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Nursing Entrance Essay

Nursing Entrance Essay

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Nursing Entrance Essay

Purpose of Enrolling in Your Nursing Program and How I am Going to be Prepared to Become Successful in this Nursing Program

Some individuals incline to become nurses as a profession, but others are born with the “spirit of nursing,” the innate ability to help others out of the goodness of their hearts and minds, with no thought of personal gain. My desire to serve others, my compassion for those in need, and my conviction that I can make a difference in people’s lives all contribute to my fascination with nursing. From a very young age, I wanted to be a member of the medical community, helping provide high-quality treatment to individuals worldwide. Besides, I am interested in nursing because it will allow me to better myself while also providing me with the opportunity to help others. Also, I am interested in nursing because I know it will be the beginning of a long and fruitful career working in one of the most challenging and gratifying medical fields, one that offers ever-expanding possibilities for dedicated professionals. I have also realized that the breadth of my interest and affection for medicine makes me well suited to a career where one may specialize in several areas.

To succeed in this nursing program, I am confident I have many of the qualities necessary for success in this program and in my chosen field. Because of my capacity for empathy, I will be able to put myself in the position of my patients and treat each one uniquely. In addition, I pay close attention to detail, which I feel will serve me well as a nurse. Moreover, I am a kind person, and it is in my nature to care about the well-being of those around me, which will help me provide friendly nursing care.

Essential Functions and Roles of a Nurse

Most nurses, as trained and experienced members of the healthcare team, are responsible for various tasks that may differ from patient to patient. Nurses play a vital role in providing care for patients by attending to their basic physical needs, treating health conditions, and preventing illness. To do this, Nurses are responsible for keeping close tabs on their patients and documenting any changes that might affect treatment plans (Paharia, 2022). Nurses provide first aid for injuries, give patients their medications, carry out regular medical examinations, document patients’ medical histories in depth, observe patients’ heart rates and blood pressures, carry out diagnostic tests, operate medical devices, draw blood, and admit and discharge patients following the orders of their attending physicians. In addition, nurses make sure their patients are comfortable, change their bandages, and communicate any adjustments in a patient’s health to the other nurses or physicians (Paharia, 2022).

In addition, nurses give not only physical care but also emotional comfort to their patients and their loved ones. It may include listening to patients and evaluating their physical, cultural, emotional, spiritual, and mental requirements and making sure the patient is informed and prepared for therapy. In many cases, nurses are there to assist patients and family members in working through their emotional responses to medical problems. The nurse’s role extends beyond providing medical care to include patient education and counseling to help patients and their families understand their treatment choices and make informed decisions about their health. Besides, nurses play an essential role in the decision-making process during patient treatment. Lastly, it is the nurse’s role to ensure that the patient understands his or her health status, diagnosis, medicines, and treatment plan. This is crucial when patients are discharged from the hospital and expected to continue their treatment regimen alone (Paharia, 2022).

Accountability and Integrity in Nursing Profession

Due to their significance in ensuring the success of healthcare initiatives, professional accountability and integrity are vital to the nursing profession. According to Davis (2017), the American Nursing Association Code of Ethics stipulates that nurses must behave in a manner that is consistent with the ethical and moral standards set out by their respective professions. Accountability is crucial in nursing because it helps avoid the repercussions of a lack of responsibility. Besides accountability, trust between nurses and patients is maintained, which boosts nurses’ efficiency and ultimately benefits patients (Davis, 2017). Enrolling in training programs designed to raise one’s level of knowledge is one approach for a nurse to demonstrate accountability in the clinical area of their specialty. As a result, the nurse will be armed with up-to-date and sufficient information that is beneficial in decision-making when confronted with healthcare challenges throughout the process of providing healthcare services.

Moreover, professional accountability and integrity are essential in nursing because nurses who uphold ethical standards and demonstrate accountability and integrity might help the facility where they work to earn a good reputation. Patients at healthcare institutions are often requested to fill out patient satisfaction questionnaires. A healthcare provider’s or hospital’s reputation benefits when patients are pleased with the service they get and provide constructive comments. In addition, a culture of integrity and accountability in nursing minimizes medical resource misuse. When nurses make decisions without fully appreciating the scope of the problem, it might limit patients’ access to essential resources. In nursing, accountability may be shown through making proper use of resources. Accountability for one’s patients and the employer is also shown by maintaining equipment, giving drugs as recommended, and keeping track of any materials used in patient care (Faubion, 2022).

References

Davis, C. (2017). The importance of professional accountability. Nursing made incredibly easy, 15(6), 4.

Faubion, D. (2022). 10 Ways to Demonstrate Accountability in Nursing Practice. Nursingprocess.org. Retrieved 19 October 2022, from https://www.nursingprocess.org/accountability-in-nursing.html.

