Nursing Effectivness Concept Paper Essay

Walker & Avant’s methodology (2005) is used to analyze the concept of the word effective; this provides clarity to the meaning of the concept and identifies its unique attributes, particularly in relation to medical treatment. Antecedents and consequences of presumed effective medical treatment are discussed followed by empirical referents, which aid in illuminating the concept of effectiveness. Assumedly, â€Å"effective† is an adjective most healthcare professionals and their patients would hope to use in describing the outcome of the treatment or the care provided. The purpose of this concept analysis is to understand that for physicians and nurses to provide truly effective treatment, it must attend to multiple needs of the patient, not just their illness. Not only is it important for healthcare providers to construct and implement a treatment plans, but also to involve patients in medical decision making about their treatment. To determine effectiveness, healthcare providers must assess how treatment of the illness effects the patient in addition to their own evaluation of treatment. The dictionary definitions of effective are (a) adequate to accomplish a purpose, producing the intended or expected result; (b) in operation or in force, functioning; (c) producing a deep or vivid impression; (d) prepared and available for service; and (e) a member of the armed forces fit for duty or active service (â€Å"Effective†, n.d. a). According to Stedman’s Medical Dictionary (2006), the medical definitions of effective are (a) the extent to which a treatment achieves its intended purpose; (b) A measure of the accuracy or success of a diagnostic or therapeutic technique when carried out in an average clinical environment. According to Wikipedia (n.d. b), the usage of effective includes (a) mathematics, can be used as a synonym of algorithmically computable; (b) physics, an effective theory is, similar to a phenomenological theory, a framework intended to explain certain effects without the claim that the theory correctly models the underlying processes; (c) heat transfer, effectiveness is a measure of the performance of a heat exchanger; (d) business/management, effectiveness relates to getting the right things done; (e) human–computer interaction, the accuracy and completeness of users tasks while using a system; and (f) medicine, effectiveness relates to how well a treatment works in practice. This concept analysis will focus on effectiveness in relation to treating an illness and patient outcome. As previously stated, it is important to consider how treatments can also have an effect on the patient. A patient’s illness must acutely be treated, but it is imperative to also set long term goals so the most effective and desired outcome can be achieved. Walker & Avant (2005) describe defining, or critical attributes as the characteristics that are most frequently associated with a concept. These attributes are key factors that must be present in defining the concept that is analyzed. Literature reviewed helped determine the characteristics attributed to the concept of effective in terms of nursing and medical treatment including, being free of disease or illness, decreased discomfort and suffering, scientific support, and improved quality of life. Another characteristic of effective nursing and medical treatment that should be considered is cost. Patients are sometimes informed about optional medical treatments that are available, but experimental and not yet approved by the FDA, nor covered by one’s medical insurance. There are many experimental treatments that have proven to be effective in curing illness but sadly, most cannot afford to pay for these treatments. This also applies if a person’s insurance does not cover a specific test, medicine, or treatment. A patient’s personal experience should also be taken into consideration; people with the same illness could receive the same therapy or treatment, but have different outcomes. An 11 year old boy presents to the emergency department with an obvious deformity to his left lower leg after falling off his bike, he is triaged and quickly seen by a physician for treatment. The physician puts a cast on his leg and informs the boy’s parents that his injury is not indicative of surgery and the bone should heal properly while casted. They are told to return in six weeks to have the cast removed and to evaluate the healing progression. The boy’s parents are then advised of activity restrictions, given a prescription for as needed pain medication and discharged home. They returned six weeks later and reported compliancy with the activity restrictions and he that only complained of pain the first couple days following the injury, which was managed well by the prescribed pain medication. The physician’s reassessment of the patient’s leg indicated optimal healing had occurred and the cast was removed, thus achieving the desired outcome. This case identifies that the patient’s pain was well managed and restrictions on activity were followed. The outcome identifies the patient is free of injury and discomfort, and quality of life was not affected, modeling all the critical attributes indicative of effective treatment. An 18 year old male is transported to a hospital via ambulance for an injury he sustained while playing in his high school’s football game. It was is reported to the healthcare team that he was tackled to the ground by an opposing player and Due to the risk of injury to his spinal cord and the patient complaining of sever back pain, radiological tests were performed. Tests showed in addition to the injury sustained during the game, he also suffered from some degree of spinal stenosis. The physicians explained a need for immediate treatment as it was imperative to surgically repair the damage to his spine by undergoing a spinal fusion. The physicians also inform them in order to achieve optimal healing and reduce the risk of further, irreversible long term damage, he will be unable to play football again. This news is very upsetting for the patient because not only is he unable to play again, it was his dream to make football a career and was already accepted to college on a football scholarship. This patient was discharged from the hospital a week after his surgery with outpatient physical therapy sessions if needed and a prescription for pain medication. The healthcare team explained to the patient, despite the possibility of mild back pain, the surgical treatment he underwent was effective. The concept of effective treatment related to this patient’s injury is that of a borderline case. Although the outcome of his treatment restricts his physical activity, healthcare providers were able to successfully treat his injury with surgical intervention. Pain medication was prescribed to decrease any discomfort or pain that may occur because from