Performance in practice and reflective account

Performance in practice and reflective account Introduction Assessment has always been an indispensible part of the learning process. The process helps to evaluate whether the course program results in generating benefits for the individuals participating in it. However, the process of assessment is not focused in real term. As per the studies conducted by Gibbs (1999) and Elton Johnston (2002), around 10% of the tasks that the students do in their academics are not accessed at all. On considering the case of nursing, it is noted that the lack of assessment leaves the chances of patients and public to suffer. On the other hand, the regressive assessment process can help a lot to the people attached with it. Mentorship always plays an important role in the preparation of the student to work in the practical environment. In my course of mentorship, I work as the staff nurse at the operation theatre. Recently in our organization, we have implemented the force tread valley lab and Aatherny machine in our department. There are several complications attached with the machine, as not many people have used it in their learning courses. Thus, it becomes important for me to make the students learn about the machine, how to operate it, how to take care of any unexpected result etc. For this assignment, I had conducted assessment program to analyse the learning that the learners gain from this machine. Based on the assessment done, I have come up with some important findings related to the machine and learners as well. Therefore, hereon, I would be discussing the experience after the proper assessment of the learners for the force tread valley lab and Aatherny machine incorporated in our department. For better analysis results, I had a meeting with the associate health practitioner to understand the proper ways of evaluation. My talks with him had helped me a lot in reaching to my goals i n quite a professional manner. Assessment Methods The process of assessment should of such a kind that that the students are able to gain something from it. If the process of learning is found to have some flaws as per the assessment, it is better to make amendments in the learning process (Brown et al., 1997). Thereon raises the need of rigorous assessment process the mentor shall take right steps of assessment to reach to the right results. In case mentor does not take right steps to assess his students, the results can be pathetic for both the student and the patients in the future. Thus, there are number of assessment processes in place. Some of the most commonly used assessment processes include (ACGME, 2000):- Patient Surveys Patient surveys are used for the assessment of satisfaction with the clinics, hospitals and they include questions about the physicians care (Smee, 2004). The questions are used with some general aspects of the physicians care (time spent with the patient), physician competency (knowledge and skills, courtesy or empathy). Some more specific aspects of care include physicians explanations, treatment steps and drug side effects, listening skills. Typical survey method includes rating techniques with poor, fair, good, very good, excellent rating standards or agreements with the care describing statements by using yes or no statement. Each rating has given a value and then the satisfactions score is calculated by the average of all responses for generating single score or scores for different clinical care settings or activities Objective structured Clinical Examination In the OSCE method, one or two assessment tools are managed by almost 12-20 patient encounter stations. Each station lasts after 10-15 minutes. Candidates may complete the patient notes or a detailed written examination about some previous patients encounter. All candidates move from one station to other station with the sequence of same schedule. Standardized patients are considered as the primary assessment tools that are used in OSCEs but it includes data interpretation exercise with the clinical cases and clinical conditions with anatomical models for the assessment of technical skills. 360 degree evaluation method 360-degreee evaluation method includes measurement tools that are to be completed by multiple people under the persons sphere of influence. The evaluators are peers, subordinates, patients, families and supervisors. This evaluation process uses questionnaire to collect information about the performances of individuals on several topics such as communication, management skills, decision- making, teamwork etc. The process also include rating scales for the assessment that how the behavior is performed. Then the ratings are summarized for all type of evaluations by the topic and overall for the purpose of providing feedback. Chart stimulated recall oral examination (CSR) In the CSR, the examinees are assessed in the form of standardized oral examinations. A trained and experienced examiner asks the questions about care provided for the reasons behind the diagnoses, interpretation of clinical findings and some treatment plans. The examiners rate the examinee by using well established scoring procedure. The well designed CSR cases generally take 5 to 10 minutes for each one but the typical CSR process is of two hours with one or more than one examiners/ physician per separates sessions of 30-60 minutes. Written Examinations This is just the test using Multiple- choice questions to check for the performance on participants. Simulation and model Simulation methods are used to assess the clinical performances and that are close to the reality and attempt to reproduce (Novotny et al., 2006; Waltz et al, 2010). However, these are not used for duplicating real clinical problems. Here are some attributes for simulation methods allow the examinees for a reason through the clinical problems without any signal. They integrate some options, permit the examinees for making some threatening errors without any damage to the patient, provide feedback to correct the mistake done, give rating to the performances of examinees on some clinical problems, which are