Paharia, P. (2022). Roles of a Nurse. News-Medical.net. Retrieved 19 October 2022, from https://www.news-medical.net/health/Roles-of-a-Nurse.aspx.

nursing curriculum

Nursing Curriculum:

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The current nursing curriculum was designed to help in both the teaching and the practice of nurses. The curriculum aims at producing competent nurses who can serve diligently by emphasizing on practical teachings of the nursing students. The curriculum contains numerous practical lessons and sessions designed for the students. The practical lessons are meant to help the students acclimatize with the real-life work environments. Initially at the beginning of the semester, I had no idea about these practical sessions in the curriculum. I learnt about these practical lessons during the semester. I only knew of internship of the nursing students after some years of study. The nursing curriculum has made more knowledgeable about the nursing profession through its preference on teachings based on evidence.

The nursing curriculum examines the reforms in the health care sector and their possible impacts. It explores the effects of the health care reforms on the deliverance of heath care services. The Affordable Health Care Law will result to significant changes in the nursing and health sector in general. This law will not only affect the patients, but also the medical physicians like nurses. Examining the effects of this law is therefore paramount. It is necessary that nursing students are taught about the changes that will be caused by this law. For instance, one of the effects of the law is that it may lead to shortage of medical physicians due to the high number of patients who would seek attention. The nursing curriculum offers insight analysis of some of these effects to the nursing students. In this regard, my view of the curriculum has hugely changed as a current up to date curriculum. This is opposed to my previous view of the curriculum as a rigid, old document that is not in tandem with the current issues affecting the health sector.

The curriculum in addition, contains career guidelines in the nursing profession. The entry work level for nursing school graduates is well highlighted. This enlightens nursing students about the career issues in the profession. The curriculum also contains lessons on continuation of career and rising in career level in the nursing field. The curriculum therefore, meets the student’s career needs. These career guidelines are useful to the students as it enables students to examine their career prospects. Students can gauge themselves and their chances in succeeding in the nursing profession based on their examination results. This has helped me to change my perception of the nursing curriculum. At the beginning of the semester, I regarded the curriculum as designed to lock out students who score low marks. This is no longer the case at the moment as now regard the curriculum as one aimed to produce qualified and competent nurses.

My insight about the nursing curriculum will definitely change my contribution in the faculty. My understanding of the nursing curriculum will ensure that I perform to my level best. For instance, the career guidelines will be vital to me in my quest to improve my career. I will avoid mistakes like negligence and conform to the nursing ethics outlined in the curriculum. My insight and knowledge from the nursing school will enable me to contribute immensely in the faculty. My understanding of the reforms in the health care sector will help me to easily adapt to the changes in the sector. This will further increase my productivity in the sector.

The changes in the health care industry will affect the nursing curriculum in the future. This is because of the need of the nursing students to conform to the changes in the nursing sector. For instance, the number of people who visit the health care centers is expected to increase significantly. In this case, the nursing curriculum will have to establish solutions to manage the increase in patients.

Nursing case study

Nursing case study

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Case studies are employed in the medical field to teach students and nurses. Case studies are supposed to stimulate the thinking of the trainee without significantly increasing their workload. A case study may serve several purposes since it covers all aspects of clinical practice. It is a good way to determine the decision-making ability of the student. Good case studies should be informative. This paper shall focus on one medical case about myocardial infarction. The patient is a 57-year old male who presented to the emergency department with a chest problem. The patient is quickly assessed to determine the problem. The history is taken. The patient’s name is Chris. Chris states that pain began about half an hour after dinner while he was playing with his kids. Chris describes the pain as a crushing pressure that is located midsternally and radiates to his left arm and to the back. When asked to rate the pain on the scale, he gives it a 4/10. The patient reports that he is finding it difficult to breath (SOB). On assessment, the patient is diaphoretic and pale. The doctor suspects myocardial infarction but recommends further check-ups to rule out angina, heart failure, and other lying conditions.

The tests are performed by a nurse. There are several tests that are conducted such as heart sounds, vital signs, lung sounds, pulse, signs of edema, and skin condition. MI happens when blood flow to a segment of the myocardium ceases or decreases. It results in necrosis of the heart. MI is a common presentation of CAD. About 13% of the world population died from ischemic heart disease in 2016. Most of these deaths occur in developed countries (Thygesen et al., 2019). The disease is common among wealthy people who tend to do less physical exercises. Tissue death occurs due to ischemia when the section of the heart does not receive oxygen and nutrients. Troponin is a specific marker of MI useful in diagnosis. Troponin rises within three hours of a tissue injury peaking in 1-2 days. The electrocardiogram is a useful standard procedure in the diagnosis of MI. The ECG is used by clinicians to differentiate between the two types of MI. The two types are ST-elevation MI and non-ST elevation MI. STEMIs form the least prevalent of the three types. The STEMI occurs in 25-40% of MI patients. The current guidelines have categorized myocardial infarction into five types (Reed, Rossi & Cannon, 2017).

