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  • Argumentative Essay- Business Transformation Management

    ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY- BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION MANAGEMENT

     
    Argumentative Essay- Business Transformation Management  

    Overview

    The process of bringing radical and profound change within the internal affairs of an organization is closely associated with success and high levels of productivity. Companies that constantly rebrand themselves while at the same time change their operational strategies tend to become more effective as opposed to those that stagnate at one point. It is through different forms of business transformation that reputable giant firms such as Apple, Samsung, McDonalds and even Walmart have managed to remain profitable in such a competitive global market. It is through the use of this tool that fundamental revolutions have been introduced in most companies and their results have been phenomenal.

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                Business transformation is known for assisting most entrepreneurial ventures in changing their operating strategy so that it can suit the contemporary trends in the market. Professionals within the field of commerce advise that it is paramount for any business to consider underdoing through these transformation programs as they help in increasing the amount of sales returns, revenue and even the shares of the market. At the same time, customer satisfaction is significantly improved because the corporation learns to take to heart the needs of their clientele.     The process of achieving change in business can be accomplished in a myriad of ways such as re-alignment where the internal structure of the organization can be restructured and the employees are also reshuffled. This aids a lot when it comes to identifying areas where some employees may have more capabilities and also destroys the monotony that may come with formal employment. The list of companies that have transformed their operations over time is endless and so are their benefits. This paper is a detailed and incisive argumentative essay that analyzes the plight of the Nokia Company and how business transformation would have helped this firm to capitalize on the emergence of smartphones.

    Topic Chosen for the Essay

    Discuss what should the CEO of the Nokia Company could have done differently so as to capitalize on the emergence of smartphones.

    Body of the Essay

    That Argument

    This part of the essay will argue
    that
    the Nokia Company could have used different business transformation strategies so that it can profit from the emergence of smartphones. It is a widely accepted fact that smartphones have been one of the most celebrated discoveries of the twenty first century (Bajarin 2014, p. 44). These devices have managed to revolutionize the manner in which people communicate, socialize and even access information. In particular, the emergence of a different feature within these smartphones is what has contributed to their skyrocketing popularity. Most of these devices now have an operating system, software applications and internet connections that make them convenient for usage and ownership (Snively et al 2014, 178).

    These features have made the smartphone to become one of the most sought after devices among young and old alike. The existence of numerous tech giant firms such as Samsung, Apple and even Huawei is sufficient evidence of the lucrative nature of the smartphone business (Cooper and Brainard 2011, p. 177).  The Nokia Company was widely renowned for occupying a huge global presence when it comes to the sale of mobile phones. However, this firm lost the smartphone battle and this led to its spiraling decline (Ammisetti 2012, p. 16) Argumentative Essay- Business Transformation Management .

    It can be argued that the management in this mobile firm became complacent and it did not bother to revolutionize its activities so as to suit the emerging trends. In the recent past, Nokia Company was largely synonymous with cell phones so much that this firm became an instant technology star in virtually all parts of the globe. This image has since faded away and the Nokia of today is a pale shadow from what it used to be around the beginning of the twenty first century (Sturges 2015, p. 10). The fall of Nokia from the top can hugely be blamed on the manager and CEO who would have incorporated business transformation strategies so as to match the expectations of customers in the market.

    Business Transformation Management Methodologies or BTMM are frameworks that assist companies to remain relevant as the global market continues to evolve and drastically change. One of the ways that companies in the modern era evolve is by adopting a different operational strategy such that their daily running become more efficient, faster or sophisticated (Laamanen et al 2016, p. 14). A classic example of an operative business transformation is the manner in which most firms are going digital and conducting most of their affairs online. What’s more, most corporations and organizations are embracing new technology so as to solve their current problems.

    It is through operational models that firms such as Netflix have managed to capitalize on sales and become one of the most preferred online brands. This firm made a drastic shift from merely selling DVDs via email and instead began to stream videos through the inter webs (Brahma 2015, p. 23). The CEO of Nokia Company would have followed a similar lead as opposed to simply enjoying the fact that their brand had already become a household name. Further, Nokia’s management should have maximized on the knowledge obtained from the customer’s preferences and used it to design some of the most sophisticated smartphone brands (Das and Madhavan 2014, p. 62).

    This is because the mobile phone industry is one that constantly evolves and most companies operating in this sector are forced to transform their endeavors so as not to become obsolete. The mobile phone has ceased to become a mere object of communication and it is now capable of handling a variety of functions. The Nokia Company did not realize this fact and this explains why firms such as Samsung, Lenovo and even Apple managed to overtake it and become the household brands in matters of smartphones (Sturges 2015, p. 10). The successful transformation of the rival firms to Nokia is a strategy that has taken place over the years with constant rebranding and changing the features of most smartphones.

    It is also essential to note that business transformation also takes place through leadership. It is crucial to change guard at the top so that the firm can experience a shift when it comes to supervision and task execution. For Nokia, the CEO and other managers had served long terms and this explains why they were not the right people to initiate radical changes so as to capitalize on the emergence of smartphones (Day and Jung 2010, p. 118). At the same time, it can also be argued that the process of choosing and hiring the right leaders is very vital because they determine how the internal affairs of the company are handled and how employees relate with one another.

    Apart from leadership, Nokia as a mobile phone company should have embraced business transformation in an alternative way (Phillips and Dalakas 2014, p. 178).  There are transformation programs that can also take place from the internal side of the firm where the various managers and supervisors focus keenly on the trends, production levels and performance on both daily and weekly basis (Day and Jung 2010, p. 118). This directive could have aided this firm greatly, especially when it comes to integrating the company’s operations into one global venture that can also harness the scope of the available resources. The following part of this argumentative essay discusses the role that the CEO of Nokia Company should have played based on the “because” argument.

    Because Argument

    The Nokia Company could not have profited from the sale of smartphones
    because
    its leaders were not keen enough to realize that the market trends were changing fast. The CEO of this firm remained rigid and did not respond to the wave of evolution that was sweeping in the mobile phone industry (Bajarin 2014, p. 46). It was also impossible for Nokia to remain at the top and capitalize on the sale of smartphones because the top managers of this firm had a very terrible and tainted reputation. In fact, some of the senior managers were very short tempered and it was not unusual for them to shout and scream at the junior staff.

    Therefore, it was quite difficult for employees to express their opinions when it came to matters of task execution or even giving positive input. In as much as Nokia as a company had already established itself in the market, its survival would have only been maintained through the process of constant transformation (Snively et al 2014, 177). The latter should have been strategically embraced such that the very essence of a company is redefined.

    This is what worked for Apple as their business transformation approach involved a change of gear from manufacturing computers to designing some of the most superior brand of phones (Cooper and Brainard 2011, p. 178). The CEO of Nokia failed to realize that in business, change is inevitable and constant transformation is more than necessary. In fact, it has never been advised for executives to remain complacent and contented because of past achievements, but they should frequently initiate change if they want to remain successful (Ammisetti 2012, p. 19).

    Business transformation methodologies are never complete and they are always ongoing depending on the current market trends. The fact that Nokia had one of the longest serving CEOs who sat in power for more than two decades could explain why they were not receptive to the idea of smartphones. What’ more, the CEO of this mobile firm could be faulted for not paying any attention to the changing current that significantly changed the appearance and features of smartphones. Nokia was also to blame for failing to develop phones that were innovative and stylish enough to match those of its rising rivals such as Samsung and Apple (Sturges 2015, p. 10).

    It can also be argued that as Nokia grew larger, most of the departments slowly converted themselves into mini kingdoms such that people were only concerned with what happened in their own division and not in others. Further, the CEO of Nokia portrayed the picture that made employees more concerned with individual gain like promotions and bonuses. Therefore, it was virtually impossible for staff members to work towards improving the mobile brands of Nokia as they were busy pursuing their own interests (Cooper and Brainard 2011, p. 178). What this firm failed to realize is that change of tactics is very crucial when it comes to the centralization of business.

    This is actually one of the forms of transformation is business that strives at restructuring the day-to-day functions in major departments of a company such as communication, information technology and even human resources (Bajarin 2014, p. 48). This approach would have been very instrumental to Nokia when it comes to designing and creating of superior smartphone brands. In as much as the firm still produces modern phones, they are not rated highly as those of rival companies like Lenovo and Apple. The use of the centralized model as a means to transform a business is designed such that it mirrors the most superior and grander innovations that could provide the much needed leverage to compete with other giants in the industry (Day and Jung 2010, p. 119).

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                This means that Nokia should have learnt from the profitability gained from other smartphone producers and then gather insights on how best to come up with an innovative product (Laamanen et al 2016, p. 16). In as much as imitation in business is not very ethical, this firm would have simply observed how giant firms like Samsung, Lenovo, Itel and even Apple were revolutionizing the industry and then develop their own marketing plan. The fact that Nokia failed in all its endeavors to embrace business transformation explains why they quickly faded away in an industry that they had previously managed to colonize. The next part of this essay analyzes the plight of the Nokia Company using the “however” argument.

    However Argument

    It is essential to note that in contrast to the above provided arguments, however, Nokia strove to achieve excellence in its own way and this is why this brand was considered synonymous with any type of phone in the past (Brahma 2015, p. 25). Perhaps the reason why Nokia managed to remain relevant in the industry for very many years is because the CEO was at one point competent in leadership. However, they would have still agreed to embrace change so that the company capitalizes on the smartphone market. In fact, the latter is described as one of the most dense markets with customers having a high demand for superior mobile phones that contain unique features and software.

    The success story of Apple and Lenovo is sufficient testimony of this fact as these two firms embraced business transformation using the operational strategic approach. The reputable companies managed to make a drastic shift from computers to smartphones and their endeavors paid off handsomely (Das and Madhavan 2014, p. 64). Argumentative Essay- Business Transformation Management  This is exactly what the Nokia management team should have done so that it can remain profitable and enjoy its growing customer base. It is indisputable that Nokia was highly established in the western region from where it spread its wings to other countries.

    However, this trend did not last as the firm failed to reinvent itself and meet the expectations of its target consumers (Phillips and Dalakas 2014, p. 179). At the same time, the CEO and his managerial team did not understand that embracing the latest innovations in designing of mobile devices is critical when it comes to maintaining customers. A large number of people purchase a mobile phone based on its features and not on usability (Das and Madhavan 2014, p. 64). Therefore, in as much as a Nokia phone is quite convenient in use, its features and level of sophistication is quite low when compared to its rivals. This means that the needs of customers come first and it is the duty of CEOs to know what their needs and expectations are at any given moment (Das and Madhavan 2014, p. 64).

    However, this is not the case for Nokia and it explains why the firm was not able to rapidly expand within the market since its products were not engineered with any expertise or prowess. The final part of this argumentative essay incorporates the “therefore” approach to discuss and evaluate what Nokia’s CEO should have done so as to capitalize on the emergence of smartphones.

    Therefore Argument

                Therefore
    , due to the complacency and inept leadership of Nokia’s CEO, the firm was not in any position to remain profitable as a mobile phone company. It is the ultimate duty of the senior leader in any company to ensure that levels of profitability do not fluctuate, but instead maintain an upward trend (Bajarin 2014, p. 49).  The fact that the top manager failed to embrace business transformation made it impossible for Nokia to compete within a market that had entirely changed in terms of cell phone preference. The creation of differentiation to deal with stiff competition in the market is also another way in which Nokia would have transformed its activities (Brahma 2015, p. 27).  What’s more, this process is strengthened further by the introduction of a business model that is vertically integrated.

    This type of approach is quite unique and could have been of great value to Nokia such that it could have enabled it to capitalize on smartphone proliferation. Therefore, the fact that business transformation was absent in Nokia made it impossible for the firm to profit from the sale of smartphones.

    Conclusion

    The frameworks for achieving success and prosperity in any business lies in the ability of a firm to reinvent and rebrand itself. A large part of this process is achieved through business transformation where a company adopts strategies that can help it remain profitable and relevant in the market simultaneously. The Nokia Company was one of the most sought after firms in the past century due to its ability to design phones that were convenient to use. However, the firm was slowly phased out by emerging giants such as Lenovo, Samsung and Apple since it did not change its phones to suit market trends.

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                The CEO of this company failed to understand the power of change and as such, it was difficult to profit from the sale of smartphones. Argumentative Essay- Business Transformation Management The case analysis of the Nokia Company offers valuable insights to already established firms that change in business is not only crucial, but it is inevitable if one desires to see their entrepreneurial venture remain prosperous.

    References

    Ammisetti, A. (2012). Nokia: The Troubled King of the Indian Handset Market. Vidwat: The Indian Journal Of Management, 5(1), 14-20.

    Bajarin, T 2014, ‘The Real Difference between Nokia and Apple’, PC Magazine, pp. 44-46, Business Source Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 15 October 2016.

    Brahma, M. (2015). When a Giant Falls. Vision (09722629), 19(3), 288-291. Doi: 10.1177/0972262915604915

    Cooper, R. N., & Brainard, L. (2011). The Nokia Revolution: The Story of an Extraordinary Company That Transformed an Industry./ When Genius Failed: The Rise and Fall of Long-Term Capital Management. Foreign Affairs, 80(6), 176-177. Argumentative Essay- Business Transformation Management

    Das, G., & Madhavan, N. (2014). Death Of A Dream. Business Today, 23(16), 58-63.

    Day, J. D., & Jung, M. (2010). Corporate transformation without a crisis. Mckinsey Quarterly,     (4), 116-127.

    Laamanen, T., Lamberg, J., & Vaara, E. (2016). Explanations Of Success And Failure In Management Learning: What CanWe Learn From Nokia’s Rise and Fall?. Academy Of Management Learning & Education, 15(1), 2-25. doi:10.5465/amle.2013.0177

    Phillips-Melancon, J, & Dalakas, V 2014, ‘Brand Rivalry and Consumers’ Schadenfreude: The        Case of Apple’, Services Marketing Quarterly, 35, 2, pp. 173-186, Business Source   Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 15 October 2016.

    Snively, C., Alcacer, J., & Khanna, T. (2014). The Rise and Fall of Nokia. Harvard Business School Cases, 1.

    Sturges, D. (2015). The Transformation of communication @ Apple. Smartphone Design &            Production, 127(11), 10. Business Source Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 15 October             2016.

     

    ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY- Business Transformation Management Methodology Concepts and Theories

     

    CHOSEN TOPIC:
     What should have the CEO of NOKIA done differently to capitalize on the emergence of smartphones?

    Task:

    You are required to prepare an 
    argumentative essay
     that applies the concepts and theory of the course. The questions will focus on key theory and the
     Business Transformation Management Methodology
     (BTMM) framework.

    This
    assignment
    will be assessed upon how well you are able to identify and articulate the concepts.  You will be assessed on your familiarity with the theory, application of argument, ability to research and reference Argumentative Essay- Business Transformation Management .

    The structure I would like you to use in your essay has four parts:

    That

    Because

    However

    Therefore

    Within each of these four parts, there are a number of paragraphs.

    REMEMBER THIS IS AN ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY

    NB//
     MAKE SURE YOU FOLLOW THE STRUCTURE AS PER THE 
    ATTACHED PDF ON STRUCTURE
    .

    FAILURE TO APPLY BTMM 
    CONCEPTS AND THEORIES
     WILL LEAD TO 
    ZERO GRADING!! Argumentative Essay- Business Transformation Management

  • Lucas Critique and Micro-founded models – New Classical macro economical theory

    Lucas Critique and Micro-founded models – New Classical macro economical theory 

    Introduction

    The economic activities carried out by individuals or corporations within a nation are determined by the decision making by the state in terms of adopting a guiding economic theory. The economic decision making determines the economic environment from which a country’s residents operate within. At any given point, despite deferring opinions being held by leading economists, there is always a prevailing economic theory. Since the 1970s, the prevailing economic theory has been the new classical macro economical theory (Yang and Ng, 2015: 33). This research essay will analyze the evolution of economical theory and the principles and arguments that are held by New Classical macro economical theory.

    Historical Development of New Classical Macroeconomics

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    The first accepted formal theory of economics is referred to as the classical theory. The hallmarks of classical theory were firmly rooted in the staunch belief in a self regulating economy and the opposition to any governmental intervention. British Economist, Adam Smith, is largely credited with being the ‘father’ of the classical theory of economics when in 1776 he published his seminal book,
    wealth of a nation
    (Negishi, 2014: 16)
    .
    In the book, smith called for a shift towards basing an economy on trade rather than its gold reserves. He also stated that the general national economic well being directly derives from the business activities, and wealth transfer of its private individuals. The people’s own self interest can be depended upon to fuel the national economy. However, smith recognized that people’s self interest cannot be depended upon in certain areas, such as education. As concerns education, and a small number of social amenities, the government’s involvement is required to ensure all citizens (even those that cannot afford it) are provided with the basic necessities.

    Other notable economists such as David Ricardo, Say, Malthus and Stuart Mill built upon the theory while generally retaining the core principles identified by Smith’s theory. The guiding principles upon which classical theory is founded upon include the belief in a self regulating (free) economy. Every market has its natural equilibrium in terms of supply, demand, and commodity pricing. The existing market forces are adequate in terms of enabling the market achieve this natural state of equilibrium without any external intervention; this is termed as the ‘invisible hand’ (North, 2016: 74) of the market. Say’s law further builds upon this theory by stating that the supply made available in a market is sufficient to fuel the demand of the commodities on offer. The production phase creates enough wealth within a market to sustain the purchase of the commodities produced. Interest rates and interest rates should also be determined by the market forces without any government intervention. The same principles also govern the labour market which should be governed by market forces without any state involvement.

    The classical theory was largely accepted in the period following the industrial revolution and preceding the great depression as it was a period that featured immense economic growth and general prosperity. The great depression was the single most significant reason that prompted the classical theory to be viewed critically and alternate guiding principles to be developed.

    British economist, John Maynard Keynes, in the aftermath of the great depression, led the efforts to supplant classical theory as the prevailing economic theory. According to Keynes, the great depression was evidence that a self-regulating (free) market was not equipped to come up with solutions that can resolve the economy after a cataclysmic economic event (Moggridge, 2013: 29). Concerning employment, Keynes insisted that under the guidance of classical theories, employment was not available to all that needed it despite classical theory tenets stating that it was. Keynesian theory argued that government involvement is needed to achieve both price stability as well as full employment.

