Mary E. Richmond ( 1861-1921 ) - 1624 Words

As a person who aided in the construction of the social work profession, Mary E. Richmond (1861-1921) is best known for her role in the development of casework practice. Her studies helped build the foundation of direct assessment. In conjunction with her studies, she is also remembered for her remarkable ability to perform research and teach communities about the topics of social work. One of her most notable achievements is her representation of the modern idea of â€Å"client in environment†, which she labeled the â€Å"social diagnosis†. During her time, Mary was a key player in focusing the transition from charity work to social work (Szymoniak, 2015). Mary founded the Pennsylvania Child Labor Committee, the juvenile court, the Housing Association and the Public Charities Association (NASW, 2004). She is also the author of numerous publications that illustrate the importance of social work, and social practice. Early Years The Social Welfare History Project (2004) gave great insight into May’s early life. Like the majority of the clients she worked with, Mary also came from a tumultuous past. Mary was born in Illinois in a town called Belleville. After the death of her parents at a young age, Mary was sent to live with her maternal grandmother in Baltimore, Maryland. It was upon this relocation that Mary developed a deeper understanding for social engagement, and social practice. The Social Welfare History Project described Mary’s grandmother was an active voice in the women’sShow MoreRelatedHistory of Social Work18530 Words   |  75 Pages......................................................................27 Jane Addams ...........................................................................................................................................................28 Mary Richmond.............................................................................. .........................................................................29 George Orwell, John Howard Griffin, Pat Moore, Tolly Toynbee, Gà ¼nther Wallraff, Barbara EhrenreichRead MoreOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 PagesE SSAYS ON TWENTIETH-C ENTURY H ISTORY In the series Critical Perspectives on the Past, edited by Susan Porter Benson, Stephen Brier, and Roy Rosenzweig Also in this series: Paula Hamilton and Linda Shopes, eds., Oral History and Public Memories Tiffany Ruby Patterson, Zora Neale Hurston and a History of Southern Life Lisa M. Fine, The Story of Reo Joe: Work, Kin, and Community in Autotown, U.S.A. Van Gosse and Richard Moser, eds., The World the Sixties Made: Politics and Culture

A Creation of Motivation in Life Free Essays

There are many ways to motivate or de-motivate yourself or your employees. You could look at the motivation perspective from an individual or from a whole groups point of view. I will give examples of both by showing charts, lists, and other information that will tell you how to set goals for motivating yourself and your company†s employees. We will write a custom essay sample on A Creation of Motivation in Life or any similar topic only for you Order Now Motivating yourself is the first step you need to take. Everyone has different things that motivate them. This needs to be kept in mind when thinking about how to motivate others or when trying to come up with situations that will motivate others. Things that motivate you may or may not motivate another person. For instance people like knowing what is expected of them everyday, so try to apply it to your employees, but don†t force what motivates you on them. The next thing you can do is create a motivation file. This is for people that are critics or a creative leader. â€Å"A creative leader goes to the same conference as ordinary people, but in the first hour sees twenty ways the registration could have been done better, the speaker could have presented more effectively, or the doughnuts could have been distributed more efficiently.†(1) Being this way can be a de-motivator if you don†t know how to handle it. Because â€Å"Criticism is de-motivating. A habit of criticism will create a leak in a leader†s motivation reservoir†(1) This will soon turn into all criticism and no motivation. The motivation you have personally has all gone away. Creating a motivation file will help combat this tendency. â€Å"Each time you see another person – a pastor, denominational leader, educator, missionary, anyone – doing something dumb or omitting something important write it down starting with ‘I would.†Ã¢â‚¬ (1) Put yourself in their shoes and say ‘I would do this better† and then write what ever comes to your mind down. You have now helped yourself and created a motivation file. â€Å"You have â€Å"shifted from outward-directed criticism about things you can†t change, to inward-directed ideas where you might do something some day.†(1) This is why you create your motivational file. Reasons for using a motivation file: 1) Having a motivation file can help you get a job. As many times you have said to yourself this is what I would do you finally get confident. So when you are on your next job interview you can share with the boss some of your ideas. 