The most predominant source of MI is atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis occurs when a plaque on a coronary artery ruptures, leading to clot formation which further blocks the artery. Myocardial infarction proceeds in minutes. MI may also arise when the heart has limited blood supply as a result of increased oxygen demand by the rest of the body (Anderson & Morrow, 2017). Conditions such as hyperthyroidism, anemia, coronary artery spasms, and PCI failure predispose the person to MI. The risk factors for MI include the following: old age, active smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and total cholesterol. Several of these risks factors are shared with CAD. The other causes include low physical activity, past family history of MI, obesity, and alcohol consumption. Men are more predisposed to MI than women.

The patient reported that his father had died of CAD and that his aunt was currently on treatment for diabetes mellitus. Chris is a rare visitor to the hospital. Chris reports that he underwent a medical checkup the previous year, where the doctor recommended that he start doing physical activity. Chris had a high BMI, high LDL, and high total cholesterol. He says that he has not been following the doctor’s recommendations because he does not get time. As part of the empirical therapy, Chris was put on oxygen. His medical check-up report came back and the following were observed. There was no jugular vein distention. Chris had normal S1 and S2 sounds, the lungs were clear with scattered wheezes on auscultations. The vital signs also came and were as follows: the BP was 140/91, SpO2 90%, HR 93bpm, regular Ht 174cm, RR 33bpm, 110kg, and the temp was 37.0 C. Chris’s 12-lead EKG report reads as follows: “a regular sinus rhythm with repeated PVCs and three to four-beat runs of ventricular tachycardia”. ST-segment elevation in leads 1, aVL, and V2 through V6. The cardiac function tests were done but the results are yet to be available. The chest x-ray was also ordered. The doctor prescribes Aspirin 324mg PO, nitroglycerin 0.4 mg SL q5min TDS, morphine 4mg IVP when needed for the chest pain, and Oxygen to maintain the SpO2 above 92%. Statins were recommended but were to be used after discharge (Anderson & Morrow, 2017).

As the nurse in charge, it is important to immediately put this patient on oxygen therapy. Oxygen improves oxygenation and decreases myocardial oxygen demands. When the medications are availed, put the patient on nitroglycerin and aspirin. Nitroglycerin is a potent coronary vasodilator that increases blood flow to the heart muscle. However, the medication may be ineffective for MI patients and this may prompt substitution. Aspirin serves as an anticoagulant and thus decreases mortality (Anderson & Morrow, 2017).

The nurse needs to monitor the patient. Mr. Chris was still in pain after the three doses of sublingual NTG and the nurse put him on morphine 5mg and baby aspirin. However, the pain was still persistent and required further interventions. The cardiac enzymes were as follows: CK 255U/L, CK-MB 10%, troponin I 3.5ng/mL. The nurse reports to the physician who recommends a PCI. The PCI helps to relieve blockage (Reed, Rossi & Cannon, 2017). Four hours after the PCI, Mr, Chris states that he does not feel any chest pain. His vital signs have also improved. The nurse needs to advise the patient to change their lifestyle. The nurse should set targets with the patient. Advice the patient on the diet, the importance of exercise, and reduce caffeine intake. Advice the patient of the importance of compliance. The patient should seek medical attention when symptoms exacerbate.

References

Anderson, J. L., & Morrow, D. A. (2017). Acute myocardial infarction. New England Journal of Medicine, 376(21), 2053-2064.

Reed, G. W., Rossi, J. E., & Cannon, C. P. (2017). Acute myocardial infarction. The Lancet, 389(10065), 197-210.

Thygesen, K., Alpert, J. S., Jaffe, A. S., Chaitman, B. R., Bax, J. J., Morrow, D. A., … & Bucciarelli-Ducci, C. (2019). Fourth universal definition of myocardial infarction (2018). European heart journal, 40(3), 237-269.

Nursing Career Synthesis Secondary sources

Nursing Career Synthesis: Secondary sources

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NURSING CAREER SYNTHESIS: SECONDARY SOURCES

INTRODUCTION

Nursing is one of the most sought after career paths in the U.S and the world. It offers unrivaled job security, mobility as well as a chance to grow in the competitive field. However, the motivations for choosing nursing as a career path almost always point towards an urge to help and care for people. People who go to hospitals seek to find physical both physical and emotional support. The nurse’s job is to provide these services in a way that promotes the health of the individual.

As with any other field, writing is critical to communicate information in the field, including research journals. Research, as well as other writing methods. The role of this synthesis is to analyze three secondary sources related to the nursing career. The synthesis will focus on how one can be prepared to write in the field, how writers in the fields use persuasive methods of pathos, logos, and ethos, and a discussion of current controversies that arise in the field.