experience and scientific data, healthcare providers are able to recognize what treatments are proven successful to achieve the best outcome for the patient. A 17 year old girl, suffering from anorexia and bulimia, is admitted to the hospital for the fifth time in seven months. Every admission, including this one, she has received enteral feedings to improve caloric intake and hemodynamic status. The psychological status of this patient is also evaluated by a hospital therapist in addition to ongoing outpatient treatment for her eating disorder. The patient’s parents voice their concerns to the healthcare team about her deteriorating health status and frustrations with outpatient therapy not being effective. They are concerned because even though her health status improves with the treatment she receives in the hospital, outpatient therapy is not helping her maintain it. The physicians recognize with her parent’s concerns and agree she needs intensive therapy from an inpatient facility that specializes in eating disorders. However, the patient’s insurance will not cover extended inpatient treatment and is too expensive for her parents to pay out of pocket, so they must continue treatment that has been seemingly ineffective to her recovery. The outcome in this scenario is that of a contrary case of effective nursing or medical treatment. Although this patient is always acutely treated, she is not free of her disease because she continues to purge food or not eat at all. Her quality of life is also effected due to multiple hospital admits and her daily struggle with food. This patient’s outpatient therapy shows to be ineffective and sadly she continues to suffer with a n eating disorder. It is essential to discuss related framework to identify and clarify the meaning of an analyzed concept. Walker & Avant (2005) define antecedents as events that must occur prior to the occurrence of the concept. In order for a therapy or treatment to be effective, there first must be a person with an injury or illness who seeks medical care. After an individual has gone to an emergency department, urgent care, or physician’s office, they are evaluated by a healthcare team that includes a physician and nurse. Then, the healthcare team diagnosis’s the patient before deciding on the type of treatment warranted to treat their injury or illness. It’s imperative to include the patient in deciding treatment as â€Å"active patient involvement in medical decision making improves their quality of life and outcomes from treatment† (Egger, 1995. p. 384). When a type of treatment has been determined, it may require the patient to legally consent. The patient’s healthcare team is responsible for informing them about the treatment and any associated risks that may occur as a result. Once the patient’s treatment is completed they will be evaluated by the healthcare team, thus resulting in a patient outcome. The consequences, or events that occur as a result of, are the outcomes of a concept (Walker & Avant 2011). The consequences effective medical treatment are improved health status, decreased need for health services, increased patient satisfaction, and healing. All of these outcomes are desired by the patient as well as the healthcare team. These outcomes can have a huge influence on healthcare by providing data for healthcare providers and individuals researching treatment options. â€Å"Outcomes are the ultimate test of the effectiveness of medical care. Patient outcomes are clinical endpoints, functional status, general well-being, and satisfaction with medical care† (Coyle & Battles, 1999. p. 5). Empirical referents can be described as actual phenomena that by their actual existence or presence demonstrated the occurrence of a concept, in which is proven useful in instrument development (Walker & Avant, 2005). It is important to note that empirical referents measure and relate to the defining attributes of effective, not just the concept itself (Walker & Avant, 2011). Since effective (medical treatment) is subjective as well as objective, it is essential to consider both phenomena that occur with this concept. Improved health status is the most significant phenomena associated with effective health treatment, both subjectively and objectively, relating to the attribute of being free from illness or injury and quality of life. The healthcare team objectively considers a patient’s treatment as effective if it has cured illness, resolved injury, or improved quality of life. Scientific research provide healthcare providers with support in determining what medical treatment has proven effective. For patients, aside from being free of illness or injury, quality of life is typically the most important. There are many different treatments that cure illnesses, but sometimes alter a person’s quality of life. A patient can be in remission from cancer by receiving radiation and chemotherapy, but also causing a negative impact on their functionality, appearance, and general well-being. In order to determine how treatment has effected a patient’s quality of life, healthcare providers must formulate their own opinion based off of their knowledge of the patient and assess how the patient feels the treatment has impacted their life. Lastly, a patient’s use of medical services will be decreased or not needed at all. This analysis of the concept of effective medical treatment is defined as an outcome producing the intended or desired outcome. This concept has also shown to be complex, being that it is subjective as well as objective. Healthcare providers and patients must agree that the treatment was effective to the illness or injury. Effective medical treatment is achieved after a person with an illness or injury seeks medical attention and receives treatment for it. A review of literature on this concept concludes that to improve quality of life and patient satisfaction, the healthcare team must integrate the patient’s values and preferences about the intended treatment or therapy (Egger, 1995). References Coyle, Y. M., & Battles, J. B. (1999). Using antecedents of medical care to develop valid quality of care measures. International Journal for Quality in Health Care, 11(1), 5-12. Effective. (n.d. a). In Definitions.net. Retrieved from http://www.definitions.net/definition/effective Effective. (n.d. b). In Wikipedia. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effective Egger, M. (1995). Systematic reviews in health care: Meta-analysis in context. London: Wiley. Stedman’s Medical Dictionary. (2006). Effectiveness. Retrieved from http://www.medilexicon.com/medicaldictionary/effectivness Walker, L., & Avant, K. (2005). Strategies for theory construction in nursing. (4th ed.). United States of America: Prentice Hall. Walker, L., & Avant, K. (2011). Strategies for theory construction in nursing. (5th ed.). United States of America: Prentice Hall. View as multi-pages