2) Your friend gets one of your â€Å"Motivation File† jobs. An employee comes to you with a problem on getting motivated for a job. You can pull out your file and be able to give them a answer that you are confident with. 3) It can help you hire a new staff member. You are asked to hire a motivational speaker for your employees that you manage. You are prepared to ask the right questions that you think should be covered in the interview. 4) Someone else comes to ask you for advice. The things they ask might not be in your motivational file but you can improvise. This will help your friend or family member out and ad a new subject on to your motivation file. If you create a motivation file in your head you will benefit yourself. This way is not as effective, but you will redirect some of that negative criticism into personal motivation that you can later use. De-motivators are all throughout the work force. If you have a good idea on what some of these things might be, then you can start to eliminate them. The first thing you need to do is ask your employees what they would change in the organization to help better motivate them. The second thing you need to do is look at your employees as human beings. You must remember that they also want to succeed and strive for improvement in their field. Here is a list of de-motivators that might be within your organization. 1) Create an atmosphere full of company politics. 2) Develop unclear expectations regarding your employees’ performance. 3) Create many unnecessary rules for employees to follow. 4) Plan unproductive meetings for employees to attend. 5) Promote internal competition between employees. 6) Withhold information critical for employees to perform their work. 7) Provide criticism instead of constructive comments. 8) Tolerate poor performance so your high performing employees feel taken advantage of.(2) After you have focused on identifying these problems then you need to change the organization around into a positive work environment. Remember that (a negative manager motivates employees by appealing to their fear, and a positive manager motivates employees by tapping into their potential.) (3) Here is a list of things that you can change in your organization to better motivate your employees. 1) If your employees do routine work, add some fun and variety to their routine. 2) Provide employees with input and choice in how they do their work. 3) Encourage responsibility and leadership opportunities within your company. 4) Promote social interaction and teamwork between employees. 5) Tolerate learning errors by avoiding harsh criticism. 7) Develop goals and challenges for all employees. 9) Make appreciation part of your repertoire. 10) Develop measurement that shows performance increase.(2) Motivation is hard to come by if you company climate is bad. Think back when someone, a teacher, a parent, and a minister, so on motivated you. They made you feel that you were doing something important and you wanted to succeed in whatever you were doing. Throughout that you had positive thoughts. This is one of the six things you need to have to get a positive climate that will motivate your employees. When ever you are trying to create a motivational climate keep these six things in mind. When you attain your goals, attain your goals, advertise your success. Thank individuals for the success of the group. Smile. Your enjoyment will be contagious. Demonstrate your pleasure when people and the team succeed. Build in enjoyable, social, activities so everyone enjoys themselves having coffee or lunch together. Ask people for their opinions. Listen intently to what they say. Consider their thoughts carefully. Give credit when you see somebody†s idea. Set clear, reasonable goals with the group. Make certain that stakeholders help set goals and agree to them. When you attain your goals, advertise your success. Thank individuals for contributing to the group. Identify how you can personally gain from an activity. Set this as a goal. Keep it in your mind. Identify your success. If you don†t succeed, identify why – so you will know what to do to succeed next time. Plan your messages. Take time to ensure you are communicating clearly. Check with others to ensure they understand.(4) Another way to motivate employees is to give them inspiration. Make them feel like they are there own bosses. You as the supervisor can use these five things to inspire and motivate your employees to succeed with in their own company. 1) Seeking and Using Employee†s ideas: To feel †¦ a part of the †¦ business and to be give an incentive, each employee must understand that he is free to contribute ideas. Management must encourage employee ideas and provide the necessary mechanism for obtaining them. (5) Successful managers create good attitudes by keeping employees well informed of business affairs through bulletin board, employee newsletter, or individual notices, and staff meetings. 3) Expressing personal interest in employees: Managers should be able to privately sit down with employees to discuss both business and personal matters. Managers should show appreciation by complimenting the employee for work done well. The supervisor provides the link between management and subordinates. He is the spokesman for his workers, which entails motivating and informing employees of responsibilities. Throughout this paper a motivation file has been talked about that can help benefit yourself. Things that de-motivate your employees were also listed which don†t need to go unrecognized. Also things that increase the motivation in your employees and will help in their insinuative to work and succeed throughout the company. How to cite A Creation of Motivation in Life, Essay examples