impossible at the time of evaluation effectively. Some simulation methods have been developed as PMPs (patient management problems), role- playing situation (clinical team simulations, standardized patients (SPs), anatomical models or the combination of these three types. Anatomical models are used for body organs for pathological findings to simulate the disease of patients. VR sim ulations (virtual reality simulations) use computers with anatomical models and that allows an assessment of procedural skills and other clinical tasks Hereon, in the case at hand, we had made use of Simulation and model technique. This technique seems to be the best choice for this task because the course relates to learning of the force tread valley lab and Aatherny machine that is recently implemented in our department. The simulated environment gives a number of options that relate to reality. The student can learn practically, using this approach. I gave the students an opportunity to perform in the real time environment. In this practical environment, students are able to perform practically, and even there is no risk of any patients health. Thus, the life is safe as well. Direct practice on an individual is quite a risky practice. Therefore, the risk free method shall be made into practice. Hereon, the assessment method suggested very good results for me. It was quite a fair way to assess anyone. There cannot be any sort of variation due to any reason. Even the chances of biasness are minimized using the approach. What matter s in this assessment method is the practical performance. Critical Reflection The learning process in nursing is of quite importance. The successors of the course are expected to be responsible for the lives of people in the future. Therefore, there is the need for proper assessment of an individual who enrols in the program. I was given an opportunity to assess the performance of my students. My students were performing well in the theory sessions. I found that the force tread valley lab and Aatherny Machine are quite crucial to in the nursing related activities. The students here in our course were trying to workout to learn how to make use of these devices in practice. One who makes use of both the machine and the knowledge of nursing is the actual nursing specialist, else knowing how to operate a machine would just make him limit to being a machine operator (Andrist et al., 2006; APA, 2008). The nurses are seen facing trouble in using technological devices since the mid 1960s (Sandlelowski, 2000). Thus, there is something, which acts as a hurdle against the process of learning to handle technological devices. The process suggests the right use of skills in order to gain from the machines. The skills of nurses are evaluated more and more using the usage skills of machines (Ferguson Calder, 1993), as t hese machines have become an indispensible part in ones nursing course process. Even the introduction of the machine in our department adds to the reason for learning the process of using machine. Hereon, the results I got from the performance of students was quite astonishing. I was happy to see that some of the students operated the machine in simulated environment in such a good manner that it seems that these students can operate in a real world environment as well. These students are expected to grow at a good rate within their career arena. However, the performance of some of the students was too bad. We are lucky that we have the assessment model of simulated environment, from which we can find out the students who are too weak to handle the practical situations. These students are too risky to operate in real term. Therefore, the right use of the simulated environment was of help for me to analyse the performance of students and their easiness to operate the machine. Based on the assessment, the weaker students are suggested to work out on their learning sessions. Machines are usually found tough to be used by the students in general (Brown Edwards, 2007; Anderson, 2000). The student needs to learn the process of using the machine along with implementation of their nursing knowledge, which is not an easy task. Therefore, the problem situation arises hereon. In our case, as our department did not make use of any machine in earlier days, but sudden incorporation of machine in our department had acted as a hurdle against our regular management operations. The need of proper knowledge in technical terms can help an individual to perform in a better manner. Thus, mentors are quite crucial to assess the students. I shall however keep an eye to maintain the standards as per the NMC (2006). This suggests me to assess thoroughly each of the students performance. This would help me in reaching to the right assessment decision. Conclusion The assessment has been an important player in the success of an individuals performance. Thus, I need to properly evaluate the students to understand their comfort with using the force tread valley lab and Aatherny Machine. The simulated assessment method used by me was quite a good choice. I was able to clearly analyse and evaluate the performance of individuals. Some of the students were though finding it tough to use the machine. This was mainly due to the reason that our organization did not use the machine earlier. Thus, it further added to the complexity of assessing the students. I found the successful candidates in this evaluation method were quite strong in their performance activities, and I expect the bright future of these individuals. The recent implementation of machine in our department acted as the major reason for this. The learning to use a machine is a time consuming process. It is expected that with due course of time, my students would be able to learn the way to use the machine. However, I have even planned extra sessions for those who do not perform well during my assessment sessions. These special sessions would be aimed to help the students in learning the areas they are lacking in. This way, I would be able to generate brighter talent from my department, which can be a great asset for future nursing.