Computer Technology During The 70’s 80’s And 90’s Essay

Computer technology during the 70’s 80’s and 90’s Computer technology took a great leap in development during the 70’s when schools, businesses, and universities began to use computers. The 70’s would have to be the beginning of the technology of computers, as we know it today. The personal computer became big in the 80’s. Now computers are being updated daily, if not hourly. During the 70’s computers and computer use began to become known by everyone. This period was a time for development and improvement. The 70’s was where many things we use today were introduced; although what we have today is far more improved. This time wasn’t the beginning of all computers, but it was the beginning for many things, including the microprocessor, microcomputer, and the all so important, personal computer. In the early 70’s we already had some types of computers which were developed in previous years. They consisted of a hard drive a type of keyboard and mostly a very small screen. Moving into the 70’s we started developing more useful things like the floppy disk. This made it possible to store information onto a removable disk that could be transferred to other compatible computers. We also see the first microprocessor, which is a type of miniature electronic device that contains the arithmetic, logic, and control circuitry necessar y to perform the functions. Before it took large machines to hold this memory where now it can be programmed on a small chip. In this period we also see the first IBM laser printer and also the first IBM ink jet printer. Bill Gates and Paul Allen also introduce Microsoft during this time. A development during the late 70’s and maybe the most important development during this time was the personal computer, also known as the PC. The PC is a computer designed for use by only one person at a time. A personal computer is a type of microcomputer, or in other words, a small digital computer that uses only one microprocessor. The first PC consisted of a CPU (central processing unit), memory a keyboard and a display screen. A typical personal computer today consists of a CPU, memory, consisting of hard magnetic disks and a disk drive, a display screen , keyboard, mouse, modem, printer, and external memory, usually in the form of floppy disks or CD-ROMs (compact disc read-only memory). The IBM 5100 Portable Computer was IBM’s first attempt to build a personal  computer back in 1974. Weighing in at 50 pounds and costing around $10,000, the IBM 5100 had a built-in tape drive, a small CRT and the capability of running programs in either BASIC or APL (A Programming Language, created by IBM). The monitor could display 16 lines of 64 characters each, the memory could be expanded to 64K, and the tape drive used a 1/4 inch tape cartridge similar to an 8-track stereo tape that could store about 200 K of data. Although designed to be a small business computer, the high cost and lack of interfacing capability limited the acceptance of what could be called the first personal computer, the IBM 5100. The 1980’s were also an important time for computer technology. In this period we see many programs being introduced. The 70’s was the main time for computer technology, but the 80’s was the time for building onto what computing already was. During this time period computers started becoming more advanced, with more memory, faster loading time, and smaller devices, which hold even more memory. IBM, one of the largest computer companies during this time hired Microsoft to develop an operating system for their proposed personal computer. This is when Bill Gates and Microsoft develop Microsoft DOS (MS-DOS). Osborne hits big in 1980 with building the first portable computer â€Å"Osborne I.† Although they were going well for a while, in 1982 the Osborne Co. went out of business. The internet was first introduced in the mid 70’s, but it wasn’t the internet as we know today. There were very few hosts, nothing like today. The 80’s was the gateway into the internet of today. In 1984 the number of internet hosts broke 1000, 10,000 in 1987, and it broke 100,000 in 1989. Today there are millions. The new and improved mailing system is introduced, we know it as e-mail. IBM, Apple, Mackintosh were making upgrades on their systems monthly, making them faster and modernizing them slightly. Microsoft was a big factor in upgrading the computer system. In 1983 they introduced Windows, the most commonly used program today. Microsoft also introduces Dos 3.0