SECONDARY SOURCES

The secondary sources that I will be using as examples for the career synthesis are mentioned in detail as follows;

Source One

Price, S. L., Hall, L. M., Murphy, G. T., & Pierce, B. (2018). Evolving career choice narratives of new graduate nurses. Nurse education in practice, 28, 86-91.

The article provides an excellent piece of writing that seeks to gain perspective on graduate nurses’ experiences when they finish school and enter practice. The article provides an in depth look into how the nursing practice. The article is an excellent source that will provide a prospective student with a snapshot of what it is like to be a nurse and how the nursing field is like. The text is an excellent example of writing that is geared towards providing information. From the article, we can see that one way of preparing to write is by doing research. The nursing field is a technical field meaning that evidence-based research is required to write papers. The type of audience who read nursing material is a knowledgeable audience. Therefore, the writer needs to base their research on findings and be as broad as possible on the subject.

The authors of the article demonstrate that they did their research. They base their article on evidence-based on a longitudinal study of the professionals who have graduated and have started the nursing practice transition. Based on the article, we can see that articles’ writing is one form of media applied in the nursing field. The type of text in the field is scientific. Articles like this are numerous in the nursing field, in that they are articles that are scientific and well researched. The author appeals to pathos by providing data backed by qualitative research since the audience is one that looks for knowledge. Based on the article, we cannot see a specific controversy that is in nursing.

Source Two

Patrick, K., & Lavery, J. F. (2007). Burnout in nursing. Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing, 24(3), 43.

The article focusses on the rigors that are part of the nursing field. Burnout is an aspect of nursing that is well documented in most writings. A prospective student wishing to gain knowledge in the nursing field can use such an article to gain insight into the challenges faced while working in the field. A nurse provides service to patients, an act that needs a lot of interactions with people and a lot of movement. For one to enter the field, they must be prepared for long working hours characterized by extensive fatigue. The authors of this article did good research before writing the article. The author has cited previous research, meaning that other writings are available on the subject of work stress that affects nurses. From the article, we can see that the author has used a research-based writing style that is both concise and informative to explore the issue at hand. The author also shows us an example of appeals that a prospective writer in the field can emulate.

The writer appeals to logos by using a lot of writings that are backed by research and data. The intended audience who may respond to logos are other peers in the nursing field who may wish to adopt some research and propose solutions for the same. The author also used pathos by showing just how bad the problem of work stress is to the nurse. The intended audience of pathos is potential students who may want to get into the nursing field; they may empathize with their current situation. Finally, the article shows a major controversy within the nursing field on how much a nurse can work? Some solutions to the problem include working in shifts, taking regular breaks, and stress relievers on the job.

Source Three

Kunyk, D., & Austin, W. (2012). Nursing under the influence: A relational ethics perspective. Nursing ethics, 19(3), 380-389.

In this article, the author explores an ethical angle toward nursing. Ethics are part and parcel of the nursing fields, and therefore, it is crucial for a prospective student to feel how ethics affects the profession. The authors explore how nurses’ addictions can affect both the nurse’s health and that of their patients. One cannot write about nursing without touching upon the ethical side of the field. A prospective writer or student who wishes to explore the field can use the article to get an idea into the importance of ethics in the nursing field. The authors are well versed in the topic, and their knowledge is shown in how they present their ideas. The authors also appeal to the ethos of the audience. The article presents the dangers of having a nurse under the influence of work on a patient. The patient may be harmed or treated so badly that they lose all confidence and trust in the care provider.

Given that nursing is a field whereby trust is crucial, this would present a problem. By appealing to the ethos of the intended audience, which is prospective nurses, the author can send a message to them, rather subtly, to provide the reader an insight on ethics in the nursing field. The authors also appeal to both logos and pathos. They use logos by providing well-researched evidence as well as historical background on nursing under the influence. They use pathos to appeal to the emotional side of their audience. The audience may feel a sense of enragement to discover that some nurses go against ethics and perform their jobs under substances’ influence. The controversy a reader can get from the article is how nurses under the influence breach nursing ethics. The solution presented in the article is an ethical one. By considering the breach of ethics, nurses can contemplate just how bad their actions are and may effect change in their actions.

Conclusion.

By exploring secondary sources on nursing, prospective students and writers can get a myriad of information that they can adapt to their use. For instance, prospective students can use the synthesis to have a basic look at how the nursing field is, the types of writings used in the field, how the authors appeal to pathos, logos, and ethos, and explore various controversies. The case applies to a writer who can also get the same information.