“Leaders of our Society: Are they born or made?” Essay

The issue about leadership has always been a topic in conversation, specifically the concern about leaders being â€Å"born or made†. People often talk and argue about this issue, because we have different points of view regarding this. And it is also because the concept of a leader and leadership is important to people. As discussed in the ‘psychology of leadership’ (http://www. leadersdirect. com), leaders are important to people probably due to the following reasons: we feel the need of someone to look up to when we feel lost or anxious, when things fail or do not go as planned we seek to blame the leaders, we look at leaders like our fathers who look after us, gives us inspiration and makes us feel good, and we seek for their approval. This are some of the reasons why see leaders important in our society, and because of this reasons we always seek the answer to the question: Are leaders born or made? Some leadership theories would argue that leaders are born not made. The ‘Great Man† theories assumes that the leadership capacity of a person is inherent (Kendra Van Wagner, About. com). These theories view leadership as a heroic and mythic concept and that the born leaders assume the position when needed by the people. Similar to the great man theories the â€Å"Trait† theories also assume that leaders possess certain trait or qualities needed to be one. But one problem that theorists see about the trait theories is that it has identified the characteristics that leaders have and the question about this is â€Å"how about the people possessing the characteristics but are not leaders? † (Kendra Van Wagner, About. com). Other theories such as the â€Å"Behavioral theories†, on the other hand, suggest that great leaders are made and not born. This type of theories discusses that through education people can learn to be leaders. According to Wagner in Leadership Theories – 8 Major Leadership Theories, (About. com), behavioral leadership theories focus on the actions of great leaders and not on mental qualities of these people. Today the issue of leaders being born or made is not as essential in shaping our views for us to be able to tell who the leaders are and who are not. It is not important who had leadership abilities since birth and who learned being a leader from experience, what’s important is that these leaders exist and take on the responsibility to step up and lead people. If we come to think of it, a more logical perspective would be, leaders are sort of born and made. One thing that a future leader probably needs to born with is the intelligence (Block, 2006). In order to be fit as a person who will take this responsibility one has to be smart enough. Leaders are expected to have that special skill and ability to do what they are assigned and to understand the areas where they need to improve in as well as the capacity to think of how he or she will be effective given different situations. People who would become great leaders are also expected to be able to recognize learning as an important factor in shaping one’s leadership abilities. Furthermore, leaders are also made in the sense that they constantly learn things in the process. Being born with the skill is important but still eighty percent of their leaders’ skills is acquired from learning experience. They improve their craft through using feedbacks from his or her environment, and also through seeking more training where they can acquire additional skills and knowledge on what they do. Some of the leaders we know today possess this kind of abilities and intelligence, such as the president of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Hosni Mubarak, Osama Bin Laden, as well as the western leaders Tony Blair, Rudy Guiliani and former US president George W. Bush Jr (http://en. wikipedia. org). All of these people have been able to become leaders not because they were born to be one, but because they used the gift they were born with and improved their leadership skills through learning. People have been debating on this issue for a long time, not too long ago people had their definitions of a leader and have described the nature of leadership. These definitions have helped in shaping our concept of leadership today that people who are born with the intelligence of a future leader should also learn through the process to achieve that leadership title. Works Cited: Bock, Wally. â€Å"Are Leaders Born or Made? † (2006). June 3, 2009 . Gerstel, Judy. â€Å"The Psychology of Leadership. † (2001). June 3, 2009 . McCrimmon, Mitch. â€Å"Leadership in the Mind – the Psychology of Leadership†. leadersdirect. com. June 3, 2009. . Wagner, Kendra Van. â€Å"Leadership Theories – 8 Major Leadership Theories. † June 3, 2009 .

