Wednesday, October 30, 2019
Human Resource Issues for Business Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words
Human Resource Issues for Business - Case Study Example Within this area of research, an increasing body of literature contains the argument that, high performance work practices, including comprehensive employee's recruitment, selection procedures, incentives compensation and performance management systems, and extensive employee's involvement and training can improve the knowledge, skills and abilities of firms (Huselid, 1995, Jackson , Schuler., & Sparrow, 1994). Today, with the increasing researchers desire to demonstrate the importance of an effective human resource policy on organization performance research has shifted from a micro level that previously dominated research interest to a more general, strategic macro level (Doty &Delery 1996). The term human resource management is not new. It has been widely used by scholars and managers to refer to the set of policies designed to maximize organizational integration, employee commitment, flexibility and quality of work (Poole 1999). HRM do not only create competitive advantage f... The term human resource management is not new. It has been widely used by scholars and managers to refer to the set of policies designed to maximize organizational integration, employee commitment, flexibility and quality of work (Poole 1999). HRM do not only create competitive advantage for the organisation but is the force underpinning organisation's success (Turner, Keegan & Hueman 2006:317). No wonder, the way HRM practices and policies take shape also affects the employee's experiences of work and the employment relationship (Turner, Keegan & Hueman 2006:317). Within the mainstream HRM literature, there is a long tradition of research arguing that in order to make an optimal contribution to firm performance, HRM policies and practices should be integrated both with firm strategy, so-called vertical strategic integration and with each other, so-called horizontal integration. Paul Ilsles best fit model attached in the appendix lay emphasis on this. Against this background, this paper addresses some of the pertinent human resource issues identified in the case Major Bank Plc. The second part of the paper provides an overview of the human resource problems in Major Bank Plc. The third part of the paper uses Paul Iles Best fit model to provide a recommendation. 1.1 Human Resource Issues Facing Major Bank Plc Major Bank Plc is one of the largest regional Banks in the UK. As one of the market leaders in the Banking industry, the company is highly reputed among customers and has established a high level of credibility and goodwill in the market. The bank is significantly less exposed to internationally banking market place problems than many of its competitors. One problem the bank presently faces now is at the level of the
Monday, October 28, 2019
Damaging property Essay Example for Free
Damaging property Essay Much of Marlowes life would have brought much controversy. Christopher was reputation as a spy, a continuous blasphemer, a tough street-fighter and an openly gay homosexual did not let a lot of people love him.Ã Although the fight that resulted in his death is the only situation where there is evidence of Marlowe assaulting a person, he had a history of trouble with the law. Marlowe was arrested in London dating September 1589 following a brawl in which Thomas Watson killed a man named William Bradley. The jury found that Marlowe was not involved with Williams death and Watson was found to have acted in self-defense. In September 1592 in Canterbury, he was charged with damaging property. The other accusations of Marlowe being a homosexual or an atheist has no inconclusive evidence to prove these statements. My personal opinion, I think that Marlowe was accused of being gay and an atheist and accused being the key word. There are too many instances where people were accused of something during this time and killed over it. For example, the witch hunts that killed thousands of women after the Dark Ages. All because people were lead to believe that women could fly on brooms. So it is not far stretched to think that Marlowe may have been persecuted against for some trouble that he might have been linked too. These questions might never be answered. Marlowe was above all an admired artist for his time in the literary world. Within weeks of his death, George Peele referred to him as Marley, the Muses darling. Marlowes last name is actually another question. He was referred by different versions of his last name: Marl, Marlowe, Marley, and Merle. But the meaning of Muse is actually Greek mythology. The Muses were Any of the nine daughters of Mnemosyne and Zeus, each of whom presided over a different art or science. People did not understand why someone could be so gifted at one thing and not the other so it must have been the gods that blessed man with these gifts. Not to say that George Peele worshiped the Greek gods but he is only admiring Christopher Marlowes talents. As far as Christopher Marlowes career is considered, his work was glorified after his death. Obviously no one knew of the impact that his writing would have on English literature and the influence it would have on Shakespeares play writes. Shakespeare mastered blank verse after Marlowe introduced it into theatre. But even so, critics of his time recognized his talents. Robert Greene (1560?-1592) says who hat said with thee, There is no God, should now give glorie unto his greatnesse. It is in that line that gives proof that people immediately recognized his talents. Modern Criticism defiantly did what Robert Greene and glorifies his talents as well as his life. Todays critics also make some outrageous assumptions about Christopher. But for such little knowledge on someone and so many speculations in his life, people cannot help but to be intrigued with the mans career.Ã Christopher MarloweA man who has no certain last name. A man who was incognito during a certain point of his life. A man believed in being a spy. A man who was a street fighter. A man who was believed to be a homosexual. A man who was believed in being an atheist. A man who was trouble with the law. A man who introduced blank verse to theatre. A man who faked his death. Christopher Marlowe is a man of unanswered questions, but what is for certain is his impact with the English language. Bibliography Jonathan Bate. Danger down in Deptford The murder of Christopher Marlowe continues to fuel conspiracy theories, says Jonathan Bate. The Sunday Telegraph 23 Oct. 2005, ProQuest Newsstand, ProQuest. Web. 27 Jun. 2010. Jeffrey Meyers. Marlowes Lives. Michigan Quarterly Review 42.3 (2003): 468. Platinum Periodicals, ProQuest. Web. 27 Jun. 2010. Ed. Judith Oneill. Critics on Marlowe. Florida: University of Miami, 1970. Ed. Emily C. Bartels. Critical Essays on Christopher Marlowe. Florida: University of Miami, 1997
Saturday, October 26, 2019
Macbeths Ambition As Displayed In Act 1, Scene 7 Essay -- essays resea
In Macbethââ¬â¢s soliloquy in Act I, scene 7, Macbeth hesitates because of both pragmatic and moral causes; although, his moral scruples seem to overpower the pragmatic arguments. Macbeth is torn between these two issues, and his unique way of deciphering his problems is exhibited in this scene. Macbeth feels that if he were to assassinate the king, Duncan, that he better do it soon. The first line of Act I, scene 7 begins with, ââ¬Å"If it were done when ââ¬Ëtis done, then ââ¬Ëtwere well; It were done quickly.â⬠So, basically, Macbeth feels that if the crime was committed when it needed to be, and if it were done quickly, then he would be safe. This argument is a moral concern toward Macbeth, this is the first thought that comes to his mind, because it is exhibited in the fist line of his soliloquy. Macbeth is hesitant to murder Duncan, because he feels that he would be eternally punished in hell for committing such a heinous crime. Macbeth expresses these feelings in lines 7-10, ââ¬Å"But here upon this bank and shoal of time; Weââ¬â¢d jump the life to come.â⬠The ââ¬Å"life to comeâ⬠, is the afterlife, which would be an eternity of suffering for Macbeth, because of his assassination of Duncan. Thus, making this argument a moral concern, and one of Macbethââ¬â¢s overpowering arguments in his soliloquy. Macbeth feels that if he were to succeed the throne from Duncan, the common people would feel a sense of mistrust toward Macbeth. Macbeth expresses these thoughts in lines 7-10, ââ¬Å"Lines 7-10: ââ¬Å"We still have j...
Thursday, October 24, 2019
Green Days by the River
How would you feel if you were put in the position of having to choose between attending school and getting an education over working so that you can help your family circumstances? Shell, a fifteen year old boy had made a decision to work instead of attending school and obtain an education. Why do you think a boy that young will choose to work? Shell chose to work because he is helping out his mother as she is the only one in the family who is doing well other than himself. His father is ill as he was put to bed rest. Shell has made a commitment to work on a plantation with Mr. Gidaharee and also he has gotten a second job at a coco plantation to help out his family circumstances by being another member in the family who can support financially. Do you think that was a good choice that Shell made? I believe that the role of a fifteen year old has a right to attend school and obtain an education but also I believe that a fifteen year old has a right to help out his or her family circumstances. You must be thinking which one I agree with the most. Well I agree with working to help your family circumstances. If Shell does not help out financially then where will that put his family? In this case as I mentioned before Shell is a fifteen year old boy who has chosen to work over obtaining an education to help out his family, especially his mother financially. I agree with the statement fully as it is a family circumstance. With Shell being able to work, he is able to help out his family tremendously especially his mother who was the only one working. He is making it easier for his mother by bringing in money to support her, his sick father, and himself. Many people think that if a teenager drops out of school due to family circumstances that they will not be successful in life. I do not believe in that statement due to the fact Shell can always attempt to go back to school. He can work for about 5 years and help support his family to get them on a good financial level and once completing that task he can go back to school and get his education. Shell was not forced to work he has come upon himself and chosen to work to help out his family. This shows Shell to be very caring for his family and also shows the maturity that Shell has. With Shell working do you think his mother appreciates him working and not obtaining an education? I think that his mother appreciates and puts a smile on her face because it is less stressful for her. If Shell did not work she would have to work to bring money into the home and also take care of Shellsââ¬â¢ father. I believe that Shell has made a good decision in helping out his family even though he is only a fifteen year old boy. Who knows it may just work out for him and he may be able to get his education later on in life. I also believe that Shell would do anything in his power to help out his family. He will continue working with Mr. Gidahree at his plantation and also working at his second job at the coco plantation to help his family circumstances.
