Part One: Vintage Holiday Decorating Ideas (A Must Read Guide!) | Ruby Lane Blog

Part One: Vintage Holiday Decorating Ideas (A Must Read Guide!) | Ruby Lane Blog

Why America’s Nurses Are Burning Out by Anok Abdelkarim Cm 107

            Published for Everyday Health, “Why America’s Nurses Are Burning Out” is an article that addresses the issue of nurses leaving the medical field. Written by Dr. Sanjay Gupta, the article explains that nurses leave the field for the following reasons: bad administration and management, insufficient staffing and scheduling, work related stress, wanting a career as a nurse versus having a passion for nursing. Each of these issues are problems all nurses experience on the job. The nursing field is not meant for everyone. It takes commitment, hard work, dedication, patience, and the ability to differentiate between empathy and sympathy. For a nurse to be successful and committed to the field, the issues Dr. Sanjay Gupta discusses must be addressed and examined thoroughly. The article was written to target working nurses, stressed nurses, healthcare coordinators, healthcare administrators and mangers, and the Human Resources and Development Department.

This article is relevant to the public and targeted audience because nurses are the heart of healthcare, and for a hospital or medical facility to run effectively, issues concerning the nursing field need to be addressed. I am currently a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and a Certified Medication Aide (CMA). I am also enrolled as a full-time Nursing student at Kaplan. So, I know why nurses are burning out. I have experienced all the issues and problems the article addresses. However, I must agree with one issue and strongly disagree with another.

Dr. Gupta writes, “in order for nurses to feel satisfied and fulfilled with their work, the staffing issues must be seriously addressed from a very high level.” I agree with this point. The root of most problems with nurses, is the administration and Human Resources Department. I have worked at two nursing facilities since obtaining my CNA. I left my first job because of bad management. When I had issues, concerns, or questions – I felt that they were not addressed promptly or correctly. The individuals who held the higher-level position, had little no experience in the healthcare department. Thus, they were unable to connect with the nurses and nurse aides, or fully understand their concerns through a nurse or nurse aide perspective. Eva Francis, a former nursing administrator interviewed by Dr. Gupta says, “Nurses also need to be able to express themselves professionally about the workload, and be heard without the fear of threat to their jobs or the fear of begin singled out.” I strongly agree with this because often, the nurse or nurse aide who do go to management and express their questions and concerns, are not taken seriously. Instead, the “old-way” of doing things is the “right away” of doing things. To address this issue, administrator and Human Resource departments needs to have an open-door policy. This policy must be practiced, just as much as it’s preached. Nurses and nurse aides need to have reassurance that their problems and concerns will be addressed and considered by their leaders, without fear of begin fired or singled out.

At the end of the article, it’s stated that “when a person goes into nursing as a profession, it’s either because it’s a career path or a calling.” This is a quote from Jill O’ Hara, former nurse from New York who left the nursing field. What O’Hara states is true. Some people get into nursing because it is a calling for them. This is not a job, but a passion for them. A passion to help care for the sick. Other get into nursing because it is a career choice. It is a job, but not a passion for them. A job with steady income. Though I agree with O’Hara on her view on why a person gets into the nursing profession, I strongly disagree with her on another point. O’Hara also states that, “the career nurse can leave work at the end of the day and let it go, but the nurse who enters the field because she is called to it takes those emotionally charged encounters home with her. They are empathetic, literally connecting emotionally with their patients, and it becomes a part of the energetically.” I strongly disagree with this statement because empathy is a big part of the nursing field and the healthcare field. When a nurse can connect with his or her patient, the bond allows them to see the patient as their own family member or relative, rather than a patient or bed number. When a patient is seen as a human begin, rather than another patient, they are given the best care because the nurses knows them on a deeper level. The ability to have empathy for another human being is key to the medical field. In my experience, nurses who entered the field did so because it was a career choice, rather than a passion or calling, tend to be the nurses who run into issues with patient cares. These nurses are often unpleasant and “numb” to human emotion. As a CNA/CMA and nursing student, knowing what I know – I would choose a nurse who was called to nursing over a nurse who choose it as a career choice.

Overall, nursing is a field that resolves around patients and patience, love and kindness, and sympathy and empathy. The issues that are causing nurses to leave the field are fixable. These are issues that various hospitals and healthcare facilities across the USA need to address. Dr. Sanjay Gupta has done a great job of bringing these issues to light. Now it’s time for the higher level position individuals to meet their nurses halfway, to provide a better working environment for the mental and emotional sanity of the people at the heart of the healthcare system.

Reference

Gupta, S., Dr. (2016). Why America's Nurses Are Burning Out. Retrieved November 19, 2016, from http://www.everydayhealth.com/news/why-americas-nurses-are-burning-out/

Protecting Your Children from Predators; CM 107 Comp I Fall 2016

Protecting your Children from Predators

Unit 4 Assignment – Writing a Personal Document

            The article I chose was from Parents Magazine, and the author is Jessica Snyder Sachs, and the name of the article is "Protect your Child from a Predators."  Sachs goes into detailed description on how to protect your child from being the victim of child molestation, and goes into her own experience of being a victim of child molestation. Sachs also references other authors and their views on the subject matter. She references Robin Sax, author of “Predators and Child Molesters”, who is a former prosecutor who specialized in sex crimes against children.

