survival and prestige, any criticism of the accounting profession in the U.K. or the accounting institution would be viewed as an undesirable, dysfunctional, and potentially harmful attempt to undermine the authoritative position of the discipline. (Green Gauge 51) The schism, therefore, would be interpreted as an unfortunate misunderstanding between practitioners and academics, rather than a legitimate and constructive difference in philosophy.

Our position is that the schism provides beneficial competition internally, thereby supporting processes of change. These processes have not only introduced new ideas and concepts, but have influenced the institution of accounting itself.

Conventional wisdom assumes that new accounting requirements and new interpretations of traditional problems and principles merely reflect changes in the economic environment. However, this conventional approach neglects the significant impact of changes in philosophical and political positions. (Desai, M. 4-5)

Changes in the environment have caused changes in philosophical and political views of varying membership groups in the accounting profession in the U.K., their various responses resulting in discussion and compromise among the groups, so that the profession as a whole can respond in a rational and informed manner. (Anderson, V. 23-24)

As the era of more clearly defined issues, cause-effect chains, and well-structured problem statements has vanished, new complex problems arise. Accordingly, diverse views and compromises afforded by the schism are recognized as a valid and successful solution methodology. A political approach recognizes that arguments and applications addressed by the schism have been changing within a changing environment thus affecting the interpretation of the schism itself.

Two frameworks, classical and new, are contrasted to illustrate different approaches to political and philosophical positions. The two frameworks delimit the opposing views that comprise the division between practitioners and academics with regard to education, standard setting, and the function. (Cairncross, A. 113)

Within the classical framework, government is defined external to human systems. Using authoritative power, the role of government is to guarantee a competitive socioeconomic structure in which the natural forces of competition can work freely and without impediment. The flawless, structured, and internally valid logic of the classical ideal has advanced the view that only in a free market system is it possible to achieve optimal economic growth, optimal economic efficiency, and optimal allocation of scarce economic resources. (Atkinson, G. 21)

Based on arguments introduced by Adam Smith in 1776, natural equilibrium states in economic systems are reached through a competitive price mechanism as if guided by an “invisible hand.” Similar arguments have been used to demonstrate that only free and democratic systems will guarantee individual freedom, justice, and fairness.

One view on the role of accounting is based on the classical framework. By adopting the classical framework of free markets along with perfect and competitive equilibrium in socioeconomic systems, there is an assumed natural role for all types of institutions. For example, the discipline is associated with the task of generating and disseminating financial information. As such, accounting data is seen as an important source of information required for rational decision making by individual users. Only well-informed individuals can attain rational optimization. (Allen, T., Thomas, A. 2-3)

Thus, by associating accounting data with classical economic theories and rational optimization models, accountants deduce that relevant accounting information is needed to make optimal decisions. By associating accounting data with the pricing of financial securities in financial markets, the market force is anonymous and represented by average or marginal investors who determine security prices. (Environment Challenge 6) This market-oriented approach, based on financial theory, requires relevant and timely accounting information in order for the entire free market system to function efficiently. In this respect, the discipline holds an important socioeconomic responsibility.

“The Top 50 accountancy firms in the UK saw double digit growth this year, exceeding their post-Enron peak thanks in part to the regulatory reforms triggered by Enron’s collapse. Combined fee income in 2006 reached £7.62bn, an emphatic 13.1% rise on last year’s total revenues of £6.72bn. The Big Four took the lion’s share of revenues with £5.5bn, a jump of £700m on last year’s income. Accountancy Age’s Top 50 is the most respected league table ranking the UK’s top accountancy firms, compiled in June each year”.

Another view is based on the new framework. Accountants function in a chaotic environment and are motivated by self-interest. In building an authoritative British organization responsible for establishing generally accepted accounting principles and for requiring the use of specific accounting techniques, the institution may be perceived as placing its members’ interest above the public interest. (BEA 25-26) Other interpretations consider data as a means of enforcing financial standards through regulatory procedures or as a method for establishing performance standards. (UN: United Nations 103)

By emphasizing either framework, it is possible to define different social roles for data. For example, the role under the classical framework is to foster efficiency in a restrictive environment, while under the new framework it is to foster efficiency in a complex dynamic environment.