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
Additional Study Questions
What Is the difference between transaction processing systems, management information systems, and decision support systems? Transaction processing systems ââ¬â document financial activities Management Information systems ââ¬â used to collect qualitative as well as quantitative information for decision making within organizations Decision support systems ââ¬â help the developers of an ASS identify what information they need for their planning, decision making, and control functions How is a flowchart used?A document flowchart traces the physical flow of documents wrought an organization?that is, the flow of documents from the departments, groups, or individuals who first created them to their final destinations. How is the accounting Information system documented? An accounting information system Is a collection of data and processing procedures that creates needed Information for Its users. An Information system's components: Data or Information Is Input, processed, and output as Information for planning, decision-making, and control purposes.What are effective coding systems used in ASS? (1) mnemonic codes, (2) sequence codes, (3) block codes. And (4) group codes. How do accounting information software packages differ? Owners will have to consider what tasks they'll want their system to accomplish, identify what software package or packages can perform these tasks, and perhaps evaluate several different computer hardware configurations that might support these packages. What are the roles of accounting Information systems In e-commerce?Enterprise resource management (ERP) software such as SAP are particularly Important to electronic commerce (e-commerce) applications?for example, because a simple sale over the Internet simultaneously affects accounts receivable, inventory, and racketing subsystems. How do accounting information software packages differ by business size? The type of accounting software package used in businesses depends on the size of company operations, number of users and different segments or departments in a company.Do enterprise resource planning systems add productivity to a business enterprise? Enterprise resource management (ERP) software enables businesses and government agencies to transmit and manipulate financial data on an organization-wide basis. How could unethical behavior related to the use of information systems impact a acceptable and then acting accordingly. Ethics can govern organizations as well as individuals. An example is the practice of unauthorized software copying.How can a business secure its electronic financial data? The Fair Employment Practices Guidelines suggest that company policies cover issues such as (1) who owns the computer and the data stored on the computer, (2) what purposes the computer may be used (e. G. , primarily for business purposes), and (3) what uses are unauthorized or prohibited. Further, employers should specifically identify the types of acceptable and u nacceptable uses, with some examples. What are some vulnerabilities and threats in information systems? The data that are input manually to a system are particularly vulnerable to compromise ââ¬â Viruses can hide in e-mails from friends and colleagues because their computer systems have been infected. How would input controls, processing controls, and output controls be used? Data input controls ensure the accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of data during its conversion from its original source into computer data, or entry into a computer application. Data processing controls are used to ensure the accuracy, completeness, ND timeliness of data during either batch or online processing.Data output controls ensure the integrity of output and the correct and timely distribution of any output produced. What are parts of an information security system? An information security management system (ISMS) is a set of policies concerned with information security management or IT related risks. How do disaster risk management practices benefit a company? An organization's disaster recovery plan describes the procedures to be followed in the event of an emergency, as well as the role of every member of the disaster recovery team (which s made up of specific company employees).What are the techniques used for analyzing internal control systems? Review existing documentation or create new materials. Observe the current system in operation. Use questionnaires and surveys. Review internal control procedures. Interview system participants. How do internal auditing and external auditing of information systems differ? In an internal audit, a company's own accounting employees perform the audit, whereas accountants working for an independent CPA firm conduct an external audit. What are information system audits?The auditor will first decide if computer examination of the computer-based information system itself What potential risks must be evaluated during an information sy stem audit? The auditors will perform compliance testing to ensure that the controls are in place and working as prescribed. This may entail using some computer-assisted audit techniques (Scats) to audit the computerized ASS. These involve the use of computer processes or controls to perform audit functions, such as sorting data to detect duplicate accounts payable invoice numbers. Finally, the auditor will need to obstructively test some account balances.What control procedures should be used to minimize risks in an information system? The desirability of an internal control procedure is a function of its ability to reduce business risk. In fact, it is the business risk itself that is important, not the internal control system. Why is a financial statement audit required? In performing financial statement audits, the auditors gather and evaluate audit evidence to form an opinion about whether the financial statements follow the appropriate criteria, usually generally accepted accou nting principles.The auditors must gather sufficient appropriate audit evidence to provide a reasonable basis for their opinion on the financial statements. What are the auditor's responsibilities in performing an audit engagement? The auditor may make separate assessments of the two risks or an overall assessment of the risk of material misstatement for the relevant assertions. How are generally accepted auditing standards used? These adopted and issued standards are required to be followed when auditors audit the financial statements (and internal control) of issuers of securities (public companies).What analytical procedures are used during an audit? A simple analytical procedure is to compare revenue and expense amounts for the current year to those of prior periods, noting significant differences. A more sophisticated analytical procedure might involve the development of a multiple regression model to estimate the amount of sales for the year using economic and industry data. A nalytical procedures also may involve computations of percentage relationships of various items in the financial statements, such as gross profit percentages.In all these approaches, the auditors attempt to identify unexpected differences or the absence of expected differences. Such differences may indicate misstatements in the financial statements that should be investigated fully by the auditors. How is an audit engagement planned? The requirements for the engagement include the financial statements to be audited, any other requirements (e. G. , regulatory filings), and the timing of the engagement. Engagement What is included in an audit engagement letter? The objective and scope of the audit ââ¬â The responsibilities of the auditor The responsibilities of management and identification of the applicable financial reporting framework ââ¬â Other information [fee arrangements, billings, timings, and other specific terms ââ¬â Reporting What is the relationship between aud it risk and materiality? Audit risk ââ¬â at the overall engagement level, this is the risk that the auditors may unknowingly fail to appropriately modify their opinion on financial statements that are materially misstated.At the financial statement assertion level, it is the risk that a particular assertion about an account balance is materially misstated. Materiality ââ¬â recognizes hat some matters are important to the fair presentation of financial statements, while others are not. The materiality concept is basic to the audit, because the audit report states that an audit is performed to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. What risks are present that affect the procedures to be used during an audit? Complexity of calculations involved.Risk of fraud. Selection and application of accounting policies. Internal and external circumstances giving rise to business risks (e. G. , technological change in the indust ry). Recent developments in the industry and economy. How do the ethical standards set by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (CPA), Securities Exchange Commission (SEC), and Government Accounting Office (GAO) differ? CPA ââ¬â The national professional organization of Spas engaged in promoting high professional standards to ensure that Spas serve the public interest.SEC ââ¬â A government agency authorized to regulate companies seeking approval to issue securities for sale to the public. GAO ââ¬â The Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GABS) was formed in 1984 to establish and improve tankards of financial accounting for state and local government entities. How do rules of independence impact the CPA and the client? It is important to recognize that independence concerns exist both at the individual CPA level and at the public accounting firm level; one, both, or neither may be considered independent with respect to a client or potential client.A p ublic accounting firm does not necessarily lose independence with respect to an engagement when one (or more) of its employees or partners are not independent. What is prohibited by the code of professional conduct? The Code of Professional Conduct prohibits a member of the audit team for a client company from holding any common stock in that company. In such circumstances, no further consideration is required?that individual is not independent. 2002 requires that one year pass before a member of the audit team may accept employment with an SEC registrant in certain designated positions (e. . , chief executive officer, controller, chief financial or accounting officer). What elements should be included in an internal control structure? Preventive controls are aimed at avoiding the occurrence of misstatements in the financial statements. Detective controls are designed to discover misstatements after they have occurred. A corrective control is ordinarily needed to remedy the situatio n. How would an auditor test the relationship between control risk and the internal control structure?Internal control is a process, effected by the entity's board of directors, management, and other personnel, designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the achievement of objectives in the categories of (1) effectiveness and efficiency of operations, (2) reliability of financial reporting, and (3) compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Prior to 1996, the Aspic's Professional Standards referred to an entity's internal control as its internal control structure. What audit sampling is used by the auditor?Statistical and Non-statistical Sampling A sample is said to be non-statistical (or Judgmental) when the auditors estimate sampling risk by using professional Judgment rather than statistical techniques. Statistical sampling may assist auditors in (1) designing efficient samples, (2) measuring the sufficiency of the evidence obtained, and (3) objectively evaluating sa mple results. How is evidential matter used? Sufficient competent evidential matter is to be obtained through inspection, observation, inquiries, and confirmations to afford a reasonable basis for an opinion regarding the financial statements under audit.What should a CPA include in a standard management representation letter? A report to management containing the auditors' recommendations for correcting any deficiencies disclosed by the auditors' consideration of internal control. In addition to providing management with useful information, a management letter may also help limit the auditors' liability in the event a control weakness subsequently results in a loss by the client. What information should the entity's internal control structure report include? Deficiency in internal control Less than a significant deficiency Significant deficiency Material weakness the word independent.It is addressed to those for whom it is prepared, generally the audited company itself or to those charged with governance. After the introductory paragraph, the report is divided into sections with headings. The introductory paragraph of the auditors' report identifies the financial statements that have been audited. To reduce confusion, audit reports issued in the United States now use arms such as ââ¬Å"generally accepted auditing standards (United States of America)â⬠or ââ¬Å"auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. The date of the audit report is quite significant because the auditors have a responsibility to perform procedures through that date to search for any subsequent events that may affect the fairness of the client's financial statements, and due to requirements relating to changes in documentation that arise after that date What information is included in an audit exit interview? After they have completed he draft report, they should arrange an exit conference to review the findings with all persons directly concerned with the o perations audited.For each finding, a complete report will describe (1) the criteria used to evaluate the activity, (2) the condition (e. G. , problem) that exists, (3) the cause, (4) the effect, and (5) recommendations for improvement What can the CPA learn from the attorney representation letter? Management provides an assertion about compliance in writing in a representation letter to the Spas. That assertion also may be presented in a formal report that accompanies the Spas' report or be included in the Spas' report.The Spas' report provides assurance on either management's assertion or directly on compliance. What other services can CPA firms provide? ââ¬â Tax ââ¬â Accounting and Assurance What is an attestation engagement? In compliance attestation engagements, Spas address an organization's compliance with specified requirements, or its internal control over compliance with specific laws and regulations. How do governmental auditing standards and financial auditing st andards differ? GAP defines how businesses, both public and private, prepare their financial tenements.Governmental Auditing Standards are a series of rules that define how an independent agent is supposed to review a government agency's financial statements and internal processes. Do governmental regulations have an effect on financial statement audits? Governmental organizations are subject to a variety of laws and regulations that affect their financial statements?many more than typical business enterprises. An important aspect of generally accepted accounting principles for governmental organizations is the recognition of various legal and contractual requirements.
