Sociological Imagination

Is nursing a product of capitalism? I am going to explore the history of nursing and the sociological aspects of the profession’s role in society. I will cover the three components of capitalism: Rationalization, Alienation, and Exploitation. I will examine the possible effects capitalism has on my profession as well. I will evaluate the possibility that my profession has, in fact, been affected by social rationalization, alienation, or exploitation?

Rationalization can be defined as “to apply the principles of scientific management to (something, such as an industry or its operations) for a desired result (such as increased efficiency)”. This concept can be used to explain the history of nursing and its evolution. In the late eighteenth century care of the sick was limited to family and close friends. The only deviance from that was during periods of epidemics that spread throughout a region. It was not until the early nineteenth century and the start of the Civil War that modern nursing began its evolution. To say that modern day nursing is a product of rationalization is justifiable. We as a society replaced the traditional care of our sick with the urbanizational need of facilities and staff to provide care while we continued on with our daily lives and work duties.

Fortunately, alienation is not an issue I have been subjected to more than a few times during my adult years. “They area alienated from the production work itself, which is entirely directed by someone else, highly specific in nature, repetitive, and creatively unrewarding. Further, it is work that they do only because they need the wage for survival.” I have worked for companies that utilized the “warm body” concept to fill vacancies. Skill and motivation were not large contributors to my hiring.

I was employed by a large retail chain. I was hired to do a job that had minimal need for critical thinking or problem-solving skills. I could work an eight-hour shift and feel as though I had not utilized my brain beyond what was needed for the physical repetition required to perform my job. However, as a nurse, I must rely on those skills daily. Each patient is unique. Although several patients my share the same diagnoses, they require different plans of care. As a nurse, I must be aware of the minute details that can alter the direction of care the patient needs or is willing to adhere to. If it were like those positions controlled by alienation, we could quite possibly see a rise in the number of deaths resulting from uncontrolled chronic diseases.

According to Marx, all men and women were exploited to some extent unless they belonged to the small number of capitalists. Anyone that did not control production, shipment, or supplement of resources for each of those could be exploited for their labor-power. Also, in most cases the working men/women are responsible for keeping the capitalist’s pockets full and then some. Surplus value. Probably the most easily understood form of exploitation. Left over profit after maintenance, supply replenishment, labor and production costs. I had to really focus on this concept and pick it apart to see that even nurses are exploited for profit.

For example, I see a patient in office wanting to get their annual flu vaccine. This encounter does not require supervision by a physician. I spend approximately five minutes with the patient obtaining vitals and giving the shot. My time and labor are billed at $18.40 per minute, while I am only earning $0.30 per minute. Once the clinic replenishes the cost of supplies, the vaccine itself and other operating costs, it pockets the remainder. Undoubtedly, this number in exponentially greater than the other. I don’t feel oppressed on a daily basis, but I will now be more mindful of my production of surplus value for my current and future employers. Regardless of my personal objections to this issue, this concept has been in place for centuries, and will likely continue for several more.

Personal trouble or public issue? Personal trouble is limited to a problem affecting just the individual. Public issues are just that. Issues affecting the public as a whole. In an article on infed.org, an example using unemployment simplifies the concept for the reader. “When, in a city of 100,000, only one man is unemployed, that is his personal trouble, and for its relief we properly look to the character of the man, his skills, and his immediate opportunities. But when in a nation of 50 million employees, 15 million men are unemployed, that is an issue, and we may not hope to find its solution within the range of opportunities open to any one individual.”

The exploitation of my skill and value within the capitalistic business structure providing me with employment is that of a public issue according to C. Wright Mills. I am not an isolated incidence of exploitation. It is the way my employer maintains its socioeconomical status. It vastly differs from that of a private practice. One would think that the larger company would yield higher wages because of the larger value surplus availability. However, in private practices, employees in general are still viewed as individuals not as moving parts of the machine. In return, I have found that private practices offer higher wages, with respect to the needs of the individual. They are also more likely to see the effects of alienation and exploitation on their employees. Unlike the larger management companies behind medical groups and hospitals.

I don’t feel less valuable after studying this area of social theory. I believe it is a necessity at the present time that allows our economy and governmental structure to continue forward. I am not going to predict the communist comeback or takeover. I believe it will happen if and when the country needs it most. I am not sure how it will my career either. I believe the needs of the sick and ill will be there regardless of capitalism or communism. The availability of services seems to be more equal under the communist umbrella, but again, I cannot say with certainty. Until then, I will continue on in my career providing the best care I can to all those in need regardless of my new understanding of social theory.

Sociology is a liberal perspective that explores the influences of social forces on individual behaviors. Course Objectives Students should be able to use a variety of thinking and reasoning skills, apply these skills as appropriate in various situations, and move among them depending on purpose. Upon completion of this course students should be able to: Define and gain a better understanding of sociology, critical thinking, and critical sociology. Define and differentiate between the three major sociological perspectives. Identify significant historical contributions to the discipline.