Merck’s research Essay Example

Merck’s research Essay Merck’s research and development of its Crixivan is considered a breakthrough in the treatment of HIV positive patients. Merck and Co. Inc. although behind by quite a significant time frame with Abbot and Roche in terms of marketing its product, has been well applauded for having been able to develop a proven more efficient counterpart. The product’s unexpected fast FDA approval should have been of great benefit to Merck since it can already make Crixivan available in the market far earlier than they have expected. However the early approval of the product for market distribution posed a huge problem to the company because of the fact that they actually did run out of time in preparing the additional manufacturing plant needed to produce the product. The situation therefore is that since the product has been published as a breakthrough in the market of HIV treatment drugs, the public had expected its availability in the market the soonest possible. In short, there has b een the demand that Merck cannot possibly supply since it lacked enough manufacturing facilities enough to satisfy such demand.Merck actually has the edge in some aspects. First, Crixivan has been proven, as had been approved by FDA, to be more effective in treating HIV patients over its competitors Abbot (Invirase) and Roche (Norvir) indicating a 44% efficiency in its clinical trials (p.81). Moreover its 86% efficiency rate in combination with AZT and 3TC is undoubtedly an edge besides the fact that it was proven more potent than Invirase and with lesser side effects compared to Norvir (p.82). Second is that its pricing strategy is far cheaper than the competitors. As described, Crixivan is 24% cheaper than Invirase and 33% less than Norvir (p.85). Third is that Crixivan has an assured market since HIV patients in 1996 already rose to 3.1 million aside from the potential users-those 22.6 million people HIV patients are living with and a considerably high rate of children who are al so HIV positive (p.82).What was just being sad about it is that Merck was not able to draft a sound forecast of its manufacturing facilities and the time required to prepare them. Sound forecast should not only include the possible demand for the product but should also include the sound logistics skills in forecasting whether such demand could possibly be supplied with the available stocks. For Merck, it has the demand but unfortunately, it does not have the supply enough to satisfy it. What went wrong was the tight time frame provided or budgeted by Merck in producing Crixivan. Initially this aspect could be justified since the product was approved six months earlier than expected which means that they really would be expected to be behind about the same time span. Besides, Merck had already taken the risk of expanding its manufacturing plant to accommodate the production of Crixivan two months before the Phase III approval of its clinical trial (p.81).An objective analysis of Mer ck’s efforts to produce Crixivan would lead one to conclude that it has done its part on matters of product quality. Primarily Merck chose to produce the product on its own manufacturing plant and discarded the idea of outsourcing. It actually did a sound decision on that part since it already had previous bad experience of product quality in its previously outsourced products. Another thing is that it did not take rush procedures in the manufacturing or Crixivan but instead carefully stick to the standard 15 steps procedure.I can see that the problem therefore is on its inability to make additional investments in human resources and materials in order to finish the expansion of the manufacturing plant as soon as possible. At least there was not mention of this facts in the cases mentioned. If it cannot rush steps on producing the Crixivan, it can rush on finishing the plant itself. Should it take Merck to invest a considerable amount for it, it should have taken the risk sin ce it had already established market and in fact has demands coming in that it cannot already satisfy.Outsourcing can still be an option though. I believe that it is possible to make arrangements with the outsourced agent to make the product using their facilities but the supervision of the whole process would be done by Merck. This way, although more expensive on human resources to supervise the process in another plant, it could have been a great help for Merck in the sense that this can bridge the shortage in demand while its own manufacturing plant is still on construction.Relative to