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
How to answer Walk me through your resume in a job interview
How to answer Walk me through your resume in a job interview Youââ¬â¢re all excited for your interview and then you get the dreaded question. ââ¬Å"Walk me through your resume,â⬠the interviewer says. ââ¬Å"Walk through it yourself!â⬠you think. ââ¬Å"Canââ¬â¢t you read?â⬠We kid- of course, you can only think this. (Please, only think it!) It may seem like a ridiculous question, but think of it instead as an opportunity. You have a captive audience here to really fill in any holes or gaps on your resume and talk your interviewer through the bullet points while fleshing them out with the details they deserve! Take care, however, that you donââ¬â¢t let your own overconfidence trip you up. Be prepared to give a succinct, non-rambling answer. Also be prepared to have a smooth way of glossing over positions you put on for necessary padding in the hopes that the recruiter wouldnââ¬â¢t read those sections too carefully.Here are a few good tips for preparing to answer this common question.1. Be brief and articulate.Conci sion is your friend. Donââ¬â¢t just wing this answer- practice it with all your other interview prep answers. Remember, youââ¬â¢re probably also being evaluated here on your communication skills. Cut out the ââ¬Å"umâ⬠s and set your resume in the context/tone you want without droning on too long about yourself. And whatever you do, donââ¬â¢t let yourself get bogged down with irrelevant extra details that have nothing to do with why your past will make you an ideal candidate for the job you want.2. Keep your eye on the prize.Your job in this answer is to put everything in your resume in the context of the job youââ¬â¢re applying for. Stick to the script! When youââ¬â¢re talking about your background, mine it for little gems that will show just how perfect your history makes you for this position. Explain your career so far in such a way that your interviewer will see how it perfect it makes you for the open job.3. Explain yourself.Some questions undoubtedly come up with any resume, no matter how bulletproof. Try to anticipate any questions or concerns your interviewer might have and have answers prepared. Explain your motivations and what went into the various decisions youââ¬â¢ve made along the way. Try to frame every negative or challenge into a positive. Show yourself to be scrappy and problem-solving when you go over any gaps and potential red flags, as well.4. Anticipate what they want to hear.As much as you want to practice a perfect answer, make sure to also think on the fly. Try to suss out what your interviewer is actually after and incorporate that into your answer. Tailor or fix what youââ¬â¢re about to say what you know theyââ¬â¢re after.5. Stay classy.Paint yourself as the best person for the job, but donââ¬â¢t just shine yourself in best, brightest light and trash everyone else. Stay honest. Donââ¬â¢t throw anyone under any buses. Take responsibility for yourself and your actions, and donââ¬â¢t exaggerate you r successes while sweeping all weaknesses under the rug (even though you shouldnââ¬â¢t dwell too long on those)- you just wonââ¬â¢t seem believable.6. Think big.When in doubt, frame your answer to be about howà this job is the perfect next step on your career path and how everything in the past has led up to this position.à Donââ¬â¢t forget to show the big picture and highlight your passion and enthusiasm for the position, in addition to your expertise.à Back everything you say up with actual bullet points on your resume. Stick to the script, show off without being too braggy, and the job should be yours!
Monday, October 21, 2019
11 Tips for Surviving a Miserable Job
11 Tips for Surviving a Miserable Job Work is work, not play. Thatââ¬â¢s why itââ¬â¢s called work. But thereââ¬â¢s a difference between work being work and having to work a really miserable job. Weââ¬â¢ve all been there. Here are 11 ways to tough it out in a job you hate- at least until you can get another one.1. Vent it OutAs long as you donââ¬â¢t do it at the office or with your coworkers or too publicly (ahem, on social media), it can be a really good thing to rant and rave and get your feelings off your chest rather than letting them fester. If youââ¬â¢ve already annoyed your friends with your work gripes, try a forum like jobvent.com.2. Realize itââ¬â¢s Only TemporaryYouââ¬â¢re only stuck there until you can find another job. Start looking. The average number of jobs a typical worker has in their career is growing to five. And there is no longer a stigma about switching jobs or careers like there used to be. Get out there and start working on your resume and soon this bummer job will be way i n the past.3. Make Time for YourselfAll work and no play will make you miserable, no matter what your work is. Make sure youââ¬â¢re taking care of yourself and taking time to do things you find enjoyable. If you build these activities into your day, itââ¬â¢ll be a lot easier to get through.4. Find Something Fun in Your WorkdayGive yourself a daily treat at the office, whether thatââ¬â¢s listening to music at your desk, buying yourselfà a snazzy lunch, keeping track of your sports team, playing the occasional round of chess against your computerâ⬠¦ just something to break up the day. Find something you like that will give you a few minutes of fun among the drudgery.5. Keep LaughingYour sense of humor is your best friend in rough times. Donââ¬â¢t lose sight of it. Sometimes laughter really is the best medicine. Find a way to keep a hold on perspective and keep laughing. Your situation is manageable and can be changed. Just keep your chin up and stay positive.6. Focus on Your Real LifeChances are you have plenty going on outside the office. Put your main focus on that stuff for a change. Donââ¬â¢t take your bad job home with you; leave work at work and make sure your outside life is rich and rewarding. And fun.7. Try to Do BetterIf you hate your job, itââ¬â¢s probably really hard to motivate yourself to excel. But being better at your job will actually help you move jobs- whether up the ladder at your current company, or to another one entirely. Put your hating energy into working harder and your problem might just solve itself.8. Donââ¬â¢t Screw UpYou hate your job, but the last thing you want to do is get fired. Be doubly careful not to put your job in jeopardy while youââ¬â¢re figuring out what to do next. Whatever you do, donââ¬â¢t let your performance slip. Youââ¬â¢ll probably need a reference.9. Organize a Fun Night OutGet your coworkers to all go bowling, or to a movie, or to have a potluck picnic in the park. Chances ar e theyââ¬â¢re probably as miserable as you are on the job. Get together, share some laughs, and feel a little better about life.10. Get HelpWorkplace stress can be a major factor in depression. Check to see whether your company has an EAP (Employee Assistance Program) and get some professional help to see you through. A happy worker is more productive, obviously. Plus, it never hurts to talk things out with the pros.11. Be PatientYour bad job sucks, but you only have to cope long enough to find a new job. Devote yourself to that, but leave the rest of it at the office. You can get through 9-5 every day for a few weeks until you find something new. Hang in there.
Sunday, October 20, 2019
Mecca - Holy Pilgrimage Site for Muslims
Mecca - Holy Pilgrimage Site for Muslims The Islamic religions holiest city of Mecca (also known as Mekka or Makkah) is located in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Its importance as a holy city for Muslims harks back to it being the birthplace of the founder of Islam, Mohammed. The prophet Mohammed was born in Mecca, located approximated 50 miles from the Red Sea port city of Jidda, in the year 571 CE. Mohammed fled to Medina, now also a holy city, in the year 622 (ten years prior to his death). Muslims face Mecca during their daily prayers and one of the key tenets of Islam is a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a Muslims life (known as Hajj). Approximately two million Muslims arrive in Mecca during the last month of the Islamic calendar for the Hajj. This influx of visitors requires a great deal of logistical planning by the Saudi government. Hotels and other services in the city are stretched to the limit during the pilgrimage. The holiest site within this holy city is the Great Mosque. Within the Great Mosque sits the Black Stone, a large black monolith that is central to worship during the Hajj. In the Mecca area are several additional sites where Muslims worship. Saudi Arabia is closed to tourists and Mecca itself is off limits to all non-Muslims. Roadblocks are stationed along roads leading to the city. The most celebrated incident of a non-Muslim visiting Mecca was the visit by the British explorer Sir Richard Francis Burton (who translated the 100 stories of the Arabian Knights and discovered the Kama Sutra) in 1853. Burton disguised himself as an Afghani Muslim to visit and write Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al Madinah and Mecca. Mecca sits in a valley surrounded by low hills; its population is approximately 1.3 million. Although Mecca is definitely the religious capital of Saudi Arabia, remember that the Saudi political capital is Riyadh.