    Keynes largely agrees with Say’s law that stated that ultimately, the supply will create its own demand (Amsden, 2010: 61). However, the great depression showed that a weakened economy sees a sharp reduction in the overall demand. The reduced demand forces suppliers to reduce their output and lay off their employees due to reduced revenue. These layoffs add to the overall unemployment and further reduce the demand. This vicious cycle of reduced demand and increasing unemployment can only be checked and corrected by government intervention. The principle foundation of Keynesian theories is government intervention. During the troughs of a business cycle, a government can ‘jump start’ an economy by increasing its spending to support production. Likewise, the reduction of the interest rate could provide the economy with affordable credit thus boosting the economy. During the peaks of the business cycle, Keynesian theories propose increased government regulation, especially concerning corporate financial behaviour and employment.

    Keynesian theories were popular in the post-depression economy as they oversaw the rebuilding of the global economy. However, towards the 1970, the economy globally was faced with an extended period of economic stagnation (Kaldor, 2015: 43). This period of stagnation saw the Keynesian theories being critically questioned and the development of other economic theories. The theory that was widely accepted in this pot Keynesian period was the new classical macro economical theory that is the subject matter for this research essay.

    The New Classical Macro-economical Theory

    After the stagnation experienced b the global economy in the 1970s, the new classical theory was adopted to supplant the prevailing Keynesian theories. Work on the neo classical theories of macroeconomics was particularly robust in the 1960s as many mainstream economics started having opposing views to Keynesian theories. The economics credited with the development of new classical macro economical theory include Robert Lucas, Neil Wallace, Edward Prescott and Thomas Sargant (Berg and Gigerenzer, 2010: 141). While other economists were involved in the development of the theory, these four are recognized as the neo classical theory pioneers.

    The theory highlighted the shortcomings in Keynesian theories and opposed the economic models developed under Keynesianism as being ineffective. The new classical theories are largely concerned with the futility of state intervention as a tool for correcting the unpredictable ‘shocks’ to the economy.

    Principles

    While there are many economists that identify as being neo-classist, they often have different viewpoints on certain issues. However, the following principles are the guiding principles on which the new classical theories are based on. Support on these guiding principles is almost universal with all neo classic economists.

    The assumption of rational expectation

    Keynesian theories largely fail to account for the expectations that people have. One of the pioneering new classical theory pioneers, Milton Friedman, sated that people have a certain expectations concerning the outcome of an economic policy. Ultimately, the outcomes should not differ greatly from the people’s expectations. An economic policy that fails to match the expectations is considered to be flawed by the new classical school of thought (Mertens and Ravn, 2014: 08).

    Most economical models are concerned with the forecasting of future economic situations and the manner with which the market will react to them. For example, the forecast information of future inflation rates is important in terms of the decision making involving investment, employment and the public’s consumption. Keynesian theories based their model creation on adaptive expectations which stated that future events can be predicted based on past events.

    The assumption of rational expectation states that people will always make decisions to further their self interest; and these decisions are based on the information that they have. Information received serves to shape their expectations of the future and influence their economical decision making.

     The assumption of natural rate

    There is a natural equilibrium for all products that is determined by the unique factors that constitute a market. This is especially true concerning the labour market. The natural rate of unemployment was a theoretical concept that was developed by Edward Phelps and Milton Friedman in the 1960s/ full employment, as hypothesized by Keynesianism is impossible to achieve. The theory sates that each market has a production capacity, and when this peak output is achieved, there is no unemployment that is caused by the lack of labour demand. When a market achieves peak output, the unemployment rate observed is the market’s natural unemployment rate (Daly et al., 2011: 13).

    While Keynesian theories showed that, to some extent, government intervention could reduce unemployment, it is impossible to reduce the unemployment rate past the market’s natural unemployment rate without a resultant increase in inflation. Lucas Critique and Micro-founded models – New Classical macro economical theory Economists have recognized, for a long time, that there is an inverse relationship between the inflation rate and the unemployment rate. A rise in inflation is accompanied by a reduction of the unemployment rate; similarly, a drop in inflation is accompanied by an increase in the unemployment rate. Keynesian theories believe that a government can exploit this trade-off to impact the unemployment rate. Policies aimed at increasing inflation could be used to reduce the unemployment rate as per the Keynesian school of thought. However, adopting expansionist policies, to reduce the unemployment rate past the natural rate is extremely counterproductive.  Initially, such a move may show nominal results in the short-term, however, in the long run, the market will see an inflation increase that reduces the overall spending power that the residents have. This sees them demand for increased wages to remedy this situation, and over time, the unemployment rate will increase until it goes back to its natural rate. Meanwhile, the inflation rate will remain high without any payoffs in terms of reduced unemployment

    Theory of continuous market clearing

    This theoretical concept is concerned with the matter of pricing within a market. New classical macroeconomic theory believes in the market’s ability to settle on a general equilibrium price. The general equilibrium price is the price whereby the supply produced equals to the amount demanded. As per the theory of continuous market clearing, the market forces of supply and demand will eventually set the equilibrium price.

    This is the price at which the commodities supplied equal to the demand. When the market price is more than the equilibrium price, the demand would reduce leading to an inventory surplus on the supply side. When the market price is below the equilibrium price, the demand would exceed the supply, leading to commodity shortage as suppliers’ output fails to meet the demand rate. Any factors that change within the market to make the market price different from the equilibrium price will be rectified by the market as its either adapts to the new change by coming up with a new equilibrium price or by forcing the market price to naturally tend towards the natural equilibrium price Lucas Critique and Micro-founded models – New Classical macro economical theory.

    Main Argument

    One of the central tenets of neo-classic theories is the ineffectiveness of government interventionist policies to influence the market. This is known as the theory of policy ineffectiveness as is the central argument posed by new classical macroeconomic theories. The issue of unemployment offers the best insight into policy ineffectiveness.

    The Philips curve visually represented the aforementioned relationship between unemployment and inflation (Gallegati et al., 2011: 491). The relationship, as previously explained, is inverse in nature. Keynesian intervention policies believe that expansionist policies and strategies result in reduced unemployment despite the trade-off in terms of increased inflation. Figure 1 below shows the short term benefits of government intervention. As the figure shows, at point A on the curve, unemployment is at 5% while inflation is at 2%. The introduction of expansionist policies sees the market experience the situation represented by point B on the curve, with unemployment being at 3% while inflation rising to 6% Lucas Critique and Micro-founded models – New Classical macro economical theory

     

    Figure 1: Short Term Philips curve. Source:http://www.econlib.org/library/Enc/NewClassicalMacroeconomics.html

    Work on policy ineffectiveness was pioneered by Friedman, who introduced the concept of permanent income. Permanent income refers to all the income that an individual expects to receive in their lifetime. Consumption decisions are based on this permanent income rather than on present ‘actual’ income. Government intervention believes that expansionist strategies, which raise ‘actual’ income, will spur consumption. However, new classical theories show that this is not the case, as without a change in the permanent income, there is no significant change in the public’s consumption behaviours. This introduces the concept of the long run Philips curve, as shown by figure 2 below.

    Figure 2: Long Term Philips Curve. Source: http://www.econlib.org/library/Enc/NewClassicalMacroeconomics.html

     

    The first curve (SRPC1) shows how unemployment is reduced by government intervention on a short term basis, from 5% to 3%. However, over time, the effects of inflation, and having reduced spending power, will force the Philips curve to shift to the right and becomes SRPC2. At this point, the economic situation is at point C on SRPC2 where the unemployment rate has reverted to 5% while the inflation increases to 5% (from 2%). Therefore, government intervention is not only ineffective but actually counterproductive as the resultant situation is worse than the situation at the beginning of the scenario. Further intervention will see the curve shift to SRPC3 without positively affecting the unemployment rate. The red perpendicular line (LRPC) represents the long term Philips curve.

    The famed Lucas critique (Lubik and Surico, 2010: 179) builds on the theory of policy ineffectiveness by using the theory of rational expectation. Human beings will always work towards serving their self interests. They base their decision making on the information that they have, either from education or from past experience. Once a government makes an expansionist intervention, the people expect to benefit financially. They may experience some benefit in the short term that is in line with their expectations and therefore adjust their spending habits. However, as time goes by and they realize that their spending power has diminished, they will revert back into their ‘normal’ spending pattern.

    When the same government tries to make a similar intervention at a later date, the people are now armed with the knowledge that the seemingly improved situation is only superficial and the economic situation has both improved for the better. Therefore, they will not change their spending habits due to a change in their expectation. This is why Friedman sated that when the population’s expectations are different from the expected outcome, the policy cannot be effective.

    Conclusion

    Government policy making in economic matters has a profound effect on the ordinary citizens, and business decision makers, as it determines the nature of the economic environment in the country. Economic theory has invested a significant amount of theoretical work and academic literature towards determining the most efficient theoretical methods to use to achieve positive economic growth and prosperity. The first ‘formal’ theory, the classical theory was largely discarded after its self-governing principles failed to improve the economy after the great depression. Keynesian theories were adopted, which were later discarded after they resulted in economic stagnation in the 1970s. New classical theories were adopted and are the dominant theory used globally. Neo classical theorists adopt much of the characteristics used by traditional post-Keynesian classical theorists but the
    theory
    has been much improved by new theory making n the 1960s and 1970s.

    Neo classical macro economical theories believe in the market’s self-clearing ability but are more focused towards understanding the expectations that the people have, and the information that they posses. The main foundations of the theory include the theory of rational expectation, the theory of natural rate and the aforementioned theory of continuous market clearing. The main argument of the theory is the ‘policy ineffectiveness’ that state that any expansionist policies will to achieve any long term effect Lucas Critique and Micro-founded models – New Classical macro economical theory.

    The different economic theories have exhibited success due to being appropriate for the economic environment from which they were created. The neo classic theory captures this by acknowledging that there is no way to really predict the unpredictability of economical ‘shocks’. Classical theory worked well as it was suitable for the post industrial revolution economic climate; likewise, the theories associated with Keynesianism were appropriate to pull the global economy from the effects of the great depression. Similarly, new classical theories were appropriate to jump start the economy from its lull n the 1970s. It is my belief that economical theory should be flexible to be able to handle the unique situation that the economy is facing presently.

     

    References

    Amsden, A.H., 2010. Say’s Law, poverty persistence, and employment neglect. Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, 11(1), pp.57-66.

    Berg, N. and Gigerenzer, G., 2010. As-if behavioral economics: Neoclassical economics in disguise?. History of Economic Ideas, pp.133-165.

    Daly, M.C., Hobijn, B. and Valletta, R.G., 2011. The recent evolution of the natural rate of unemployment.

    Gallegati, M., Gallegati, M., Ramsey, J.B. and Semmler, W., 2011. The US wage Phillips curve across frequencies and over time. Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, 73(4), pp.489-508.

    Kaldor, N., 2015. Keynesian economics after fifty years. In Essays on Keynesian and Kaldorian Economics (pp. 27-74). Palgrave Macmillan UK.

    Lubik, T.A. and Surico, P., 2010. The Lucas critique and the stability of empirical models. Journal of Applied Econometrics, 25(1), pp.177-194.

    Mertens, K.R. and Ravn, M.O., 2014. Fiscal policy in an expectations-driven liquidity trap. The Review of Economic Studies, p.rdu016.

    Moggridge, D.E. ed., 2013. [The collected writings]; The collected writings of John Maynard Keynes. 29. The general theory and after: a supplement. Cambridge University Press.

    Negishi, T., 2014. History of economic theory (Vol. 26). Elsevier.

    North, D.C., 2016. Institutions and Economic Theory. The American Economist, 61(1), pp.72-76.

    Yang, X. and Ng, Y.K., 2015. Specialization and economic organization: A new classical microeconomic framework (Vol. 215). Elsevier.

    ECONOMICS ASSIGNMENT

    TASK

    Outline and critically discuss the principal ideas, tenets and arguments of New Classical Macroeconomics, paying particular reference (but without limiting your attention) to

              (i) The Lucas Critique, and

              (ii) Micro-founded models.

    In addition, discuss the extent to which this school of macroeconomics has influenced macroeconomic thinking in general during the last four decades. Lucas Critique and Micro-founded models – New Classical macro economical theory

    Guidance Notes

    (i) The relative amount of attention given to the aspects specifically mentioned in the above question could conceivably vary significantly from one high-scoring answer to another, and it is not essential that an equal amount of discussion be assigned to each. However, 
    an excellent answer would provide at least some incisive and well-informed coverage of each of those aspects, as well as providing an outline / discussion of other
     aspects of New Classical modelling approaches and policy conclusions.

    (ii) In addition to the recommended texts referred to in this handbook, students are encouraged to search online for relevant academic articles on this topic area. It is

    worthwhile consulting the original article by RE Lucas (1976), entitled “Econometric Policy Evaluation: A Critique”. However, to earn a high mark it is not essential that an

    intimate acquaintance with this article (as opposed to a sound understanding of its line of argument) be demonstrated.

    (iii) Discussion of applications of 
    the Lucas critique to phenomena other than the Phillips
     curve will potentially attract higher marks
    .

    (iv) 
    To earn a high mark
    , it is not essential that a specific micro-founded model be presented or analyzed, although some insightful discussion of this concept is expected.

    (v) Students are required to submit a word-processed assignment answer. Students who fail to do so will lose 10% of their assignment mark (i.e. a mark of 70% will be reduced

    to 63% if this penalty is applied). Please note that it is not acceptable for any aspect of the assignment (including equations and other mathematical expressions, as well as any diagrams) to consist of a digital scan of a hand-written passage or expression or of a hand-drawn diagram.

    Key Marking criteria will include:

     Correctness, validity and appropriateness of economics-related verbal statements and mathematical expressions

     Coherence, validity and completeness of the presented arguments and exposition

     Accuracy, correctness and relevance of diagrams (if included)

     Soundness of discussion of diagrams (if included)

     Overall quality of the assignment Lucas Critique and Micro-founded models – New Classical macro economical theory

  • Factors affecting bonds and shares valuation essay

    Factors affecting bonds and shares valuation essay

    Today, people and business entities across the globe use their money to make more money. Simply put, this is known as investing. When it comes to investing therefore, there are two key investment options that must be considered: bonds and shares. Bonds are more of loans from the investor to the bond issuer meant to raise capital for the company (Elton et al., 2003). On the other hand, shares are units of ownership in a company. Investors make profits from owning shares in form of dividends and capital gains. There are some elements or factors that affect the valuation or prices of bonds and shares as subsequently highlighted Factors affecting bonds and shares valuation essay.

    Factors that affect the valuation of Bonds

    First, bond prices may be affected by inflation. For instance, when inflation escalates, the prices of bonds fall and when inflation rates come down, bond prices rise. This can be understood by the fact that rising inflation inhibits the purchasing power of what people or business entities will earn on their investments (Elton et al., 2004).

    Secondly, the valuations of bonds are affected by interest rates. In practice, when interest rates rise, the prices of bonds fall and when interest rates fall, the prices of bonds rise (Walter and Que, 2003). Investors are often attracted by bonds whose interest rates are low and discouraged or become less attractive to bonds with high interest rates.

    ORDER HERE

    Third, Elton et al., (2003) argue that credit ratings can affect the valuation of bonds. Credit ratings can provide information on an issuer’s ability to deliver interest payments and pay back the principal on a bond. If issuer’s credit ratings go up, bond prices will rise and if ratings fall, bond prices will be driven down too.

    Fourth, the valuations of bonds are affected by a bond’s coupon. A bond’s coupon may be defined as interest rates that businesses must pay based on the bond’s face value. Even though coupons are generally fixed amounts, they can also be “indexed.” Here, interest rates are calculated by taking an established rate that fluctuates, such as a bank’s lending rate, and adding a “premium” percentage amount to calculate the bond’s coupon rate (Gabbi and Sironi, 2005).

    Factors that affect the valuation of Shares

    Just like bonds, there are some factors that can cause the prices of shares to either rise or fall. First, company news and performance are some of the factors that can affect the valuation of shares. A change of management, announcements of dividends, employee layoffs, accounting scandals and anticipated merger or takeover are some elements that may affect share prices (Kim, n.d).

    Secondly, industry performance is another factor. Oftentimes, share prices of companies in the same industry –say banking industry- will move in tandem with each other. Prevailing market conditions generally affect companies in the same industry. However, share prices of one company will benefit from any piece of bad news coming from its competitor (Errunza and Ta, 2015).

    Third, Kim (n.d) argues that investor sentiment or confidence may affect the prices or valuation of shares. Investor optimism may affect the prices of shares while a lack of investor confidence during recession or unemployment may affect valuation of shares.

    Lastly, other economic factors such as the economic outlook, inflation, deflation, political shocks, the value of currency, changes in the economic policy, and interest rates are some of the factors that can affect the valuation of shares (Errunza and Ta, 2015).

    The aforementioned factors are more of the direct factors that affect the valuation of bonds and shares. The prices of bonds and shares may also be affected indirectly. For instance, interest rates may be affected by current exchange rates, commodity prices, and wage inflation. Inflation may be affected by fast economic growth or increase in money supply among others all which may affect the valuation of bonds and shares (Kristina, 2010) Factors affecting bonds and shares valuation
    essay
    .

     

    References

    Elton, E., Gruber, M., Agrawal, D., & Mann, C. (2004). Factors affecting the valuation of corporate bonds.
    Journal Of Banking & Finance
    ,
    28
    (11), 2747-2767.

    Errunza, V., & Ta, H. (2015). The Impact of Investability on Asset Valuation.
    Journal Of Financial & Quantitative Analysis
    ,
    50
    (5), 1135-1163.

    Gabbi, G. & Sironi, A. (2005). Which factors affect corporate bonds pricing? Empirical evidence from Eurobonds primary market spreads.
    The European Journal Of Finance
    ,
    11
    (1), 59-74.

