Policy Analysis Document On Hong Kong Government-Free-Samples

Question: Evaluate a policy analysis document on a Hong Kong government's program based on the concepts and techniques covered in my lectures. Answer: Problem The issue of LTC SERVICES All RCHEs need to meet the approving essentials of SWD in giving a tasteful standard of care, paying little heed to that there is a wide disparity of size, nature of organizations and level of costs charged among private RCHEs. Reasons for such disparity are multi-faceted however happy goals have every one of the reserves of being the key components (Matsuoka et al., 2017). There is an extraordinary lack of land in Hong Kong for the progression of RCHEs and remembering that subvented RCHEs are set up in areas arranged straightforwardly holding up endowments or reason created complex given by the Government, private RCHEs are generally arranged in business or private structures which are for the most part less open however more exorbitant in rental cost. There radiates an impression of being a need to redesign the advantage nature of private RCHEs by establishing measures, for instance, capable codes and ethics of care, better direction and planning for exper ts at various levels. Evaluation The examination group likewise gathered an immense measure of data about the LTC approach and works on, including the financing mode and the administration extension and varieties, in 19 part nations of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and Asian nations/economies, which gave a system of correlation with the circumstance in Hong Kong (Fu et al., 2017). A survey of existing means-test instruments in Hong Kong was led to give reference to the components that must be considered if a methods test were to be executed alongside the money related help (voucher) plot for financed RCS. Evaluation criteria Identification of a policy problem is generally accompanied by adoption of certain goals that the policy intends to accomplish. These goals are most often translated ot objectives that encompass the desired end results along with information on the target population, limitation of resources and time tables. There are several qualitative and quantitative criteria that were used to evaluate the effectiveness of this policy. These criteria were utilised for assessing the effectiveness of this policy on meeting the goals of the proposed problem. The criteria that were used for evaluation were straightforward and unambiguous. The evaluation criteria that were used in this scenario are mentioned below- Cost efficiency- It measured whether the policy is able to establish reliable investment conditions and contributes to dynamic efficiency in the long run. The cost of borrowing funds, indirect costs, capital expenditures, training, operational costs and expenditures that were directly attributable to the policy were measured. Effectiveness- This helped in determining whether the policy involved any uncertain projections that might occur in future. It also evaluated whether the policy is capable of attaining the goals. Equity- This evaluated whether the benefits and burdens of the policy was equally distributed among all people of the society. It investigated the impact of the policy on the benefits and burden on the society. Political feasibility- The acceptance of this policy to decision makers, powerful groups, and legislators was assessed. Social feasibility- It was determined whether the policy had the power of getting accepted from the public. Technical feasibility- This criterion determined if there was any technology available for implementing the policy. Interviews Face-to-confront interviews. A sum of 2183 elderly individuals matured 65 or more, and 1144 matured 45-64 were talked with up close and personal in the investigation time frame. Telephone interviews - notwithstanding the up close and personal meetings of the elderly individuals and the 'prospective old' from the different classifications specified above, it would likewise be attractive to request the perspectives of a gathering of individuals who are living in the group and are aware of individual wellbeing and home security by utilizing a telehealth framework. This gathering of individuals is utilizing an individual crisis interface benefit (PE Link) which is a 24-hour propelled correspondence framework worked by the Senior Citizen Home Safety Association (HE CHOU, 2017). Its clients can address the administrator through the fundamental unit at home by squeezing a catch and the administrator is along these lines ready to distinguish the requirements of the guest and give the essential help administrations. Policy options To meet the LTC needs of our maturing society in an economical way, the policy formulated several policy options and also evaluated their benefits and harms. These alternatives might be embraced in the mix as they are not totally unrelated. Status quo - expanding the arrangement of financed private care places at the present pace Should financed private care places be expanded at the present pace, it is likely that the sitting tight time for sponsored RCS can be kept at a specific level in the short to medium term. However, as the populace continues maturing, it is inescapable that the new supply would not have the capacity to get up to speed with the regularly developing interest (Lai, Yamamoto-Mitani, 2015). Adjusting the "double choice" plan since 2000, the Government has executed the Standardized Care Need Assessment Mechanism for Elderly Services (SCNAMES) to survey the care need of candidates for sponsored LTC benefits and to find out their qualification. Under the component, a globally perceived appraisal instrument is embraced to determine the care needs of older folks and matches them with proper administrations including "RCS just", "CCS just" or "double alternative" (Tong, 2014). Introduction of a methods test system The presentation of a methods test system would enable the Government to center its constrained assets to the individuals who are most in require and abbreviate the sitting tight rundown for financed private care puts in the more drawn out term. A mean-tried voucher plot for RCS With a view to advancing further advancement of value self-financing/private RCS and empowering shared duties among people, their families and society in meeting the LTC needs of the elderly, we have investigated the plausibility of presenting a voucher plot for RCS. Solving the problem The audit of worldwide encounters in LTC arrangement and financing uncovers that an openly subsidized, non-contributory arrangement of arrangement would, as a rule, be given on a specific premise. This is started on the way that given restricted open income, assets ought to be used in the most productive way and in this manner benefit arrangement ought to be given to those most in require (Lloyd-Sherlock, 2014). This is to be figured in acknowledgment of the low duty administration of Hong Kong which would most likely render the current freely financed, vigorously sponsored LTC conveyance display not supportable over the long haul. Universally, this