Saturday, October 19, 2019
Remote-Robotic Surgery Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1
Remote-Robotic Surgery - Essay Example Later few other robots were invented and used in the processes of surgeries. The first surgical robot that was approved by FDA was ROBODOC. The process of research and development still continues in the present times (Valero et al, 2011, pp.2-3). In the context of the technology, studies reveal that the use of surgical remote robots enables the need for lesser number of surgeons and medical professionals in the conduct of any surgery. Thus surgeries may be able to be performed from remote locations as well. Doctors will only need to learn to handle the arms of the robots through the computerized systems. This might also lower the costs of the surgeries. Moreover the technique provides with improved capability of precision and the patients are also less traumatized with this process (Bonsor & Strickland, 2012). Thus it can be said that remote-robotic surgeries have certain advantages over the conventional surgery methods. Patients may get attached to robots, the withdrawal of which might affect the patients. The feelings or emotions of the patients would not be able to be judged by the robots. The robots would not be able to handle a patient if he is angry and does not cooperate with the treatment or medication. When called by several users, the robots may not be able to decide on prioritizing the necessity of the calls (Lin, Abney & Bekey, 2012, pp.22-23). Thus it can be understood that a robot cannot be depended completely for the process of surgery or treatment. Being so, the use of robots in medical practice cannot be considered as morally and ethically correct. Considering the levels of patient satisfaction, the political influences reflect on the process of remote-robotic surgery getting more improved and accepted in the medical practices, with the advantages being focused (Gun Control, 2012). The legal issues include the cost of the robotic technology
Research one of the European Union's agencies ( Europol ). Critically Essay
Research one of the European Union's agencies ( Europol ). Critically assess their role and effectiveness - Essay Example Four years later, the EU Member States expanded Europolââ¬â¢s mandate by ratifying the Europol Convention; a treaty that became fully operational in July 1999. The agency, from its seat of power in The Hague, deploys its assets including about 800 officers to combat crime in the whole of Europe (Deflem, 2009). The scope of Europol contradicts the fact that it is in constant cooperation with several law enforcement organisations working within the EU member states. As of 2013, Europol has jurisdiction in all states within the European Union. Nuthall and Paun (2013) have noted that for the agency to effectively curb organised crime across national territories, Europol liaises with several countries and police agencies within EU and neighbouring countries (Emanuel, 1999; Resodihardjo, Eijk and Carroll, 2012). Notably, when there is need to liaise with non-EU members Europolââ¬â¢s Europol External Strategy established the parameters within which the agency should work in its effort to fight organized crime that might compromise the safety of EU citizens (Berdal, & Serrano, 2002). Europol has undergone major transformations over the years to become an EU agency with more powers to gather criminal intelligence and act upon them (Ladenburger, 2008). Today Europol has the full backing of the European Parliament that addresses its budget. History of Europol Europol can be traced to 1975ââ¬â¢s TREVI, an internal organization that was responsible for ensuring a better liaison amongst European Commission members on security issues (House of Lords European Union Committee, 2008). In 1993, however, the adoption of the Maastricht Treaty replaced it (Mounier, 2009). Prior to its establishment, Germany had made proposals to the EC, pressing for the establishment of an international police agency. In 1991, the state formally proposed the establishment of a European Police Office in Luxembourg before member states of the EU (Deflem, 2009). And by the end the year, the In tergovernmental Conference was convinced that by establishing Europol under the Maastricht Treaty, the whole of EU region would be more secure. The result was the formation of a rather weak Europol, whose primary purpose was to facilitate the sharing of intelligence amongst police agencies under the European Union (Nuthall, & Paun, 2013; Santiago, 2000). Delays in enacting the Maastricht Treaty prompted TREVI officials to form the Europol Drugs Unit (EDU) Agreement in mid-1993 (Mounier, 2009). The EDU, being unconstitutional led to the setting up of a lean team of law enforcers led by Jurgen Storbeck. The team immediately embarked on policing campaigns from temporary structures in a Strasbourg neighbourhood, while lasting solutions were being sought. After the enactment of the Maastricht Treaty, EU member states began to deliberate upon legitimising a Europol Convention. Meanwhile, the mandate of Europol Drugs Unit (EDU) was expanded between 1995 and 1996 to encompass several traffi cking crimes (Gregory, 1998). Back then, police officers could only share information bilaterally, as the establishment of a joint database for the entire EU membership was not possible without the prior passage of the Europol Convention (Andreescut and Keeling, 2012; Byrne, 2013). Eventually, the Europol Convention became functional in late 1998 after its ratification by more than half of the 28 member states. Nonetheless, certain legal issues such as the protection of primary data and
Friday, October 18, 2019
The terms leadership and management are often used interchangeably Essay
The terms leadership and management are often used interchangeably where some writers argued to clear distinction between management and leadership whether is it simply a function of management - Essay Example The research on the literature published on the specific field proved that a series of differences exist between leadership and management. This phenomenon is common in all industrial sectors, including the airline industry on which this paper focuses. Researchers have used different criteria in order to describe leadership and management ââ¬â as developed in modern organizations. In accordance with Nurmi et al. (1997) the leadership can be characterized as ââ¬Ëan influencing forceââ¬â¢ (Nurmi et al., 1997, p.135) within the organization. It is at this point that leadership is differentiated by management; more specifically, it is noted that ââ¬Ëa manager can be appointed while leadership can be earnedââ¬â¢ (Nurmi et al., 1997, p.135). Moreover, Weihrich (2007) states that leadership can be defined as ââ¬Ëthe art or process of influencing people so that they will strive willingly toward the achievement of group goalsââ¬â¢ (Weihrich, 2007, p.347). In accordance with the above views, leaders need to have increased skills compared to managers. The latter may be appropriately educated but may not be charismatic enough in order to be leaders. In other words, leadership refers to a combination of technical and inte rpersonal skills while management can be related to specific educational and professional background. In practice, the potential limitation of management towards the leadership may not be identified. This is the case, for instance, where the manager has not to act as a leader, a phenomenon common in mid-managerial positions. A similar approach is adopted in the study developed by the Pergamon Flexible Learning (2007); in the above study it is noted that management is differentiated from leadership at the following points: a) the manager focuses on the administration of various organizational activities while the leader tries to promote innovation across the organization, b) the manager focuses on
Leadership Concepts Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words
Leadership Concepts - Term Paper Example Leadership is a concept that receives much talk globally, and has generated a sequence of literature particularly in the field of management (Bass and Stogdill, 1990). There is no uniformity or rather a common definition of leadership. The paper concludes with a list of several recommendations aimed at improving the current leadership skills. Leadership Concepts Excellent leaders have always been associated with a continuous process of learning and not as a result of birth. If one has the desire and the will to become a leader, then an effective leader can come out of the person in question. According to Kidder (1995), it takes not only training to become a good team leader, but it also takes education, experience and a long period of self-dedicated time to study leadership as a skill. For the workforce or juniors to be inspired, an effective leadership has to be, has to know, and has to do a number of things. These things are not achieved while resting on a laurel, instead, they are achieved via continued learning and dedicated study so as to improve the current and already acquired skills as well as learn new skills. This paper aims at looking at the key concepts of leadership; the influence of power on the followers, and evaluate the effectiveness of both transformational and transactional leadership in an organization. Many have defined leadership in various ways. According to Goleman (2000), leadership is a process where a person influences an assembly of other persons with the aim of achieving a common goal. Another definition, put forward by Dwight Eisenhower, ââ¬Å"Leadership is the ability to decide what is to be done, and then getting others to do itâ⬠(Larson, 1968). Another definition of leadership comes from Cleeton and Mason (1934), that ââ¬Å"Leadership indicates the ability to influence men and secure results through emotional appeals rather than through the exercise of authority.â⬠The key concept as of these definitions is the abil ity of the person to organize their followers and point them towards achieving a common goal. The difference depends on a number of aspects and the nature of the subjects. For instance, a corporative executive may seek opinion democratically from the subordinates and develop a stratagem to arrive at a common goal. Key Concepts of Leadership In many organizations, numerous personnel are promoted to higher ranks as a result of their hard work. According to Goleman (2000), this is the first mistake companies make. As this paper reports, leadership is a quality that is associated with a number of key concepts. i. Humbleness ââ¬â arrogance always come to practice during insecure moments, acting as a cover-up. There is no employee who will ever want to see a leader who is remote and haranguing. Instead, they would enjoy working with a leader who is humble and treats them with respect. ii. A good leader will always recognize and appreciate their juniors in the wake of a good performanc e. This has a huge impact on the motivation of the employees, which later yields productive results. iii. One should be a servant. Direct all the efforts towards work and ensure that the juniors have no obstacles that hinder their performance and that they are in possession of all the required tools to accomplish their tasks. iv. A good leader should be visionary in that they can help the juniors to see a better future and excite them on how to get to it. v. Confronting ââ¬â many classify the word confrontation as a dirty word, but still, one can be confronted positively so as to get others on the right track in a rather gentle way. Confrontation can also be useful in identifying and eliminating from the team ineffective members and those with
Thursday, October 17, 2019
The Influence of Japonism in Van Gogh's Works Essay