In the classical framework, education has a particular natural role. For example, education should introduce students to the requirements of responsible and rational citizenship by providing a wide range of courses, so that individuals can develop their own skills for becoming competitive and successful. By viewing education as a public good, everybody should have free access; by using free market principles, education — as a scarce economic resource — should be allocated through free-pricing mechanisms such as vouchers. (Atkinson, G., Pearce, D. 11)

With the recognition that education is a unique economic good, traditional price mechanisms have been replaced with authoritative allocation schemes. Public education is mandated at elementary levels, and is essentially free. But in professional accounting education, the degree has become a means to discriminate and construct barriers to free market mechanisms controlling entrance to the profession. For example, the 150-hour requirement can be seen as a method to restrict access to the accounting profession in the U.K.

The unique role of education in the control of human systems has further contributed to the spilt in accounting profession in the U.K. If education were left to free market forces, it would deliver those subjects whom British society demands with the goal of teaching useful ideas and skills. The supply-side approach to teaching enables teaching institutions to determine their own policies and what they determine as beneficial for students.

On the other hand, a demand-side approach enables students and potential employers to determine course content, curriculum structure, admission policies, research topics, and instructor evaluation schemes. Some educators believe that in the long run equilibrium will be reached between opposing views in education if the natural forces of competition prevail, so that the best approach will be adopted.

It is elementary to recognize that education could be used as a political tool to maintain a particular social structure, to perpetuate a specific view of the world, and to enforce a specific notion of social and economic justice. In such a regime, education may become associated with such terms as indoctrination, socialization, and discrimination. Within the free market ideal, the profit motive, pricing mechanisms, and competition determine educational programs, procedures, and policies.

But if government, the educational establishment, and other authoritative institutions use education as a means to further their own objectives, it is difficult to see how education can be made responsive to the unique and different needs of a changing British society. An ongoing dispute in accounting education concerns the question of the extent to which education should respond to environmental changes or maintain the status quo.

While the persuasive logic of classical framework has remained, the socioeconomic conditions have drastically changed. Compared to conditions just half a century ago, a range of new deviations from the classical ideal exists. In particular, the rate of change has increased significantly so that the response time to environmental changes is longer than the rate of change itself. As a consequence, management procedures have become increasingly proactive and anticipatory with the goal of retaining flexibility and the ability to compete.

To function effectively in a rapidly changing environment characterized by uncertainties and unpredictable surprises, management procedures should be responsive to environmental changes. As a consequence, management systems have become increasingly dependent on timely and relevant information. The move toward flexibility and the use of more dynamic management methods is supported by computer technology, decentralization, and participatory management.

Global competitiveness in a rapidly changing environment also requires more responsive regulatory systems. Old rules and methods, established by authoritative and bureaucratic institutions a few decades ago, may not be relevant in a globally interdependent economy.

Works Cited

Allen, T. and Thomas, A. (eds.) (2002): Poverty and Development in the 2000s, Oxford University Press: Oxford.

Anderson, V. (2001): Alternative Economic Indicators, Routledge: London.

Atkinson, G. (2005): Measuring Sustainable Economic Welfare: A Critique of the UK-ISEW, CSERGE Working Paper 95-08, CSERGE: London.

Atkinson, G. and Pearce, D. (2005): “Indicators to change policy: putting forward new indicators of sustainable development”, New Economy 3/1.

BEA (Bureau of Economic Analysis) (2004): “Integrated Economic and Environmental Satellite Accounts”, Survey of Current Business, April 2004.

Cairncross, A. (2005): Economic Ideas and Government Policy: Contributions to contemporary economic history, Routledge: London.