particular arrangement would regularly be actualized by methods for a few systems of means-testing, to learn the failure of the freely supported administration beneficiaries to manage the costs of the administrations (Lu Ottervik, 2017). The arrangement of LTC administrations could be either in kind (administrations) or, then again in real money (endowments or voucher) or both, regardless of the method of financing. The gadget of money appropriation (or voucher) gives higher adaptability and more prominent customer decision, with the goal that the end-clients of the administrations could profit most. Universally, money endowments (or voucher) are typically given just to CCS as opposed to for RCS (Law Ng, 2018). The money related states of elderly individuals in Hong Kong have been a noteworthy worry in social arrangement definition. As uncovered in the different neighborhood thinks about, the money related status of the present partner of elderly individuals is, to a specific degree, observed to be ominous. This is inferable from a large group of variables, including, right off the bat that a considerable lot of them have not been profited by any retirement security plans, also, their low instruction and abilities h ad confined them to low-wage occupations amid their working age, thirdly, their low limit with regards to funds because of low earnings (Lum et al., 2013). Nonetheless, with the usage of the Mandatory Provident Store in 2000 and the evolving financial profile, it could be expected that the future companion of elderly individuals could be better situated monetarily to seek after a long haul retirement arranging, counting providing food for the requirement for medicinal and LTC administrations. Policy analysis The audit of global encounters in LTC arrangement and financing uncovers that an openly supported, non-contributory arrangement of arrangement would ordinarily be given on a particular premise. This is prefaced on the way that given constrained open income, assets ought to be used in the most productive way and along these lines benefit arrangement ought to bgiven to those most in require. This is to be figured in acknowledgment of the low assessment administration of Hong Kong which would likely render the current freely supported, intensely financed LTC conveyance show not manageable over the long term (Chin Phua, 2016). Universally, this specific arrangement would typically be actualized by methods for a few components of means-test, in order to find out the failure of the freely subsidized administration beneficiaries to manage the costs of the administrations. Cost benefits The money related states of elderly individuals in Hong Kong have been a noteworthy is anxious in social agreement detailing. As uncovered in different nearby examinations, the budgetary status of the present partner of elderly individuals is, to a specific degree, observed to be ominous. The cost benefits of the policy options are: Pricing of the status quo mainly aims at maintaining the industry. In this case, if policy lowers its costs from its competitors than it can face the risk of leading to the price war. The costing of CCS (community care services) is very low as they are being looked that if proper food, shelter and medication is being provided or not. The benefits are the olderly people stays well and their lifespan increases. The benefits of the means-test mechanism are good as they used to target the resources those who need help. On the other hand there are bad effects too that is they used to suffer from non-take up which is caused from social stigma and the different costs related with the claim of the policy. The cost benefits of RCS (residential care services) with respect to the elderly people who are eligible and in need of the financial support according to their means. Justification The arrangement of LTC administrations could be either in kind (administrations) or, on the other hand in real money (appropriations or voucher) or both, independent of the method of financing. The gadget of money appropriation (or voucher) gives higher adaptability and more noteworthy buyer decision, so the end-clients of the administrations could profit most. Globally, money appropriations (or voucher) are typically given just to CCS instead of for RCS (Cheng et al., 2013). Reserve in 2000 and the evolving financial profile, it could be foreseen that the future partner of elderly individuals could be better situated monetarily to seek after a long haul retirement arranging, counting cooking for the requirement for restorative and LTC administrations (Ansah et al., 2017). In this light, the Government may need to proceed with its freely subsidized method of administration arrangement for the present accomplice of monetarily generally impeded elderly individuals; yet prepare for contriving a few new methods of financing and arrangement for the future associate of elderly individuals who may likely be in a superior position for taking up contributory frameworks. References Ansah, J. P., Koh, V., Qureshi, M. A., Matchar, D. B. (2017). Modeling to Inform Long-Term Care Policy and Planning for an Aging Society. InInnovative Healthcare Systems for the 21st Century(pp. 183-224). Springer International Publishing. Cheng, S. T., Lum, T., Lam, L. C., Fung, H. H. (2013). Hong Kong: Embracing a fast aging society with limited welfare.The Gerontologist,53(4), 527-533. Chin, C. W. W., Phua, K. H. (2016). Long-term care policy: Singapores experience.Journal of aging social policy,28(2), 113-129. Fu, Y. Y., Chui, E. W. T., Kan, W. S., Ko, L. (2017). Improving primary level home and community care services for older people: The case of Hong Kong.International Journal of Social Welfare. HE, A. J., CHOU, K. L. (2017). Long-term care service needs and planning for the future: a study of middle-aged and older adults in Hong Kong.Ageing Society, 1-33. Lai, C. K. Y., Yamamoto-Mitani, N. (2015). Cross-cultural examination of long-term care services (ltc) in China, Hong Kong, and Japan: philosophies, realities, and mapping out the future. Law, V. T., Ng, C. W. (2018). Corporate Social Responsibility of Long-Term Care Service Enterprises. InSustainable Health and Long-Term Care Solutions for an Aging Population(pp. 203-215). IGI Global. Lloyd-Sherlock, P. (2014). Beyond neglect: Long-term care research in low and middle income countries.International Journal of Gerontology,8(2), 66-69. Lu, S., Ottervik, M. G. (2017). 11 Transforming long-term care of the elderly in three Chinese societies.Transforming Society: Strategies for Social Development from Singapore, Asia and Around the World,91, 144. Lum, T., Chui, E., Lou, V., Lau, M. (2013). Rebalancing long term care in Hong Kong.Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging. Matsuoka, Y., Saito, M., Wada, R., Akiyama, M. (2017). RESIDENTSSTRENGTHS AND INFLUENCING FEATURES IN A SUPER-AGED SOCIAL HOUSING COMMUNITY.Innovation in Aging,1(suppl_1), 446-447. Tong, K. W. (Ed.). (2014).Community care in Hong Kong: Current practices, practice-research studies and future directions. City University of HK Press.