The article goes into things all parents should know, like the prevention and warning signs that something or someone may be wrong in your child’s life. She specifies the importance of knowing who is in your child’s life, because the people closest to you and your children are the most likely suspects in regard to child sex crimes. People whom we likely don’t see as threatening are normally the suspects in these types of situations. About 90 percent of suspects are relatives of their victim, or acquaintances such as neighbors, family friends, teachers, and coaches.  I know this can make for an uneasy time when dropping the kids off in the morning for school, but there are preventative measures that are available to be used to safeguard your children from unnecessary dangers. One of the first things to do is to talk with your children and ask them about what is going on in their lives. I know getting to the point of asking your child about sexual molestation is not an easy subject, but it is a necessary step when it comes to protecting them from unsavory people. We want to take measures not to make the child think s/he did anything wrong, and the author goes into how not to approach the subject. You should not say, “You should have” to the child because it places blame on them and makes them think they did something wrong, or that the responsibility is completely theirs in protecting themselves. What you do instead is just ask open end questions of what is going on with them, is there anything anyone has done to you to make you feel confused or uncomfortable, and if so who are we talking about and what happened to make you feel that way? Also, try to remember not to blow up or attempt to shame your child by saying things like, “Your uncle wouldn’t do that” or even, “I’ll kill him!” because it causes kids to feel guilty and they will sometimes modify their story out of fear. It is our jobs to reassure our children that it is not their fault.

 Also as a parent, if someone makes you feel uneasy or uncomfortable around your child. It is your responsibility to keep that person away from your child. If this person is at your child’s school, report it to the principal. It is their job to monitor situations or staff members that may be questionable and they are there when you aren’t. This is something necessary to do, if you someone has not met the points of breaking the law, but you want to make the situation clear to administration that you are uncomfortable with someone. Recognize red flags, because only one in five children who are sexually molested will report it. If your child says he doesn’t want to be around a certain person take him seriously. Other things to look for are unexplained urinary tract infections, or redness in the genital area.

With this article, I’ve found lots of useful information to use going forward that I could not go into detail completely in this paper, but is a great read for any parent who worries like we all do about our children and their safety.

Reference Page 

Sachs, J. Protect your Child from a Predator: Retrieved from: http://www.parents.com/kids/safety/other-safety-issues/protect-your-child-from-a-predator/ 

Blog Post Unit 4 assignment by Adriana Smith CM 107 Comp I Fall 2016, "Being a Good Boss"

Blog Post Unit 4 assignment

            Being a good boss is really important in a business, but what defines a “good” boss? It’s different for everyone, and my definition of a good boss is someone who is understanding, explains things well, and is  kind. In the article, “What It Takes to Be a Great Boss” by Steve Tobak, it brings up some really good points on what a great boss should act like. The audience that Steve is sending this message to is anyone who is interested in becoming a boss or would like a better themselves as a boss.

            Steve Tobak explains in this article that it’s hard to be a “great” boss. They are not easy to come by and everyone has different mindsets on what a great boss is. Experience and Perspective and Alignment are some key points in this article. The way we learn to be good at our jobs and be good bosses is observing others and learning what works and doesn’t work in a business or a household, even. Perspective is looking at something and knowing you don’t know it all. It’s hard when you’re young (myself included) to think that you don’t need help or anymore knowledge, but everyday we are learning something knew. Last but not least, alignment is saying that you need to have a goal or a plan and have structure to get to that goal.

            Going back to alignment, you need to have a clear plan to share the people in the business. My family’s business has a “Monday Morning Meeting” , where my father sits down with everyone else in the company and explains what needs to be done, what needs to be worked on and how we can make this week the best week in the business.

            The issue of having a “bad” boss is something everyone comes by sometime or another in her life. Also, everyone serves as a boss sometimes. Whether as a mother, business owner, or just in charge of anyone, you should have knowledge on how to be the best. 

            All in all, a “great” boss description is an opinion and it’s not going to be everyone’s. What you can do is be the best person you can and work really hard for what you want. The importance of a good boss is super because it sets the mood for the rest of the company.