A Review of Argumentative Essay Topics on Feminism

A Review of Argumentative Essay Topics on Feminism The Benefit A persuasive essay grants you the advantage of digging through a matter. An explication usually includes the issue and its solutions. Concentrate on the language and vocabulary you're using to present your ideas. English language classes usually need a lot of writing. Below you'll find specific instructions about how to compose a comparison essay on any topic, which is well written and are going to have very good opportunity to acquire a high grade. Below you'll find certain instructions about how to compose an argumentative essay on any topic, which is well written and are going to have excellent opportunity to have a good grade. Every bit of writing, whether it's a journal entry or an official essay, must be typed and stapled. Essay outline can help you structure your work together with choosing facts that support your key ideas of the essay. It is preferable to use templates since they include all necessary formatting elements. For each and every essay, a thesis statement is crucial because it reflects the principal suggestions and the essential points. An argumentative research composition isn't a regular essay. An argumentative essay, for example, does not appear from the blue. An academic essay based on argument will take a topic which should be on a matter of controversy that isn't only interesting to you, but to your readers. The definition of feminism is extremely easy and understandable. The subject of gender is a really wide subject. Regardless of the gender equality argumentative essay topics you're writing, avoid discriminating others. In summary, gender equality argumentative essay topics are extremely wide and challenging job to manage. Key Pieces of Argumentative Essay Topics on Feminism Therefore, there aren't any real definitions and the ways research can be accepted by men and women all over the world. Bear in mind that your personal experience is extremely crucial in gender research. There are always multiple means of managing a problem. The issues also have issues that exist around the world regarding gender. The Rise of Argumentative Essay Topics on Feminism It's a long-answer writing item type which tests a candidate's capacity to compose persuasive or argumentative essay on a particular topic. In the event the title is bland or boring in your eyes, then you are going to struggl e to find much traction once it comes to getting motivated to finish a high excellent project. So, the primary purpose of the discussion is to estimate all risks and locate a remedy to the issue. You might be interested in a topic but not have the background or capacity to handle it into a paper. You can be totally sure your paper is going to be delivered in time and be of the maximum quality. The paper should concern the use of female images, along with gender issues generally, for the industrial purposes and promoting capitalistic outlook. It should be a list of suggestions how to increase the number of females on the global political arena. There are invariably a broad range of opinions on the field of technology, and here are our favourite things to consider on the subject. Bear in mind that topics will need to become research questions as a way to find information and compose a very good paper. Even if you're a specialist in a particular field, don't be afraid to use and cite external sources. Even though the topic about the computer programs fulfills two of the 3 criteria-it interests you and there's loads of information-if it's beyond your abilities, you won't be in a position to finish a paper successfully. Your stance ought to be clear from the very start. In order to totally finish the assignment on gender discrimination, you ought to produce your very own relevant topic. One of the main explanations for why gun control is necessary is the growth in shooting situations, especially in schools. Consequently, gender equality is an extremely wide theme. In addition, gender inequality is a significant problem causing a gain in the rate of mortality and bad health facilities. In the current society, it means so much more than it used to. Thus, the gender doesn't mean anything.

Niche - Definition - Zoology Glossary

The term niche is used to describe the role an organism or population plays within its community or ecosystem. It encompasses all relationships that the organism (or population) has with its environment and with other organisms and populations in its environment. A niche can be viewed as a multi-dimensional measurement or range of conditions within which the organism operates and interacts with other components of its environment. In that sense, a niche has boundaries. For example, a species may be able to survive in a small range of temperatures. Another might live only within a certain range of elevations. An aquatic species may be successful only when they live in a certain range of water salinity.