Macbeth Questions free essay sample

Discuss the various roles of the witches in ‘Macbeth’ with special emphasis on Coleridge’s remark that â€Å"the witches have the power of tempting those that have been tempters themselves. † What is, at the end of the play, your attitude to Macbeth? Admiration, sympathy, disgust, or any other attitude? Justify your view by referring to scenes or extracts. June 1986) Analyse the nature of kingship in ‘Macbeth’ by drawing your information from Shakespeare’s presentation of King Duncan, of Malcolm and –by contrast – of Macbeth. Macbeth is neither a loathsome nor a heroic character, but a mixture of both. Discuss. (September 1986) ‘Infirm of purpose’: in how far is this impression you receive of Macbeth justified? ‘This even-handed justice / Commends th’ingredients of our poisoned chalice / To our lips. ’ Put these lines in their proper context. Explain them and show how they come true for Macbeth. (June 1989) Banquo is dramatically as important alive as dead. We will write a custom essay sample on Macbeth Questions or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Discuss. Do you agree with the view that Macbeth is fighting a lost battle against forces beyond his control? (September 1991) ‘She should have died hereafter’. The relation between Macbeth and his wife stands as long as they have a common aim. Macbeth is too weak for the part he has chosen to play. (September 1992) ‘Life . is a tale /Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury. Signifying nothing. Does Macbeth’s nihilistic conclusion (Act V, Scene V) mean that Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’ offers a view of a meaningless world, full of horrors and suffering, without any positive moral values? Discuss the importance of the Porter Scene (Act II, Scene III). (June 1993) Assess the importance of the supernatural in ‘Macbeth’. Comment on the nature and dramatic function of the Ghost Scene. (June 1994) Describe what happens in Lady Macbeth’s ‘Sleeepwalking Scene’ at the beginning of Act V. Why is this scene so important? Describe the character of Macduff, and show how Shakespeare wins respect and approval for him. (June 1995) What would be missing if there were no witch scenes? Discuss the importance of the witches in the whole play. Analyse Macbeth’s attitude to Lady Macbeth after the murder of Duncan. Is it true that he does not need her any more? What impact does her death have on him? (September 1995) Macbeth is a very complex character. Analyse the different roles he plays according to the situations he finds himself in. ‘Unnatural deeds/ Do breed unnatural troubles. Show how the destruction of the natural order becomes one of the main themes of the play. (June 1996) Analyse the role of children in ‘Macbeth’. Shakespeare is above all writers, at least above all modern writers, the poet of Nature. Do you agree with Samuel Johnson’s assessment? (September 1996) ‘This even-handed justice / Commends th’ingredients of our poisoned chalice / To our lips. ’ Discuss the truth of this in relation to Macbeth and his wife. Discuss the salient images of health and sickness in the play and point out their relevance to the plot. June 1997) Banquo, Malcolm, Macduff and Lady Macduff. Why does Shakespeare introduce these characters? Are they really necessary? 1 Marc Weis, Lycee Classique de Diekirch Essay Questions on William Shakespeares Macbeth 26) 27) 28) 29) 30) 31) Why does Macbeth fail? Carefully analyse the various reasons for Macbeth’s failure. (September 1998) Analyse the theme of loyalty to King and country as presented in ‘Macbeth’. Analyse the relationship between Banquo and Macbeth. (June 1998) ‘Macbeth is no common ruthless butcher’ Comment upon this statement. Macbeth is a play about crime and punishment’. Comment upon this statement. (September 1998) Discuss the influence of the witches’ prophecies on Macbeth’s decisions to murder Duncan and to have Banquo killed. 32) How significant, do you think, is Shakespeare’s use of imagery in this play? In your answer analyse two examples more extensively. (June 1999) 33) Analyse the theme of equivocation in ‘Macbeth’.