Desai, M. (2005): “Greening the HDI?” in MacGillivray, A. (ed.): Accounting for Change vol. 2: Papers, New Economics Foundation: London.

Environment Challenge (2004): Environmental Measures: Indicators for the UK Environment, Environment Challenge Group: London.

Green Gauge (2005): Green Gauge ’96: Indicators for the UK Environment, Green Gauge: London.

Top 50 accountancy firms 2006, October 19, 2006,

http://www.accountancyage.com/resource/top50

UN (United Nations) (2002): SNA Draft Handbook on Integrated Environmental and Economic Accounting, UN: New York.

UN (United Nations) (2004): International Trade Statistics Yearbook 2004, UN: New York.

UNDP (United Nations Development Programme): Human Development Report (published annually), Oxford University Press: Oxford.

UNICEF (2003): The Progress of Nations, UNICEF: New York.

WCED (World Commission for Environment and Development) (1987): Our Common Future, Earthscan: London.

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The Leadership Education

A. Leadership education. While the debate over whether effective leaders are born that way or can learn these skills, the fact remains that even natural-born leaders need some help in understand the dynamics involved in teams. All of the U.S. military branches of services recognized this need early on and established service academies to help train their future leaders, but people in business, academia and other professions also have relevant leadership education available as well.

According to Barker and Rost (2000), the content of leadership education courses required for the 21st century should address three general categories: (i) the evolution of social change and development, (ii) the processes that influence social development, and (iii) the dynamics of human nature in change processes. These authors add that, “Leadership education is aimed at producing citizens for a democratic society” (p. 3).

B. Continuing education. Many professions require continuing education credits to maintain credentialing and privileges for practice; for example, lawyers and healthcare practitioners must complete a set number of credit hours each year for this purpose. While all professions may not mandate it, the individual pursuit of continuing education in any field should be regarded as a sound business investment, just as the provision of such training by organizations makes good sense. Because of the importance of having effective leaders in any organizational setting, it is vitally important for them to remain cognizant of changes and innovations in their field, as well as in allied fields that may impact their industry.

Today is an excellent time to be a professional in search of continuing educational opportunities, though, because of the explosion in adult education classes designed for this purpose, particularly in online forums of various types. In this regard, Jarvis (2002) reports that, “Adult and continuing education is changing at a tremendously rapid rate in this contemporary, urban world,” and the purposes for which adult leaders are seeking continuing education have changed in fundamental ways in recent years (p. iii).

Likewise, Beaudoin (2002) points out that, “The proliferation of instructional technology in the past decade, particularly in higher education settings, is having a profound impact on how teaching and learning now occurs, and is transforming the means by which institutions reach and support an emerging worldwide market across time and distance” (p. 131). This author adds that because it is so important to organizational and individual success, continuing education has a well developed format concerning not only to the planning and management of continuing education activities, but also insights in the area of leadership (Beaudoin, 2002).

C. Types of education. Because every business situation is unique, leadership is taught in a variety of ways across many disciplines. According to Nirenberg (1998), “Most schools of business typically include the study of leadership as part of a survey of organizational behavior (OB) theory and not as a course in its own right. By all accounts, though, there are continuing and adult education opportunities available for virtually any vocation and avocation today through community colleges and online learning forums and even busy professionals can take advantages of these services.

More importantly, though, effective leaders need to be well-rounded individuals with a basic understanding of how the business world works and what makes people behave the way they do. The types of education required for these complicated purposes are clearly a lifelong endeavor because they must continue to be updated and refined, and the more variety in the educational services taken over the course of a individual’s career, the more effective leader that person will likely be.

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Critique of Transcultural Nursing

Discuss whether nursing Is a profession or an occupation. What can current and future nurses do to enhance nursing’s standing as a profession? Nursing Is a profession. According to Mencken and Wills (2014) “profession Is a learned vocation or occupation that has a status of superiority and precedence within a Dillon of work” (p. 2). I believe this describes nursing but needed more evidence to make my decision.