    Kim, D. (n.d). Performance Shares: Valuation, Optimal Design, and Empirical Evidence.
    SSRN Electronic Journal
    .

    Kristina, L. (2010).Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management. 1-166.

    Walter, J. E., & Que, A. V. (2003). The Valuation of Convertible Bonds.
    Journal Of Finance
    ,
    28
    (3), 713-732.

    BUSINESS FINANCE

    You must complete this assignment 
    individually
    .

    The explanations to the discussion question should be aimed at one brief paragraph to multiple paragraphs depending on the question. If you use any articles, textbooks, journals etc. to support your decisions, you must use in-text referencing to properly acknowledge the work of the original author. The preferred referencing style is the 
    Harvard referencing style (author-date).

    This assignment is worth 20 marks and also counts towards 20 percent of the final grade. Marks will be allocated for this assignment for meeting the following requirements:

     Completeness of submitted assignment – all required parts submitted – Factors affecting bonds and shares valuation essay

     Presentation: clearly and neatly labeled answers to each question; no spelling, typing or grammatical errors; and appropriately referenced if required Factors affecting bonds and shares valuation essay.

     

    TASK (10 marks for bonds and 10 marks for shares. 20 marks in total)

     This task requires you 
    to identify the various elements/factors that affect the valuation of bonds and shares
    .

     Please note that 
    you must segregate the factors for bond and shares separately – minimum four factors for each
    .

     You are 
    not only expected to identify the direct factors
     (the interest rate for example) 
    but also the indirect factors
     (i.e. the various factors which affects the interest rate itself).

     To simplify your discussion,
    y
    ou may choose a particular industry to answer this requirement
    .

     If you use any articles, textbooks, journals etc. to support your decisions, you must use in-text referencing to properly acknowledge the work of the original author. The preferred referencing style is the Harvard referencing style (author-date). However, you are not expected to reference the formulae Factors affecting bonds and shares valuation essay.

  • Bipolar 1 disorder Psychopathology Essay

    Bipolar 1 disorder Psychopathology Essay

    Psychopathology

    Introduction

    The existence of complex approaches that are used to study and diagnose ailments and conditions that affect both children and adults is an indication of how psychopathology has evolved within both the typical and atypical environment. The contemporary society is plagued with numerous problems that are entirely diverse and this has led to the mushrooming of different forms of psychological disorders. Diseases and conditions such as mood disorders, eating abnormality, psychosis or even depressive mood swings are all common in society and they target both children and adults. The fact that a person can suffer from either of this ailments can be a low moment in life and it is very essential to understand their diagnosis and treatment. This can help an individual to learn how to manage the disorder and avoid any activities that may trigger its relapse. This paper is an essay that discusses one psychopathological disorder and provides details of how it is diagnosed, its causes as well as the most effective treatment regimens.

     

    Topic Chosen for the Essay

    Bi-Polar I Disorder in the category of Depressive Mood Disorders

     ORDER HERE

    Section A

    Description of the Disorder

    Bipolar disorders are generally characterized by a severe shift in moods, behavior and thinking such that the person experiences the highs of being extremely happy to the lows of being seriously depressed (McDonal et al, 2015). Specifically bipolar I disorder is a form of mental illness where the affected person experiences manic episodes at some point in their lives. This manic episodes are usually elevated mood levels that are abnormal such that the behavior that results can easily disrupt the entire life of the person (Yao et al, 2015) Bipolar 1 disorder Psychopathology Essay.

    The drastic changes in moods or the manic stunts normally alternate between highs of being extremely excited to lows of being depressed. This is why bipolar I disorder is characterized by recurring cycles that revolve around mania and depression. This disorder becomes a problem when the person is within either the depression stage or the manic phase. However, the person gets to lead a normal life in between these two abnormal phases (Khaleghi et al, 2015). It should also be noted that bipolar I disorder can also occur differently such that there are mixed episodes of both depression and mania. This condition has been shown to occur for a long time such that it can last for even up to one week.

    This means that this depressive disorder can be highly severe due to the extreme episodes of mania and depression. The occurrence of manic episodes can be experienced in the form of irritability, mystical feelings, creativity, inappropriate or unusual behavior, positive moods or even high levels of energy (Yao et al, 2015). The mystical experience has been known to reach a delusional intensity that often leads to the development of other psychotic symptoms. What’s more, the high levels of energy are the ones that lead to the excitement that is usually seen in the manic stages where a patient can find it difficult to sleep or even speak coherently (Yao et al, 2015).

    In extreme cases, the manic episodes have seen some people exhibit weird behavior such that they develop bizarre thoughts that make them believe someone is pursuing them. Additionally, others tend to believe that they have development superpowers overnight that give them the ability to fly across the region or locality of their choice (McDonal et al, 2015).

    Bipolar I disorder is capable of affecting both children and adults and the severity of the symptoms can be similar in both categories regardless of the age difference. This is why it is important to seek early help and medical attention in case some of these signs are noticed.

    Diagnostic Criteria

    The diagnosis of bipolar I disorder is often done by making careful observations of the symptoms experienced by a patient and the length at which they last. This duration and frequency are important because they help in ruling out a misdiagnosis of the ordinary mood swings (McDonald et al, 2015). This means that the criteria used to make a prognosis of whether a person has bipolar I disorder depends on whether they suffer from the abnormal elevations in moods that can bring about irritability. At the same time, psychologists also look out for the presence of increased energy levels that can be manifested in the form of participation in extremely tedious tasks (Khaleghi et al, 2015).

    Doctors also look out for the lack of regular sleep patterns where some patients are known to sleep for very few hours after which they wake up feeling extremely excited. This condition can cause them to remain awake for long periods and some of them can even spend a week without sleeping. This is one of the symptom that can really assists the psychologist to make a very conclusive diagnosis on the severity of the bipolar I disorder (Khaleghi et al, 2015).

    The other majority symptoms are also specifically assessed using the criteria developed by the Diagnostic, Statistical Manual on Mental Disorders or the DSM-V that is developed by the association of American psychiatrists. This criteria is self-explanatory such that the psychologist or the psychiatrist is supposed to ask questions that narrow in on the status of one’s mental health (Yao et al, 2015). What’s more, doctors will also tend to ask if there is any family history of someone that has suffered from this depressive condition to rule out any genetic component. The ability to express oneself coupled with the ability to maintain long-term relationships is another important element that is used to diagnose if a person has bipolar I disorder (McDonald et al, 2015). The combination of the majority of this symptoms can enable the psychiatrist or psychologist to make a prognosis of whether the person is suffering from this depressive mood disorder.

    Etiology : How And Why This Disorder Develops

    The etiological agent or exact cause of bipolar I disorder remains unknown and many doctors often link its occurrence in children and adults to a number of biological factors. The majority of psychiatrists and psychologists often believe that a stressful event in life can be a very strong trigger than can end up causing this mood disorder (Khaleghi et al, 2015). This is in addition to other factors that are related to genetics and physical composition of an individual. The genetic composition of a person can predispose a person into developing bipolar I disorder since the condition is hereditary. In fact, more than 80% of all genetic factors place any person at risk of developing this diseases (Khaleghi et al, 2015).

    This means that in case a parent has or develops this disorder, then there is a 10% chance that their child will also develop the disease. The situation is even made worse if both parents suffer from the condition because the risk of developing bipolar I disorder is increased to 40%. At the same time, there are some brain chemicals and neurotransmitters that have been shown to trigger the onset of this condition.

    Serotonin is one of the important neurotransmitters that is responsible for the mood swings that are experienced by people (Yao et al, 2015). Therefore, any abnormality in the release and transmission of this chemical is bound to result in a mood disorder such as bipolar. Other medical illnesses have also been shown to cause this disease such that the drugs prescribed can act as a stimulant that can trigger the onset of this condition (Cedar Crest, 2016).             Additionally, bipolar I disorder has also been shown to occur in some children or adults when they face a difficult and stressful event in the course of their lives. For instance, the loss of one parent through death or even family separation and divorce can have a negative effect on the later life of a person (Yao et al, 2015). This can easily lead to a person developing this disorder because the traumatic experience easily interferes with their brain function. The understanding of the etiology of bipolar I disorder is very important because it can help a person to seek the best treatment plan possible.

    Section B

    Treatment Approaches

    The three treatment plans that have been shown to be effective when it comes to the handling of bipolar I disorder include medication, patient education as well as physical assessment. The main medication that is used to treat bipolar I disorder is categorized into three main classes such that there are mood stabilizers, antidepressants as well as antipsychotics (Cedar Crest, 2016). The use of mood stabilizers aims at reducing the manic and depressive periods so that the patient can have longer periods of a normal life. Drugs such as lithium carbonate, valproic acid and even Depakote are the most common ones that are prescribed for people with this mood disorder (Yao et al, 2015).

    The common denominator with these drugs is that they strive to reduce the episodes of both mania and depression while imposing less harm to the patient’s mental state. On the other hand, antipsychotics and antidepressants try to minimize the symptoms of this disorder by trying to streamline the function of the brain (HelpGuide.org, 2016) Bipolar 1 disorder Psychopathology Essay. Physical assessment and patient education are equally effective approaches for treatment of bipolar I disorder because they strive to reduce the risk of having unusual or weird behavior during the manic stage. The two strategies have been tested and tried on both adults and children and their success rate has been shown to be high (Cedar Crest, 2016).

    Patients are usually taught how to manage their condition by avoiding the triggers that lead to the extreme behaviors. This is one of the ways that they can ensure that they lead a better life as they also combine the positive benefits of medication.

    Treatment Plan

    The diverse plans that are employed in treatment depend on the age of the patient as well as their immediate environment. There are some challenges that a youth experiencing this disorder can face and this can largely impact on the chosen form of treatment. One of the setbacks they can face at home is interacting well with their peers or siblings. In school, the person may have a different time concentrating in class especially when they begin experiencing the episodes of depression or mania. In the community, a person that suffers from bipolar I disorder can have a hard time trying to contribute to the sensitive discussions of the overall welfare of its members.

    This is because their reasoning will always be doubted and people will not think it is credible enough to be utilized. In such a case, the treatment plan to be used must be very specific so that the individual is able to manage their condition (Yao et al, 2015). This plan requires to identify the specific challenge and then proceed to deciding on the best intervention approach to use. For instance, if the person commonly suffers from poor concentration in class, then it would be wise to use patient education as a way of ensuring that the person learns what triggers their depression and how they can avoid it. This plan can go a long way in helping the person take charge of their disorder and have a near-normal experience in the classroom.

    Treatment Resources

    There are different bodies and institutions that offer medical assistance and help to people that suffer from bipolar I disorder. One such location to obtain this resources is the Canadian Mental Health Association that offers assistance to victims suffering from this depressive disorder (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2016).  Timberline Knolls also specializes in catering for the medical needs of people with this mood disorder (Timberline Knolls, 2016). Additionally, Mood disorders Canada also focuses on helping people with Bipolar I disorder to slowly heal from the effects of this condition (Mood disorders Canada, 2016). Moreover, patients also receiving advice and counselling to help them manage the condition. These three places provide comprehensive assistance that seeks to see the full recovery of people with this mood disorder.

    Conclusion

    The high prevalence rates of depressive and mood disorders within the global population is an indication that people’s lifestyle is characterized by a lot of stressful conditions. Bipolar I disorder happens to be quite common among most people where there is an alteration in the level of moods and feelings. The patient oscillates between frames of being either too excited or too depressed such that they can easily do some things that they would never attempt when they are in a normal state. The fact that there is modern medication that can be used to manage this condition provides hope for the millions of patients suffering from this condition. It is also important that the victims seek counselling and advice so that they can be able to handle the unforeseen effects of their ailment.

     

    References

    Canadian Mental Health Association.(2016).
    Mental health for all
    . Retrieved on 14 March 2016 from
    https://www.cmha.ca/mental-health/understanding-mental-illness/bipolar-disorder/

    Khaleghi, A., Sheikhani, A., Mohammadi, M. R., & Nasrabadi, A. M. (2015). Evaluation of Cerebral Cortex Function in Clients with Bipolar Mood Disorder I (BMD I)     Compared With BMD II Using QEEG Analysis. Iranian Journal of Psychiatry, 10(2), 93-    99.

    McDonald, K. C., Bulloch, A. M., Duffy, A., Bresee, L., Williams, J. A., Lavorato, D. H., &            Patten, S. B. (2015). Prevalence of Bipolar I and II Disorder in Canada. Canadian Journal         of Psychiatry, 60(3), 151-156.

    Mood disorders Canada. (2016).
    Mood Disorders Society of Canada (MDSC) 
    Retrieved on 14 March 2016 from http://www.mooddisorderscanada.ca/

    Timberline Knolls. (2016).
    All the facts on bipolar I disorder
    . Retrieved on 14 March 2016 from            
    http://www.timberlineknolls.com/mood-personality/bipolar-disorder/

    Yao, J., Xu, Y., Qin, Y., Liu, J., Shen, Y., Wang, W., & Chen, W. (2015). Relationship between             Personality Disorder Functioning Styles and the Emotional States in Bipolar I and II

    Disorders. Plos ONE, 10(1), 1-10. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0117353

     

    Date Due:          Tuesday’s Class-March 22, 2016

    To be submitted in class.

                              

    Friday’s Class-March 24, 2016
    due to Good Friday Holiday, the research essay will be due

    Thursday March 24, 2015 by NOON in the CYW office (446E).

    There will be a box to submit the assignment
    AND
    don’t forget to sign the Assignment Submission Form
    .

            

    Value:                30%

     

    The goals of the assignment are to help you:

    be better prepared for the field of CYW/CYC when working with

    children and youth with a variety of mental health issues.  It is important to understand the terminology, behaviours/symptoms, etiologies and interventions in order to work effectively with the population.

    become more knowledgeable about finding and using varied research sources.

    further develop your critical thinking skills and support your points with evidence.

    discipline yourself to follow a scholarly research format to document in-text sources and a reference page (bibliography).

    compose a well-organized, clear, concise, research paper to expand your knowledge on a subject relating to child psychopathology.

     

    Format:

     

    This paper must be 6-8 pages (not including the title or reference page)-pages exceeding the limit will not be read.

    Your paper should contain an introduction and conclusion

    Typewritten and double-spaced

    Cover/title page in APA style (which should include your name, course and section, date, and the instructor’s name) with a title of your research essay

     

    Topic:

     

    You are to select and
    research
    (ONE)
    disorder from the list provided that affects
    children and adolescents.
      You will identify and describe the diagnostic criteria, symptoms, prevalence and recommended treatment approaches as outline in the criteria for section A, B and C.

    You must use

    at
    least 3

    academic sources
    in addition to your textbook. 
    If you access sources over the internet they must be
    academic/published
    sources.
      
    Class power point slides and Wikipedia is
    NOT
    an adequate research resource-if you use Wikipedia or other secondary resources that are not credible, you will receive a grade of “0” for the research portion of the assignment.

     

    A guide to
    Research Process
    can be found at the following link:

     

    http://www.georgebrown.ca/LLC/studytools/researchprocess/#Selecting-Resources

     

    To receive full marks you must show evidence that you have thoroughly researched your topic.
    Your paper must be professionally presented using APA (American Psychological Association) format and include a reference page. All work must be correctly referenced using in text citation as per APA guidelines.

     

    FAILURE TO CREDIT YOUR SOURCES MAY BE CONSIDERED PLAGIARISM WHICH CAN RESULT IN A “0” FOR THE ASSIGNMENT. 
    The Guard Against Plagiarism policy is outlined in the course outline and is expected to be used for this assignment.  Please look at the library website for information on using APA format
    .  

     

    A guide to
    APA
    can be found at the following link:

     

    http://researchguides.georgebrown.ca/content.php?pid=16363&sid=3753032

     

     

    **See Course Outline for policy on late assignments**

     

     

    Research Topics

     

    The following is a list of topics to be chosen for the assignment.