Vocabulary and Phrases Useful for Writing Business Letters

Vocabulary and Phrases Useful for Writing Business Letters This sheet focuses on core vocabulary and phrases used when writing business letters or e-mails in English. This business writing reference can be used in English for specific purposes classes as a starting point for students who need to use English on an everyday basis for written business communications. Teachers are often not equipped with the exact English terminology required in very specific trade sectors. For this reason, core vocabulary sheets go a long way in helping teachers provide adequate materials for students with English for specific purposes needs. English for Specific Purposes: Core Vocabulary Lists to act on behalf ofto agree withalways at your serviceas agreedas far as Im concernedas far as the payment is concernedas followsas per invoiceas per to the conditionsas per your requestas requestedas soon as possibleat your convenienceat your earliest convenienceat your expenseawaiting your replyto be able toto be authorized toto be characterized byto be confident into be delighted toto be held responsible forto be in arrears with paymentsto be in difficultyto be interested inon arrival of the goodson behalf ofon condition that - provided thaton deliveryon receipt of the orderon short noticeon written requestorder to be confirmedour best attentionour offer is still openoutside addressto pay the maximum attention to the matterpayable in advanceplease allow usplease send usplease send us your instructionsprices are increasingto reach the destinationto refer toto return a letter to the senderto sell at the bestto send under separate coversender addressshort-termsimilar to sample - up t o sampleto be lateto be overrun with ordersto be prepared to - to be willing to before the date we agreed uponBest regardsbody of the lettercircular letterclaim - letter of complaintto come to a decisionto come to an agreement - to reach an agreementcomplimentary closeto cope with the competitioncorrespond to the sampleto correspond withcovering letterdue to oversightenclosure - attachmentto fix an appointmentfollowing your instructionsfrom order receiptfurther to our letter - following our lettergoods listed belowgreetinghalf-priceto have the pleasure toto stop negotiationsto submit a sampleto suit the quality - to meet the qualityto take into considerationthe aim of this letterthe following itemsthe goods are available in our warehousethe goods are not similar to the samplethe goods are sold outthe goods arrived in good conditionsthe letter remained unansweredthe matter in referencethe meeting was canceledto our mutual benefitto the kind attention ofunder separate coverup to an am ount ofutmost carewe acknowledge receipt ofwe apologize again forwe apologize forwe apologize for the delaywe apologize for the mistakewe are sorry to have to we are sorry to inform youto have the power to herebyin case of needin compliance with - accordinglyin due time - in due coursein good conditionin our favorin partial paymentin reply to your letterin the absence ofto inform in due timeinside addressto let someone know in advanceletter opening - beginning of the letterletterheading - headingto look forward to looking forward to an early replylooking forward to hearing from youto make the goods availableto meet a demandto meet customers requirementsto meet the demandMessrsto notify in advance abouton advanced paymentwe have receivedwe hope well receive the goods soonwe look forward to your kind replywe must apologize forwe remain - our kindest regardswe sent youwe thank you in advancewe wish to inform you thatwe would appreciate it if you could answerwe would appreciate your rep lywith no obligation - without commitmentwith reference to - in reference to with the compliments ofwith the utmost carewith two weeks noticewithin the end of the monthwithin whichwithout delaywithout noticewould you please let us havewould you please let us knowyou orderedyou requestedyou sent usYours faithfully (GB) - Yours truly (GB)

Discrimination at workplace Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Discrimination at workplace - Essay Example Similarly, statutes that protect employers against unfair dismissal claims by sacked employees are also available. Luckily for employees who feel unfairly dismissed on medical grounds, employment law solicitors for advice and representation abound (Tamara, 2007). Cases in which employees have been fired because of their sexuality are also plentiful. Although it is easier for an employee who has worked for an employer for less than one year to be dismissed, there are still certain laid down rules and procedures that must be followed, the reasons for dismissal notwithstanding. Nonetheless, some reasons such as union activity and pregnancy offer good grounds on which an employee may claim unfair dismissal before an Employment Tribunal. In case an employer does not follow the right procedures and laws when dismissing an employee for reasons considered fair under certain employment statutes, it is advisable that the affected employee seeks legal advice. Having worked for an employer for a year and more, an employee is protected against unfair dismissal and can only be sacked on incompetence grounds or disciplinary reasons (Smith & Baker, 2010). ... Unfair Dismissal on Medical Grounds The reason Rachael should have hope is that according to many countries and their relevant employment statutes, sacking an employee on grounds of recurring illnesses or being medically unfit is considered unfair. A common case study on unfair dismissal on medical grounds occurred in the Australian Nuclear Science & Technology Organisation (ANSTO) in June 2009. ANSTO terminated the services of an employee on the grounds of being medically unfit to return to work. Just like Rachael, this employee had a history of depression and needed lengthy sick off and leave. In fact, during a certain period, she was hospitalized for two consecutive months during which she underwent electroconvulsive therapy. Fortunately, she resumed a graduated return to work in December 2007 and only managed to resume full-time hours two months later. However, her illnesses continued to impact on her, forcing her to continue with drug therapy and ECT. Although the depressions be came less severe, ANSTO still dismissed the employee. Therefore, similar to the other case of The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC versus Morris UKEAT/0436/10/MAA, Rachael may appeal against her dismissal if she feels she has suffered health and disability discrimination unlike her colleagues in similar situations. Although several statutes protect ill employees from unfair dismissals, those ill for prolonged periods could be fairly dismissed if they are unlikely to get well and return to work in a reasonable time. The reasonability of Rachael’s dismissal would thus depend on the nature of her job and the specific difficulties encountered by her manager or organisation while