Free Essays on The Fall Of Rome

The Roman civilization began with the republic in 509 BCE. It grew to be a large empire by the rime or it’s fall in 476 CE. When Rome began it was helped to develop because it had many untapped resources, such as dense forests, rich, black soil, and large veins of rich minerals under the ground. Document number three shows that Rome was located in present day Europe. Europe is bordered by the North Sea, the Baltic Sea, the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, the Adriatic Sea, and the Black Sea. The seas that surrounded the land made it ideal for trade. Even though the land was rich in resources and a good place for trade, it eventually fell in 476 CE. There are many different reasons that are used to explain the fall of Rome, powered by both internal and external forces. In the early 400s, there were many attacks on Rome, mainly from the Visigoths. This weakened Rome to a great extent. Rome had been used to being the most powerful area, and they had captured many other parts of the the world. They really did not realize, until it was too late, that they could be captured themselves. This is stated in document number one. In response to a growing need for protection, a new system called feudalism developed. Feudalism was a loosely organized system of rule in which powerful lords divided their large landholdings among the lesser lords. Feudalism helped to strengthen the weakened Rome somewhat, but not completely. An internal cause for the fall of Rome lay in their values. Document number seven states, â€Å"...there is a growing lack of justice in judgments, skill in trades, discipline in daily life.† This means that people were loosing sight of what they were meant to do. Their morals were slipping down steadily, and basically, everything was going downhill. Document number two shows why they were able to keep the Roman empire alive for so many years because they maintained the civil and military services. They were able to ... Free Essays on The Fall Of Rome Free Essays on The Fall Of Rome The Roman civilization began with the republic in 509 BCE. It grew to be a large empire by the rime or it’s fall in 476 CE. When Rome began it was helped to develop because it had many untapped resources, such as dense forests, rich, black soil, and large veins of rich minerals under the ground. Document number three shows that Rome was located in present day Europe. Europe is bordered by the North Sea, the Baltic Sea, the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, the Adriatic Sea, and the Black Sea. The seas that surrounded the land made it ideal for trade. Even though the land was rich in resources and a good place for trade, it eventually fell in 476 CE. There are many different reasons that are used to explain the fall of Rome, powered by both internal and external forces. In the early 400s, there were many attacks on Rome, mainly from the Visigoths. This weakened Rome to a great extent. Rome had been used to being the most powerful area, and they had captured many other parts of the the world. They really did not realize, until it was too late, that they could be captured themselves. This is stated in document number one. In response to a growing need for protection, a new system called feudalism developed. Feudalism was a loosely organized system of rule in which powerful lords divided their large landholdings among the lesser lords. Feudalism helped to strengthen the weakened Rome somewhat, but not completely. An internal cause for the fall of Rome lay in their values. Document number seven states, â€Å"...there is a growing lack of justice in judgments, skill in trades, discipline in daily life.† This means that people were loosing sight of what they were meant to do. Their morals were slipping down steadily, and basically, everything was going downhill. Document number two shows why they were able to keep the Roman empire alive for so many years because they maintained the civil and military services. They were able to ... Free Essays on The Fall Of Rome The fall of Rome The fall of Rome wasn’t something that happened over night. The whole process lasted hundreds of years. Also, all of Rome did not disintegrate. Only the western half of Rome fell; for the eastern half was wealthier and less afflicted by barbarians and civil wars. There is no single reason for Rome’s decline. However, it can more or less be broken down into three parts. The Germanic tribes were responsible for a lot of the pressure on Romans at the time. The sporadic barbarian attacks left border regions destroyed and depopulated. In order to defend themselves they needed a stronger army so higher taxes and labor services were forced upon citizens causing middle and lower class people to hate the government because it had taken so much from them. Also during this time Peoples spiritual sense began to diminish. Their feeling of individuality and power of intellect became less and less. The urban upper class where the people who basically made the society work began losing interest in public life. The aristocrats hid inside the walls of their estates and did not lift a finger to help the situation. The townspeople were very angry and acted on this by avoiding public services and rarely putting up resistance against barbarian invaders. Many farmers viewed the Germans as liberators. The masses of the roman citizenry eventually gave up even though they outnumbered the barbarians. The roman government itself contributed to the spiritual malaise through its increasingly autocratic tendencies, which culminated in the regimented rule of Diocletian and Constantine. For many, the state had become the enemy, and its administration was hated and feared more than the Germans. In the late Roman Empire the quality of Roman soldiers and the legions failed to defend the borders. The army consisted predominately of ...