I considered the “characteristics off profession: a defined and specialized knowledge base, control and authority over training and education, credentialing system, altruistic service to society, formal training within institutions of higher education, lengthy colonization to the profession and autonomy” (Mencken & Wills, 2014, p. 2). The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (“NCSA Home,” n. D. Help to define the nursing knowledge base, have authority over training by requiring that training at institutions of higher education meet the standards of approval by boards of nursing and that nurses graduating from an approved nursing program are clinically competent to practice nursing by assign the national council licenser exam (“UNCLE Examinations,” n. D. ). Nursing at Its core Is an altruistic profession. Altruism Is defined as “feelings and behavior that show a desire to help other people and a lack of selfishness” (“Altruism – Merriam- Webster Dictionary,” n. D. ).

Nurses provide care because it is needed and not because the nurse will have personal gains from providing such care. Autonomy in nursing can be viewed as a partnership in a multi-disciplinary team in which each ember has a different skill set and working together the patient receives the best possible care. Each member works independently and inter-dependently to meet the varied and unique needs of each individual patient. Nursing as a profession meets or exceeds each characteristic of a profession in my view. Experienced nurses need to help grow the skills and critical thinking of new nurses.

Nurses with a wide variety of experiences and skills are better able to act autonomously. When nurses think critically and act In a safe way they provide better, ore efficient care. This leads to Increased patient satisfaction, Increased physician, peer and self-confidence. I find that the area new nurses need the most guidance on is his/her ability to call on knowledge already gained to provide the most effective care. For example, knowing which IV size to choose for a patient who has a possible GIG bleed is something that the preceptor teaches the new nursing graduate.

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National Home Builders Quality Award

It is recognized as an established source for reliable, objective information and research on housing construction and development issues, while it continues to promote innovation in housing technology to improve the quality, durability, affordability, and environmental performance of omes and home building products. Through its various testing and certification programs, the Research Center seal is recognized internationally as a mark of product quality and an assurance of product performance (nahbrc. com).

In an effort to cultivate quality within the home building industry and promote the industrys best practices the National Housing Quality Award (NHQA) was established in 1992. This award represents the housing industrys highest recognition for achievements in the area of quality management and operational excellence in the residential construction industry (nahbrc. com). The NHQ Award is modeled after the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, which was established in 1987, by Congress to raise awareness of quality management and recognize U.

S. companies that have implemented successful quality-management systems (Baldrige. com). The Award promotes awareness of performance excellence as an increasingly important element in competitiveness and information sharing of successful performance strategies and the benefits derived from using these strategies (Wikipedia). Recipients are selected based on achievement and improvement in seven areas, known as the Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence, which the NHQA has

Performance Excellence which has eight categories upon which entrants are Judged. The National Housing Quality Award (NHQA) is open to all US homebuilders, remodelers and trade contractors and is administered by the NAHBRC in conjunction with Reed Business Information, publishers of Professional Builder Magazine. NHQ Award applications are reviewed by a panel of Judges who are experts in both the housing industry and quality management, many of them being past NHQ awards winners.

These Judges then evaluate the importance of quality in the companys construction, strategic planning, leadership and performance management, trade elationships, customer satisfaction, human resources and business results, which are the NHQA Criteria for Performance Excellence (nahbrc . com). The NHQ Award is presented annually at the Professional Builders Benchmark Conference. Award winners go on to be featured in Professional Builder Magazine articles that highlight the quality management practices as models for the housing industry. The award title is held for one year.

AWARD CRITERIA Patterned after the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the NHQ Award was designed to recognize residential construction companies for excellence in quality chievement and promote awareness of customer focused quality as an increasingly vital element of competitiveness and productivity for building professionals. The NHQA has two divisions with one open to all US companies that build or remodel residential homes using light construction methods. The other is open to all independent trade contractors that provide construction services to builders or remodeling companies.