The Influence of Japonism in Van Gogh's Works - Essay Example Van Gogh was an enthusiastic buyer of Japanese prints, most of which he acquired from the shop of a man named Bing, a Paris-based dealer who specialised in Japanese art. Later, in the South of France, Van Gogh wrote his brother Theo (who was in Holland) to describe the reasons for his love for the art of Japan. He told Theo that Japanese art makes us ââ¬Å"happier and more cheerful.â⬠It is an art of great simplicity, for the Japanese artist can find beauty in ââ¬Å"a single blade of grassâ⬠and can create pictures rapidly, ââ¬Å"with a few confident strokes.â⬠Van Gogh particularly admired the prints: ââ¬Å"Japanese prints, coloured in flat tones, are admirableâ⬠. Many of Van Goghââ¬â¢s own paintings contain allusions to Japan. For example, Japanese prints are depicted in the background of his portraits of Pà ©re Tanguy and Self-portrait with Bandaged Ear. Some of his paintings are very ââ¬Å"Japaneseyâ⬠in their subject matter, for example Branches of an Almond Tree in Blossom. But more important was influence which the Japanese prints had on the actual style of Van Goghââ¬â¢s work. At first sight, his painting Emperor Moth has no obvious connection to the art of Japan, but if we examine it more closely we can see how deeply Van Gogh had absorbed Japanese aesthetic principles. He told Theo that he had encountered ââ¬Å"a rather rare night moth called the ââ¬Ëdeathââ¬â¢s headââ¬â¢, its coloration astonishingly distinguished: black, grey, white, shaded, and with glints of carmine or vaguely tending towards olive greenâ⬠.... What also strikes us about the painting is its bold design and draughtsman-like qualities. The forms are edged with hard outlines, like the forms in a Japanese print. The painting has a decorative and semi-abstract quality, possibly reminding us of Japanese textile patterns, while the wings of the moth could almost make us think of the patterns on a kimono. The earlier letter to Theo had praised the ââ¬Å"flat tonesâ⬠of Japanese prints, and the painting is basically a flat design, without much perspective depth. The letter to Theo praised the rapid, calligraphic brushwork of Japanese painting, seen here in the rapid delineation of the grasses and the leaves. Van Gogh had also written to Theo about the Japanese love of nature and simplicity, seen here in his own painting of a single moth, set against a background of plants. Hokusai ââ¬â most famous for his print of The Great Wave at Kanagawa - was a Japanese printmaker whom Van Gogh much admired, and we could compare Van Go ghââ¬â¢s Emperor Moth with prints like Hokusaiââ¬â¢s Irises and Meadow Cicada and Hibiscus and Sparrow, which depict details of nature (illustrated in Fahr-Becker 154-155). Hokusai wrote that he wanted to understand ââ¬Å"the nature of birds, animals, insects, fishes ââ¬â the vital nature of grasses and treesâ⬠(Stanley-Baker 192), which reminds us of Van Goghââ¬â¢s paintings of butterflies, clumps of grass, lilacs and irises, all of which he painted around the same time as his moth picture (McQuillan184). It is important that Hokusai devoted a great deal of attention not just to flowers but also to their stems and their leaves. This can be seen in Van Goghââ¬â¢s Emperor Moth painting,
Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 14
Assignment - Essay Example Arbitration, collaborative and mediation are the three methods of alternative conflict resolution (Law info web). These methods are applied to settle various business conflicts depending on their suitability. Mediation involves the use of an independent mediator. The mediator mediates the different parties involved in the conflict by providing a solution that is appropriate to the concerned parties. The successful negotiations in 1997 between the World Bank and the mining sector serve as a good illustration of the usefulness of mediation as a method of dispute resolution. This case involved the World Bank and the mining industry with the delays in disbursement of funds being their main conflict. In this conflict, the Ukraine Mediation Group (UMG) acted as the mediator between the two parties. With UMGââ¬â¢s mediation, the two parties settled for the restructuring of the mining industry as a fundamental solution to their problem. Periodical disbursement of the disputed funds was also part of the solution. This case gives an example of how mediation can be applied to resolve business conflicts effectively. Arbitration is the second important method of alterative conflict resolution. In this method, parties involved in a conflict agree to do or not do something voluntarily (Jaffe and Stamato 16). Similar to mediation arbitration require the presence of an impartial party or person to stand between the parties involved in the conflict. Arbitration has often been regarded as the most appropriate method of resolving business conflicts in relation to the speed of finding a working solution. Unlike the previous form of conflict resolution, arbitrations may take place even before the actual conflict occurs. Signing of an employment contract is an example of arbitration between an employer and an employee. In this arbitration, the employer and the potential employee agree on their working condition and define their
Wednesday, October 16, 2019
The Influence of Japonism in Van Gogh's Works Essay
The Influence of Japonism in Van Gogh's Works - Essay Example Van Gogh was an enthusiastic buyer of Japanese prints, most of which he acquired from the shop of a man named Bing, a Paris-based dealer who specialised in Japanese art. Later, in the South of France, Van Gogh wrote his brother Theo (who was in Holland) to describe the reasons for his love for the art of Japan. He told Theo that Japanese art makes us ââ¬Å"happier and more cheerful.â⬠It is an art of great simplicity, for the Japanese artist can find beauty in ââ¬Å"a single blade of grassâ⬠and can create pictures rapidly, ââ¬Å"with a few confident strokes.â⬠Van Gogh particularly admired the prints: ââ¬Å"Japanese prints, coloured in flat tones, are admirableâ⬠. Many of Van Goghââ¬â¢s own paintings contain allusions to Japan. For example, Japanese prints are depicted in the background of his portraits of Pà ©re Tanguy and Self-portrait with Bandaged Ear. Some of his paintings are very ââ¬Å"Japaneseyâ⬠in their subject matter, for example Branches of an Almond Tree in Blossom. But more important was influence which the Japanese prints had on the actual style of Van Goghââ¬â¢s work. At first sight, his painting Emperor Moth has no obvious connection to the art of Japan, but if we examine it more closely we can see how deeply Van Gogh had absorbed Japanese aesthetic principles. He told Theo that he had encountered ââ¬Å"a rather rare night moth called the ââ¬Ëdeathââ¬â¢s headââ¬â¢, its coloration astonishingly distinguished: black, grey, white, shaded, and with glints of carmine or vaguely tending towards olive greenâ⬠.... What also strikes us about the painting is its bold design and draughtsman-like qualities. The forms are edged with hard outlines, like the forms in a Japanese print. The painting has a decorative and semi-abstract quality, possibly reminding us of Japanese textile patterns, while the wings of the moth could almost make us think of the patterns on a kimono. The earlier letter to Theo had praised the ââ¬Å"flat tonesâ⬠of Japanese prints, and the painting is basically a flat design, without much perspective depth. The letter to Theo praised the rapid, calligraphic brushwork of Japanese painting, seen here in the rapid delineation of the grasses and the leaves. Van Gogh had also written to Theo about the Japanese love of nature and simplicity, seen here in his own painting of a single moth, set against a background of plants. Hokusai ââ¬â most famous for his print of The Great Wave at Kanagawa - was a Japanese printmaker whom Van Gogh much admired, and we could compare Van Go ghââ¬â¢s Emperor Moth with prints like Hokusaiââ¬â¢s Irises and Meadow Cicada and Hibiscus and Sparrow, which depict details of nature (illustrated in Fahr-Becker 154-155). Hokusai wrote that he wanted to understand ââ¬Å"the nature of birds, animals, insects, fishes ââ¬â the vital nature of grasses and treesâ⬠(Stanley-Baker 192), which reminds us of Van Goghââ¬â¢s paintings of butterflies, clumps of grass, lilacs and irises, all of which he painted around the same time as his moth picture (McQuillan184). It is important that Hokusai devoted a great deal of attention not just to flowers but also to their stems and their leaves. This can be seen in Van Goghââ¬â¢s Emperor Moth painting,
Tuesday, October 15, 2019
Steve Job's success and his (responsibilities) as a leader for do Assignment
Steve Job's success and his (responsibilities) as a leader for do changes to face the external environment changes - Assignment Example For example, when he became the Apple CEO, the company started manufacturing an unsystematic assortment of computers and peripherals. However, through his leadership, Jobs cut down the production of a myriad of products and instead urged his team to focus on making only four computers, and this was a success (Emerald, 2002). As a transformational leader, Steve Jobs took his responsibility from the end to end. In particular, he not only created a new vision for the company but was also involved in institutionalizing the change (Eisenbach, Watson & Pillai, 1999). He knew that in order to gain simplicity in Apple devices was to ensure a seamless integration of the hardware, software and other peripheral parts (Isaacson, 2012). Consequently, he was involved in fulfilling this in the Apple products that were produced. In a nutshell, Steve Jobs provided a clear responsibility and priorities with extensive communication and freedom to improvise. He experimented with ideas and also linked his projects to the future with predictable intervals (McKnight, 2013). Steve Jobs was able to change the culture of Apple from being quantity focused on quality focused. In particular, he was able to create a small manageable product portfolio that ended up attracting huge revenues for the company. In the first place, he recognized the need for change in the way things were done at Apple. The recognition came from the fact that Apple was having declining sales figures and posting poor financial results. Consequently, he provided a vision of the companyââ¬â¢s future about the need to turn things around and make Apple profitable (Schein, 1996). Upon communication of his vision for the company, Jobs began seeking for solutions from members who agreed on reducing the companyââ¬â¢s product portfolio and concentrating on improving quality of the remaining products. The reduction also meant to lay off of workers to manageable levels
Monday, October 14, 2019
Evaluating Compensation Strategies Essay Example for Free
Evaluating Compensation Strategies Essay Within this business report, I have analyzed three different employee compensation strategies that I feel could be well executed within our organization. Employee compensation is key to recognizing and rewarding our employees for their performance and contributions to the overall companyââ¬â¢s success. Because it is a signficiant factor, we need to carefully evaluate the three options in my report. Compensating our employees using the base salary approach is a well accepted strategy. This approach provides for a set salary that employees will earn based on their job coding. Factors such as merit or tenure will have no impact on someoneââ¬â¢s base salary. This is a stable compensation strategy leveraged within similar organizations and an approach most employees feel comfortable with as itââ¬â¢s very cut and dry. The downside of using this approach is that there is little room for growth and salary increases and which can be de-motivating. Performance-based compensation is quite a popular and also another well accepted strategy. In this strategy, employees have direct control over how much they are paid. Having control really helps to motivate employees to work harder and achieve new financial goals and maximize their own income. Having an organization that is a high performing organization helps to make an organization more competitive. The downside of this approach is that you create a more competitive environment that may impact employee-to-employee relations. Lastly, I reviewed a longevity-based salary strategy. In this strategy, compensation is strictly based on an employeeââ¬â¢s length of service, seniority or tenure. There are different ways this pay can be administered. Employees can get an annual bonuses based on their employment anniversary date or monthly bonus amounts added to their take-home pay that would reflect their length of service. This type of strategy encourages employees to remain loyal employees in an organization. The immediate downside to this approach is that employees arenââ¬â¢t motivated to achieve more or produce increased quality work since itââ¬â¢s more about time put in vs. quality. After reviewing the three strategies outlined above, I am recommending that we move forward and implement a performance-based compensation strategy for our employees. This strategy will create a workforce of highly motivated, performers that are excited and engaged to succeed. Employees will be excited to ramp up their income and their excitement and achievements will help support the companyââ¬â¢s goal of increased profit. If our company has highly driven employees focused on producing quality work, the company will benefit in the short term and long term. Introduction The Human Resources department was asked to research possible compensation strategies for our manufacturing organization. Iââ¬â¢ve created a report that shares my research and findings for three different compensation strategies: Performance-Based Compensation, Salary Compensation and Longevity Compensation. In my report, I have compared these strategies, pointing out where they are different including the pros and cons to each strategy in order to determine the best approach for the 120 total employees on our payroll. Compensation is a