Nursing care of older adults

Nursing care of older adults

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Topic 1: Healthcare decisions

Aging relatives require a lot of care due to their delicate state such as chronic illnesses. There is the need to make appropriate decisions regarding the best care for an aging relative. A family member can be assisted to make necessary care decisions for an aging relative through various ways. First, it is important to help them find out the type of care the aging relative needs. This can be achieved through establishing the kind of care the relative needs now and if it might change in the future. Assistance is also required to determine whether the relative can be taken care at home with help of a skilled nurse or if they need care in a skilled nursing facility. The family member also requires assistance on issues of costs. It is important to establish the approximate costs that will be required for care of the aging relative. The family member should be advised to choose quality but affordable care. It is important to guide the family member on choice of care that is going to help the aging relative (Silin, & Silin, 2009).

Trips to different care sites can be quite intimidating to both patients and relatives. As caregivers, family members mainly focus on the medical treatment of the family member and so do the staff of the healthcare facility. The handling of transition is critical for the health and well-being of the patient. Proper transition can be achieved through appropriate care coordination. This requires that the medical records of the patients are properly transmitted in the course of transition between different levels. Proper transition can also be achieved through creating follow-up arrangements for the patient incase they are transitioning from a healthcare facility to their homes. This helps in ensuring that the patient recovery process will be followed up and hence their improvement (Ross, 2008).

Topic 2: Economics

Medicare is helpful; in various ways, first anyone above the age of 65 years and an American citizen is eligible to enrolling for Medicare. This means that Medicare program is quite beneficial to all the elderly people in America above the age of 65 years. This is quite helpful because by the time, these people are out of work and hence lack any form of income. Furthermore, they have worked all their life and hence it would only be fair if the government assists them through providing healthcare and social security when they are old (Kronenfeld, 2011).Part A covers inpatient hospital, home health care and skilled facility. This means that the elderly person is eligible to these services at no cost. Once they are enrolled, they receive these benefits automatically and do not have to pay premiums since it has already been paid for through taxes. This is quite beneficial since an elderly person is no longer working and hence has no income that can help to pay for his or her healthcare.

Medicare is also helpful because an individual under Medicare coverage is eligible to social security benefits. This makes an individual able to sustain themselves since they are no longer working and earning an income. What makes Medicare least helpful is that there are some things that it does not cover. For instance, Medicare does not cover custodial care which is required by many elderly people. Most elderly people have chronic illnesses and hence they require a lot of custodial care like bathing, walking or even dressing. Therefore, Medicare ends up not being useful to most elderly people since they require a lot of custodial care. In the Medicare program, there is the Medicare advantage plan which is an annual contract and hence can change the benefits one is entitled to (Miller, 2013). The plans can decide not to renew or negotiate the contracts with an individual. In the Medicare advantage plans, some doctors and hospitals fail to accept the payment terms of the plan and hence leaving an individual without coverage.

References

 Silin, P., & Silin, P. (2009). Nursing homes and assisted living: The family’s guide to making decisions and getting good care (2nd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.

Kronenfeld, J. (2011). Medicare. Santa Barbara, Calif.: Greenwood.

 

Miller, D. (2013). Medicare. Detroit: Greenhaven Press.

Ross, D. (2008). Healthcare transitions and the aging population a framework to measure the value of rapid rehabilitation.

Nursing care delivery models Total patient care

Nursing care delivery models

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Institution

Nursing care delivery models: Total patient care

Nursing care is important in helping patient recover to good health in the shortest time possible. Nursing care may take varied models. The models are designed to enable the nurse give appropriate and adequate care to patients (Blais, Hayes, Koizer & Erb, 2011). The nursing model under focus in this paper, which I feel is the best model, is total patient care. Total patient care is the earliest model of nursing. It is patient centered and depends of private duty nurses. It also ensures consistent contact between the patient and the nurse during each shift. This model has a number of advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages

There is a high extent of autonomy and the relationship between the RN and the patient, and his/her family is based on trust.

The model provides clear lines of accountability and responsibility, and the RN can ensure consistency in conducting the care plan.

The patients under this kind of care receive unregimented and holistic care and his /her need are met quickly due to the high number of hours the RNs spend with the patient.

Disadvantages

The nurses entrusted in the care of the patient may experience several challenges since each RN may have of favor a different approach to nursing or care.

The approach is not cost effective. In fact, it is very costly

The approach may also suffer from lack or shortage of RN

Despite the disadvantages, this nursing approach is very popular especially since it takes a case method approach (Kelly & Tazbir, 2013). The RN can adequate focus on a patient’s situation, namely a case and properly monitor a patient progress until s/he fully recover from the ailment. The consistent contact that the nurses have with the patient entrusted in their care also ensure that they are able to perfectly report on periodical developments in the patient situation.

References

Blais, K., Hayes, J., Koizer, B., & Erb, G. (2011). Professional Nursing Practice 6th Edition. Pearson Prentice Hall.