     

     

    Disorder Categories

     

     

    Examples-Select
    One
    for the Essay

    Depressive Mood Disorders

    Ø  Major Depressive Disorder

    Ø  Persistent Depressive Disorder

    Ø  Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder

    Ø  Bi-Polar I Disorder

    Ø  Bi-Polar II Disorder

    Ø  Cyclothymic Disorder

     

    Personality Disorder

    Ø  Borderline Personality Disorder

    Ø  Antisocial Personality Disorder

     

    Eating Disorders

    Ø  Anorexia Nervosa

    Ø  Bulimia Nervosa

    Ø  Binge Eating Disorder

     

    Psychotic Disorders

    Ø  Brief Psychotic Disorder

    Ø  Schizophrenia

    Ø  Substance/Medication-Induced Psychotic Disorder

     

    Somatoform Disorders

    Ø  Somatic Symptom Disorder

    Ø  Illness Anxiety Disorder

    Ø  Conversion Disorder

    Ø  Factitious Disorder

    Ø  Dissociative Identify Disorder

    Bipolar 1 disorder Psychopathology Essay

     

     

    A completed paper will include the following:

     

    Section A:
      

     

    Item

    Expectation

    Value

    Description Of The Disorder

    Ø 
    Provide a clear description
    of the chosen disorder; what this disorder “looks like” (the typical or characteristic behaviours shown by an individual with this disorder)

     

    3 Marks

    Diagnostic Criteria

    Ø 
    Clearly outline the DSM-V criteria
    for diagnosis (what symptoms need to be present and how long do the symptoms need to be present for a diagnosis)

    Ø  how prevalent is this disorder

     

    3 Marks

    Etiology (How/Why The Disorder Develops)

    Ø 
    Identify and explain
    what makes a child/adolescent more susceptible to developing this disorder (risk factors/etiological theories)

     

    3 Marks

     

    Section B:

     

    Treatment approaches

    Ø 
    Identify and describe (3) treatment approaches
    that have been demonstrated to be effective in working with children/adolescents with this diagnosis

     

    3 Marks

    Treatment Plan

    Ø 
    Identify and describe

    (3) challenges
    that a youth experiencing this disorder might encounter (one at home, one at school and one in the community)
    AND
    how a youth is negatively impacted in each setting/domain

    Ø  Provide a treatment plan that a
    CYW/CYC
    would use to help the client function more successfully

     

    BRIEF EXAMPLE: (It is important to use an essay style format)

     

     

    Presenting Problem/Behaviour/Symptom/Challenge
    :

    Ø  Clearly indicate the presenting problem/behaviour/symptom/challenge (make sure it is specific and clear to one behaviour)

    §  What needs to be addressed

     

    Treatment Strategy/Intervention:

    Ø  Clearly identify the treatment strategies/interventions (research based)

    §  What specific approaches/steps will be taken to implement the strategies/interventions

     

    Reasoning For This Strategy/Intervention
    :

    Ø  Clearly indicate why this specific problem/behaviour/symptom/challenge is being targeted
    AND
    how this strategy/intervention will help to address that particular problem

     

    9  Marks

    Treatment Resources

    Ø  Research
    (3) different resources
    in the
    GTA
    that will provide services for someone who has been diagnosed with this disorder

    Bipolar 1 disorder Psychopathology Essay

    Ø  What specific services do they offer  
    AND
    explain why this would be a good resource

    Ø  Must provide an address or website link

     

    3 Marks

     

    Section C:

     

    Documentation and Mechanics

    Ø  Use of APA throughout the paper

    Ø  Proper citing and referencing of work

    Ø  Must provide a reference page (minimum of 3 appropriate sources)

    Ø  No spelling/grammatical error

    Ø  No errors with sentence structure and punctuation

    Ø  Paper flows well from one topic/idea/point to the next

    Ø  Meets min/max page requirements

     

    6

    Marks

     

    Grading Rubric:

     

    Item

    Expectation

    Mark

     

    Description Of The Disorder

    (3 Marks)

    Ø  Clear description of the disorder; typical or characteristic behaviours

    Ø  Impact on functioning

    Ø  Prevalence

     

    Diagnostic Criteria

    (3 Marks)

    Ø  Clearly outlines the DSM-V criteria for diagnosis

    Ø  Symptoms/duration/prevalence

     

    Etiology

    (3 Marks)

    Ø 
    Explains
    various risk factors/etiologies
                                                                      

     

    Treatment approaches

    (3 Marks)

    Ø 
    Describes
    treatment approaches and their effectiveness
                                           

     

    Treatment Plan

    (Challenges are described and negative impact explained)

    (9 Marks)

    Home

    Ø  Presenting problem identified

    Ø  Treatment strategy explained

    Ø  Rationale provided

    School

    Ø  Presenting problem identified

    Ø  Treatment strategy explained

    Ø  Rationale provided

    Community

    Ø  Presenting problem identified

    Ø  Treatment strategy explained

    Ø  Rationale provided

     

     

     

    Treatment Resources

    (3 Marks)

    Ø  Identify 3 resources, services offered and explanation of why they would be a good resource Bipolar 1 disorder Psychopathology Essay

    Ø  Website/address provided for each

     

    Documentation & Mechanics

    (6 Marks)

     

    Ø  Proper citing/referencing of work (using APA throughout the paper)

    Ø  Provided reference page(minimum of 3 appropriate sources)

    Ø  No errors with spelling/grammar/punctuation/

    sentence structure

    Ø  Paper flows well from one topic/ idea/point to the next

    Ø  Meets min/max page requirements

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Final mark

     

     

     

     

    F 

     

    D- to D+

     

    C- to C+ 

     

    B- to B+

     

    A to A+

     

    Academic Misconduct

     

    Evidence of unethical procedures

     

    Paper is incomplete

     

     

     

    Does not consistently meet section A, B, C criteria

     

    Paper is poorly organized and lacks focus

     

    Poor understanding of the topic chosen

     

    Paper requires considerable editing for grammar, spelling and sentence structure; paper does not flow and irrelevant to the topic; disjointedness is clear and evident throughout the paper

     

    Lack of appropriate resources used to support paper

     

    Minimal APA format

     

     

    Meets some of section A, B, C criteria

     

    Paper is somewhat organized and presented

     

    Some understanding of the topic chosen

     

    Paper requires editing for grammar, spelling and sentence structure that affects the flow of the paper; disjointedness is apparent

     

    Report has structure and outlines the scope of the topic

     

    Some resources used to support paper

     

    Some APA format followed

    Meets most of section A, B, C criteria

     

    Paper is organized  and well presented

     

    Good understanding of the topic chosen

     

    Minimal errors with spelling, grammar, punctuation and sentence structure that does not affect the flow of the paper; only some disjointedness

     

    Use of academic sources and credible internet resources

     

    Most APA format followed

     

    Meets all section A, B, C criteria

     

    Paper is very well-organized and concisely written

     

    Excellent understanding of the topic chosen

     

    No errors with spelling, grammar, punctuation and sentence structure; paper flows from one topic/idea/point to the next

     

    Source materials reflect and add depth to the review of the literature and includes or makes reference to seminal works

     

    Follows all APA format

     

     

     

    Tips:

    Give yourself enough time to complete the research component

    Create an outline highlighting points for each section

    Write your first draft as freely as possible using your outline

    When
    rough draft
    is completed, check for accuracy and completeness of facts.

    Ensure all points are covered.

    If you think certain sections are too long or too skimpy, rework them until you feel they’re the strongest you can make them.

    With the
    final draft
    revise paragraphs for unity and coherence.

    Reword sentences for effectiveness of structure, grammar and punctuation

    Use a dictionary/spell check on computer

    Read paper aloud to see how if flows and to correct any awkward sentences

    Don’t put opinionated statements like “I think…” or, “In my opinion…”. This reduces the credibility of the Bipolar 1 disorder Psychopathology Essay paper.

    Using relevant quotes can be helpful in a research paper but remember that no more than 10-15% of your finished paper should be quotations.

     

    Checklist before submission:

     

    Essay has been edited for spelling, grammar, punctuation and sentence structure

    Title page using APA style

    Reference page with 3 appropriate sources

    Section A and B included

    A completed
    Guard Against Plagiarism Checklist
    attached

    Stapled; no loose pages Bipolar 1 disorder Psychopathology Essay

  • Social Determinants of Health in Canada Essay

    Social Determinants of Health in Canada Essay

    The Social Determinants of Health

    The primary elements and factors that are responsible for shaping the health of individuals is highly dependent on the living conditions that surround them. The overall well-being of a person begins in their homes and areas of residence as well as in their immediate communities. The access to economic and social opportunities is what makes one health care system different from another. This explains why the environment in which one person lives can be deemed much healthier when contrasted with another. This brings into perspective the social determinants of health that evaluate the environment and conditions in which people live and interact with one another. This Social Determinants of Health in Canada Essay paper is an essay that explains the significance of the social determinants of health with regards to the inequalities that are present in the Canadian medical care system.

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    Task for the essay

    Define and explain the significance of the social determinants of health. How is this connected to an understanding of social and health inequalities in Canadian society?

    Body of the essay

    The systems and forces that are involved in shaping the quality of life of an individual revolve around the places of residence as well as their work stations. It is a well-known fact that good health begins in the homes, schools and neighborhoods because these are the areas where people spend most of their time (Quesnel, 2015). This is where social determinants of health gain utmost importance because they evaluate the different environments in which people live and relate them to the quality of their health and overall wellness. Moreover, these determinants look at where a person was born, where they live, what they eat, where they work and whom they interact with on a daily basis (Baugh and Smith, 2014) Social Determinants of Health in Canada Essay.

    These factors are then paralleled or compared with their health and conclusions are drawn on how each factor affects another one. Canada is one of the countries that understands very well the social determinants of health are the role they play in ensuring that people’s welfare is safeguarded (Carey and Crammond, 2015). This country has illustrated that it intends to apply this model in a large-scale manner so that it can reduce the inequalities that are present in its health care systems. The majority of Canadian citizens clearly understand that the health of a person is largely shaped by their income status and wealth distribution (Quesnel, 2015). This assertion is supported by the social determinants of health that take very diverse forms in all communities and societies.

    Figure 1: Diagram showing the various components that make up the social determinants of health (SDOH)

    An analysis into these determinants would show that the availability of resources that enable a person to meet their daily needs such as food, decent shelter and even clothing is highly responsible for knowing the outcome of one’s state of health. This is because people that are not able to afford good housing or even proper diets are easily prone to developing lifestyle diseases (Mitrou et al, 2014). Likewise, the ability of people to access a well-paying job or pursue higher education is another important social determinant of health.

    This aspect can be clearly seen when one compares and contrasts people that are earning good salaries and have disposable income vis-à-vis those that do not (Raphael, 2015). It becomes clear that people with higher salaries or remuneration packages are better placed to afford healthy meals, foods and even pay for the best medical insurance package. The opposite is true when it comes to those people that lack a source of income as they cannot be able to pay or afford all these services and provisions (Buer et al, 2015).

    This Social Determinants of Health in Canada Essay example is present in the Canadian society where people that belong to the upper or middle income classes are the ones that have the best meals, decent housing and even access to the local markets. On the contrary, the Canadian citizens that do not have enough money cannot be able to afford the same. This explains why they live in dilapidated conditions while most of their meals are not balanced diets (Quesnel, 2015).

    This introduces the aspect of inequality in health care as illustrated in towns such as Winnepeg in Canada. The social determinants of health in Canada total up to fourteen elements that are the government tries to streamline them through different policy programs. These determinants are divided into cultural, environmental, structural and situational categories so that each of them is clearly and deeply understood (Quesnel, 2015). From these categories, it is clear that poverty is one of the setbacks that limits a person’s access to food or even the ability to live in a safe neighborhood. This is why the Canadian government places a lot of emphasis in promoting the quality of life by addressing the social determinants of health through focusing on the key priority
    areas.

    In conclusion, the ability of any human being to maintain a high state of health is largely determined by their immediate social environment Social Determinants of Health in Canada Essay. The conditions that define where a person lives, works or even interacts in collectively contribute to defining the social determinants of health. The latter is also made up the income status of a person, their race, state of housing and working conditions. These determinants are present in the Canadian society and they have been shown to be responsible for the inequalities in health care access and affordability. It should be the obligation of every government to ensure that they address the social determinants of health and try to streamline them such that every person can have decent medical attention.

    References

    Baugh Littlejohns, L., & Smith, N. (2014). Building bridges between health promotion and social sustainability: an analysis of municipal policies in Western Canada. Local Environment, 19(4), 449-468. doi:10.1080/13549839.2013.812625

    Buer, G. R., Scheim, A. I., Pyne, J., Travers, R., & Hammond, R. (2015). Intervenable factors associated with suicide risk in transgender persons: a respondent driven sampling study in Ontario, Canada. BMC Public Health, 15(1), 1-15. doi:10.1186/s12889-015-1867-2

    Carey, G., & Crammond, B. (2015). Systems change for the social determinants of health. BMC Public Health, 15(1), 1-10. Doi: 10.1186/s12889-015-1979-8

    Mitrou, F., Cooke, M., Lawrence, D., Povah, D., Mobilia, E., Guimond, E., & Zubrick, S. R. (2014). Gaps in Indigenous disadvantage not closing: a census cohort study of social determinants of health in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand from 1981–2006.BMC Public Health, 14(1), 1-17. doi:10.1186/1471-2458-14-201

    Quesnel-Vallée, A. (2015). Policies and Health Inequalities: State of the Field and Future Directions. Canadian Public Policy,41S1-S9. doi:10.3138/cpp.41.s2.s1

    Raphael, D. (2015). The Political Economy of Health: A Research Agenda for Addressing Health Inequalities in Canada.Canadian Public Policy, 41S17-S25. doi:10.3138/cpp.2014-084 Social Determinants of Health in Canada Essay

  • Cystic Fibrosis Essay

    Cystic Fibrosis Essay

    Week 1 Discussion

     

    Cystic Fibrosis: Alterations in Cellular Processes, Symptoms, and Impacts

    Diseases occur due to many reasons. These diseases are caused by altering cell structural form, environment, and function. Studying cell structural form and function disruption by factors such as genetic defects can help us understand disease processes (McCance & Huether, 2019). This paper examines children’s cystic fibrosis (CF) disorder, how it manifests, affects cells, and physiological responses Cystic Fibrosis Essay.

    Role of Genetics in Cystic Fibrosis

    CF is a genetically transmitted disorder that severely damages the digestive system and the lung and may also spread to other body organs. The gene is recessive, and children inherit a copy of the gene from each parent to have the disease (Butnariu et al., 2021). A cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene mutates and interferes with a protein that regulates salts moving in and out of the cells (Rossi, 2019). The affected cells produce excess thick and sticky mucus in children’s digestive and respiratory systems and also increase salt levels in sweat.

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    Cause and Symptoms of Cystic Fibrosis

    CF disorder causes the production of thick and sticky mucus in the lung’s airways. As children are born with smaller diameter airways than adults, they suffer more obstruction of excess mucus. This obstruction makes the child have persistent coughs, wheezing, and inflamed nasal airways, resulting in congestion in babies. In the digestive system, affected mucosal cells produce thick mucus that blocks the release of digestive enzymes in the small intestine causing poor weight gain, swelling of the bellies, intestinal blockage, and constipation (Rossi, 2019). In addition, CF also affects sweat glands leading to a higher level of salts in the sweat. In this case, the parent would taste salt while kissing the child suffering from CF disease.

    Cells Involved and Physiological Response to Stimuli

    CF disease affects mucus-producing cells of the lungs, digestive systems, and sweat gland cells. The CFTR gene alters the protein that regulates water and solute in these organs. As a result, these cells respond to these alterations caused by the CF disease. The affected protein traps chloride in solute in cells, hindering water hydration on cellular surfaces and resulting in the formation of a mucosal lining on cell surfaces (Rossi, 2019).

    In summary, aging also causes alteration of cellular structure and function. Older adults can also get CF disease as their aged cells have a reduced capacity to recover if exposed (McCance & Huether, 2019). CF disease has a genetic risk factor as it runs in families. If any partner has a history of risk factors, genetic testing can be done before having children to prevent the spread of the disease.

    References

    Butnariu, L. I., Țarcă, E., Cojocaru, E., Rusu, C., Moisă, Ș. M., Leon Constantin, M., Gorduza, E. V., & Trandafir, L. M. (2021). Genetic modifying factors of cystic fibrosis phenotype: A challenge for modern medicine. 
    Journal of Clinical Medicine
    , 
    10
    (24), 5821. 
    https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10245821

    McCance, K. L. & Huether, S. E. (2019). 
    Pathophysiology: The biologic basis for disease in adults and children
     (8th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Mosby/Elsevier.

    Rossi, G. A., Morelli, P., Galietta, L. J., & Colin, A. A. (2019). Airway microenvironment alterations and pathogen growth in cystic fibrosis. 
    Pediatric Pulmonology
    , 
    54
    (4), 497-506.
     
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30620146/

     

    RE: Week 1 Discussion

     

    Thank you for contributing to our discussion on CF. In your readings, did you find any information on prenatal genetic screening and CF? What might you tell a pregnant patient about CF? Thank you!

    REPLY
     
    QUOTE
     
    EMAIL AUTHOR

     

     

    RE: Week 1 Discussion

     

    Hi 

    Thank you for your insightful response to cystic fibrosis. With attention to the cause of the disease and symptoms, I strongly agree with your assessment. It’s notable from your explanation that the cause of poor health, poor weight gain, and belly swelling was caused by interference of pancreatic enzymes by a thick mucus layer. Without digestive enzymes, the intestine will not be able to absorb nutrients from the food the baby eats despite having a good appetite (VanDevanter et al., 2016). With this in mind, cystic fibrosis can turn severe, and it’s important to consult a physician knowledgeable about CF.

    In your explanation, I note that CF disease affects sweat glands, resulting in salt in sweat. I agree that parents should kiss or taste their babies’ sweat as a diagnostic method for CF disease home remedies.

    It is correct that thick and sticky mucus clogs a baby’s lungs, causing chest congestion. Hence the physiological responses were seen in the baby (Ranganathan et al., 2017). In my opinion, I would advise the mother to consult the physician before having another child to avoid the recurrence of the disease in the same family.

    Reference

    VanDevanter, D. R., Kahle, J. S., O’Sullivan, A. K., Sikirica, S., & Hodgkins, P. S. (2016). Cystic fibrosis in young children: a review of disease manifestation, progression, and response to early treatment. 
    Journal of Cystic Fibrosis
    , 
    15
    (2), 147-157.

    Ranganathan, S. C., Hall, G. L., Sly, P. D., Stick, S. M., & Douglas, T. A. (2017). Early lung disease in infants and preschool children with cystic fibrosis. What have we learned, and what should we do about it? 
    American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine
    , 
    195
    (12), 1567-1575.

     

    RE: Week 1 Discussion

     

    Hello 

              Thank you for your response to this class discussion on cystic fibrosis. I agree with your point that CF is a  disease cause by altering cell structural form, environment, and function. Cystic fibrosis is an inherited gene, which means
    it can 
    be passed on to future generations. The term for this gene is autosomal recessive. The Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) gene is affected by cystic fibrosis. The CFTR gene is located on chromosome 7
    and 
    comprises 27 exons that code for proteins (Deignan et al., 2020). The genotype of CFTR is expressed in epithelial cells and can result in a variety of symptoms that affect the progression of the illness (McCance & Huether, 2021).

    CF is 
    distinct for every sufferer. Like you noted too CF disease affects sweat glands, resulting in salt in sweat hence the salty taste from the child in the scenerio. 

                                                                                                                               References

    Deignan, J.L., Astbury, C., Cutting, G.R. et al. CFTR variant testing: a technical standard of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics 
    (ACMG). Genet Med 22, 1288–1295 (2020). 
    https://doi.org/10.1038/s41436-020-               0822-5

    McCance, K. L. & Huether, S. E. (2019). Pathophysiology: The biologic basis for disease in adults and children (8th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Mosby/Elsevier.