key factor that impacts employee satisfaction while also having a direct influence on how successful the overall organization can be. Iââ¬â¢ve conducted thorough research on this topic so that the management team can have a more robust understanding of these three strategies and to decide on a strategy to implement. My research below will start with salary compensation which can easily be defined as a set monetary amount that an employee receives for the work that they do based on their specific job classification/coding only. Iââ¬â¢ll follow that with performance-based compensation which pays and rewards employees based on their individual performance which allows for individual growth. Lastly Iââ¬â¢ll provide research on longevity pay which focuses on additional pay or wage adjustments based solely on an employeeââ¬â¢s length of service. It is crucial to understand each of these strategies and how they will impact our organization if they were to be implemented. Research Findings Iââ¬â¢ve completed extensive research on various compensation strategies within similar types of organizations and have arrived at three specific strategies that our organization should consider adopting: à ·Salary Compensation à ·Performance-Based Compensation à ·Longevity-Based Compensation 1.Salary General salary compensation refers to an amount of money that you pay an employee for the work they do without consideration for quantity or quality of the work performed (Entrepreneur Media, Inc., 2013). By law, employers must compensate employees for work that is completed. If an employee is compensated by a salary, employees are compensated differently from those that may have an hourly compensation rate. Employees that are hourly employees get paid based on a rate multiplied by the number of hours that they work. When they work over and above the amount of hours for the day/week, they receive extra, additional compensation (Grace, 2012). In contrast, a salary compensated employee gets paid the same salary, a fixed amount of money and is not impacted by the amount of hours an employee works. Salaried employees are not required to keep track of the hours they are working because they do not quality for nor are they paid for any overtime. They are expected to complete their work regardless of the amount of time it takes them. Employees who are paid a salary are given the expectations that they need to complete the entire job in order to earn their compensation. This compensation differs from both hourly paid employees or performance-based paid employees. Employees are able to really count on this compensation and a consistent pay strategy is important to retaining good employees (Ojimba, 2004). Analysis Employees that are compensated through a salaried compensation strategy have a very stable compensation to rely on. There are no real surprises or swings in the amount of money an employee receives. Compensation is not impacted by the quality of the work produced or the quantity produced. Employees would have the opportunity to budget themselves or at least have a decent time predicting what type of income they can expect since it will always be the same without much changing from year to year. This strategy may allow for employees to develop the impression and mindset that they donââ¬â¢t have to do more or produce increased quality work. They could take away that what they are doing today is enough and not strive to help the company with increase sales or various other goals. 2.Performance-based A performance-based strategy is become a trend in todayââ¬â¢s organizations and leveraged as a way to incent employees to strive to increase their production or improve the quality of their work. Why would an employee want to do that? Because they are financially incented to do so! All companies need to remain competitive and control internal costs and budgets. Performance-based compensation really partners with an organization to do just that. This type of strategy is really attractive because they are friendlier to corporate budgets than other methods of compensation. Pay increase are only given out at designated times during the year so budgeting in advance is easier, etc. If production and quality goals arenââ¬â¢t met, money goes back into the budget for the next possible review period (Fox Lawson Associates, n.d.). Additionally, strategy helps to provide a win-win situation for both the company and the employees when properly administered and rolled out and the structure really can help to motivate employees to work harder and that benefits them and the company both. When developing this type of strategy, reasonable goals and performance incentives would need to be developed. In todayââ¬â¢s environment it would be wise to tie pay to performance as a way to accelerate employee output. This approach is a very common way for organizations to increase productivity and influence potentially a more competitive environment with employees always striving to do more and therefore earn more. Performance-based compensation programs also help retain top performers, better align labor costs with productivity and reinforce the companyââ¬â¢s objectives (Richter, 2002). You attract a different level of employee with this approach. For employees to be successful and feel happy in this type of structure though they need to have a desire for more pay, have confidence they will receive more pay if they improve or increase their individual performance and trust that the organization will administer the policy and compensation plan fairly across the board. Studies have consistently shown the recognition for a job well done is the top motivator of employee performance (Dorf, 2011). Analysis Though research it is clear that this type of approach includes many benefits both to the employee and to the organization. Creating a more motivated workforce that is focused on a goal to provide quality production benefits everyone. If our employees can see that their performance directly impacts their personal bottom line they will become more focused, work harder and constantly push their peers to meet them at that level. Job security has to be considered here too ââ¬â a company with this type of approach is more streamlined and efficient creating a more competitive organization and helping to protect and preserve the company and its reputation. 3.Longevity-based Longevity-based compensation is a compensation strategy that more mirrors a type of contract where the employer will pay the employee a compensation based on their length of service or seniority. In researching this approach, many companies offer many different types of strategy around this. Each organization up front provides a document or ââ¬Å"contractâ⬠to the employee that outlines this system specific to their organization. These types of documents include things like the dollar amount to be paid or the percentage of increase based on years of service. Information is also included on the schedule of payment so that employees really know what to expect. Employees see this type of strategy as a way of paying for their loyalty as an employee ââ¬â a way of giving them their due for sticking with them (wiseGEEK, n.d.). Typically with this approach the adjustment made is often in the form of a percentage of the employeeââ¬â¢s annual salary or rate of pay. Based on why the amount is given it becomes clear that an employer is recognizing their time and loyalty to the overall organization. The real problem with this specific approach is that you essentially are awarding someone just for being on staff or holding down their position for yet another year (Agency Management Roundtable, 2012). Analysis ââ¬â I think this type of compensation program may have made sense for employees that may be ââ¬Å"Baby Boomersâ⬠as loyalty was crucial and something employees really set out to demonstrate, but not something that is realistic in todayââ¬â¢s environment. While rewarding employees for their ââ¬Å" time servedâ⬠there is no real focus on the quality of their work during that time nor is there any reward for their contributions or added value.
Sunday, October 13, 2019
An Overview of Consent and Restraint
An Overview of Consent and Restraint Consent, Deliberate or implied affirmation; compliance with a course ofà proposed action. Consent is essential in a number of circumstances. For example,à contracts and marriages are invalid unless both parties give their consent. Consentà must be given freely, without duress or deception, and with sufficient legalà competence to give it (see also INFORMED CONSENT). In criminal law, issues of consentà arise mainly in connection with offences involving violence and *dishonesty. Forà public-policy reasons, a victims consent to conduct which foreseeably causes himà bodily harm is no defence to a charge involving an *assault, *wounding, orà *homicide; in other cases the defendant should be acquitted if the magistrates orà jury have a reasonable doubt not only as to whether the victim had consented butà also as to whether he thought the victim had consented. Restraint,à assault andà an intentional or reckless act that causes someone to be put in fear ofà immediate physical harm. Actual physical contact is not necessary to constitute anà assault (for example, pointing a gun at someone is an assault), but the word is oftenà loosely used to include both threatening acts and physical violence (see BATTERY).à Words alone cannot constitute an assault. Assault is a form of *trespass to theà person and a crime as well as a tort: an ordinary (or common) assault, as describedà above, is a *summary offence punishable by a *fine at level 5 on the standard scaleà and/or up to six months imprisonment. Certain kinds of more serious assault areà known as aggravated assaults and carry stricter penalties. Examples of these areà assault with intent to resist lawful arrest (two years), assault occasioning *actualà bodily harm (five years), and assault with intent to rob (life imprisonment).à battery The intentional or reckless application of physical force to someoneà without his consent. Battery is a form of *trespass to the person and is a *summaryà offence (punishable with a *fine at level 5 on the standard scale and/or six monthsà imprisonment) as well as a tort, even if no actual harm results. If actual harm doesà result, however, the *consent of the victim may not prevent the act from beingà criminal, except when the injury is inflicted in the course of properly conductedà sports or games (e.g.rugby or boxing) or as a result of reasonable surgicalà intervention. Duty of care, The legal obligation to take reasonable care to avoid causing damage. There is no liability in tort for *negligence unless the act or omission that causesà damage is a breach of a duty of care owed to the claimant. There is a duty to takeà care in most situations in which one can reasonably foresee that ones actions mayà cause physical damage to the person or property of others. The duty is owed toà those people likely to be affected by the conduct in question. Thus doctors have aà duty of care to their patients and users of the highway have a duty of care to allà other road users. But there is no general duty to prevent other persons causingà damage or to rescue persons or property in danger, liability for careless words isà more limited than liability for careless acts, and there is no general duty not toà cause economic loss or psychiatric illness. In these and some other situations, theà existence and scope of the duty of care depends on all the circumstances of theà relationship between the parties. Most duties of care are th e result of judicialà decisions, but some are contained in statutes, such as the Occupiers Liability Actà 1957 Negligence andà Carelessness amounting to the culpable breach of a duty: failureà negligent misstatement 328 329 NHS Trustà to do something that a reasonable man (i.e. an average responsible citizen) would do, or doing something that a reasonable man would not do. In cases of professional negligence, involving someone with a special skill, that person is expected to showà the skill of an average member of his profession. Negligence may be an element in aà few crimes, e.g. *careless and inconsiderate driving, and various regulatory offences,à which are usually punished by fine. The main example of a serious crime that mayà be committed by negligence is *manslaughter (in one of its forms). When negligenceà is a basis of criminal liability, it is no defence to show that one was doing ones bestà if ones conduct still falls below that of the reasonable man in the circumstances. Seeà also GROSS NEGLIGENCE. 