Kelly, P., & Tazbir, J. (2013). Essentials of nursing leadership & management. Australia: Cengage Learning

Department of education

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Introduction

Education has been one of the most contentious subjects or topics in the recent times. It is widely accepted or recognized that an individual’s level of education has a bearing on the quality of life led by an individual. Of course, there are instances where individuals with little education end up as quite successful. That, however, does not undermine the role that education plays in enhancing people’s standards of living and, consequently, the economic capacity of the entire country. This would explain why many countries or governments pay quite a lot of attention on the policies that pertain to education. It goes without saying, however, that access to education has been unequal in the United States for a long time. This is what resulted to the establishment or creation of the U.S Department of Education by President Jimmy Carter in 1979. The law that established the Department of Education stated that it was to serve public interest and promote welfare, as well as ensure that all issues pertaining to education receive the appropriate treatment. In addition, it aimed at enabling the federal government to manage its education activities in an enhanced manner. At the time of establishment, the proponents felt that as much as education was a local and state responsibility education was still of national interest. This was because it directly impacted on the ability of the nation to compete at the international level, as well as defend itself during war times. In essence, its creation provided a direct line of communication and influence with the president as far as matters pertaining to education were concerned. As much as these were extremely noble causes, recent times have seen an increase in calls for the elimination of the Department of Education. Whether these calls are politically motivated or not, there emerges the question as to whether the department has lived up to its calling. Do the cons of having the department in place outweigh the pros of the same? In my opinion, the department should be eliminated if sanity in the education sector is to be restored.

First, it is worth noting that education was under the Department of Health, Education and Welfare prior to the establishment of the Department of education. These are departments that are supposed to be working hand in hand, especially having in mind that, for any child to exploit or take maximum advantage of all educational opportunities, he or she has to be healthy, have a full stomach and come from a safe home. This holistic approach is entirely absent in the federal initiatives pertaining to education (Strauss, 16). Instead, the competing departments are always engaging in bureaucratic turf wars that have tragic results for children. In fact, the establishment of bureaucracies fills the offices with unresponsive individuals who are too busy completing some paperwork to carry out real work, and intrude too much into the state and local decision-making (Strauss, 16). In essence, its elimination would enhance the efficiency and the responsiveness of the government to matters pertaining to education.

In addition, the establishment of the Department of Education tended to transfer the resources away from the state and local sources to a uniform or one-size-fits-all umbrella. This is hardly the appropriate recipe for alleviating educational problems. This explains why the meddling of the federal government in educational matters has been a failure (Murray, 56). It goes without saying that, there is no way that a few federal bureaucrats can sit in Washington DC and come up with a curriculum that meets the distinctive needs of millions of American school children across the country. This control over matters to do with education should be restored to the local and state levels, where parents and teachers will be in charge of the matters. This is because the parents and teachers understand their children best, in which case they are best suited or placed to come up with the appropriate curriculum that suits their children. This would eventually uplift the condition of the education system in the country.

Still on the same case, it is imperative that the government carries a cost-benefit analysis of the Department of Education. The education of the American children is too crucial to be left in the hands of a federal, centralized bureaucracy. It is worth noting that the creation of the Department of Education was a political payoff by Jimmy Carter to the teachers’ unions due to their endorsement in 1976. In essence, it is imperative to judge all agencies of the government, not on their intentions but by their results (Murray, 45). Unfortunately, the Department of Education seems to have only worsened things as far as the educational outcomes of students is concerned. The test scores of students in science, mathematics and reading, have either gone down or remained flat in the last four decades. This is irrespective of the fact that the federal agencies have eaten into the public coffers more than it was initially predicted. In 2011, the Department of Education’s budget was $77.8 billion up from $13.1 in 1980, in terms of 2007 dollars. This is, in fact, close to six times the size of the department’s original budget. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of the outcomes of student tests. Studies by Cato Institute have shown how an increase in federal spending has not translated into a positive impact of educational impact. It has always been known that there is no way an individual can use the same apparatus, the same process and the same variables and hope to get different results. Overturning the test scores or the performance of American students goes beyond simplistic strategies and calls for a comprehensive overhaul of the entire educational system. This would be impossible within the bureaucratic framework of the federal system, which implies that the elimination of the Department of Education is imperative.

In addition, the constitutionality of the Department of Education is extremely questionable just like many other things pertaining to the federal government. The Federal Government incorporates approximately 30 enumerated powers, which the constitution delegated to it. It is noteworthy that education is not explicitly listed in the constitution, in which case the authority and control over education should be left to the local and state governments or rather the parents and teachers (Murray, 45). In fact, Ronald Reagan campaigned on the platform of eliminating the Department of Education in 1980, right after Jimmy Carter established it. The GOP platform in 1996 read that the Federal Government incorporated no constitutional authority as far as its involvement in school curricula was concerned. In essence, the government was to eliminate the Department of Education and end the meddling of the Federal government in American schools, as well as enhance family choice in all learning levels (Murray, 34).