    REPLY
     
    QUOTE
     
    EMAIL AUTHOR

     

    2 months ago

    Basil Uke 

    RE: Week 1 Discussion

    COLLAPSE

    Hello Jemaeden,

                    Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this week’s discussion. Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder resulting in several ways when genes are incorrectly expressed. The disease can result from gene deletion, gene repetition, when the gene is incorrectly read, and when the gene is completely missing, among other causes. Again, genetics plays a crucial role in the expression of cystic fibrosis. The causative gene of cystic fibrosis is the CFTR gene which is recessive, and it causes an interference in the protein that is responsible for regulating salt and water balance in the body. According to Moran, Pillay, and Becker et al., (2018), the transmembrane gene, is the gene known to change a particular protein in epithelial cells that regulates the movement of salt in and out of the cell.

                    I agree with you that children may suffer more obstructions of mucus as compared to adults. Meaning cystic fibrosis may be more severe in children than adults due to the immune response and the organ size. Children may also display more severe symptoms than adults as their organs are still weak to control the severity of the infection; hence they are limited to doing several activities. According to Kidd, Canton, and Ekkelenkamp et al., (2018), patients with cystic fibrosis are characterized by an abnormal ventilation response that limits them from extraneous activities. The cells involved in response to stimuli are quite a number, while cystic fibrosis majorly affects the cells that produce mucus in different organs, including the lungs and pancreas. Your ideology that age is a factor that can cause cystic fibrosis is enlightening. I have learned that aging can also pose a danger to cystic fibrosis as it may cause the alteration of cellular structure.

    References

    Kidd, T. J., Canton, R., Ekkelenkamp, M., Johansen, H. K., Gilligan, P., LiPuma, J. J., … & Antimicrobial Resistance in Cystic Fibrosis International Working Group. (2018). Defining antimicrobial resistance in cystic fibrosis. 
    Journal of Cystic Fibrosis
    , 
    17
    (6), 696-704.

    Moran, A., Pillay, K., Becker, D., Granados, A., Hameed, S., & Acerini, C. L. (2018). ISPAD Clinical Practice Consensus Guidelines 2018: Management of cystic fibrosis-related diabetes in children and adolescents. 
    Pediatric diabetes
    , 
    19
    , 64-74.

     

     

    REPLY
     
    QUOTE
     
    EMAIL AUTHOR

     

    2 months ago

    Lois Wood 

    RE: Week 1 response 1

    COLLAPSE

    Jemaeden, 
     

    Thank you for your post. While I agree that the CF manifestations in the respiratory system and GI tract are essential, and mortality is most often related to respiratory issues, I believe that the other systems involved should be considered. 
     

    CF can lead to elevated concentrations of sodium and chloride in sweat glands manifesting as hyponatremia and hypochloremia, potentially leading to heat prostration and shock (McCance, 2019). In the pancreas, CF can result in enzyme deficiency causing inspissation and precipitation of pancreatic secretions leading to obstruction of pancreatic ducts, malabsorption of food, fatty, bulky stools, and decreased vitamins absorption; complications include hypoproteinemia, iron deficiency anemia, malnutrition, recurrent pancreatitis, pancreatic cysts, growth failure, vitamin deficiency, rectal prolapse, decreased bone density and risk of fractures (McCance, 2019). Pancreatic damage can also lead to insulin deficiency and glucose intolerance, possibly leading to diabetes (McCance, 2019). In males, CF can cause delayed puberty and sterility, while in females, it can cause delayed puberty, decreased fertility, and polypoid cervicitis while taking oral contraceptives (McCance, 2019) Cystic Fibrosis Essay.
     

    References
     

    McCance, S. (2019). 
    Pathophysiology (8th Edition)
    . Elsevier Health Sciences (US). 
    https://mbsdirect.vitalsource.com/books/9780323583473
     

    REPLY
     
    QUOTE
     
    EMAIL AUTHOR

     

    2 months ago

    Lauren Russell 

    RE: Week 1 Discussion

    COLLAPSE

    Discussion Response Reply

    Jemaeden,

    Thank you for your insight regarding cystic fibrosis.  Cystic fibrosis is a very interesting disease that affected my sister-in-law later in life.  Neither parent knew they were a carrier until she was diagnosed in her late teens.  My friend also has a daughter with CF.  Her condition continues to deteriorate and her frequently posts when she is hospitalized due to her condition.

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    Cystic fibrosis is a very rare condition, which approximately 30,000 people in the US and 80,000 people around the world (Brown et al., 2017).  The life expectancy for this population is relatively low.  In Germany, the lifespan of someone with CF is approximately 40 years old (Naehrig et al., 2017).  Due to chronic endobronchial bacterial infections, exacerbations, and pulmonary structural changes, chronic lung disease is one of the most common causes of death.  Thank you again for sharing about cystic fibrosis.  You provided a lot of great information in your post. 

    References

    Brown, S., White, R., Tobin, P. (2017).  
    Keep them breathing: Cystic fibrosis pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment. JAAPA: Vol 35 (5) p 23-27 doi: 10.1097/01.JAA.0000515540.36581.92
     

    Naehrig, S., Chao, C. M., & Naehrlich, L. (2017). Cystic Fibrosis. 
    Deutsches Arzteblatt international
    , 
    114
    (33-34), 564–574. https://doi.org/10.3238/arztebl.2017.0564

    REPLY
     
    QUOTE
     
    EMAIL AUTHOR

     

    2 months ago

    Sheena Murray 

    RE: Week 1 Discussion

    COLLAPSE

    Jemaeden,

    I found it fascinating throughout my studies to hear that older adults could develop cystic fibrosis (CF). I admittedly only had a minimal understanding of cystic fibrosis (CF), characterized by salty kisses and thick mucus requiring the jiggle vest and other respiratory treatments, prior to this case study. Still, I had always thought it was an illness that only affected children. A diagnosis over 40 is still uncommon, but there is still a chance of receiving one at or beyond 60 years of age. Currently, survival times can surpass 40 years, particularly in the case of patients from pediatric units. Since there hasn’t been much research on CF in individuals over 60, understanding the clinical characteristics of patients identified at older ages may be crucial. The importance of CF diagnosis rests in providing an accurate prognosis, effective treatment, and genetic counseling for affected families (Prados et al., 2017). While CF is typically diagnosed when a person is young, it is no longer just a pediatric condition. While the number of children with CF has remained steady over the past ten years, the number of adults with CF is still rising (Santos et al., 2017).

    A comparison by (Santos et al., 2017) showed that patients with early diagnosis typically have a combination of gastrointestinal and pulmonary symptoms. In contrast, patients with late diagnosis typically have recurrent pulmonary infections as the primary diagnosis cause and have fewer gastrointestinal symptoms. They discovered that patients who present as adults seem to differ from those who give as children. According to research, adults diagnosed as adults typically present in a variety of atypical ways, are more likely to have milder disease, have a better long-term prognosis, have better lung function, have higher rates of pancreatic sufficiency, experience fewer complications, and have a longer life expectancy than adults diagnosed as adults as children (Santos et al., 2017). It is essential for doctors and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) to be aware of the symptoms that may be presenting later in life so we do not miss an essential diagnosis that requires immediate attention and treatment. 

     

    References

    Santos, V., Cardoso, A. V., Lopes, C., Azevedo, P., Gamboa, F., & Amorim, A. (2017). Cystic fibrosis – comparison between patients in pediatric and adult age. 
    Revista Portuguesa De Pneumologia (English Edition)
    , 
    23
    (1), 17–21. 
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rppnen.2016.07.002

    Prados, C., Lerín, M., Cabanillas, J. J., Gómez-Carrera, L., Álvarez-Sala, R., Martinez, M. T., Máiz, L., Girón, R. M., Solé, A., Martínez, M., & Quirós, S. (2017). How are the ancient cystic fibrosis patients? cystic fibrosis diagnosed over 60 years-old. 
    Respiratory Medicine Case Reports
    , 
    21
    , 49–51. 
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rmcr.2017.03.015

     

     

    Discussion: Alterations in Cellular Processes

    Photo Credit: Getty Images

    At its core, pathology is the study of disease. Diseases occur for many reasons. But some, such as cystic fibrosis and Parkinson’s Disease, occur because of alterations that prevent cells from functioning normally.

    Understanding of signals and symptoms of alterations in cellular processes is a critical step in diagnosis and treatment of many diseases. For the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), this understanding can also help educate patients and guide them through their treatment plans.

    For this Discussion, you examine a case study and explain the disease that is suggested. You examine the symptoms reported and explain the cells that are involved and potential alterations and impacts.

    To prepare:

    By Day 1 of this week, you will be assigned to a specific scenario for this Discussion. Please see the “Course Announcements” section of the classroom for your assignment from your Instructor.

    By Day 3 of Week 1

    Post an explanation of the disease highlighted in the scenario you were provided. Include the following in your explanation:

    The role genetics plays in the disease.

    Why the patient is presenting with the specific symptoms described.

    The physiologic response to the stimulus presented in the scenario and why you think this response occurred.

    The cells that are involved in this process.

    How another characteristic (e.g., gender, genetics) would change your response.

    Read
    a selection of your colleagues’ responses Cystic Fibrosis Essay.

    By Day 6 of Week 1

    Respond
     to 
    at least two
     of your colleagues on 
    2 different days 
    and respectfully agree or disagree with your colleague’s assessment and explain your reasoning. In your explanation, include why their explanations make physiological sense or why they do not Cystic Fibrosis Essay

  • Analysis of a Pertinent Healthcare Issue Assignment Essay

    Analysis of a Pertinent Healthcare Issue Assignment Essay

    Nurse Turnover as a National Healthcare Issue and its Impact on Healthcare

    Nurse shortage in America is caused by a number of factors and nurse turnover is among the main ones. Nurse turnover occurs when a nurse chooses to exit an organization or the profession. Some of the common reasons for exit include feeling underappreciated, heavy workload, and poor pay. According to Solutions (2021), 18% of new nurses will leave their jobs or even change professions within the first year of attaining qualification and an additional 33.3% will leave within two years. The nursing turnover rate stands at 19.1%, nationally and is expected to increase Solutions (2021) Analysis of a Pertinent Healthcare Issue Assignment Essay.

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    Nurse turnover negatively affect a healthcare institution’s quality of care as well as its financial well-being. There are direct costs incurred in replacing a departed nurse and there is a direct relationship between nurse turnover and quality of patient care. Continuous nurse turnover affects teamwork, trust, and effective communication among the remaining nurses. This has an impact on the quality of the services offered by nurses (Shaffer & Curtin, 2020)

    In the hospital where I work, a 12-hour shift is utilized and length has been cited as one of the main causes of nurse turnover. Other reasons are burnout, personal obligations, peer-to-peer relationships, and dissatisfaction with supervision. Turnover causes nurse shortages and disturbs hospital services, staffing matrix, managerial processes, and strains hospital revenues by increasing costs. The main resulting costs include recruitment costs and those incurred in training new recruits. Quality of service is also affected because new nurses often lack skills that meet the expected standards and the existence of communication challenges between the remaining and new nurses. Additionally, nurse turnover cause staffing issues like loss of experienced and trained nurses as well as bringing an imbalance between new and remaining nurses. The overall impact is difficulty in arranging work and setting shifts and introduction of mandatory over-time for remaining nurses. This can eventually lower the morale of the nurses and trickle down to affect quality of care.

    Summary of Studies on Nurse Turnover

               
    The fist selected article is one by Smith (2018) in which various reasons for nurses leaving their current positions were highlighted. These include relocation of family, personal commitments, promotion and emergency of greener pastures, poor salary, retirement, and burnout. They also indicated that they leave because they are dissatisfied with their jobs, being disrespected, staffing and working under unfavorable shifts, poor workplace relationships, and desire to pursue further studies. The article further reveals that the cost of nurse turnover has a huge impact on a hospital’s profit margin and affects the morale of the remaining nurses, leading to poor quality of care. It is recommended in the article that turnover should be managed by mindfully creating a workplace culture that supports nurses in all aspects including financially, morally and psychologically. Organizations should strive to create good working condition to lower turnover. Analysis of a Pertinent Healthcare Issue Assignment Essay They should also come with shift plans after consultations with nurses. According to Lockhart, (2020), employers have made efforts to avoid rigid staffing schedules and instead foster flexible plans with acceptable shifts and proper nurse to patient ratios

    Another article by Min et al., (2021), done across 20 states in the United States singled out mandatory overtime as the most common cause of nurse turnover. Mandatory overtime, although banned by hospitals that have achieved American Nurses Credentialing Center Magnet recognition, has still been engaged as a solution to nurse shortage. Hospitals resort to this practice with an intension of reducing recruitment costs and managing the general wage bill. However, the study shows that mandatory overtime one of the worst ways of addressing staff shortages. The practice was found to increase turnover by encourage existing nursing staff to think about leaving, discouraging new nurses from accepting employment, and leading to higher treatment error rates. The extended effect is longer patient stays and lower productivity by the remaining staff.

    Strategies used to Address the Healthcare Issue

               
    Various strategies have been put in place to address nurse turnover and these include improving orientation and role transitions, which have a huge effect on staff satisfaction. Employers are embracing new recruit transition programs that have proven effective in reducing burnout and enhancing staff retention (Lockhart, 2020). There has also been mentorship programs aimed at increasing overall job satisfaction and eventually reducing nurse turnover.

    Another strategy is improving the environment at the workplace. This can enhance staff satisfaction, reduce burnout, and eventually lower the turnover rate. For example, some organizations have eliminated weekly and incremental overtime as well as abolishing mandatory overtime (Min et al., 2021). There has also been shared hospital governance programs where nurses are involved in the scheduling of shifts, designing workflows as well as formulation and review of hospital policies. Acuity-based staffing tools have also been adopted to achieve adequate nurse staffing levels and foster practices that underpin nurse and patient safety. Additionally, efforts have been made to ensure the work environment guarantees a healthy work-life balance and that is free of vices like bullying and mistreatment. Overall, healthcare organizations are striving to have a mutual collaboration with nurses and this has reduced the turnover rate.

     

    References

    Lockhart, L. (2020). Strategies to reduce nursing turnover.
    Nursing Made Incredibly Easy
    , 18(2), 56.

    Min, A., Kim, Y. M., Yoon, Y. S., Hong, H. C., Kang, M., & Scott, L. D. (2021). Effects of work environments and occupational fatigue on care left undone in rotating shift nurses.
    Journal of Nursing Scholarship
    , 53(1), 126-136.

    Shaffer, F. A., & Curtin, L. (2020). Nurse turnover: Understand it, reduce it.
    Am Nurse
    , 15(8), 57-9.

    Smith, J. G. (2018). The nurse work environment: Current and future challenges.
    Journal of Applied Biobehavioral Research
    , 23(1), e12126.

    Solutions, N. N. (2021). National Health Care Retention & RN. Staffing Report.
    NSI Nursing Solutions
    , Inc. Mars Analysis of a Pertinent Healthcare Issue Assignment Essay.

    Analysis of a Pertinent Healthcare Issue

    Develop a 2 to 3 page paper, written to your organization’s leadership team, addressing your selected national healthcare issue/stressor and how it is impacting your work setting. Be sure to address the following:

    Describe the national healthcare issue/stressor you selected and its impact on your organization. Use organizational data to quantify the impact (if necessary, seek assistance from leadership or appropriate stakeholders in your organization) Analysis of a Pertinent Healthcare Issue Assignment Essay.

    Provide a brief summary of the two articles you reviewed from outside resources on the national healthcare issue/stressor. Explain how the healthcare issue/stressor is being addressed in other organizations.

    Summarize the strategies used to address the organizational impact of national healthcare issues/stressors presented in the scholarly resources you selected. Explain how they may impact your organization both positively and negatively. Be specific and provide examples.

    Looking Ahead

    The paper you develop in Module 1 will be revisited and revised in Module 2. Review the Assignment instructions for Module 2 to prepare for your revised Analysis of a Pertinent Healthcare Issue Assignment Essay paper.

  • Advanced Levels of Clinical Inquiry and Systematic Reviews EBP Part 2

    Advanced Levels of Clinical Inquiry and Systematic Reviews EBP Part 2

    Matrix Worksheet Template

     
    Clinical issues impact on the quality of care, health providers’ well-being, patients’ safety, and delivery of services. Workplace incivility is a behavior characterized by disrespect and discourteous actions among employee. The behavior is typical in nursing practice and often affects the employees’ confidence, interprofessional collaboration, team work, and productivity if it is not effectively controlled. It also affects an employees’ psychological wellbeing because it leads to high levels of anxiety which fuels burnout and high job turnover. Effective control of nursing incivility is necessary in enhancing and promoting quality care and patient safety Advanced Levels of Clinical Inquiry and Systematic Reviews EBP Part 2. The following matrix worksheet template presents four research articles that addresses the issue of nursing incivility at work.

    BUY A PLAGIARIM-FREE PAPER HERE

     

    Full
    citation
    of the selected article

    Article #1

    Article #2

    Article #3

    Article #4

    Kile, D., Eaton, M., deValpine, M., & Gilbert, R. (2019). The effectiveness of education and cognitive rehearsal in managing nurse‐to‐nurse incivility: A pilot study. Journal of Nursing Management, 27(3), 543-552. https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.12709

    Abdollahzadeh, F., Asghari, E., Ebrahimi, H., Rahmani, A., & Vahidi, M. (2017). How to prevent workplace incivility?: Nurses’ perspective. 
    Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research
    , 
    22
    (2), 157-163. https://doi.org/10.4103/1735-9066.205966 Advanced Levels of Clinical Inquiry and Systematic Reviews EBP Part 2

     

    Armstrong, N. (2018). Management of nursing workplace incivility in the health care settings: A systematic review. 
    Workplace Health & Safety
    , 
    66
    (8), 403-410. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F2165079918771106

     

    Razzi, C. C., & Bianchi, A. L. (2019). Incivility in nursing: Implementing a quality improvement program utilizing cognitive rehearsal training. In Nursing forum (Vol. 54, No. 4, pp. 526-536).
    https://doi

    10.1111/nuf.12366

     

    Why
    you chose this article and/or
    how it relates
    to the clinical issue of interest (include a brief
    explanation of the ethics
    of research related to your clinical issue of interest)

    The article has been chosen because it is comprehensively addresses the importance of enhanced awareness and use of educational programs to reduce nurse-nurse incivility. The article explains in details how cognitive rehearsal techniques can be utilized to help nurses manage and cope with effects of incivility. The article supports the role of cognitive rehearsal in helping employees to cope with problems at work as it prepares them mentally to cope with stress.