2. A tort consisting of the breach of a *duty of care resultingà in damage to the claimant. Negligence in the sense of carelessness does not give riseà to civil liability unless the defendants failure to conform to the standards of theà reasonable man was a breach of a duty of care owed to the claimant, which hasà caused damage to him. Negligence can be used to bring a civil action when there isà no contract under which proceedings can be brought. Normally it is easier to sue forà *breach of contract, but this is only possible when a contract exists. Generally, fewerà heads of damage can be claimed in negligence than in breach of contract, but theà rules limiting the time within which actions can be brought (see LIMITATION OFà ACTIONS) may be more advantageous for actions in tort for negligence than forà actions in contract. See also CONTRIBUTORY NEGLIGENCE; RES IPSA LOQUITUR.à vicarious liabilityà Legal liability imposed on oneà person for torts or crimes committed by another (usually an employee butà vicarious performance 526 527 violent disorderà sometimes an *independent contractor or agent), although the person madeà vicariously liable is not personally at fault. An employer is vicariously liable forà torts committed by his employees when he has authorized or ratified them or whenà the tort was committed in the course of the employees work. Thus negligentà driving by someone employed as a driver is a tort committed in the course of hisà employment, but if the driver were to assault a passing pedestrian for motives ofà private revenge, the assault would not be connected with his job and his employerà would not be liable. The purpose of the doctrine of vicarious liability is to ensureà that an employer pays the costs of damage caused by his business operations. Hisà vicarious liability, however, is in addition to the liability of the employee, whoà remains personally liable for his own torts. The person injured by the tort may sueà either or both of them, but will generally prefer to sue the employer.à Vicarious criminal liability may effectively be imposed by statute on an employerà for certain offences committed by an employee in relation to his employment. Thusà it has been held that an employer is guilty of selling unfit food under the Food Actà 1984 when his employee does the physical act of selling (the employee is also guilty,à though in practice is rarely prosecuted). Likewise, an employer may be guilty ofà supplying goods under a false trade description when it is his employee whoà actually delivers them. For an offence that normally requires mens rea,an employerà will only be vicariously liable if the offence relates to licensing laws. For example, ifà a licensee has delegated the entire management of his licensed premises to anotherà j:letson, and that j:letson has committed the offence with the nec~ssatymens YeQ, th~à licensee will be vicariously liable.à Vicarious liability for crimes may be imposed in certain other circumstances. Theà registered owner of a vehicle, for example, is expressly made liable by statute forà fixed-penalty and excess parking charges, even if the fault for the offence was notà his. If the offence is a regulatory offence of *strict liability, the courts often alsoà impose vicarious liability if the offence is defined in the statute in a way that makesà this possible.à Scope of practice (the legal and professional boundaries imposed upon you as a nurse)à Advocacy (the nurses role as an advocate for the client)à Documentationà Open disclosureà The Coronerà An officer of the Crown whose principal function is to investigateà deaths suspected of being violent or unnatural. He will do this either by ordering anà *autopsy or conducting an *inquest. The coroner also holds inquests on *treasureà trove. Coroners are appointed by the Crown from among barristers, solicitors, andà qualified medical practitioners of not less than five years standing.à Colour. The normal colour of urine is pale straw or light yellow.Ãâà It is mainly due to the pigment urochrome and partly to urobilin.Ãâà Womens urine is slightly lighter.Ãâà If the quantity of urine is increased or there is a diminution or dilution of urinary pigments, it becomes lighter and rendered very pale as in excessive drinking, nervousness, anaemia, chlorosis, diabetes, hysteria, epilepsy, poluria, in general debility and in chronic interstitial nephritis. The colour of the urine will depend on the degree of concentration; the more concentrated-the darker; the greater the quantity of water -the lighter.Ãâà Acid urine is slightly darker than alkaline urine. Urine becomes deeper in colour, like orange or dark yellow or brownish red generally known as high coloured or concentrated urine and is due to uroerythrin and urobilin produced by increased haemolysis, as in. fevers, after journeys, in hot days, in nervous excitability and after bodily exercises. N ormal urine on standing for a time will have a white or sometimes a bluish white scum on the surface due to contamination and putrefaction.Ãâà Urine glairy, whitish in colour indicates admixture with pus or leucorrhceal discharges. Urine coloured smoky, brown, reddish, brownish black or black indicates admixture with blood and denotes haemorrhage. Urine coloured greenish yellow or greenish brown indicates admixture with bile and denotes jaundice and other affections of the liver. Urine coloured milky indicates admixture with fat or pus and denotes chyluria or any purulent disease of the genitourinary tract.Ãâà Urine coloured blue indicates typhus fever, admixture with methylene blue or when there is excess of indigogens. Many drugs after absorption colour the urine, such as yellowish orange by santonin and chrysophanic acid; reddish or orange brown by senna and rhubarb; dark olive green or black by carbolic acid and other coaltar derivatives while antipyrin reddens the u rine. Odour.Ãâà When just voided urine is faintly aromatic but after a few minutes its characteristic odour is urinous.Ãâà The odour of urine is due to phenol.Ãâà It becomes pungent in concentrated urine, when urea is liberated in excess.Ãâà It becomes ammoniacal and putrescent and the reaction becomes alkaline after sometime when this excess of urea takes up water and is converted into ammonium carbonate.Ãâà It occurs quickly in urine from chronic cystitis or from suppurating diseases of kidney and bladder i.e., when urine is mixed with pus; blood or excessive phosphates.Ãâà The odour of urine in diabetes and in acetonuria is slightly sweetish.Ãâà The characteristic odour of garlic, sandal oil, cubebs, copaiba are given off when they are taken internally.Ãâà Turpentine gives an odour of violets. Appearance, physical character or transparency is the naked eye appearance of urine. Normal urine is always clear when voided but when allowed to stand for sometime it becomes slightly hazy or turbid due to suspended particles or from a slight cloud of mucus and epithelium. After sometime there may be sediments at the bottom due to gravity. If the urine is ammoniacal or decomposed a white turbidity forms due to sedimentation of phosphates or from bacterial activity. The turbidity or sediment is due mainly to the following suspended particles:- Urates. Uric Acid. Albumin. Phosphate. Mucus. Oxalate. Pus. Blood. Micro-organisms. To distinguish one from another, first of all fill three fourths of a test tube with urine and very gently heat the upper portion of the urine, holding the test tube by the bottom.Ãâà Now note whether the urine becomes clear or a cloudiness appears in the boiled portion, comparing with the lower unboiled portion of the test tube.Ãâà If the urine is turbid and clears up on heating then it contains Urates.Ãâà If the urine is clear and becomes cloudy with heat, before boiling point, then it is Albumen.Ãâà If the urine is clear and becomes cloudy at the boiling point, then it is Phosphate.Ãâà To distinguish between albumin and phosphate add 3 or 4 drops of acetic acid on the cloudy urine.Ãâà If the cloudiness disappears, then it is phosphate; but if the cloudiness remains or thickens, then it is albumin.Ãâà Lastly to distinguish between albumin and mucin add 2 drops of nitric acid, if the cloudiness disappears, then it is Mucin, but if the cloudi ness still persists, it is albumin. The turbidity of carbonates will clear up with effervescence on addition of nitric acid whereas heat and acid increases the turbidity due to albumin. To distinguish between phosphate and oxalate take some fresh urine and add ammonia, when there will be a precipitate. If on the addition of a few drops of acetic acid, the precipitates disappear, then it is phosphate, if it remains it is Oxalate. Failing the heat test take some urine in a test tube, preferably from the bottom and add a few drops of Liquor Potassae. Mix it thoroughly and if it clears up, then it is mucus; but if it becomes gelatinous or ropy, it is Pus. Next, if the deposit is coloured then take some urine in a test tube, preferably from the bottom and add a few drops of caustic potash and gently heat a little.Ãâà If it is dissolved, then it is Uric acid but if there is a precipitate, note the colour of the coagulum; if it is reddish brown or bottle green, it is Blood. If the urine is turbid and there is no change either by heat or by addition of caustic potash and heat, then the turbidity is due to Micro-organisms.Ãâà They generally clear up on the addition, of watery solution of ferric chloride and ammonium hydrate and then filter the urine.Ãâà Sometime the character, colour and reaction will roughly denote the element. Urates-They look like moss and are yellowish white or pink in colour.Ãâà Reaction is generally acid. They deposit when the urine becomes cold.à Uric Acid-It is crystalline and reddish brown in colour, resembling a shower of cayenne pepper grains. Reaction is moderately acid.à Phosphate-It forms a thin deposit and is white or yellowish white in colour.Ãâà Reaction may be slightly acid, alkaline or neutral.à Mucus-It is a cloudy or woolly looking white deposit. Reaction is slightly acid.à Oxalate-It is soft, shining and white in colour. Reaction is generally slightly acid. Pus- It looks like a ropy or creamy deposit, and is white in colour.Ãâà Reaction is slightly acid orà alkaline. Blood-It is clotted or thready and is red smoky or brownish in colour.Ãâà Reaction generally alkaline or may be slightly acid. Micro-organisms-The deposit is slightly hazy and white in colour.Ãâà They generally stick to the sides of the glass. COMPLICATIONS OF FRACTURES The majority of fractures heal without complications. If death occurs after a fracture, it is usually the result of damage to underlying organs and vascular structures or from complications of the fracture or immobility. Complications of fractures may be either direct or indirect. Direct complications include problems with bone infection, bone union, and avascular necrosis. Indirect complications are associated with blood vessel and nerve damage resulting in conditions such as compartment syndrome, venous thromboembolism, fat embolism, rhabdomyolysis (breakdown of skeletal muscle), and hypovolemic shock. Although most musculoskeletal injuries are not life threatening, open fractures, fractures accompanied by severe blood loss, and fractures that damage vital organs (e.g., lung, heart) are medical emergencies requiring immediate attention. Compartment Syndrome Compartment syndrome is a condition in which swelling and increased pressure within a limited space (a compartment) press on and compromise the function of blood vessels, nerves, and/or tendons that run through that compartment. Compartment syndrome causes capillary perfusion to be reduced below a level necessary for tissue viability. Compartment syndrome usually involves the leg, but can also occur in the arm, shoulder, and buttock. Thirty-eight compartments are located in the upper and lower extremities. Two basic causes of compartment syndrome are (1) decreased compartment size resulting from restrictive dressings, splints, casts, excessive traction, or premature closure of fascia; and (2) increased compartment contents related to bleeding, inflammation, oedema, or IV infiltration. Oedema can create sufficient pressure to obstruct circulation and cause venous occlusion, which further increases oedema. Eventually arterial flow is compromised, resulting in ischemia to the extremity. As ischemia continues, muscle and nerve cells are destroyed over time, and fibrotic tissue replaces healthy tissue. Contracture, disability, and loss of function can occur. Delays in diagnosis and treatment cause irreversible muscle and nerve ischemia, resulting in a functionally useless or severely impaired extremity. Compartment syndrome is usually associated with trauma, fractures (especially the long bones), extensive soft tissue damage, and crush injury. Fractures of the distal humerus and proximal tibia are the most common fractures associated with compartment syndrome. Compartment injury can also occur after knee or leg surgery. Prolonged pressure on a muscle compartment may result when someone is trapped under a heavy object or a persons limb is trapped beneath the body because of an obtunded state such as drug or alcohol overdose. Clinical Manifestations. Compartment syndrome may occur initially from the bodys physiologic response to the injury, or it may be delayed for several days after the original insult or injury. Ischemia can occur within 4 to 8 hours after the onset of compartment syndrome. One or more of the following six Ps are characteristic of compartment syndrome: (1) pain distal to the injury that is not relieved by opioid analgesics and pain on passive stretch of muscle traveling through the compartment; (2) increasing pressure in the compartment; (3) paraesthesia (numbness and tingling); (4) pallor, coolness, and loss of normal colour of the extremity; (5) paralysis or loss of function; and (6) pulselessness, or diminished or absent peripheral pulses. Collaborative Care. Prompt, accurate diagnosis of compartment syndrome is critical.17 Perform and document regular neurovascular assessments on all patients with fractures, especially those with an injury of the distal humerus or proximal tibia or soft tissue injuries in these areas. Early recognition and effective treatment of compartment syndrome are essential to avoid permanent damage to muscles and nerves. Carefully assess the location, quality, and intensity of the pain (see Chapter 9). Evaluate the patients level of pain on a scale of 0 to 10. Pain unrelieved by drugs and out of proportion to the level of injury is one of the first indications of impending compartment syndrome. Pulselessness and paralysis (in particular) are later signs of compartment syndrome. Notify the health care provider immediately of a patients changing condition. Because of the possibility of muscle damage, assess urine output. Myoglobin released from damaged muscle cells precipitates and causes obstruction in renal tubules. This condition results in acute tubular necrosis and acute kidney injury.