The NHQA consists of a set of eight criteria as outlined in their Criteria for Performance Excellence: Category I Description I Points I Leadership I How does the company’s senior leaders, guide the organization towards common purposed based on shared values and priorities? | 10 | Strategic Quality Planning I How does the organization create and implement a strategic plan to achieve a vision for the future, enhance their competitive position and improve overall performance? | 10 | Performance Management I How are the companys business processes developed, managed, measured and improved to achieve performance excellence? 10 | Customer Satisfaction I How does the company manage the design and delivery of products and services that promise a high level of customer satisfaction? | 10 | Human Resources I How does the organizations mployee selection and development practices, as well as staff performance management, well being, motivation, satisfaction and compensation contribute to the growth of the organization? | 10 | Construction Quality I What methods does the company use to drive quality in the home construction process and ensure high performing, trouble free products and services? 10 | Supplier Partnerships Examines how the organization designs, manages and improves processes for implementation to deliver customer value and reach organizational success | 10 Business Results I What are the tangible measurements of the business benefits esulting from the organizations high performance practices in the financial, operational, customer satisfaction and product and service quality areas? | 30 | Despite the fact that the NHQA award is modeled after the MBNQA award there are focuses on quality assurance approaches that ensure high performing, trouble free products and services.

In addition the Malcolm Baldrige Quality Award is awarded to a sole winner whereas the National Housing Quality Award has several award categories. The NHQA has three recognition levels: honorable mention, silver and gold. Gold is awarded to those that have attained a national benchmark level within ach area of evaluation; they have mature, fully integrated quality management principles and consistently demonstrate high level sustained results. Silver is awarded to those that are industry leaders in most evaluation areas; they have many refined business practices, key measures for continual improvement and good business results.

Honorable mention is awarded in special circumstances for those that demonstrate an understanding of quality principles and show a sound, fact based improvement process. Key measures are in place and good business results are achieved in most areas (Denis 2009). To be considered for the NHQ Award applicants must complete a rigorous application process which includes a 15 page application which is considered an important step in every applicant’s road to quality.

This is so as participants benefit from the insightful process of preparing the application, which is a long and grueling process, which takes hundreds of man- hours to complete. Judges evaluate each applicant to determine to what extent the entrant embraced a customer focus and systematically embraced it within their business practices. Those that passed the initial selection were scheduled for a site isit. On the site visit, each finalist spent at a minimum a day with a team of Judges. At the end of the visit, the Judges had a clear understanding of the company culture, management practices and the quality results.

The final award is given to the organization that is deemed befitting on the overall Judge’s findings. BENEFITS OF THE AWARD The NHQ Award is more than recognition of quality achievement. It sets a benchmark to strive for and a model for improvement. By preparing an NHQA application organizations get an opportunity to assess their business from a Total Quality perspective. This rigorous process allows organizations to really take a look at their processes and make significant improvements in order to be competitive.

The organizations that submit an NHQA application receive detailed feedback on strengths and opportunities for improvement from the expert Judging panel. According to Tom Gillespie, President Kennedy Community Development, a multi-year applicant and 1997 NHQ Award winner, “no other programs has provided our company with more rewards, both financial and operational, than the NHQ application process provides” (Toolbase. org). This shows the depth of the application rocess and the benefits that can be yielded from its undertaking. Tom Gillespie is not the only one that praises the benefit of the NHQ way.

David Simon, president of operations at Veridian Homes, a 2005 Silver award winner, says that, “the in-depth review of our application and the detailed site visits provide valuable feedback not only for our strategic planning but also for driving quality improvement throughout the organizations” (Builderonline, 2005). The benefits of the NHQ award are far reaching, applicants benefit Just by undertaking the award application process and y implementing changes based on the feedback that they are provided by the gross profit margins which can be significant.