    The research article observed research ethics by allowing voluntary participation and treating the information provided anonymously and with confidentiality.

    The article has been selected because it explains in detail the detrimental effects of workplace incivility to healthcare workers’ health and patient care. Given the psychological effects of incivility, the article delves in ways of managing it from a nurse’s perspective.

     

    The research ethics were observed by allowing willing and voluntary participation and withdrawal without getting penalized in anyway. Informed consent was sought as well as treatment of collected data with confidentiality. The aims of the research were explained in details to the participants and the Research Council and Ethics Committee affiliated to the Tabriz University of Medical Sciences approved the proposal Advanced Levels of Clinical Inquiry and Systematic Reviews EBP Part 2.

     

    The article was chosen as it addresses the issue of workplace incivility and proposes evidence-based strategies of managing it. The researcher opines that incivility has negative effects on the emotional well-being of nurses to an extent of risking patient care and safety by increasing the occurrence of medical administration errors.

     

    The research observed ethics by summarizing ten qualitative research articles from different databases to avoid research bias.

     

     

    The article was chosen as it addresses the issue of incivility in nursing by implementing a quality improvement program. The study suggested use of cognitive rehearsal training in order to improve health at workplace, enhance job satisfaction, and organizational commitment.

     

    The research observed ethics by seeking informed consent from the participants, explaining the research aims in details, maintaining confidentiality and anonymity in data collection, and allowing voluntary participation by the participants.

    Brief
    description of the aims
    of the research of each peer-reviewed article

    The aim of the research article was to create awareness among the nurses by helping them recognize incivility. In addition, the research aimed to reduce the impact of civility by using cognitive rehearsal techniques to address it.

    The aim of the article was to determine how workplace incivility can be prevented in healthcare settings from perspective of nurses.

     

     

    The aim of the research was to effectively control workplace incivility by proposing practical interventions that can be applied help nurses manage the problem.

     

    The aim of this research was to educate nurses on how to identify workplace incivility and equip them with ways of dealing and addressing incivility.

     

    Brief description of the
    research methodology
    used Be sure to identify if the methodology used was
    qualitative
    ,
    quantitative
    , or a
    mixed-methods
    approach. Be specific.

    The research utilized mixed method research approach which incorporate both qualitative and quantitative methods. Data was collected before nurses received cognitive rehearsal training and after. The data was collected via surveys and a comparative analysis done.

    The researcher utilized qualitative methods based on conventional content analysis. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews while the sample was obtained using purposive sampling.

     

    The study utilized quantitative research methods to conduct a systematic review of current and relevant evidence on workplace incivility using ten studies.

     

    The research utilized quantitative research method. Data was collected using nursing incivility scale (NIS). The instrument was used to evaluate the effectiveness of cognitive rehearsal educational module.  The participants completed the NIS before, immediately after, and 1 month after the program.

     

    A brief description of the
    strengths
    of each of the research methodologies used, including
    reliability
    and
    validity
    of how the methodology was applied in each of the peer-reviewed articles you selected.

    The major strength of mixed methods research approach is that it enhances understanding of qualitative and quantitative results’ contradictions and avoiding the limitations of a single approach. Also, it allows a shorter data collection time when compared to sequential methods.

     

    The methods used in gathering data and information in mixed methods research approach supplement each other which strengthens data validity and reliability.

    The use of qualitative research method allowed the researcher to examine the issue of workplace incivility in depth. Use of semi-structured interviews allows the researcher to ask questions, seek clarification, as well as redirect questions as the situation obliges.

    Reliability and validity was applied as the interviews allowed one-on-one correspondence while the interview questions were structured in a manner that all the participants were subject to same questions despite being in different locations.

    The key strength of systematic review of studies is that it provides quick answers on clinical issues as derived from previous studies as information is readily available. Systematic reviews are highly reliable and valid since the research evidence used is carefully synthesized to answer specific clinical questions.

     

    The use quantitative methods allowed the researcher to interpret data in an easier manner since the variables are already defined. The method also allow the researcher to maintain objectivity and accuracy in the process of data collection hence making results more reliable and valid.

     

     

    General Notes/Comments

    The article how an educational intervention (cognitive rehearsal) can be used promote a positive and civil workplace and ensure patient receive effective/safe care.

     

     

     

     

     The article is very useful as it expands knowledge on workplace incivility prevention. It explains how improving communication and supporting nurses can help in reducing workplace incivility

    The article is informative and provides information on implications of workplace incivility in healthcare settings as well as proposes necessary interventions in addressing incivility such as educational training on incivility to create awareness and equipping nurses’ communication skills.

    The article is informative as it adds to the body by explaining how incivility programs can equip nurses with skills to identify and manage incivility by reacting in a proactive, professional manner thereby promoting a healthy work environment.

     

     

     

    Conclusion

     

    The research articles reviewed in the worksheet address the issue of workplace incivility among nurses, its psychological effects and interventions such as cognitive rehearsal techniques, resilience training, and creating of awareness. The articles can be further reviewed to get the best evidence to be used as evidence-based practice for reducing incivility Advanced Levels of Clinical Inquiry and Systematic Reviews EBP Part 2.

     

    References

    Abdollahzadeh, F., Asghari, E., Ebrahimi, H., Rahmani, A., & Vahidi, M. (2017). How to prevent workplace incivility?: Nurses’ perspective. 
    Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research
    , 
    22
    (2), 157-163. 
    https://doi.org/10.4103/1735-9066.205966

    Armstrong, N. (2018). Management of nursing workplace incivility in the health care settings: A systematic review. 
    Workplace Health & Safety
    , 
    66
    (8), 403-410. 
    https://doi.org/10.1177%2F2165079918771106

    Kile, D., Eaton, M., deValpine, M., & Gilbert, R. (2019). The effectiveness of education and cognitive rehearsal in managing nurse‐to‐nurse incivility: A pilot study. 
    Journal of Nursing Management
    , 
    27
    (3), 543-552. 
    https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.12709

    Melnyk, B. M., & Fineout-Overholt, E. (2018). Evidence-based practice in nursing & healthcare: A guide to best practice (4th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer.

    Razzi, C. C., & Bianchi, A. L. (2019, October). Incivility in nursing: Implementing a quality improvement program utilizing cognitive rehearsal training. In 
    Nursing forum
     (Vol. 54, No. 4, pp. 526-536).
    https://doi

    10.1111/nuf.12366

    Walden University Library. (2022).
    Quick Answers: What are filtered and unfiltered resources in nursing?
    https://academicanswers.waldenu.edu/faq/73299

    BUY A PLAGIARIM-FREE PAPER HERE

    Evidence_Based Project_Advanced Levels of Clinical Inquiry and Systematic Reviews ppt

     

    Assignment: Evidence-Based Project, Part 2: Advanced Levels of Clinical Inquiry and Systematic Reviews

    Your quest to purchase a new car begins with an identification of the factors important to you. As you conduct a search of cars that rate high on those factors, you collect evidence and try to understand the extent of that evidence. A report that suggests a certain make and model of automobile has high mileage is encouraging. But who produced that report? How valid is it? How was the data collected, and what was the sample size?

    In this Assignment, you will delve deeper into clinical inquiry by closely examining your PICO(T) question. You also begin to analyze the evidence you have collected.

    To Prepare:

    Review the Resources and identify a clinical issue of interest that can form the basis of a clinical inquiry.

    Advanced Levels of Clinical Inquiry and Systematic Reviews EBP Part 2

    Develop a PICO(T) question to address the clinical issue of interest you identified in Module 2 for the Assignment. This PICOT question will remain the same for the entire course.

    Use the key words from the PICO(T) question you developed and search at least four different databases in the Walden Library. Identify at least four relevant systematic reviews or other filtered high-level evidence, which includes meta-analyses, critically-appraised topics (evidence syntheses), critically-appraised individual articles (article synopses). The evidence will not necessarily address all the elements of your PICO(T) question, so select the most important concepts to search and find the best evidence available.

    Reflect on the process of creating a PICO(T) question and searching for peer-reviewed research.

    The Assignment
     (Evidence-Based Project)

    Part 2: Advanced Levels of Clinical Inquiry and Systematic Reviews

    Create a 6- to 7-slide PowerPoint presentation in which you do the following:

    Identify and briefly describe your chosen clinical issue of interest.

    Describe how you developed a PICO(T) question focused on your chosen clinical issue of interest.

    Identify the four research databases that you used to conduct your search for the peer-reviewed articles you selected.

    Provide APA citations of the four relevant peer-reviewed articles at the systematic-reviews level related to your research question. If there are no systematic review level articles or meta-analysis on your topic, then use the highest level of evidence peer reviewed article.

    Describe the levels of evidence in each of the four peer-reviewed articles you selected, including an explanation of the strengths of using systematic reviews for clinical research. Be specific and provide examples

  • Evidence-Based Project, Part 1: Identifying Research Methodologies Assignment Example

    Evidence-Based Project, Part 1: Identifying Research Methodologies Assignment Example

    Matrix Worksheet Template

     
    Clinical issues impact on the quality of care, health providers’ well-being, patients’ safety, and delivery of services. Workplace incivility is a behavior characterized by disrespect and discourteous actions among employee. The behavior is typical in nursing practice and often affects the employees’ confidence, interprofessional collaboration, team work, and productivity if it is not effectively controlled. It also affects an employees’ psychological wellbeing because it leads to high levels of anxiety which fuels burnout and high job turnover. Effective control of nursing incivility is necessary in enhancing and promoting quality care and patient safety Evidence-Based Project, Part 1: Identifying Research Methodologies Assignment Example . The following matrix worksheet template presents four research articles that addresses the issue of nursing incivility at work.

    BUY A PLAGIARIM-FREE PAPER HERE

     

    Full
    citation
    of the selected article

    Article #1

    Article #2

    Article #3

    Article #4

    Kile, D., Eaton, M., deValpine, M., & Gilbert, R. (2019). The effectiveness of education and cognitive rehearsal in managing nurse‐to‐nurse incivility: A pilot study. Journal of Nursing Management, 27(3), 543-552. https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.12709

    Abdollahzadeh, F., Asghari, E., Ebrahimi, H., Rahmani, A., & Vahidi, M. (2017). How to prevent workplace incivility?: Nurses’ perspective. 
    Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research
    , 
    22
    (2), 157-163. https://doi.org/10.4103/1735-9066.205966

    Evidence-Based Project, Part 1: Identifying Research Methodologies Assignment Example

     

    Armstrong, N. (2018). Management of nursing workplace incivility in the health care settings: A systematic review. 
    Workplace Health & Safety
    , 
    66
    (8), 403-410. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F2165079918771106

     

    Razzi, C. C., & Bianchi, A. L. (2019). Incivility in nursing: Implementing a quality improvement program utilizing cognitive rehearsal training. In Nursing forum (Vol. 54, No. 4, pp. 526-536).
    https://doi

    10.1111/nuf.12366

     

    Why
    you chose this article and/or
    how it relates
    to the clinical issue of interest (include a brief
    explanation of the ethics
    of research related to your clinical issue of interest)

    The article has been chosen because it is comprehensively addresses the importance of enhanced awareness and use of educational programs to reduce nurse-nurse incivility. The article explains in details how cognitive rehearsal techniques can be utilized to help nurses manage and cope with effects of incivility. The article supports the role of cognitive rehearsal in helping employees to cope with problems at work as it prepares them mentally to cope with stress.

    The research article observed research ethics by allowing voluntary participation and treating the information provided anonymously and with confidentiality.

    Evidence-Based Project, Part 1: Identifying Research Methodologies Assignment Example

    The article has been selected because it explains in detail the detrimental effects of workplace incivility to healthcare workers’ health and patient care. Given the psychological effects of incivility, the article delves in ways of managing it from a nurse’s perspective.

     

    The research ethics were observed by allowing willing and voluntary participation and withdrawal without getting penalized in anyway. Informed consent was sought as well as treatment of collected data with confidentiality. The aims of the research were explained in details to the participants and the Research Council and Ethics Committee affiliated to the Tabriz University of Medical Sciences approved the proposal.

     

    The article was chosen as it addresses the issue of workplace incivility and proposes evidence-based strategies of managing it. The researcher opines that incivility has negative effects on the emotional well-being of nurses to an extent of risking patient care and safety by increasing the occurrence of medical administration errors.

     

    The research observed ethics by summarizing ten qualitative research articles from different databases to avoid research bias.

     

     

    The article was chosen as it addresses the issue of incivility in nursing by implementing a quality improvement program. The study suggested use of cognitive rehearsal training in order to improve health at workplace, enhance job satisfaction, and organizational commitment.

     

    The research observed ethics by seeking informed consent from the participants, explaining the research aims in details, maintaining confidentiality and anonymity in data collection, and allowing voluntary participation by the participants.

    Brief
    description of the aims
    of the research of each peer-reviewed article

    The aim of the research article was to create awareness among the nurses by helping them recognize incivility. In addition, the research aimed to reduce the impact of civility by using cognitive rehearsal techniques to address it.

    The aim of the article was to determine how workplace incivility can be prevented in healthcare settings from perspective of nurses.

     

     

    The aim of the research was to effectively control workplace incivility by proposing practical interventions that can be applied help nurses manage the problem.

     

    The aim of this research was to educate nurses on how to identify workplace incivility and equip them with ways of dealing and addressing incivility.

     

    Brief description of the
    research methodology
    used Be sure to identify if the methodology used was
    qualitative
    ,
    quantitative
    , or a
    mixed-methods
    approach. Be specific.

    The research utilized mixed method research approach which incorporate both qualitative and quantitative methods. Data was collected before nurses received cognitive rehearsal training and after. The data was collected via surveys and a comparative analysis done.

    The researcher utilized qualitative methods based on conventional content analysis. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews while the sample was obtained using purposive sampling.

     

    The study utilized quantitative research methods to conduct a systematic review of current and relevant evidence on workplace incivility using ten studies.

    Evidence-Based Project, Part 1: Identifying Research Methodologies Assignment Example

    The research utilized quantitative research method. Data was collected using nursing incivility scale (NIS). The instrument was used to evaluate the effectiveness of cognitive rehearsal educational module.  The participants completed the NIS before, immediately after, and 1 month after the program.

     

    A brief description of the
    strengths
    of each of the research methodologies used, including
    reliability
    and
    validity
    of how the methodology was applied in each of the peer-reviewed articles you selected.

    The major strength of mixed methods research approach is that it enhances understanding of qualitative and quantitative results’ contradictions and avoiding the limitations of a single approach. Also, it allows a shorter data collection time when compared to sequential methods.

     

    The methods used in gathering data and information in mixed methods research approach supplement each other which strengthens data validity and reliability.

    The use of qualitative research method allowed the researcher to examine the issue of workplace incivility in depth. Use of semi-structured interviews allows the researcher to ask questions, seek clarification, as well as redirect questions as the situation obliges.

    Reliability and validity was applied as the interviews allowed one-on-one correspondence while the interview questions were structured in a manner that all the participants were subject to same questions despite being in different locations.

    The key strength of systematic review of studies is that it provides quick answers on clinical issues as derived from previous studies as information is readily available. Systematic reviews are highly reliable and valid since the research evidence used is carefully synthesized to answer specific clinical questions.

     

    The use quantitative methods allowed the researcher to interpret data in an easier manner since the variables are already defined. The method also allow the researcher to maintain objectivity and accuracy in the process of data collection hence making results more reliable and valid.

     

     

    General Notes/Comments

    The article how an educational intervention (cognitive rehearsal) can be used promote a positive and civil workplace and ensure patient receive effective/safe care.

     

     

     

     

     The article is very useful as it expands knowledge on workplace incivility prevention. It explains how improving communication and supporting nurses can help in reducing workplace incivility

    The article is informative and provides information on implications of workplace incivility in healthcare settings as well as proposes necessary interventions in addressing incivility such as educational training on incivility to create awareness and equipping nurses’ communication skills.

    The article is informative as it adds to the body by explaining how incivility programs can equip nurses with skills to identify and manage incivility by reacting in a proactive, professional manner thereby promoting a healthy work environment.

     

     

     

    Conclusion

     

    The research articles reviewed in the worksheet address the issue of workplace incivility among nurses, its psychological effects and interventions such as cognitive rehearsal techniques, resilience training, and creating of awareness. The articles can be further reviewed to get the best evidence to be used as evidence-based practice for reducing incivility Evidence-Based Project, Part 1: Identifying Research Methodologies Assignment Example .

     

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    References

    Abdollahzadeh, F., Asghari, E., Ebrahimi, H., Rahmani, A., & Vahidi, M. (2017). How to prevent workplace incivility?: Nurses’ perspective. 
    Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research
    , 
    22
    (2), 157-163. 
    https://doi.org/10.4103/1735-9066.205966

    Armstrong, N. (2018). Management of nursing workplace incivility in the health care settings: A systematic review. 
    Workplace Health & Safety
    , 
    66
    (8), 403-410. 
    https://doi.org/10.1177%2F2165079918771106

    Kile, D., Eaton, M., deValpine, M., & Gilbert, R. (2019). The effectiveness of education and cognitive rehearsal in managing nurse‐to‐nurse incivility: A pilot study. 
    Journal of Nursing Management
    , 
    27
    (3), 543-552. 
    https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.12709

    Melnyk, B. M., & Fineout-Overholt, E. (2018). Evidence-based practice in nursing & healthcare: A guide to best practice (4th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer.