Hoop Dreams essays

Hoop Dreams essays The way out of the Ghettos Hoop Dreams The Movie Hoop Dreams Deals with the lives of two boys who are trying to acquire the American Dream through their skills in basketball. This documentary depicts the struggle of these African American children born into ghettos during the late twentieth century with their only venue out of the ghetto through their ability in basketball. The documentary also shows the racially and economically motivated treatment by a predominantly white school to these above average basketball players. This racially and economically based action, on part of the school, seems to be exemplified by the documentary style. One of the ways that this is achieved is through the comparisons of the two children. There are many juxtaposing incidents in the two boys lives, which creates great comparisons between the two boys lives. One of the main incidents is the scholarship money given to both William Gates as well as Arthur Agee. There is a full scholarship given to William Gates while Arthur Agee is only given half. The full money goes to the better player rather than that of the worse, which makes sense but the interesting thing is that at the end of the movie one can see that the money went towards the player who had less interest in basketball than the other did. Coming from a low-income household William Gates is not able to pay the full amount of money to attend the high school. In the documentary William Gates receives the full tuition grant by the Britannica Corporation, which was motivated by the private school. It shows that he had, at a younger age, more athletic ability than Arthur did. It also shows that the white school is only interested in the athletic ability of the African American Students. They did this while not taking into the account Arthur, as a person. This Documentary also portrays to the audience that William is the person to ...