Social Studies Thematic Curriculum Design and Assessment Assignment

Social Studies Thematic Curriculum Design and Assessment - Assignment Example Therefore, it is essentially important to use a blend of resources including field trip to the environmental conservation agencies to help in gaining the real picture of what is actually taking place on the ground. At the same time, is also important to make a good use of resource persons in the teaching of this topic (United Nations Environment Programme and New Energy Finance Ltd., 2007). Last, but by no means the least, it is important to understand that every teaching and learning process ends with evaluation. So, a combination of formative and summative evaluations is carried out. When doing this, a combination of lower level, middle level and the higher level cognitive questions will be used. This will be of a great help in gauging the extent to which the lesson objectives are achieved. United Nations Environment Programme and New Energy Finance Ltd. (2007). Global Trends in Sustainable Energy Investment 2007: Analysis of Trends and Issues in the Financing of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency in OECD and Developing

Preparation For Providing Effective And Efficient Mentorship Nursing Essay

Preparation For Providing Effective And Efficient Mentorship Nursing Essay In preparation for this assignment searches have been conducted using the following databases: Cinahl, Pubmed and Medline search terms Learning theories, Learning styles, Mentorship and Practice Education Facilitator were used singularly or in combination. Manual searching of relevant nursing journals and publications have been performed. Articles published in English in the last 10 years were reviewed. This assignment will examine the issues and processes that need to be considered whilst facilitating and supporting a student to meet their learning outcomes in a practice placement, there will be discussion regarding the assessment strategies available as a mentor, which contribute to the overall assessment of students. Furthermore learning styles and theories will be discussed, along with the clinical setting as an environment to facilitate the learning needs required to achieve success in completing the practice placement learning outcomes. A brief overview of the clinical setting will be provided to capture the ambiance of the learning environment. The setting for this location is an Elective Orthopaedic Unit within the Northwest and in conforming to the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC (2008); any names used will be pseudonyms to protect identification, confidentiality and dignity will be maintained at all times. NMC (2008) states that a mentor is a registered nurse who has completed the approved mentorship programme and meets the criteria set out in NMC (2008) standards for mentors, practice teachers and teachers. Whereas Gopee (2008) argues the term mentor is frequently used to mean trusted friend, guide and advisor. There is also identified the eight mandatory standards that must be achieved to become a mentor, the author will be referring to these standards to support learning and development in practice. To ensure the student who will be named as Lucy for the purpose of this assignment has a positive learning experience it is paramount that learning environment is supportive for Lucy and for those who work alongside her. An orientation pack and welcoming letter are provided with useful information and an introduction to the allocated mentor is provided when ever possible on attendance the first shift. Kenworthy and Nicklin (2000) support the view that the more comfortable and welcome a student feels within the working environment, the more likely it is that effective learning will take place which is a key factor in successful learning. Pearcy and Elliot (2004) found that students who have had negative experiences with their mentor and placements, tend to leave the course before qualifying however Beskine (2009) advocates that starting off with a positive approach promotes the students experience as well as the quality of the placement. Adhering to the mandatory standards set by the NMC (2008) Standards to Support Learning and Assessment in Practice; and in order to establish the stage of Lucys training and her learning needs and style a mutually agreed time and location is identified for the initial meeting to take place. This meeting provides the opportunity to co-ordinate off duty and to identify another team member who will be available to support Lucys learning needs in the absence of her mentor. Once Lucys learning style had been established, then negotiating the best way forward to facilitate the learning experiences relevant to the placement can take place This provides the opportunities for Lucy to meet all of the learning outcomes and needs. Direction towards self-management of learning should be encouraged to help promote professional development, and to instil the importance of responsibility and accountability. At the half way point Lucy and her mentor will have a formative assessment, evaluation of her progress this will determine any action plans or adjustments necessary to enable Lucy to meet her learning outcomes. NMC standards for mentors (2008) state that a mentor must contribute to evaluation of student learning and assessment experiences, suggesting aspects for change resulting from such evaluation. A summative assessment would usually take place when completing student documents whilst focusing on the whole of the placement. In a study by Hart and Rotem (1994) it is indicated that the qualities of a mentor are a vital factor in providing and achieving a positive and valuable learning environment; moreover the study found that stressful events for nursing students during clinical practice have shown the initial clinical experience was the most anxiety producing part of clinical experience Cahill (1996) acknowledges that the single most crucial factor in creating a positive learning environment is the relationship between staff and the student nurse; it is also discussed that a common problem that arises for a student