Ãâà Common signs are dark reddish brown urine and clinical manifestations associated with acute kidney injury (see Chapter 47). Elevation of the extremity may lower venous pressure and slow arterial perfusion. Therefore the extremity should not be elevated above heart level. Similarly, the application of cold compresses may result in vasoconstriction and exacerbate compartment syndrome. It may also be necessary to remove or loosen the bandage and split the cast in half (bivalving). A reduction in traction weight may also decrease external circumferential pressures. Surgical decompression (e.g., fasciotomy) of the involved compartment may be necessary (Fig. 63-15). The fasciotomy site is left open for several days to ensure adequate soft tissue decompression. Infection resulting from delayed wound closure is a potential problem after a fasciotomy. In severe cases of compartment syndrome, an amputation may be required. DEFINITION Compartment syndrome is a condition thatà occurs when elevated pressure within a limitedà space compromises the circulation, withà increased risk of irreversible damage to itsà contents and their function. Acute compartmentà syndrome is a surgical emergency.à ICD-10CM CODES 958.90 Compartment syndrome unspecifiedà 958.90 Compartment syndrome, notà otherwise specified T79.A0 Compartment syndrome,à unspecified, initial encounterà M79.A11 Nontraumatic compartmentà syndrome of right upper extremityà M79.A12 Nontraumatic compartmentà syndrome of left upper extremityà M79.A19 Nontraumatic compartmentà syndrome of unspecified upperà extremityà M79.A21 Nontraumatic compartmentà syndrome of right lower extremityà M79.A22 Nontraumatic compartmentà syndrome of left lower extremity M79.A29 Nontraumatic compartmentà syndrome of unspecified lowerà extremityà M79.A9 Nontraumatic compartmentà syndrome of other sitesà T79.A19A Traumatic compartment syndromeà of unspecified upper extremity,à initial encounterà T79.A21A Traumatic compartment syndromeà of right lower extremity, initialà encounterà T79.A22A Traumatic compartment syndromeà of left lower extremity, initialà encounterà T79.A29A Traumatic compartment syndromeà of unspecified lower extremity,à initial encounterà EPIDEMIOLOGY à DEMOGRAPHICSà Occurs most commonly after acute trauma,à especially with long bone fractures, comprisingà 75% of cases.à It usually occurs in persons Incidence is higher in males.à It can occur in other parts, such as the foot,à thigh, gluteal region, and abdomen.à Supracondylar fractures in children can commonlyà lead to compartment syndrome.à 6% to 9% of open tibial fractures are complicatedà by compartment syndrome.à It is seen in all races and ethnicities.à PATHOPHYSIOLOGYà Compartment syndrome occurs when the bloodà flow is less than the tissue metabolic demands,à causing tissue injury. It occurs when the intracompartmentalà pressure increases limitingà venous outflow with rising venous pressure,à resulting in compromise of the local circulationà and tissue hypoxia with decreased arteriovenousà pressure gradient. Venous congestion additionallyà leads to tissue edema and interstitial pressure,à and the compartment pressure continues toà increase. Compartment pressure ranges betweenà 10 and 30 mm Hg of diastolic pressure are ableà to cause the condition.à Different conditions are known to cause compartmentà syndrome:à Conditions that limit compartment volume, suchà as when patients have fracture casts, whenà sedated or comatose patients lie on a limb forà a prolonged period, or when patients have tightà dressings that are applied externally.à Conditions that cause increased compartmentà content, such as bleeding in the compartmentà from vascular injury or diathesis, fractures orà finger injuries, reperfusion after ischemic injuryà such as embolectomy and arterial bypassà grafting, severe bruising of muscle, and thermalà or electrical burn injuries.à Other injuries, such as extravasation of intravenousà fluids, injection of recreational drugs,à and snake bites.à PHYSICAL FINDINGS CLINICALà PRESENTATION Signs and symptoms are usually apparent butà can be unreliable and can lead to delayedà diagnosis. Acute compartment syndrome canà worsen within hours; therefore serial examinationà is important in a patient with suspectedà compartment syndrome. Patients with tenseà painful limbs are considered to have acuteà compartment syndrome; however, diagnosisà is confirmed with the assessment of elevatedà compartment pressure. Clinical signs andà symptoms include the following:à Pain disproportional to injury (the earliest sign)à Constant deep pain and pain that is referredà to the compartment on passive stretchingà of the muscles of the affected compartmentà (Fig. E1C-84, A) Reduced sense of touch or sensation (hypesthesia) within the territory of the nerve passing the compartment (in acute anteriorà compartment syndrome, the patient mayà have hypesthesia in the territory of the firstà webspace)à Tense and swollen compartment (Figs. E1C-à 84, B and 1C-84, C)à Muscle weaknessà Paresis (late finding) that suggests permanentà muscle damageà Capillary refill can be slow but normal.à Peripheral pulses that are normally palpableà even in severe conditionsà Tingling and numbness in the affected limb.à Hypesthesia or paresthesia should be evaluatedà with pinprick, light touch, and two-pointà discrimination tests.à Difficulty moving the extremities.à DIAGNOSIS Diagnosis is based on clinical signs andà symptoms along with compartment pressure.à Compartment pressure testing may be unnecessaryà if the diagnosis is clinically obvious.à DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS Muscle strainsà Cellulitis Gangrene Peripheral vascular injury Necrotizing fasciitis Stress fractures Deep vein thrombosis and thrombophlebitis Tendinitis Muscle contusion Tarsal tunnel syndrome Posterior ankle syndrome Popliteal artery impingement Claudication Tumor Venous insufficiency LABORATORY TESTS Diagnosis is based on clinical findings andà the measurement of compartment pressures.à Laboratory values are not useful in the diagnosisà of compartment syndrome but are importantà for other diagnoses or associated conditions.à CBC with differential for evaluation of infectionà Creatine phosphokinase (CK) levels, whichà can rise as muscle injury developsà Metabolic panel for the assessment of electrolytesà and renal functionà Coagulation profile for bleeding diathesisà Urinalysis for rhabdomyolysisà Urine and serum myoglobin levelsà Compartment Syndromeà A B FIGURE 1C-84 C: A, Severe calf swelling due toà anterior and posterior compartment syndromesà after ischemia-reperfusion. B, Appearance afterà emergency fasciotomy. Note edematous muscleà and hematoma. (Courtesy Michael J. Allen, FRCS,à Leicester, UK. From Floege J et al: Comprehensiveà clinical nephrology, ed 4, Philadelphia, 2010,à Saunders.) http://internalmedicinebook.comà Compartment Syndrome 307 Diseases and Disorders IMAGING STUDIES Direct intracompartmental pressure measurementà can be done by handheld manometer,à wick or slit catheter technique, and simpleà needle manometer system. Compartment à syndrome is diagnosed when the differenceà between diastolic blood pressure and compartmentà pressure (ÃŽâ⬠pressure) is à ¢Ã¢â¬ °Ã ¤30 mm Hg.à Ultrasonography can be used to rule out deepà vein thrombosis, or Doppler ultrasonographyà can be used to evaluate blood flow to theà extremity. Arteriography should be used toà evaluate the adequate blood flow through aà compartment. Near-infrared spectroscopy and technetium-à 99m methoxyisobutylisonitrile scintigraphyà can also be used.à Radiography can be used on the affectedà limb for fracture or foreign body evaluation.à TREATMENTà Treatment goal is to keep intracompartmentalà pressure low and prevent tissue injury (Fig.à 1C-84, D). NONPHARMACOLOGIC THERAPY Immediate relieving of all external pressureà on the affected compartmentà Removal of casts, splints, and dressingsà Placing limb at heart level to avoid decreasedà or increased blood flowà ACUTE GENERAL Rxà Analgesics for pain Hyperbaric oxygen Hypotension can worsen tissue ischemia andà thus should be treated with IV isotonic saline. Fasciotomy of the affected compartmentà is indicated if there has been >6 hr ofà limb ischemia, or immediate decompressionà should be performed when the compartmentà pressure > 30 to 35 mm Hg.à Measurement of compartment pressure isà not necessary to perform fasciotomy if clinicalà suspicion is high depending on historyà and clinical examination.à When compartment pressures are trendingà downward, it is often safe to delay emergentà fasciotomy, provided the ÃŽâ⬠pressure is alsoà improving. CHRONIC Rxà Aftercare of fasciotomy wound: Wound isà inspected after 48 hours and dead tissue isà removed.à Wounds are left open, requiring later skinà grafting or delayed wound closure.à Opsite sheet and boot lace techniques areà also used for closing fasciotomy wounds.à Concomitant fractured bones should also beà stabilized with plating, external fixation, orà intramedullary nailing.à DISPOSITION With early diagnosis and treatment, the prognosisà is excellent for recovery of the muscles andà nerves inside the compartment. The followingà conditions can be prevented:à Permanent nerve damage/paralysisà Muscle contracture Gangrene Amputation Muscle necrosis Fracture nonunion Rhabdomyolysis that leads to renal failure Compartment syndrome that can occur inà open fractures Permanent nerve injury, which can occur afterà 12 to 24 hr of compression; mortality rates inà patients who need fasciotomy is à ¢Ã¢â¬ °Ãâ 15%. REFERRAL Patients with suspected compartment syndromeà should be referred promptly to orthopedicà and general surgery. PEARLS CONSIDERATIONS Universal precautions and aseptic measures are necessary for patients undergoing fasciotomy because the risk of local and systemic infection is high with the procedure. Invasive monitoring techniques should be undertaken with adequate analgesia so that patient immobility is ensured while the pressure is measured. Injection of local anaesthetics into the compartment can increase the pressure and pain and therefore should be avoided. Patients with fracture casts should be informed about the risks of swelling, and patients should also be encouraged to wear appropriate equipment while playing sports. A history of coagulation disorders and the use of anticoagulants should be mentioned in a patients medical history. Assault Assault has two different interpretations. 1. Traditionally called common assault and consisting of the making of an unlawful and intentional (or possibly only reckless) threat to inflict imminent force against the person where the victim was aware of the threat.Ãâà A distinction was previously maintained at common law between common assault and battery.Ãâà Increasing codification of criminal law has resulted in abandonment of this distinction and in Australia assault now commonly refers both to common assault and actual infliction of force.Ãâà Statutory provisions for the different states are numerous and terminology varies (e.g. offences of causing injury or threatening). 2. One of three ma
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