REFERENCES:

Tobak, Steve (2016, October 26.) What It Takes to Be a Great Boss https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/284153

Blog Posts on Chosen Careers by CM 107 English Comp Fall 2016; The Importance of SDS Sheets by Shannon Lutton

Many people do not know how to read and understand an SDS sheet; some have never even heard of them. An SDS sheet is a tool used to identify the hazards of a chemical to humans and environmental hazards as well. They are formally known as MSDS sheets- material safety data sheets. It is very important for anyone using any type of cleaning products to know how to read and understand the SDS sheets. I found an article called “Are Safety Data Sheets for Cleaning Products used in Norway a Factor Contributing to the Risk of Workers Exposed to Chemicals”, written by authors: Abdulqadir M. Suleiman and Kristin V.H. Svendsen. Written in The International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health, 2014) It indicates that in Norway the SDS sheets lacked very important information regarding the safe use of chemicals. (I, Jomeh, 2014) Because of the “generic” information, many people have developed asthma. One of the most common problem the people of Norway have developed is Contact Dermatitis. Contact Dermatitis is an inflammation or rash of the skin caused by contact with a substance. (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2014) Cleaning people are the biggest group with the highest incidence of contact dermatitis. The National Federation of Service Industry (NHO service) which is an affiliate of the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise was in control of conducting studies of over 650 products. They categorized the products into different risk classes. They based the risk factors on hazard classifications, PH, and types of solvents used in the mixtures. They also included information in whether or not the mixture contained any substances with complex-making properties, and if the mixture has any impact on the environment. (I. Jomeh, 2014) There were many important factors that they did leave out.  A few important things that they did not include were:

·         Corrosive

·         Harmful-allergy causing

·         Toxic

·         First Aid for Possible Exposure

All in all, this was a useful and interesting article for those interested in this topic.

Local Holocaust Education Committee Programs

PROGRAMS OFFERED

BY

THE HOLOCAUST EDUCATION COMMITTEE

OF THE GREATER QUAD CITY AREA

SPEAKERS AND PRESENTERS

Authors, exhibits, Holocaust specialists and dramatic presentations are provided to schools, libraries, churches and other community venues through grants and collaboration with community groups.

INSTITUTES AND WORKSHOPS

Since 1993, Holocaust institutes and workshops have been offered to Quad City educators, students and community members.  Institutes are scheduled in the fall of odd-numbered years.

TRUNKS AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS

The Jeff Leibovitz Special Collection, housed at the Western Illinois University Quad City Campus in Moline, provides access to over a thousand resources, including sets of traveling curriculum cases focused on Making a Difference, Rescuers and Resisters, and Diaries and Memoirs. 

ESSAY AND ART CONTESTS

The Ida Kramer Children and the Holocaust Essay Contest and the Meyer and Frances Shnurman Holocaust Visual Arts Contest are open to students in grades 7-12.  Submissions are due annually on February 1.

TEACHER SCHOLARSHIPS

Applications for the Rauch Foundation Teacher Scholarship, from $200 to $2,000, are due annually on April 1 or October 1 to support professional development.  The scholarship covers expenses for travel, housing, and/or registration for conferences, workshops or tours.

A BOOK BY ME

Youth, 18 years old or younger, interview, research, write and illustrate a 10-page book about a Holocaust survivor, liberator or rescuer.  

           

Promoting a higher awareness of the Holocaust as a unique historical event with universal implications for today

WEBSITE: www.hecqc.org

Writing Success from A Composition II Student

Plan for Success and Topic Ideas  by Rey Marquez, Jr.

 

My writing has improved over time, but it has been a journey. I have learned from reading many books, including Stephen King’s, “On Writing” that has helped shape my style and format. However, I still struggle at times. I use writing in my everyday life; mostly, writing at writing work emails, memos, and technology narratives. I have learned that my writing needs an overhaul. I take my time, nowadays, to submit any writing at work, or even personal. I find myself revising constantly. College Composition I course was a bit nerve-wrecking to me, because I did not know what to expect, or what the outcome would be.  The end result of that course was great. When I saw I was taking Composition II, my nerves came back. My weaknesses have always been brainstorming. I sit in front of my laptop, at a coffee shop or at home, and my fingers seem to freeze. I cannot think of a thing to say or write about, but before I put thought to Microsoft Word I have all these ideas flowing away – must be that my laptop is possessed. The aspects of my writing I wish to improve are learning how to brainstorm better, honing in on the right words to use and the flow of my sentences, and understanding what makes writing formal or informal. One of the most important things I learned in Unit 1 was the three “most important components of good writing: All writing, both formal and informal, needs to be clear, simple, and direct.” (KUWC, 2014) Using these three components, and coupled with my learning experiences for the rest of the course, will help me developed better communication through writing.   

 The problem I would like to solve is in my workplace and that is the communication aspect. There have been too many times where one department and another do not communicate, and when they do the communication is not received or read effectively. This communication gap is a major problem when dealing with issues that need to be addressed within a specified timeframe. I go back to being clear, concise and specific when writing to your audience.  Presenting this argument will come across smoothly if I present examples of when the communication was received and decoded incorrectly. I think that using Kaplan University’s Writing Center, which I am a huge fan of, I will develop a sound argument for everyone to use clear, concise and specific statements.

 

 

References

Kaplan Writing Center. (2014). Formal vs informal. Retrieved from

https://kucampus.kaplan.edu/DocumentStore/Docs10/pdf/style/formal_vs_informal.pdf