is that they are regularly unable to work with their mentor. Many nurses and nursing students in the past found themselves to be autonomous practitioners, learning their skills within the situations they found themselves in without adequate guidance or support (Bray Nettleton, 2008). Whereas Higgins et al (2009) suggest the success of any nursing student in any program in any clinical setting is complex, enhancing the complicated nature of education and the perception of competencies whether student or mentor. This is an important concept to be sensitive to, as the process of moving forward with the knowledge and skills needs to be supported and nurtured in order to facilitate the standard of care that is safe, accountable, and competent. Honey and Mumford (1992) Identified If mentors are to teach students effectively they must be aware of different learning styles and the importance of them; furthermore Honey and Mumford explore four different styles of learning and is a variation on Kolbs learning cycle, which was originally adapted from Kolb and Fry (1975). It is thought whenever possible, it is essential to allow the students individual style of learning determine the choice of teaching. Within Kolbs model there are four different styles of learning they describe, activist, theorist, pragmatist, and reflector. They also propose that although many people can be a mixture of the four styles, they primarily have a preference for only one. However Clark (2007) suggests that labelling such as activist versus reflector has no scientific justification. Downie and Basford (2003) believe, that to identify the learning outcomes at the beginning of the placement is of great benefit to the student, knowing the stage of training that the student is currently at helps to support a student effectively within the clinical setting; moreover they suggest that most students prefer the traditional learning method described as pedagogy which is where the mentor or teacher has full responsibility for what the student learns. Andragogy is described by Knowles (1990) as adult learning where the student is motivated and applies life experiences to learning, therefore this suggests the use of andragogy teaching method would be beneficial to Lucy as she is very motivated in learning outside if the learning outcomes. When establishing Lucys learning style, formal teaching sessions were introduced to demonstrate how theory is applied in practice. A taxonomy frequently used in nursing is the framework by Benner (1984) in which there are five levels; novice, beginner, competent, proficient and expert. According to Benners stages of clinical competence, which shows the journey of a novice to an expert then Lucy appears to be an advanced beginner as signs of understanding NMC The code: standards of conduct, performance and ethics for nurses and midwifes have been identified along with previous experience in other clinical areas. As required By NMC (2008) Standards to Support Learning and Assessment in Practice along with fostering professional growth, the mentor encourages Lucy to reflect on her practice and empowered Lucy to be autonomous within the limitations of the supervised role, whilst being fair and accurate in the assessment of the student. Validity is the most crucial aspect of any assessment; it shows the extent to which the assessment measures and what it is expected to measure. A valid assessment is one that assesses learning outcome; it is set out to assess and not to target other outcomes that may not have been learnt adequately at that point. Reliability is also a key factor to be considered in assessments, the term reliability is used to indicate the consistency of which an assessment measures and what it is designed to measure. However Goding (1997) suggests that reliability and validity are inappropriate indicators of nursing practice and that they reduce practice to a list of objectives, which holds very little relation to the intricacy of practice. The NMC (2006) advocate that assessment is said to be reliable, if it gives similar results when used on different occasions, and with different assessors. It is suggested by Hand (2006) that continuous assessment allows the student to achieve their target through progressive goal setting. Whereas Clifford (1994) explains continual assessment of practice, implies the students performance is monitored on a daily basis during clinical practice, which would be done on a day-to-day basis. Regular meetings between Lucy and her mentor allow discussions with mutual respect to evaluate the progress she is or may not be making, enabling action plans to be implemented if necessary. According to NMC (2008) the mentor should provide the student with constructive feedback and assist them in identifying future learning needs and actions. Employing evidence-based practice, observation and communication equips the mentor with some of the necessary tools to identify the strengths and weaknesses and provide feedback; remaining objective when assessing the student to meet the required outcomes also means being objective when completing student documentation. It could be tempting when assessing Lucy to overeat her performance causing the halo effect, although by underrating her performance could cause the horn effect; this could happen if there is a clash of personalities between a student and a mentor. Krech et al (1962) document that human tendencies can influence a manager or mentors point of view causing stereotyping and the halo and horn effect Research by Watson Harris (1999) that examines support of students in practice placement established that some student nurses are being allowed to pass clinical assessments without having demonstrated sufficient competence; the study revealed that some Practioners did not feel it was their responsibility to fail students. Moreover Duffy (2003) reports that it is inevitable that some students will not be able to meet the required level of practice and it is essential that mentors do not avoid the difficult issue of having to fail these students. Duffy (2003) identified that weak students tend to have poor interpersonal skills, are disinterested in practice learning and are frequently late, and that they also lack personal insight and the awareness of professional boundaries. Duffy goes on to recommend that early intervention is essential if mentors or the clinical team notice an issue or concern about students, time must be made to discuss the issues. There may be other factors affecting performance and these mitigating circumstances may need to be