Mercedes Homes, a 1996 NHQ Award winner used the NHQ criteria as a model to “tune-up” their management practices. As a result of this improvement process they had higher profits in 1996 than the previous five years combined! Scott Buescher, V. P Operations, COO, attributes reports that using the NHQ model was a major factor in their success (Toobase. org, NHQ Agenda). The bottom line is that there are really no losers with the NHQ award as the enefits far outweigh the time and effort that are invested into the application process.

According to Paul Deffenbaugh, editorial director of Professional Builder, as a result of going through the process, NHQ Award winners, “significantly improve the performance of their companies, making them more consistent and more reliable. Home buyers have found these companies execute the best quality homes and deliver the highest quality satisfaction” (National Building News, 2007). PAST WINNERS Since the inception of the NHQA in 1993 through 2009, 67 builders have received recognition, of which eight builders have earned multiple awards.

These organizations range in size from small family owned to large national builders, building a variety of homes in a wide price range. In addition six remodelers and five trade partners have been awarded recognition (Leonard, 2009). NHQ Award winners represent the best of the best in the home building industry. In 1993 Town and Country Homes was named the first National Housing Quality Award winner. This win was attributed to customer satisfaction and sales as the leading Chicago area home builder (Hauser, 1993). Since then many other organizations have gone on to win what is considered the hardest award to win in home building.

In 2009, Tempe, Arizona based builder, T. W Lewis become the sole recipient of the 2009 NHQ Gold Award, having won in 1998 the NHQ Silver Award. “This award is a significant accomplishment in the homebuilding industry and one that our company and associates are very honored to received,” said T. W Lewis president and COO Kevin Egan. “The NHQ Award reaffirms the path we have chosen as a company-a path that is focused on productive quality, customer satisfaction and operational excellence” (East Valley Living, 2009).

In 2002 only one U. S builder was recognized as a Gold Award winner and that was History Maker Homes of Forth Worth, Texas. History maker attributed their success to the relationships that they have been able to foster. Nelson Mitchell, president of history maker a family owned company said, “we strive for valued relationships with our customers and with each of our team members, as well. Our company works diligently to maintain the family culture we have enjoyed for many decades” (History Maker Homes, 2002). 002 was a historic year for the NHQ Awards as it was the first year since its inception in 1993 that Silver Awards were gained by two trade contractors as the award was expanded to include ot only builders, but remodelers and trade contractors as well. The inaugural winners in the contractor category were All-tech, Inc. of Monroe, N. J and Tappe Construction of Eagan, Minn. When the NHQ Awards were introduced almost two decades ago, many builders had a hard time figuring out how quality management could help their companies.

The longevity of the Awards and the achievements of the winning builders have set this award as the most prestigious award in the industry. Housing Quality Award examines the builder’s business and quality management practices. We are concerned with the builder’s ability to deliver a quality product onsistently, have satisfied home buyers, and achieve high productivity,” says Liza Bowles, President of the NAHB Research Center, (Professional Builder, 1997). Following is a list of other past winners of The NHQ Awards.

For the home building industry the epitome of quality is seen in the National Housing Quality Award, an award modeled after the infamous Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and represents the highest recognition to be gained in the housing industry. The NHQA Criteria for Performance Excellence has been an important tool for hundreds of home builders and trade contractors to assess and improve performance on critical business success factors which has enabled them to grow as n organization.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GigE_Vision

http://www.builderonline.com/design/awards/the-winning-homes-from-the-2016-gold-nugget-awards_o

http://www.nbnnews.com.au/

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/23/technology/internet/23worm.html

http://www.historymaker.com/dfw/aubrey/arrowbrooke-50s/

http://www.nbnnews.com.au/tag/t4/

https://www.nahb.org/en/research/safety/~/media/EC307DD0CB534384A60E0E089E7C5831.ashx

https://uxplanet.org/best-practices-for-microinteractions-9456211aeed0

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:HighBeam

https://www.tceq.texas.gov/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NAHBGreen

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malcolm_Baldrige_National_Quality_Award

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