Merck’s humanitarian mission, I believe that Merck actually had been very considerate with its Support program and including the integration of the indigents in its services. It should have been actually rewarded by the government and those AIDS activists for its free counseling services for the uninsured patients and the free supply of Crixivan to the indigents and the clinical trial partic ipants. While it is true that pharmaceutical companies like Merck are gaining huge income compared with those in the other industries, I believe that Merck has done its social responsibilities well enough. Besides these services, Merck also ensured the public and FDA that it closely monitors the patients using the product as agreed to ensure that they would not be at risk of developing a resistant strain of HIV.In my opinion, Merck got short of choosing limited channels of distribution for Crixivan. While its purpose was to regulate the demand for the product and to ensure its proper application in the treatment process, it should have considered other channels besides Stadtlanders. One reason is that Stadtlanders has been charging too much, as the public sees it, on Crixivan. Even if this could be justified by the quality of services it provides with the clients, still Crixivan carries Merck’s name, not Stadtlanders.I believe that Merck has other options besides Crixivan tha t could also offer almost the same quality of services. One option could have been a bidding of possible counterparts in order to lessen the cost of the services and the product itself. Thus Crixivan could be more affordable with more patients. Although legally, it has no control over the pricing of the product after being endorsed with distributors, Merck still has the choice of making exclusive agreement with its distributor as part of the pre-bidding agreement. Of course, those who would be willing to take Merck’s terms and conditions would bid. This would also provide Merck with the opportunity to lessen the cost of investment in human resources.One more thing Merck could have failed to use is the media. Since it is media that made Crixivan famous and in demand, it should have taken the opportunity to publish the necessary guidelines in administration of Crixivan so that the public would not be accusing them of neglect. Merck however justified this failure on grounds that FDA’s approval of the said literature was delayed. Still it would be helpful still to make bits of instructions even in print media to inform the public. It could have been an additional cost but it would be worthy of counteracting negative publicity on the Crixivan and Merck. Â  Such would have lessened its cost on human resources who are assigned to take care of the free services it offers via phone calls. Advertisements are one time investments while the salaries of the additional employees would continue until Merck would be finally through with its expansion project. Besides this, it has to pay for employee benefits.If am to handle the administrative aspect of the case, I would have to choose to limit the counseling services on uninsured patients. These services could already be transferred to the distribution channels like Stadtlanders or others that Merck have chosen. As had been mentioned earlier, the distribution process could have been done by bidding of service p roviders invited by Merck after consideration of their quality services offered. Besides it was mentioned in the case that Stadtlanders is having 37% mark-up on Crixivian with the justification of its counseling and monitoring services.Merck in general actually had done its social obligations by the services it provided with the general public. The low price of Crixivan, the integration of the indigents in the support program and the continuing monitoring services it provides are enough reasons for one to conclude that Merck lived on its mission statements. What went wrong was its failure to make accurate forecasts in the production of the product and its inability to consider other competent distribution channels. Merck also failed to make sound decisions on where to place its additional investment it was willing to make. To make this clear, Merck invested on human resources for monitoring and counseling services when this amount could have been more properly appropriated in human resources in the construction of the plant expansion project. Its cost on human resources can also be strategically reduced if it had its counseling and monitoring services passed to distribution channels because the latter offer the same services.Merck has no control over the fast and unexpected approval of its product by the FDA but it can control other variables involved in marketing its product. I would insist that Merck should have taken into consideration the outsourcing idea with just an additional supervising team. This could have hastened its production and have lessened the damage it caused due to shortage of supply. There is great money waiting for Merck because of its advantage over its competitors. But the system in the healthcare industry has standards as with other industries. One’s failure to market the product in strategic channels