considered, however performance must meet the required standard. The NMC (2008) Standards to support learning and assessment in practice state the mentor is accountable and responsible for assessing the total performance of the student including attitude, skills and behaviour. There are fundamental individuals that can offer support and guidance to the mentor. The mentor can access support in assessing a student by way of the links to the Practice Education Facilitator (PEF), whose multidimensional role includes; according to Salvoni (2001) helping to support and enhance clinical practice and teach student nurses practical skills within the academic setting, in recognition of the theory-practice relationship. In addition to this Rowan Barber (2000) and Richards et al (2001) support the view that the PEF furthers staff in the development of their teaching and assessment skills. The PEF, University Link Lecturer and The Academic Adviser are pivotal in supporting and guiding both the mentor and the student if there have been concerns expressed in a students progress within the placement. There is a potential that a mentor could be mentoring a student who is not able to achieve within the placement, if a mentor has concerns it is essential that this concerns be acted upon in the appropriate and in a timely manner. Duffy (2003) recognised mentors do not always identify and deal with problems early enough in students placement, they find it difficult to fail a student, in order to prepare a mentor for their role and the responsibilities in failing the student it is vital that they are supported and backed up by the PEF. The NMC (2008) states mentors should manage failing students to enable them to enhance their performance and capabilities for safe and effective practice. The student should also understand their failure and the implications of this for their future. NMC (2006) states students must evaluate their placement as part of the educational audit process. Also as the named mentor you are responsible for making the final assessment and are accountable for passing or failing the student. It is inescapable that some students will not be able to achieve the required level of competence whilst in the practice placement and it is essential that mentors do not evade the difficult issue of having to fail a student. In conclusion this assignment has examined a plethora of evidence, research, reviews and studies to elicit discussions and reflection surrounding what issues and processes have to be considered whilst supporting a student in a practice placement along with comparing the range of assessment strategies accessible to mentors which, contributes to the overall assessment of students. Wilkinson (1999) argues liasing between clinicians and educationalist enhances the quality of assessment and promotes a practice based learning culture. Learning styles and learning theories have been investigated. It is important to assess each student as an individual in the context of their learning needs to strengthen the integration of theory and practice within the clinical setting likewise it is imperative that the mentor has an understanding of the learning outcomes. The mentor was able to pass Lucy in her practice placement and maintained professional boundaries throughout the experience.

The baby boomer in the midst of the economic crisis

Most of the baby boomer generation were imbibed with the stereotype perception on the facets of work, employment and success. In a typical scenario, that â€Å"best† schedule would connote that a baby boomer would go to work on a regular schedule, 8-5, working from Monday to Friday schedule. Most of the time would be spent in the office, taking a daily commute to and from the office, with some time being taken by overtime, some work to be done on the weekends, and some other tasks to be accomplished at home.Success was also easily defined, with the person attaining the highest position in the corporate ladder becoming the epitome of that standard of success (Brad Harrington, Douglas Hall 98). Many of the people, baby boomer and others, believe that the current recession is about to end and that more prosperous times are about to return are, what observers state, is sadly suffering from a near sighted view of the present economic crisis.In reality, since the peaking of the 2005 United States housing crisis, the continuing barrage of the sub-prime financial crisis in 2007,and the resulting economic slowdown in the American economy in December of the same year, its has been observed that the United States economy, and to a certain degree the global market, has entered into an era of prolonged adjustments, with expected periods of growth, but the severe economic restructuring currently being put in place is believed to continue for the next years. What is believed to be the main driver of these developments is the baby boomer generation.It is assumed that the previously mentioned financial crisis is also contributory to the current financial morass, but the imperative reasons is that what is considered as the largest demographic in the history of mankind, the baby boomer generation born after the Second World War, has overreached its spending power (Professor Rodrigue Tremblay). What is seen to be the immediate effect of this development is that there must b e a realization that the exhaustion of the spending power of the baby boomer generation is irreversible.In this regard, the solutions cannot be found overnight; the remedy will be decades of readjusting of corporate spending, reduced spending and increased savings, and liquidating massive mountains of debt. The ramifications of this development will be seen to reverberate through the entire economic structure, as seen in the downturn of the automobile industry, and the increases in the health care sector, as the baby boomer continue to age (Tremblay).What is considered as a significant public policy issue is the potential load that a society that is reaching its twilight years will place on the nation's health provider system and the government expenditures. The â€Å"2030† issue is about addressing the challenge that by that time, there will be adequate and an efficacious system will be in place in three decades time, when the elderly sector in society will be double the pre sent population. By the year 2030, it is expected that many of the baby boomer generation will be between the ages of 66 to 84 years, and they will comprise 61 million individuals.Apart from these, the number of the older baby boomers, will be more than 9 million by 2030 (James