Perhaps the worst aspect pertaining to the Department of Education is the fact that, it has regenerated into a monstrous propaganda machine that is funded using public coffers to promote an agenda that is against most American’s values (Goetsch, 23). It is a monstrous entrenched bureaucracy that utilizes the power of the purse to instruct or indoctrinate teachers, administrators and students in ways that promote revisionist history, socialism, multiculturalism and homosexuality. Its programs emphasize on victimhood over personal responsibility, entitlement mentality over work ethic, self-esteem over discipline, and compliance over individual liberty (Goetsch, 23). This is hardly the best way to bring up the American children who happen to be the future of the nation. In essence, it is imperative that the Department of Education is eliminated at least to eliminate the wastage of public funds on unsuccessful schemes and propaganda.

In conclusion, the Department of Education was established in an effort to enhance welfare in the educational system and enhance the quality of education. However, it has regenerated into a monstrous propaganda machine, delivered nothing in terms of enhancing the performance of American children, and has no explicit constitutional basis. In addition, it is devoid of a holistic approach that is necessary in enhancing the education of American children as pertaining to safe homes, and having a full stomach, something that was well catered for when Education was under the Department of Health, Education and Welfare. Studies have shown that the educational outcomes have continuously dropped or remained stagnant despite the increase in the amount of money pumped into the Department of Education’s budget. These dismal outcomes can only be remedied through the elimination of the Department of Education.

Works cited

Strauss, Valerie. Why the Education Dept. should be eliminated – Wood. The Washington Post 2010, retrieved 9th July 2012 from HYPERLINK “http://voices.washingtonpost.com/answer-sheet/george-wood/why-the-education-dept-should.html” http://voices.washingtonpost.com/answer-sheet/george-wood/why-the-education-dept-should.html

Goetsch, David L. Should We Eliminate The U.S. Department of Education? 2012 Web retrieved 7th July 2012 from HYPERLINK “http://patriotupdate.com/articles/should-we-eliminate-the-u-s-department-of-education” http://patriotupdate.com/articles/should-we-eliminate-the-u-s-department-of-education

Murray, Charles. Real Education, Four Simple Truths for Bringing America’s Schools Back to Reality. New York: Crown Publishing Group, 2009. Print

Dental Treatment of a patient

Name

Professor’s Name

Course

Date

Dental Treatment of a patient

The patient is a 33 year old female in good health under the care of a physician for her general health. However, auscultation and further examination have revealed that the patient suffers from a heart murmur that does not need to be pre-medicated, although her pulse and blood pressure are both normal at 68 beats per minute and 112/64mmHg respectively. Further, the patient is taking tapazole 5 mg due to hyperthyroidism, as well as over the counter medication such as vitamin D 2000, vitamin b complex and flaxseed for her own general health. The patient reports that she is not allergic to any drug or chemical known to her, with a pregnancy test revealing that she is not pregnant.

According to the ASA code, the patient is a II mainly due to the use of the prescription drug Tamazole and knowledge of the fact that the patient suffers from a well controlled thyroid disorder. Both the patient’s report and records reveal that her last visit was 3 months ago, in November of last year, a visit in which she also had her last bite wing (3 months ago). The patient had an FMX done before her dental appointment, with no contraindication found for dental treatment.

Medications

Tapazole, which is also at times referred to as Methimazole is an antithyroid medication that works through inhibiting the thyroid hormone production. Tapazole therefore, helps regulate the production of T3 and T4 (Thyroid hormones) which play key roles in the body’s metabolism. Some of the side effects of Methimazole include: salivary gland swelling and abnormal taste. At times individuals usually experience joint pains, drowsiness, lightheadedness, headaches, muscle pains, vomiting, stomach upsets, numbing and tingling sensations and nausea. Further, and perhaps of quite great import within a clinical setting, is the fact that Tapazople usually produces drug reactions with the following drugs: Propanolol, metoprolol, warfarin, theophylline and digoxin. Tapazole does not however, react with local anaesthesia, which is quite relevant when it comes to dental treatment.

Flaxseed oil improves general health, digestion, and also reduces the level of water retention. According to the patient, her doctor advised her to take flaxseed as a remedy for the weight gain occurring due to her taking tapazole. In terms of dental treatment, flaxseed is not usually a local anaesthesia concern, and is therefore, by extension not a concern when it comes to dental treatment.

Vitamin D

Vitamin is being used by the patient as a dietary supplement that usually has no adverse reaction with dental treatment or local anaesthesia. The supplement also promotes the mineralization of bone by not only reducing calcium excretion, but also stimulating intestinal absorption.