History and Members of The Warsaw Pact

History and Members of The Warsaw Pact The Warsaw Pact was established in 1955 after West Germany became a part of NATO. It was formally known as the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance. The Warsaw Pact, made up of Central and Eastern European countries, was meant to counter the threat from the NATO countries. Each country in the Warsaw Pact pledged to defend the others against any outside military threat. While the organization stated that each nation would respect the sovereignty and political independence of the others, each country was in some way controlled by the Soviet Union. The pact dissolved at the end of the Cold War in 1991.   History of the Pact After  World War II, the Soviet Union sought to control as much of Central and Eastern Europe as it could. In the 1950s, West Germany was rearmed and allowed to join NATO. The countries that bordered West Germany were fearful that it would again become a military power, as it had been just a few years earlier. This fear caused Czechoslovakia to attempt to create a security pact with Poland and East Germany. Eventually, seven countries came together to form the Warsaw Pact: Albania (until 1968)BulgariaCzechoslovakiaEast Germany (until 1990)HungaryPolandRomaniaThe  Soviet Union The Warsaw Pact lasted for 36 years. In all of that time, there was never a direct conflict between the organization and NATO. However, there were many proxy wars, especially between the Soviet Union and the United States in places such as Korea and Vietnam. Invasion Of Czechoslovakia On Aug. 20, 1968, 250,000 Warsaw Pact  troops invaded Czechoslovakia in what was known as Operation Danube. During the operation, 108 civilians were killed and another 500 were wounded by the invading troops. Only Albania and Romania refused to participate in the invasion. East Germany did not send troops to Czechoslovakia but only because Moscow ordered its troops to stay away. Albania eventually left  the Warsaw Pact because of the invasion. The military action was an attempt by the Soviet Union to oust Czechoslovakias Communist Party leader Alexander Dubcek whose plans to reform his country did not align with the Soviet Unions wishes. Dubcek wanted to liberalize his nation and had many plans for reforms, most of which he was unable to initiate. Before Dubcek was arrested during the invasion, he urged citizens not to resist militarily because he felt that presenting a military defense would have meant exposing the Czech and Slovak peoples to a senseless bloodbath. This sparked many nonviolent protests throughout the country.   End of the Pact Between 1989 and 1991, the Communist parties in most of the countries in the Warsaw Pact were ousted. Many of the Warsaw Pacts member nations considered the organization to be essentially defunct in 1989 when none assisted Romania militarily during its violent revolution. The  Warsaw Pact  formally existed for another couple of years until 1991- just months before the USSR disbanded- when the organization was officially dissolved in Prague.

The Enduring Value of History Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

The Enduring Value of History - Assignment Example The history of modern art dates back to 1880. Modern art broke from the restrictions of realism in art that was the norm in those days. Modern art embraced a subjective representation of real life objects. Modern artwork is more inclined to looking inwards and artists seek to portray the evolution of their subject over a period of time. According to Gregory, this form of art was targeted at showcasing the evolution of ideas over time and the impact of the society . Modern art evolved over time to present the changes in the society. Impressionism was the first form of modern art that deviated from the traditional aspects of art. The modern artists who practiced this style focused majorly on recreating the scene of the art and appealing to the emotional aspect of the painting. Cubism was more inclined towards finding strong forms for art work instead of just squares. The composition of the artwork was given prominence and primitive geometric shapes were not prioritized. The most vital aspect of modern art that is relevant to the requirements of Apperception is the use abstraction. Abstract art focuses on a feeling of thought that cannot be quantified and not necessarily a recognizable object. The paintings that applied this style showcased several layers of abstraction. The importance of this abstraction is that it spurs the mind to generate interpretations of the painting in several unique ways . It’s a possibility to have a unique interpretation of the painting each time that he sees it.

Analyze the main reasons why companies decide to internationalize Assignment

Analyze the main reasons why companies decide to internationalize their activities - Assignment Example With the rush to globalize corporations on the increase, it is of great importance that the reasons behind this internationalization be analyzed. In the work of Rugman (2003), it is evident that corporations internationalize their businesses so as to remain competitive and relevant in the market. This form of networking is evident in the case of Chabros International Group that internationalized its markets so as to stay relevant in the tough economic times of the time (Farah, 2010). Additionally firms internationalize so as to fit in the current global economy (Czinkota & Ronkainen, 2007). Relationships between varying firms are considered as networks that require co-existence and relationship between the varying complexes. For instance, the manufacturing industries have to create close links with production, distribution as well as service provision. In this case, internationalization is inevitable if a firm has to remain in the market. Mathis, Rogmans & Albqami (2011) say that there are many risks in the market including the political risk. With the financial and political risks on the rise, notable the global crisis of 2007, and unrests in Middle East and North Africa respectively, Mathis, Rogmans & Albqami (2011) indicate that there was need to change the macroeconomic policies in UAE and Saudi Arabia to reduce the impacts of global crisis on the economy. In this instance, there is need for internalization of the management base of the investors in multinational companies so as to reduce the liability of foreign investors, and the need to incorporate local partners in their corporations. Cavusgil, Ghauri & Sinkovics (2009) argue that corporations face stiff competition in the domestic market. Internalization for their markets gives them a chance to devise policies that will keep them running in such touch economic conditions. Through setting market policies, corporations are able to react to unforeseen threats from their foreign competitors, and as a