    Razzi, C. C., & Bianchi, A. L. (2019, October). Incivility in nursing: Implementing a quality improvement program utilizing cognitive rehearsal training. In 
    Nursing forum
     (Vol. 54, No. 4, pp. 526-536).
    https://doi

    10.1111/nuf.12366

    Walden University Library. (2022).
    Quick Answers: What are filtered and unfiltered resources in nursing?
    https://academicanswers.waldenu.edu/faq/73299

    Evidence-Based Project, Part 1: Identifying Research Methodologies Assignment Example

  • Postcard from the future assignment example

    Postcard from the future assignment example

     
    Assignment 1: Postcard from the Future

    Introduction

    The delivery of healthcare services depends to a huge extent on its effectiveness of decision making. Every action taken by the nurses relies on the information they have acquainted themselves with. The process of nursing starts by obtaining and passing information in the first and subsequent stages. Nursing informatics deals with data management, knowledge, information, and wisdom that can be of used in the nursing field Postcard from the future assignment example. Since we are living in an era of Electronic Health Care, it is not possible to ignore the concept of Nursing Informatics in nursing practice (Kaur et al 2015). This is because; all nurses must make use of informatics skills in their practice.

    ORDER HERE TODAY

    However, change is inevitable. And the rate at which Information Communication Technology (ICT) is evolving means that in the near future, either, new skills in nursing informatics will be invented, or the existing ones will have evolved in their method and way of use.

    As a result of these changes-expected in the Nursing Informatics- a new technology likely to integrate the factors discussed below is likely to be adopted.

    Technological inventions

    This will put into consideration all ICT elements which may include, media or digital devices already used by the nurses as they offer healthcare. Mair et al (2012), made a suggestion about the division of e-health, that is “the use of emerging information and communications technology, especially the Internet, to improve or enable health and healthcare” (Mair et al, 2012).  These changes will be realized in four domains:

    Management systems
    – though which information can be acquired, stored, transmitted and displayed. The information may include administrative, health as well as clinical activities and the patient information will be displayed as recorded (Stolfi et al 2007).

    Communication systems-
    these will be used in communication by participants who are far apart. Important information about the patients; counseling, management and diagnosis will be relayed via telecommunication devices for effective nurse care. The use will involve telemedicine, tele-care systems among others. Emails and smart phones will be very useful in undertaking the activities. This will prevent nurses or patients walking for longer distances in provision of care or acquisition of care respectively (Kristensson et al, 2015).

    Decision support systems that are computerized
    – this will be used by the nurses where the decision made is evidenced in a computer system. The decision can also be based on an outcome derived from computer processes.

    Information systems
    – the internet technology will be very useful in the attainment of nursing information. Patients will be able to access any information they need hence the need for all homes to be connected with internet services. The information available in the internet will also be tailored to individual needs and not as general as is mostly the case today. Health portals will be very effective in delivery of the information as well as mobile phone applications. (Wälivaara, et al, 2011).

    Impact of the proposed technology on nurse care

    The outcome of the proposed technology will be articulated to the resources and the nurse structures in general as well as nursing processes. The processes, nursing structures and processes can be used to impact changes in the condition of the patient. The processes in question include the interaction between the nurses and the patients as well as their practice environment. The Information Communication Technology will have an impact on the practices of various nurses, and how the nurses’ use of these ICTs will influence the patient condition.  The impacts include:

    Professional satisfaction
    – The technology will impact positively on professional satisfaction of various nurses through creation of a friendly working environment through quality of provided care. On the other hand, the patients will be satisfied by the services they receive from the nurses in areas such as in quality of life, their safety and comfort.

    Patient outcomes and or experience
    – the technology will ensure that the patients are optimally provided with the best care and that the care is provide at the right time as well as in the right way. If the outcome will be positive in all these fields, the acceptability of the nurses will be improved towards different patients; whether current or potential.

    Care continuity
    – this is where there will be care collaboration and coordination whereby, patients together with their families will be involved in the provision of health care and an improved responsiveness by different patients will be realized.

    Quality assessment-
    this is where channels for providing feedback will be available and can be viewed by anybody who can access the internet. As a result, potential patients will be able to evaluate the best place to get the intended health care based on their own evaluation.

    Steps towards achieving this technology

    Change attitude
    – The very first and most important element towards attainment of this technology is both the nurses and the patient’s ability to embrace change. Challenges should be seen as opportunities and not hindrances. Being open to change means new exploration will also be possible.

    Delivery
    -the new technology can be delivered to the nurses through distance learning programs that are very common in the current world. The nurses being the administrators should also be given room for adjusting through seminars and allowed study leaves. In the learning institutions, the nurses should be taught on the best way to use the ICT with a lot of ease and the various challenges they might expect to get in the implementation. For example, patients’ ignorance and illiteracy among others.

    Teaching methods
    – the patients can be taught the new technological methods through simulation tests by various personnel of change. This can be facilitated by the use of available schools or colleges to cut on costs (Broussard et al, 2009).

    Conclusion

    Since the proposed technology makes use of the available technological devices, for example the use of mobile phones, internet and computers among others, the integration process will not be soo much problematic. Besides, some of the proposed technological changes are used in other fields such as the use of mobile phone applications.

    The proposed technology if successfully implemented will realize tremendous changes in the delivery of nursing care. Satisfaction and quality services summed up by an increased value for life will be achieved. However, the willingness of all participants to cooperate in the implementation is vital.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    References

    Broussard, L., Myers, R., & Lemoine, J. (2009). Preparing Pediatric Nurses: The Role of    Simulation-Based Learning.
    Issues In Comprehensive Pediatric Nursing
    ,
    32
    (1), 4-15.             doi:10.1080/01460860802610178

    Finch, T. L., Mair, F. S., O’Donnell, C., Murray, E., & May, C. R. (2012). From theory to           ‘measurement’ in         complex interventions: Methodological lessons from the        development of an e-health      normalisation instrument.
    BMC Medical Research             Methodology
    ,
    12
    (1), 69-84. doi:10.1186/1471-         2288-12-69

    Kaur, S., & Rawat, H. L. (2015). IMPORTANCE OF NURSING INFORMATICS IN    NURSING CURRICULUM FOR             UTILIZATION OF INFORMATION            TECHNOLOGY IN NURSING PROFESSION.
    Baba Farid University          Nursing             Journal
    ,
    9
    (2), 1-5.

    Kristensson, P., Brunstrom, A., & Pedersen, T. (2015). Affective forecasting of value    creation: professional nurses’ ability to predict and remember the experienced value of a      telemedicine diagnostics ICT service.
    Behaviour & Information Technology
    ,
    34
    (10), 964-            975. doi:10.1080/0144929X.2014.978379

    Stolfi, A., Dudley, G., Moore, K., & Johnson, G. (2007). ENHANCING PATIENT       ASSESSMENT, CARE AND DOCUMENTATION THROUGH TECHNOLOGY.          
    Oncology Nursing Forum
    ,
    34
    (2), 570.

    Wälivaara, B., Andersson, S., & Axelsson, K. (2011). General practitioners’ reasoning about             using mobile distance-spanning technology in home care and in nursing home care.
    Scandinavian Journal Of Caring Sciences
    ,
    25
    (1), 117-125. doi:10.1111/j.1471-            6712.2010.00800.x

     

    Unit 1: What is Nursing Informatics?

    Timeline: 1 Week

    Foreword

    Prior to beginning this unit, review the Student Guide. Next, read the Course Introduction that contains useful information about how to proceed through the course. You may find it helpful to return to these two resource modules throughout the course as they contain the instructions about how to complete specific tasks (e.g., engage in conference forums; submit assignments).

    Overview

    Think about the ways in which computer technology has changed over the past five or ten years. What was “new” and “modern” only a short time ago is now often considered to be “obsolete.” As a result of these rapid changes, it has become increasingly important for consumers and healthcare professionals, including nurses, to become familiar with new and emerging technologies. One of the goals of this unit is to introduce you to the role of the nurse as a knowledge worker, as you explore the competencies required to be an effective user of data, information, knowledge, and wisdom in your day-to-day practice as a nurse.

    Nursing Informatics is the “science and practice [that] integrates nursing, its information and knowledge and their management, with information and communication technologies to promote the health of people, families, and communities worldwide” (International Medical Informatics Association, 2011, para 2
    ). 
    This interaction is illustrated in the diagram below.

    (Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing, 2012).

    In this unit, we will introduce you to concepts and resources foundational to your use of nursing knowledge and information.

    Ergonomics

    Athabasca University’s academic writing resources.

    Welcome Video

    Watch this video and learn more about Nursing 322 and this initial unit.

    322 Unit 1
     from 
    CNHS AU
     on 
    Vimeo
    .

    Then take a moment to introduce yourself in the Introduction Forum. Share something about yourself, and include your initial ideas on the application of Nursing Informatics. Take time to read some of the recent postings in this forum and become familiar with others registered in this course.

    Unit Learning Outcomes

    Actively engaging with the content of this unit will enable you to:

    distinguish between the concepts of data, information, knowledge, and wisdom;

    describe the role of the nurse as a knowledge worker;

    apply ergonomic principles toward preventing discomfort, lost productivity, and injury when working with computers; and

    explore the plethora of academic writing resources available within Athabasca University.

    Learning Activities and Resources

    Learning Activity 1 – Nursing Knowledge and Information

    Consider “Nursing Knowledge and Information.” How does this term resonate with you? Before engaging in the readings, you may wish to jot down your ideas on the meaning of nursing knowledge and information.

    Reading 1

    Canadian Nurses Association (CNA). (2017, March). 
    Joint position statement. Nursing informatics
    .  Retrieved from 
    https://www.cna-aiic.ca/~/media/cna/page-content/pdf-en/nursing-information-and-knowledge-management_position-statement.pdf

    Reading 2

    McGonigle, D., Hunter, K., Sipes, C., & Hebda, T. (2014). Why nurses need to understand nursing informatics. 
    AORN Journal, 100
    (3), 324-327. Retrieved from 
    http://0-search.ebscohost.com.aupac.lib.athabascau.ca/login.aspx?direct=true&db=rzh&AN=2012711210&site=eds-live

    Why is informatics essential to nursing and nursing practice? The first reading comes from the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) serving to articulate our profession’s perspective on the importance of nursing informatics. The second reading, authored by a group of nurse experts in informatics takes a different approach, describing the data, information, knowledge, and wisdom pathway supported by nursing informatics. Then, using a series of personal reflections, the authors offer practical examples of the use of informatics in nursing.

    Address the following learning challenges:

    What are the differences between data, information, knowledge, and wisdom?

    Reflect on the progression from data to information, to knowledge, and to wisdom.

    Give an example of how you use data and information to build knowledge and wisdom in your day-to-day practice as a nurse.

    How can information technology support each component of nursing practice?

    Learning Activity 2 – Ergonomics

    Let us think for a moment about the impact of computers on workers’ health and the costs to the individual and the healthcare system because of poorly designed computer equipment and workspaces. If you are a frequent computer user, what impact have you noticed on your own health and wellbeing?

    We anticipate that many of you are reading this unit on a laptop computer, perhaps sitting at the kitchen table or tucked into a corner of the family room. Watch this short video 
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcZMfSFzFwM
     for a few simple suggestions on how to improve your posture while using this technology.

    Reading 3

    Morrison, J., & Lindberg, P. (2008). When no one has time: Measuring the impact of computerization on health care workers, 
    AAOHN, 56
    (9), 373-8. Retrieved from 
    http://0-search.proquest.com.aupac.lib.athabascau.ca/docview/219352471/abstract/3BF30C84366B416CPQ/1?accountid=8408

    Reading 4

    WorksafeBC (2009) 
    How to make your computer work for you. 
    Victoria, BC: Workers Compensation Board of British Columbia. Retrieved from 
    http://www.chiropractic.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/comptr_wrkstn-WorkSafeBC.pdf

    A well-designed workspace is essential. To assist workers in understanding and addressing challenges in the design and use of computer workstations, WorksafeBC provided a comprehensive guide. Work your way through the content considering the tips to prevent injury and changes that can be made to help you work comfortably and efficiently. Here are some suggestions:

    Check your posture.

    Adjust your chair.

    Rearrange your workstation layout.

    Improve your lighting and minimize glare.

    Improve your job design.

    Then, use the checklist found on pages 26-29 of Reading 4 to assess your home office area. What improvements can you make?

    Learning Activity 3 – Academic Writing

    In your nursing education and prior courses in this program, you have been developing expertise in academic writing, a key component in advancing nursing knowledge. What tools do you have available to you? Take a few minutes and explore the resources available within Athabasca University’s Write Site 
    http://write-site.athabascau.ca
    . How many hours have you spent formatting papers to comply with APA? A useful supplement to the 6th edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association guidelines is the APA Style Blog 
    http://blog.apastyle.org/apastyle/
    . Check it out!

    After you have reviewed these resources, put them to work by creating a template that can be re-used. Although it will take time to develop your template initially, it will save you time as you work through this and other courses in your program. Here’s how to get started.

    Did you know that the APA manual (6th edition) contains an example of a correctly formatted scholarly paper? Stop and find those figures now in Chapter 2 of the manual. The information contained in the grey text boxes is useful in locating more detailed information about each element.

    Open a blank document in your word processing software and begin to create a template that includes each of the required elements illustrated in the APA manual. Insert a word or two as a ‘placeholder’ in each of the required elements (e.g., running head, title page).

    Follow the guidelines in the APA manual carefully to ensure that your template is correctly formatted (e.g., margins, tabs, page numbers, headings, double spacing). If you do not know how to set margins or insert page numbers (or how to complete other basic word processing functions) consult the help function.

    Separate the pages of your template by using page breaks.

    When you begin to write a paper, use the ‘Save As’ (or similar) feature in your word processing software to create a new copy of your template. Edit this copy to create a correctly formatted scholarly paper.

    If you discover an error in your template, take time to revise your original template so that it is correct the next time you use it.

    You will, of course, need to ensure that your reference citations and reference list are correctly formatted in each paper. Noting the location of examples in your APA Manual (e.g., by inserting paper tabs in your manual or by consulting the information found in the figures) will help you find them quickly when you need them.

    Review and Reflection

    Before you move on to Unit 2, think for a moment about your use of information and its sources in your nursing practice.

    What types of information do you use in the day-to-day care of clients?

    Where do you source that information?

    What are some of the barriers you face in accessing information to support client care?

    Required Forum Postings

    Please share your reflections in the Unit 1 Forum. This conference posting is mandatory and must be completed as part of the Conference Forum component of this course.

    Then, as you complete the course, go back periodically and see how your understanding has grown and evolved.

    Guidelines for Posting to the Conference Forums

    Before you begin your posting, read the most recent 5 to 8 postings in the Unit 1 Forum and think about how you can add to the discussion. You may respond to one of the entries posted by a classmate and/or you may share examples from your practice setting. Your posting should be substantive (that is, adding to the discussion, not merely agreeing with what someone else has said) and should reflect a sound understanding of the content of the unit.

    Limit your contribution to one or two ideas, concepts, or themes so that others can follow your conversation more easily (maximum 150 words). Remember, you are writing to share your thoughts and to invite your classmates into an open dialogue. Lengthy postings with many points often go unread or unchallenged because there is too much information to respond to.

    Include a reference citation or URL for a useful resource or an example of one of the concepts discussed in the unit. This will enrich your posting and enhance your classmates’ learning.

    Note: 
    Your tutor may or may not respond directly to your postings in the Conference Forums. If you have specific questions for your tutor, please send them to him/her using Course Mail.

    Assignment 1: Thinking Ahead

    Review the requirements for Assignment 1, which is to be completed after Unit 3. Begin to think about your topic. Some of the content of this unit may be useful in completing this assignment. It is to your advantage to review the recommended readings and reflect on the questions posed and to complete the exercises presented in each unit.

    Note: 
    Students in NURS 322 are not permitted to submit all of their course assignments at the same time. You are expected to review the feedback provided by your tutor on each of your assignments and to incorporate that feedback into your subsequent assignments.

    References

    American Psychological Association. (2010). 
    Publication manual of the American Psychological Association
     (6th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

    Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing. (2012). 
    Nursing informatics entry to practice competencies for registered nurses. 
    Retrieved from 
    http://casn.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/NursingInformaticsEntryToPracticeCompetenciesFINALENG.pdf

    Canadian Nurses Association (CNA). (2017, March) 
    Joint position statement. Nursing informatics
    .  Retrieved from 
    https://cna-aiic.ca/~/media/cna/page-content/pdf-en/nursing-informatics-joint-position-statement.pdf?la=en

    International Medical Informatics Association. (2011). 
    The nursing informatics special interest group – definition. 
    Retrieved from 
    https://sites.google.com/site/imianiedwg/

    McGonigle, D., Hunter, K., Sipes, C., & Hebda, T. (2014). Why nurses need to understand nursing informatics. 
    AORN Journal, 100
    (3), 324-327. Retrieved from 
    http://0-search.ebscohost.com.aupac.lib.athabascau.ca/login.aspx?direct=true&db=rzh&AN=2012711210&site=eds-live

    Morrison, J., & Lindberg, P. (2008) When no one has time: Measuring the impact of computerization on health care workers, 
    AAORN, 56
    (9), 373-8.

    WorksafeBC. (2009) 
    How to make your computer work for you. 
    Victoria, BC: Workers Compensation Board of British Columbia. Retrieved from 
    http://www.chiropractic.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/comptr_wrkstn-WorkSafeBC.pdf

    Even when I work with computers, with high technology, I always try to put in the touch of the hand.

    Issey Miyake

    Unit 2: Information and Communication Technologies

    Timeline: 1 Week

    Overview

    As defined in Unit 1, Nursing Informatics is the “science and practice [that] integrates nursing, its information and knowledge and their management, with information and communication technologies to promote the health of people, families, and communities worldwide” (International Medical Informatics Association, 2011, para 2
    ). 
    The purpose of this unit is to develop a common understanding of what is meant by Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and to describe these and their use within the context of nursing practice.

    Welcome Video

    Watch this video and learn more this unit.

    322 Unit 2
     from 
    CNHS AU
     on 
    Vimeo
    .

    Unit Learning Outcomes

    Actively engaging with the content of Unit 2 will enable you to:

    identify information and communication technologies commonly used in healthcare;

    consider the application and impact of these technologies to nurses and nursing practice; and

    describe practices that will support the development of effective virtual teams.

    Learning Activities and Resources

    Learning Activity 1 – Creating a common understanding

    You will agree that not everyone has a common understanding or skill level in the use of technology. Do you have work or school colleagues who struggle with expectations regarding the use of computer technology, mobile devices, and their use?