Vitamin B

Similar to the vitamin D, vitamin B is also a supplement that improves general health and essentially has no adverse reaction with anaesthesia and dental treatment. Essentially, vitamin B complex contains B1, B2, B3, B5, B6 and B12, a number of important nutrients when it comes to CNS conditions. B1 and B2 particularly, are essential in the functioning of the muscles, the heart and the nerves, while B3 is important in the regulation of the digestive system and the nervous system. b5 and b12 are particularly important for normal growth and development. B6 aids the nervous system, the digestive system and is also essential when it comes to normal growth. B7 is essential in hormone production while B9 is essential in the making and maintenance of DNA. As such, although the client was taking the medication in order to develop thicker and smoother skin, the benefits are numerous.

Denial-of-service attack (DoS)

Denial of Service

Name

Date

Denial of Service

Denial-of-service attack (DoS)

Dos refer to deliberate efforts by a person to temporarily or permanently suspend or interrupt services of a host connected to the internet. According to The United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT), this kind of attack has diverse effects on the computer system. Some of them include slow opening of the web sites; inability to open certain web sites; unavailability of certain web sites and a sharp increase in the total number of spasm emails received (Andress, M. et al., 2009).

How it works

In this kind of attacks, the attacker explicitly attempts to prevent the legitimate service users from using it. This can either lead to the crush or flooding of the service. However, it can be perpetrated through the following ways:

Consumption of bandwidth, compressor time, disk space or any other computational resources

Disruption of state data such s unsolicited resetting of the TCB sessions

Disruption of configuration data like routing

Disruption of the components of the physical networks

Blocking of the communication channel between the victim and the intended user in order to obstruct further communication

Prevention

Some of the ways through which this kind of attack can be prevented include the following:

Use of firewalls

The firewalls can be effectively applied here because of their ability to deny or allow IP addresses, ports or protocols. If properly used, they can help in effective prevention of the user from launching flooding attacks particularly from the machines located behind the firewall itself. However, the firewall may not effectively filter certain attacks because of their complexity and inability to distinguish the DoS attack traffic from the good ones (Yuval, F., 2004).

Switches

Switches can also be used to prevent these attacks because they have automatic, TCP splicing, Bogon filtering, wide rate limiting, deep packet inspection and traffic shaping. These enable it to detect and prevent service attack denial through balancing, automatic rate filtering or WAN Link failover. However, this is dependant on the type of attack experienced. For instance, in case of content attacks, deep packet inspection is used. If a proper selection is done, the attacks will be dealt with and prevented before they cause any damage to the computer.

Routers

Routers are manually set to help them prevent any attack to the computer network system. Even if DoS attacks can easily overwhelm them, they possess some ACL and limiting rate capacity which enable them to prevent flooding.

Distributed denial-of-service attacks (DDos)

DDoS refers to the type of attack that involves all computers within a network from any part of the world. In other words, unlike DoS which only involves one computer, the DDoS attack involves a lot of computers. This means that an attack on a single computer will eventually affect all the others in the same system globally (Kristoff, J., 2007).

According to series of researches, the DDoS attacks are so cheap to launch, but extremely expensive to stop. This is due to the complexities involved in it.

Prevention

Just like the DoS attacks, the DDoS attacks are also preventable. It is very important to take appropriate measures to prevent the occurrence of such attacks to a computer network. However, some of the preventive measures include, but not limited to the following:

Use of IP address

The IP address can be used in preventing it by verifying the reverse-path on the in put interface at the end of the router connection. This helps in stopping the SMURF attacks especially at the ISP’s POP. Hence, there is a full protection of all the users of the internet server.

Filtering

It is very simple to prevent DDoS attacks by filtering because they are very easy to spot. This is done by training routers to drop the DDoS connections, thus, preventing the attacks from slowing the server or network (Kristoff, J., 2007). If all the potential threats are spotted in time, it will be easier to deal with them and prevent any possible attack they may cause the user.

Black holing

This is a method of preventing DDoS attacks that help in the elimination of the flooding effects of attacks. It does this by channeling all the traffic to an address which does not exist from the site that is under attack. This eventually prevents the flood from impacting on other sites within the network or server. If this happens, the system will be protected from any attack that would cause unnecessary trouble to the user.

In conclusion, I would like to say that these types of attacks are very dangerous for any computer network system. The DoS attacks can cause a very big problem to all the people relying on a certain server which is affected. Meaning, unsuspecting users may be affected even if they are thousand of miles away from the attacker. Therefore, it is important to be cautious about the kind of server being used. In order to prevent such problems in time, each and every one should be careful. They should always understand that the exposures to such dangers are always there. Therefore, they should seek the advice of their technicians and take the necessary measures in case of attacks. This is the only way through which they will ensure that their data is safe from any corruption or loss.

Refernces

Andress, M. et al. (Eds.) (2009) CIW Security Professional. New York, NY: Hungry Minds, Inc.

Kristoff, J. (2007) Root DDoS Attack Analysis. DNS-OARC.

Yuval, F. (2004) Google Android: A Comprehensive Security Assessment. IEEE Security &

Privacy (IEEE).