Knickman, Emily Snell). The present structure of the long term care sector is constructed around the provision of the service by private providers, which can be categorized as non-profit and some for profit outfits. When the available resources increase, the development of new services can accelerate at a faster pace. Inversely, when available resources decrease, it is also expected that the capacity of the sector will diminish.Taking the example of home health care as a point of reference, the growth in the yearly expenditure rate increase went from ten percent in the period of the 1980's reaching into the 1990's, plummeting to a negative three percent in just two years, from 1998 to 1999 (Knickman, Snell). The Congressional Budget Office (CBO), in a 1999 report, calculates that expenditures related to long term care needs was approximately $120 billion in 2000, more than half (59 percent) addressed by the private sector.The balance of the expenditures were covered by individual expenses, with the private long term sector just covering one percent of the long term health care expenditures. In the conservative estimation of the CBO, the total amount for long term health care will rise an average of 2. 6 percent above inflationary levels annually over a span of three decades, totaling more than $150 billion in 2010, close to $200 billion in 2020, and a colossal $ 230 billion by the year 2030 (Knickman, Snell). In the composition of the Federal budgetary outlay, three government dominate the bulk of Federal spending; Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security.Federal outlays for these programs in 2004 reached more than $960 billion, exclusive of receipt offsetting of Medicare premiums. In tot al, these three programs totaled more than 40 percent of the entire Federal budget. It is be noted that the Federal government is contemplating on implementing sweeping changes in the mechanism of the Social Security system. The changes in the Social Security structure is inclusive of proposals to divert a portion of their tax payments to private investment tools (United States Congressional Budget Office 9).One piece of advice that the boomers might give serious contemplation to is the fact that there exists now a need to increase levels of savings rather than increased spending. All the events the last few years have sent a clear signal to the aging sector to turn to savings and restrain spending binges; but these acts of saving on the part of the boomers would mean a decrease in the levels of consumption and reduced spending, so that they can liquidate their liabilities, and that will increase the personal net income of the boomers.But what does that spell for the economy, if the largest spending sector considers more saving and reducing their consumption? It will translate to a comprehensive deceleration in economic growth and some excruciating adjustments in broad sectors in the economy (Tremblay) . In this light, it is expected that the effects of the current financial crisis hounding the global economies will be magnified and increase in its intensity, and the magnified effects of the crisis will continue to be felt in the decades to come.The economic doldrums will not be continuous, as there will be some short lived gains and increases, but will quickly return to the state of economic stagnation. To cite an example, in the last decade, Japan suffered a period of stagnation induced by the elderly demographic buffeted the nation's economy for the entire nineties. Even to this day, Japan is still trying to finds its way out of the economic morass it suffered during that time (Tremblay). Many of the countries whose population practices a very high standard of savings patterns will be able to export much of that capital to other countries.During the baseline year for model simulations, 1997, it was seen that many industrial states were exporting more than $60 billion in net investments to some low and middle level nations, amounting to 1. 1 percent of the gross domestic product of the nations that receive these outflows of capital. In that year, only nations in East Asia region were seen to be net exporters of capital. But in the year 2015, the recipients of the outflows of the industrial nations will be the ones exporting capital, and the industrial nations currently exporting the capital will be the ones importing the capital (World Bank 40).In the years not covered by the data released by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the continued aging of the baby boomers, compounded with increasing costs related to health care, will create a significant shift in the financial situation of the Unite States. It is expected that in the nex t three decades, the population of Americans at or over the age of 65 will jump 100 percent, while the number of people that are under the age of 65 will only increase by 15 percent. What is more alarming is the rate for the increase for health care expenditures is expected to outstrip the pace of economic growth during the same period.If the costs continue at a pace of 2. 5 percent, the Federal government will increase its budgetary allocations for Medicare and Medicaid, from 4. 2 percent at present more than 11 percent by the year 2030 (Congressional 10). Budgetary allocations for Social Security is expected to increase in the next thirty years by an average of 40 percent under the operation of the present laws. The share of the allocations for Social Security will rise from the 4. 2 figure at present to at least 6 percent in 2030.By comparison, the revenue projections for Social Security is expected to be static during the period, hovering at around 5 percent of gross domestic pr oduct (GDP). All combined, these pressures will exert significant amounts of stress on the budget that growth in the economy is unlikely to fully satiate (Congressional 11). Works Cited Harrington, Brad, Hall, Douglas T. Career Management and work life integration: using self assessment to navigate contemporary careers. Los Angeles, USA: Sage Publications 2007. Knickman, James R. , Snell, Emily K. â€Å"The 2030 Problem: Caring for Aging Baby Boomers†.Health Research and Education Trust 2002 August, 37(4), pp. 849-884 Tremblay, Rodrigue. â€Å"The Great Baby-Boomers Economic Stagnation of 2007-2017†. United States Congressional Budget Office. The US Budget and Economic Outlook 2006- 2015. P. O. Box 416, Old Chelsea Station New York NY: Cosimo, Inc. 2005 World Bank. Global economic prospects and the Developing countries, Volume 13. 1818 H Street, NW, Washington, DC: World Bank Publications 2003.