would result to an edge by competitors regardless of price and quality. In the case of Merck, Crixivan and its competitors are hi ghly in demand because of the outbreak of AIDS. It was an opportunity Merck have seen but taken short of preparing for the right steps to get through the market. Merck’s research Essay Example Merck’s research Essay Merck’s research and development of its Crixivan is considered a breakthrough in the treatment of HIV positive patients. Merck and Co. Inc. although behind by quite a significant time frame with Abbot and Roche in terms of marketing its product, has been well applauded for having been able to develop a proven more efficient counterpart. The product’s unexpected fast FDA approval should have been of great benefit to Merck since it can already make Crixivan available in the market far earlier than they have expected. However the early approval of the product for market distribution posed a huge problem to the company because of the fact that they actually did run out of time in preparing the additional manufacturing plant needed to produce the product. The situation therefore is that since the product has been published as a breakthrough in the market of HIV treatment drugs, the public had expected its availability in the market the soonest possible. In short, there has b een the demand that Merck cannot possibly supply since it lacked enough manufacturing facilities enough to satisfy such demand.Merck actually has the edge in some aspects. First, Crixivan has been proven, as had been approved by FDA, to be more effective in treating HIV patients over its competitors Abbot (Invirase) and Roche (Norvir) indicating a 44% efficiency in its clinical trials (p.81). Moreover its 86% efficiency rate in combination with AZT and 3TC is undoubtedly an edge besides the fact that it was proven more potent than Invirase and with lesser side effects compared to Norvir (p.82). Second is that its pricing strategy is far cheaper than the competitors. As described, Crixivan is 24% cheaper than Invirase and 33% less than Norvir (p.85). Third is that Crixivan has an assured market since HIV patients in 1996 already rose to 3.1 million aside from the potential users-those 22.6 million people HIV patients are living with and a considerably high rate of children who are al so HIV positive (p.82).What was just being sad about it is that Merck was not able to draft a sound forecast of its manufacturing facilities and the time required to prepare them. Sound forecast should not only include the possible demand for the product but should also include the sound logistics skills in forecasting whether such demand could possibly be supplied with the available stocks. For Merck, it has the demand but unfortunately, it does not have the supply enough to satisfy it. What went wrong was the tight time frame provided or budgeted by Merck in producing Crixivan. Initially this aspect could be justified since the product was approved six months earlier than expected which means that they really would be expected to be behind about the same time span. Besides, Merck had already taken the risk of expanding its manufacturing plant to accommodate the production of Crixivan two months before the Phase III approval of its clinical trial (p.81).An objective analysis of Mer ck’s efforts to produce Crixivan would lead one to conclude that it has done its part on matters of product quality. Primarily Merck chose to produce the product on its own manufacturing plant and discarded the idea of outsourcing. It actually did a sound decision on that part since it already had previous bad experience of product quality in its previously outsourced products. Another thing is that it did not take rush procedures in the manufacturing or Crixivan but instead carefully stick to the standard 15 steps procedure.I can see that the problem therefore is on its inability to make additional investments in human resources and materials in order to finish the expansion of the manufacturing plant as soon as possible. At least there was not mention of this facts in the cases mentioned. If it cannot rush steps on producing the Crixivan, it can rush on finishing the plant itself. Should it take Merck to invest a considerable amount for it, it should have taken the risk sin ce it had already established market and in fact has demands coming in that it cannot already satisfy.Outsourcing can still be an option though. I believe that it is possible to make arrangements with the outsourced agent to make the product using their facilities but the supervision of the whole process would be done by Merck. This way, although more expensive on human resources to supervise the process in another plant, it could have been a great help for Merck in the sense that this can bridge the shortage in demand while its own manufacturing plant is still on construction.Relative to Merck’s humanitarian mission, I believe that Merck actually had been very considerate with its Support program and including the integration of the indigents in its services. It should have been actually rewarded by the government and those AIDS activists for its free counseling services for the