Define and apply the sociological imagination as it pertains to a wide spectrum of real-world situations, cultures, and social problems. Understand the functions and social problems created and maintained by social institutions. Explain how age, race, ethnicity, gender and social class are socially constructed and how such constructs contribute to existing social problems. Witt, Jon (2013). SOC 2013 (3rd Deed. ). McGraw-Hill companies Inc. ISBN: 07-802674-4 Finiteness’s, Kurt (2013). Annual Editions (41st Deed. ). McGraw-Hill Companies Inc.

ISBN: 978-0-07-813601-6 Office Hours o have any questions, problems, or concerns, please feel free to visit me during my office hours Tuesdays or by appointment. Email Etiquette The best way to contact me is via email at Ashley. leschyshyn@und. Email. Deed. However please keep in mind that FREER does not allow me to discuss any matters concerning personal grades. Additionally, I teach several classes each semester at two different universities. I will not respond to emails unless you provide me your NAME and CLASS so that I know who you are. Please refer to me as Ashley.

Attendance, Absences, & Make-Up Work In this class there is a strong correlation between attendance and test performance, assignment scores, and your final grade. Material presented in class will NOT be made available to those who do not attend. Lecture notes will NOT be posted on Blackboard. If you are going to miss an exam, you must contact me in ADVANCED notice PRIOR to the exam, as well as provide documented evidence of your excuse. Late work in labs will not be accepted. If you anticipate being absent, you must contact your TA prior to missing lab and schedule a different lab session to attend.

Make-up work will only be allowed in the rare occasion that you are severely ill, experience an emergency, or are required to attend a university event and you must provide documentation of your absence. Course Organization & Grading ** This course is weighted. Therefore, your total points on Blackboard will not be representative of your final grade unless you calculate those points in accordance with the weight. ** Lecture Material presented in lecture will NOT be made available to those who do not attend class and will NOT be posted on Blackboard. Grades are NOT curved, emailed, or given over the phone.

Extra credit is NOT an option. Labs A separate lab syllabus will be provided by your GTAG. Lab times are NOT interchangeable. If you cannot attend your lab session, you must contact Tom or Keenan prior to your absence. Students are required to make-up their missed lab session during another lab session. This section is worth 30% of your final semester grade. It is your responsibility to keep a copy of all your work. Once assignments have been returned it is in your best interest to check Model right away to make sure your score is posted correctly AND to hold on to them until the class ends and final grades re posted.

Quizzes There will be a total of 11 quizzes offered this semester. Each quiz is worth 10 points. Your lowest quiz score will be dropped; hence 10 quizzes will count towards your final grade. The quiz schedule is listed below. The quiz will become available the Friday prior to the date due. On the due date, the quiz must be submitted by 11:59 p. M. Quizzes that are not submitted by the corresponding date and time will result in a failing score. You CANNOT make up a missed quiz (you can drop the lowest score). Quizzes are not timed.

You may access the quiz as many times as needed, however once the quiz is submitted, the score is final. All quiz questions will be derived from your textbook. Quizzes will be worth 10% of your final semester grade. Exams This section is comprised of 3 multiple choice exams (which are NOT comprehensive). The majority of exam questions are derived from mass lecture. The remaining questions are from the textbook. Excused make-up exams are granted if you contact Tom or Keenan PRIOR to the exam date and provide documented evidence of your excuse. The instructor reserves the right to change the exam dates.

Final Grades Exams, quizzes and lab assignments are calculated as follows: 0-100% = A 80-89% 70-79% 00-59% Blackboard Class announcements, quizzes, study guides and other supplemental course material will be posted on Blackboard. To access course material (study guides, quizzes), be sure to click on the Content link located in the left hand column. You will find the material in the associated folder. Additionally, all grades (unofficial) will be posted on Blackboard. Classroom Conduct Attending the University of North Dakota is a privilege, not a right.

The classroom is a special environment in which students and faculty come together to promote learning. Examples of improper behavior in the classroom may include, but are not limited to: disrespect for the professional status of the instructor and/or GTAG (refrain from contacting us through social media), persistent late arrival to or early departure from class, distractive talking, the use of cell phones and laptops to text, chat, or surf the web, refusal to comply with reasonable directions, employing insulting language or gestures and verbal, psychological, or physical threats and harassment.

The Department of Sociology supports classrooms that are positive learning environments, where people are respectful and supportive of one another. You may have strong opinions, but everyone is expected to listen respectfully to alternative viewpoints and to communicate ideas in a non-confrontational way without monopolizing classroom discussion. Course materials prepared by the instructor including the content of all lectures, are the property of the instructor. Reproduction of materials, including video and audio recording of lectures without the consent of the instructor is prohibited.

Unless permission is obtained from me, copies of materials and recordings of lectures may not be modified and must not be transferred or transmitted to any other person, whether or not that individual is enrolled in the course. Academic Misconduct classroom behavior, will be reported to the Sociology Department and the Dean of Students. Subsequently, the behavior will become part of your permanent university record. The penalty for academic misconduct is a failing grade for the assignment/ exam in question or a failing grade for the course, depending upon the severity of the misconduct.