    The first two readings in this unit are focused on bridging that gap. The first is a brief reading that provides helpful hints to nurses on using information technologies. Written in a chatty, conversational style, this American registered nurse touches on many of the topics within this course.

    The book is available within Athabasca University’s collection to download as an e-book. To access it you need to sign into the AU Library and locate the book by searching under 
    Books and Media
    . When located, you can view the book via Ebrary, print off relevant sections to review later, or download the book for 14 days.

    Reading 1

    Wilson, B. 
    The nerdy nurse’s guide to technology.
     Indianapolis, IN: Sigma Theta Tau International.

    Reading 2

    The second reading comes from Canada Health Infoway, an organization introduced in the first unit. This report, produced as part of the Emerging Technology Series, provides an overview of the use of mobile devices in health care by clinicians, including nurses. In the reading you are introduced to the term mobile health (mHealth). Postcard from the future assignment example Throughout the term, we encourage you to develop a list of terminology specific to nursing informatics and to locate and record their meaning and source definitions. Doing so will strengthen your understanding and application.

    Canada Health Infoway. (2013, November). 
    Mobile computing in clinical settings
    . White Paper (Executive Summary). Emerging Technology Series. Retrieved from 
    https://www.infoway-inforoute.ca/en/component/edocman/1790-mobile-computing-in-clinical-settings-white-paper-executive-summary/view-document?Itemid=101

    You can also access this information by entering these words in your search engine: Canada Health Infoway mobile computing in clinical settings

    Canadians are strong users of communication technologies with 86.6% of households reporting computer, laptop or tablet ownership and 83% of households reporting Internet access (World Bank, 2014, p. 52).

    What is your organization’s policy regarding the use of personal mobile communication devices at work to support practice? This practice, termed BYOD has required “new tools, architectures and policies to govern and control these endpoint devices” (Canada Health Infoway, 2013, p. 5).

    Learning Activity 2 – Understanding the impact on nursing practice

    The impact of information and communication technologies is all around us. In fact, there is no aspect of our lives, professional or personal, which hasn’t been impacted by the exponential growth in the use and functionality of these technologies. For example, nurse-call centres such as HealthLink Alberta (see 
    http://www.albertahealthservices.ca/assets/healthinfo/link/index.html
    ) are now the norm for consumers seeking health information and guidance. If this link is not working, enter the following in your search engine:  Alberta Health Services HealthLink

    How has information and communication technology impacted nursing practice? Take a few minutes and brainstorm the nursing practices that would fall into each quadrant using 
    this Word document
    .

    Assessment

    Health Promotion

    Clinical Intervention

    Service Organization

    Once you have completed the exercise, check your ideas against the content in the following reading (see pg. 1305 of Reading 3) Postcard from the future assignment example.

    Reading 3

    While, A., & Dewsbury, G. (2011). Nursing and information and communication technology (ICT): A discussion of trends and future directions. 
    International Journal of Nursing Studies, 48
    (10), 1302-1309. doi: 10.1016/j.ijnustu.2011.02.020

    To retrieve this article, go to the AU Library at: 
    http://library.athabascau.ca/

    Type the title of the article into the AU Library search engine box (In very light font, it shows 
    Search books, articles, and media
    ).

    While and Dewsbury (2011) describe advantages and disadvantages of the use of information and communication technology in healthcare.

    What do you think?

    Are the advantages so strong that we should put aside potential disadvantages?

    Consider this question from the perspective of the:

    healthcare consumer (clients and their families)

    healthcare providers (nurses, physicians)

    healthcare system (administrators, government)

    Does your position change dependent on the perspective you are taking?

    Lastly, While and Dewsbury (2011) describe research into the impact of information and communication technology on the work life of nurses. One statement may have resonated with you, as we have all experienced using computer systems that are “cumbersome, illogical, slow, complicated and unreliable at times” (p. 1307).

    Where would you place your current practice on the grid (see page 1308) between high and low use?

    Are you a basic user of technology in your practice or would you consider the demands for its use making you an advanced practitioner?

    Learning Activity 3 – Working in a virtual team

    The use of information and communication technology in healthcare has also impacted the organization and reporting structures that nurses practice within. Virtual teams have become the norm within the regional health structures with nurse leaders assuming responsibility for programs spread across broad geographical areas. Postcard from the future assignment example Routine interactions occur by computers, email, and videoconferencing.

    In Reading 4, Cowan offers eight principles to guide leadership within a virtual team. Central to this leadership is developing a professional social presence. You are encouraged as you work through this course and post comments to the unit forums to keep these principles in mind.

    Reading 4

    Cowan, L. D. (2014). E-Leadership: Leading in a virtual environment – Guiding principles. 
    Nursing Economics$,
     
    32
    (6), 312-322.

    Retrieved from 
    http://0-search.ebscohost.com.aupac.lib.athabascau.ca/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edb&AN=99954953&site=eds-live

    You can also access this information by going to the AU Library at 
    http://library.athabascau.ca/
     and then, type the title of the article into the AU Library search engine box (In very light font, it shows 
    Search books, articles, and media
    ).

    Review and Reflection

    Before you move on to Unit 3, consider the questions posed in this unit. Was much of the information new to you? Are you perhaps apprehensive about the depth and breadth of content? Or, did you bring to the course a strong foundation in information and communication technology?

    Before moving on identify two personal learning objectives related to the use of information and communication technologies. Write these down and refer to them throughout the course.

    Optional Forum Posting

    Take a few minutes and review student postings found in the Unit 2 Forum. Consider your learning from this unit and should you wish, please add to the discussion on Information and Communication Technologies. Share your learning objectives if you are comfortable doing so. Offer a suggestion on the development of virtual teams. Do you manage such a team? If you are currently a member of a virtual team give your perspective on the guiding principles.

    Guidelines for posting to the conference forums are found in Unit 1.

    Assignment 1: Thinking Ahead

    Review the requirements for Assignment 1, which is to be completed after Unit 3. Begin to think about your topic. Some of the content of this unit may be useful in completing this assignment. It is to your advantage to review the recommended readings and reflect on the questions posed and to complete the exercises presented in each unit.

    Note: 
    Students in NURS 322 are not permitted to submit all of their course assignments at the same time. You are expected to review the feedback provided by your tutor on each of your assignments and to incorporate that feedback into your subsequent assignments Postcard from the future assignment example.

    References

    Canada Health Infoway. (2013, November). 
    Mobile computing in clinical settings
    . White Paper (Executive Summary). Emerging Technology Series. Retrieved from 
    https://www.infoway-inforoute.ca/en/component/edocman/1790-mobile-computing-in-clinical-settings-white-paper-executive-summary/view-document?Itemid=101

    Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing. (2013). 
    Nursing informatics teaching toolkit: Supporting the integration of the CASN nursing informatics competencies into undergraduate nursing curricula. 
    Ottawa: Author. Retrieved from 
    http://casn.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/2013ENNursingInformaticsTeachingToolkit.pdf

    Cowan, L. D. (2014). E-Leadership: Leading in a virtual environment – Guiding principles. 
    Nursing Economics$,
     
    32
    (6), 312-322. Retrieved from 
    http://0-search.ebscohost.com.aupac.lib.athabascau.ca/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edb&AN=99954953&site=eds-live

    International Medical Informatics Association. (2011). 
    The nursing informatics special interest group – definition. 
    Retrieved from 
    https://sites.google.com/site/imianiedwg/

    While, A., & Dewsbury, G. (2011) Nursing and information and communication technology (ICT): A discussion of trends and future directions. 
    International Journal of Nursing Studies, 48
    (10), 1302-1309. doi: 10.1016/j.ijnustu.2011.02.020.

    Wilson, B. 
    The nerdy nurse’s guide to technology.
     Indianapolis, IN: Sigma Theta Tau International. Retrieved from 
    http://0-www.ebrary.com.aupac.lib.athabascau.ca

    World Bank (2014). 
    Little data book on information and communication technology
     2014. Herndon, VA: World Bank Publications. Retrieved from 
    http://0-www.ebrary.com.aupac.lib.athabascau.ca

    Last updated: January 3, 2017 ©Copyright 2016 
    Athabasca University

     

    Everything you need for better future and success has already been written. And guess what? All you have to do is go to the library.

    Henri Frederic Amiel

    Unit 3: Navigating the Digital Library

    Timeline: 1 Week

    Overview

    Postcard from the future assignment example Some have suggested that finding information using digital library databases can be like finding the proverbial “needle in the haystack.” Developing sound search skills to access the information you need to support and inform your practice is essential to becoming an expert nurse knowledge worker.

    If you can effectively use the Internet, why do you also need to learn to use and search the digital library? A good question! Think about how you normally search for information. Where do you go? What search engines do you use and what databases do you normally access for information? What were the most common types of sites and information that you found? What was their underlying purpose?

    In this unit, you will learn about the kinds of resources stored in digital libraries and how to search for information stored in those repositories. Although the primary focus of this unit is learning to use online journal databases, the skills you acquire will also be useful in locating e-texts and other resources commonly found in a digital library.

    Welcome Video

    Watch this video and learn more this unit.

    322 Unit 3
     from 
    CNHS AU
     on 
    Vimeo
    .

    Click on this 
    http://library.athabascau.ca/WelcomeVideo.html
     as an introduction to the plethora of resources available to students within Athabasca University’s Library Resources.

    Unit Learning Outcomes

    After completing Unit 3, you will be able to meet or exceed the following unit learning outcomes and:

    discuss how information found on the Internet differs from that found in digital library databases;

    explore the acquisition of knowledge through Internet and library holdings; and

    conduct an effective literature search using a digital journal database.

    Postcard from the future assignment example

    As you read, try not to become overwhelmed by the number of new terms introduced. You will become more familiar with them as you work through this unit.

    Learning Activities and Resources

    Learning Activity 1 – A practical example

    The information found in digital libraries commonly comprises scholarly works that have been subjected to peer review. This may or may not be the case with information found elsewhere. What does it mean to say that a scholarly work has been peer reviewed? Peer review means “a process by which a scholarly work (such as a paper or a research proposal) is checked by a group of experts in the same field to make sure it meets the necessary standards before it is published or accepted.” Retrieved from:  
    http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/peer%20review
    .

    List some of the reasons why peer review is deemed to be an important indicator of the quality of an article.

    Which of these reasons would you consider to be most significant? And why?

    Not all articles in peer-reviewed journals are necessarily peer-reviewed. Consider, for example, the editorials found at the beginning of most peer-reviewed journals.

    What is the primary purpose(s) of an editorial?

    What influence might those purposes have on a reader’s evaluation of the information contained in an editorial?

    Let us explore this further by examining an editorial in a recent issue of the Canadian Nurse.

    First
    , if you do not know your Athabasca University Library identification number, contact the AU Library (library@athabascau.ca). You cannot complete this unit without using your Library identification number, as it provides access to the online library databases. You also need access to the library to complete the literature reviews required for your assignments in this and other courses in your program.

    Once you have entered the AU library, you can find the journal holdings by opening the drop down menu labeled 
    Find Resources
    . Then, under the heading 
    Find Resources by
     
    Subject/Name
    , click on the link 
    Journal Title Name
     and enter the search words “Canadian Nurse.” This will bring you to the Canadian Nurse holdings by database. Open the tab entitled 
    CINAHL Plus with Full Text
     to locate a recent issue.  Postcard from the future assignment example Not an efficient way to search? What would be easier?

    Now that you have located the journal, read the editorial in a recent edition. Some questions to reflect upon:

    To what extent did you agree or disagree with the editor’s comments? Why or why not?

    Is it legitimate to use an editor’s point of view in writing a scholarly paper? Why or why not?

    Before you move on in this unit, consider the term 
    evidence-based practice
    . What does this mean to you and your nursing practice? Consider the definitions found in the reading below. While you are there, check out the resources at 
    www.nurseone.ca
    . You will want to bookmark this site for future reference. The second reading describes how evidence is used to inform and enhance nursing practice.

    Reading 1

    Canadian Nurses Association. (2016). 
    Definitions galore
    . Retrieved from 
    https://www.nurseone.ca/en/tools/evidence-based-practice/definitions-galore

    Reading 2

    Canadian Nurses Association. (2010). 
    Position statement: Evidence-informed decision-making and nursing practice. 
    Retrieved from 
    https://www.cna-aiic.ca/~/media/cna/page-content/pdf-en/ps113_evidence_informed_2010_e.pdf?la=en

    Learning Activity 2 – Conducting a Literature Search Using Digital Journal Databases

    Even though you may have used an online journal database in the past, you are encouraged to work through the following exercises. Doing so will assist you to refine your skills further.

    Digital journal databases provide online access to a number of journals that focus on nursing and health as well as other fields of study. Three of the most commonly used health-related databases are:

    CINAHL Plus with Full Text (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature)

    ProQuest Nursing Journals

    SCOPUS

    Select a topic from the editorial you examined earlier. Then, search each of these three online journal databases for information about your topic. Experiment with altering your search term slightly or combine it with other search terms to make your search more efficient. Pay attention to the “key words” or “search terms” listed in the articles you retrieve, as sometimes they provide valuable clues for finding other articles about the same subject.

    You can also narrow your search by selecting some of the other options presented in the specific database you are using (e.g., limit your search to certain years, peer-reviewed/refereed articles, articles for which the full text is available, articles written in English). The 
    help 
    function embedded in the database you are using will assist you to learn more about these options.

    To keep track of the findings of your search, use 
    this printable chart (in Word .doc format)
    .

    What was your search term?

    How many results did it generate?

    What was the nature of the first 20 results (e.g., theoretical article; report of a research study; best practice guideline; editorial; other)?

    For each entry, note whether the same article was retrieved in any of the other databases. Can you explain the reason(s) for this?

    How is the order in which the search results are listed determined? Why is this important to the user?

    Two excellent resources to help you hone your search skills are found in the next readings.

    Reading 3

    Athabasca University. (2012, June 30). 
    AU library’s guide to the research process.
     Retrieved from 
    http://libguides.athabascau.ca/researchprocess

    Reading 4

    University of Illinois. (2009, September 1). 
    Tips for searching article databases. 
    Retrieved from 
    http://www.library.illinois.edu/bix/pdf/genguide/searchtips.pdf

    Learning Activity 3 – Enhancing Your Skills

    Following are some tips to help you cite the articles you retrieve in your scholarly papers.

    Using PDF Files

    Return to the ProQuest Nursing Journals database and re-enter your search term. Select one of the articles for which 
    Abstract
    , 
    Full Text
    , and 
    Full Text PDF 
    formats are available. How do these three formats differ in terms of content and appearance?

    Hint
    : The 
    Full Text PDF
     version is identical to the print version of the same article. Use the PDF version when you are writing a scholarly paper. This is particularly important if you are using a direct quote from the article as it will allow you to cite the precise page number on which that quote is found. Consult your APA Manual, 6th Edition (2010) to learn how to construct a
    reference citation
    for a direct quote.

    Saving Persistent Links

    Did you know that you can return directly to a specific article in your literature search by copying the persistent link for the article into another file? If you copy the persistent link into the reference list of your paper immediately following the reference citation for the article, your reader (e.g., classmate; tutor; colleague) can also go directly to the article if she or he has access to the Athabasca University Library. It also allows you to consult the same article later without repeating your search. More information is available on the AU library webpage: 
    http://libguides.athabascau.ca/persistentlinks.

    Using RefWorks to Organize References

    How can you organize your references? A great tool that we invite you to explore is RefWorks, a web-based bibliography and database manager that enables you to create a personal database to import references from text files or online databases. Then as you use these references in writing papers, you can use RefWorks to automatically format the paper and the bibliography in seconds.

    Information on accessing and using RefWorks is found at 
    http://library.athabascau.ca/Refworks.html
    . You can sign-up for a new account using your AthabascaU credentials.

    Review and Reflection

    Learning to retrieve the information you need to support your practice is not an easy task. Try not to be discouraged if you are not immediately successful. Using synonyms or other related terms will sometimes yield better results.

    How will your learning in this unit change the way you conduct your background research in preparing to complete a course assignment or write a scholarly paper in the future?

    Altering your search term will improve your results. It may take several search attempts to retrieve a term, or combination of terms, that is neither too narrow nor too broad.

    The purpose of your search will assist you in deciding how many databases you should consult in completing your literature review. If you are developing a set of best practice guidelines, you will need to consult a larger number of databases to ensure that you retrieve all of the current research related to the topic. Conversely, if you are trying to find a specific article written by a particular author, searching one or two databases may be sufficient to quickly locate it.

    A Helpful Hint!

    When you conduct a literature search using an electronic journal database, look for terms such as 
    peer reviewed
     or 
    refereed
     in the options offered for narrowing the scope of your search.

    Optional Conference Forum

    If you wish, you may join the Unit 3 Forum and share tips you have learned to enhance your digital journal database search skills. Guidelines for posting to the conference forums are found in Unit 1.

    Assignment 1

    Review the requirements for Assignment 1, which is to be completed after Unit 3. At this point you should have confirmed your topic and will find that the content of this unit is helpful. It is to your advantage to review the recommended readings and reflect on the questions posed and to complete the exercises presented in each unit prior to completing the assignments. You may wish to refer to this useful reference webpage  
    http://libguides.athabascau.ca/researchprocess
    .

    Note: 
    Students in NURS 322 are not permitted to submit all of their course assignments at the same time.

    References

    Athabasca University. (2012, June 30). 
    AU library’s guide to the research process.
     Retrieved from 
    http://libguides.athabascau.ca/researchprocess

    Canadian Nurses Association. (2016). 
    Definitions galore
    . Retrieved from 
    https://www.nurseone.ca/en/tools/evidence-based-practice/definitions-galore

    Canadian Nurses Association. (2010). 
    Position statement: Evidence-informed decision-making and nursing practice. 
    Retrieved from 
    https://www.cna-aiic.ca/~/media/cna/page-content/pdf-en/ps113_evidence_informed_2010_e.pdf?la=en

    Merriam Webster. (n.d.). 
    Peer review.
     Retrieved from 
    http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/peer%20review
      Postcard from the future assignment example