uninsured patients and the free supply of Crixivan to the indigents and the clinical trial partic ipants. While it is true that pharmaceutical companies like Merck are gaining huge income compared with those in the other industries, I believe that Merck has done its social responsibilities well enough. Besides these services, Merck also ensured the public and FDA that it closely monitors the patients using the product as agreed to ensure that they would not be at risk of developing a resistant strain of HIV.In my opinion, Merck got short of choosing limited channels of distribution for Crixivan. While its purpose was to regulate the demand for the product and to ensure its proper application in the treatment process, it should have considered other channels besides Stadtlanders. One reason is that Stadtlanders has been charging too much, as the public sees it, on Crixivan. Even if this could be justified by the quality of services it provides with the clients, still Crixivan carries Merck’s name, not Stadtlanders.I believe that Merck has other options besides Crixivan tha t could also offer almost the same quality of services. One option could have been a bidding of possible counterparts in order to lessen the cost of the services and the product itself. Thus Crixivan could be more affordable with more patients. Although legally, it has no control over the pricing of the product after being endorsed with distributors, Merck still has the choice of making exclusive agreement with its distributor as part of the pre-bidding agreement. Of course, those who would be willing to take Merck’s terms and conditions would bid. This would also provide Merck with the opportunity to lessen the cost of investment in human resources.One more thing Merck could have failed to use is the media. Since it is media that made Crixivan famous and in demand, it should have taken the opportunity to publish the necessary guidelines in administration of Crixivan so that the public would not be accusing them of neglect. Merck however justified this failure on grounds that FDA’s approval of the said literature was delayed. Still it would be helpful still to make bits of instructions even in print media to inform the public. It could have been an additional cost but it would be worthy of counteracting negative publicity on the Crixivan and Merck. Â  Such would have lessened its cost on human resources who are assigned to take care of the free services it offers via phone calls. Advertisements are one time investments while the salaries of the additional employees would continue until Merck would be finally through with its expansion project. Besides this, it has to pay for employee benefits.If am to handle the administrative aspect of the case, I would have to choose to limit the counseling services on uninsured patients. These services could already be transferred to the distribution channels like Stadtlanders or others that Merck have chosen. As had been mentioned earlier, the distribution process could have been done by bidding of service p roviders invited by Merck after consideration of their quality services offered. Besides it was mentioned in the case that Stadtlanders is having 37% mark-up on Crixivian with the justification of its counseling and monitoring services.Merck in general actually had done its social obligations by the services it provided with the general public. The low price of Crixivan, the integration of the indigents in the support program and the continuing monitoring services it provides are enough reasons for one to conclude that Merck lived on its mission statements. What went wrong was its failure to make accurate forecasts in the production of the product and its inability to consider other competent distribution channels. Merck also failed to make sound decisions on where to place its additional investment it was willing to make. To make this clear, Merck invested on human resources for monitoring and counseling services when this amount could have been more properly appropriated in human resources in the construction of the plant expansion project. Its cost on human resources can also be strategically reduced if it had its counseling and monitoring services passed to distribution channels because the latter offer the same services.Merck has no control over the fast and unexpected approval of its product by the FDA but it can control other variables involved in marketing its product. I would insist that Merck should have taken into consideration the outsourcing idea with just an additional supervising team. This could have hastened its production and have lessened the damage it caused due to shortage of supply. There is great money waiting for Merck because of its advantage over its competitors. But the system in the healthcare industry has standards as with other industries. One’s failure to market the product in strategic channels would result to an edge by competitors regardless of price and quality. In the case of Merck, Crixivan and its competitors are hi ghly in demand because of the outbreak of AIDS. It was an opportunity Merck have seen but taken short of preparing for the right steps to get through the market.

The 5 Best Singulair Alternatives for Asthma and Allergies

The 5 Best Singulair Alternatives for Asthma and Allergies SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Do you take Singulair for asthma or allergies? Are you wondering about possible Singulair alternatives? In this article, I’ll go through what Singulair is and how it works. I’ll also walk you through both prescription-only and over-the-counter Singulair alternatives, including the estimated cost and pros and cons of each one. What Is Singulair? How Does It Work? Singulair, or montelukast, is a leukotriene receptor antagonist (LTRA). Leukotrienes are released by the immune system in response to allergens, such as pollen, and promote inflammation, bronchoconstriction (tightening of the airways in the lungs), breathing difficulties, and other allergy symptoms. The active ingredient, montelukast, in leukotriene receptor antagonists like Singulair binds to these receptors and opposes their function. Singulair is usually used to prevent asthma attacks and treat seasonal allergies. Singulair isn’t effective for acute asthma attacks or sudden, extreme allergic reactions. Instead, it’s commonly used long-term for maintenance purposes and is usually safe for extended, regular use. Why Use an Alternative to Singulair? There are several main reasons why patients with asthma and/or allergy symptoms might be looking for Singulair alternatives. Generally speaking, the reasons to choose another medication rather than Singulair are cost, side effects, and effectiveness. Cost Currently, a month’s supply (30 tablets) of Singulair costs around $246. You might be considering a Singulair alternative in order to save money. Side Effects For many patients, Singulair has no major side effects. However, some Singulair users report negative side effects like headache, nausea, stomach pain, diarrhea, skin reactions, or worsening asthma. One of the most worrying (though rare) side effects of Singulair is a change in mood or depressive symptoms, which may include suicidal thoughts or actions. For this reason, some patients with histories of anxiety or depression choose an alternative to Singulair. Effectiveness For whatever reason, Singulair might not effectively treat your symptoms. Perhaps a medication with a different active ingredient will work better for you, or maybe you need a stronger drug than Singulair. Singulair is usually used to treat asthma or allergies. Top 5 Singulair Alternatives The following Singulair alternatives are often used to treat asthma or allergies. For each one, I’ll go through how it compares to Singulair in terms of cost, side effects, and effectiveness. #1: Nasonex (Mometasone) Nasonex is a mometasone nasal spray used to treat congestion, runny nose, and other seasonal allergy symptoms, as well as nasal polyps. It is available by prescription or over-the-counter. Estimated Cost (Without Insurance): One 60-spray bottle of Nasonex costs about $150. Pros: Nasonex is more effective for allergic rhinitis (inflammation of the nasal passages) and congestion than Singulair for most users. Also, Nasonex virtually never causes side effects like depression, behavioral changes, or suicidal thoughts or behaviors. These are more common with Singulair, so if you have trouble with anxiety or depression, Nasonex may be a better choice. Cons: Some negative side effects of Nasonex include headaches, bronchitis, nausea, sore throat, nosebleeds, and sores or white spots inside the nose or mouth. The main downside of Nasonex is that it doesn’t work right away. It should be used twice daily, starting one to two weeks before allergy season, in order to be effective by the time your allergy symptoms start. How Does It Compare? Nasonex is generally cheaper than Singulair, and is usually as effective or more effective in treating allergy symptoms like nasal congestion and inflammation. However, Singulair is more effective for asthma symptoms and in preventing asthma attacks. #2: Flonase (Fluticasone) Flonase is a corticosteroid nasal spray that’s used to treat allergy symptoms by reducing nasal inflammation. It’s available over-the-counter. Estimated Cost: For a bottle that contains around 120 sprays, you should expect to pay about $25 over-the-counter. Pros: Flonase is available at most pharmacies and only needs to be used when you’re experiencing asthma or allergy symptoms, so it’s cheaper, and unlike Singulair, you don’t have to take it every day. Flonase doesn’t have as many reported side effects as Singulair, especially those such as insomnia, aggression, anxiety, and depression or other behavioral changes. Cons: Because Flonase comes in spray form, it can be hard to keep track of how much you’ve taken or how much you have left. Also, Flonase is a Category C drug, meaning that risks can’t be ruled out for pregnant or nursing moms. Singulair is a Category B drug, so it’s generally considered safer for unborn and breastfeeding babies. How Does It Compare? Flonase is generally considered the first-choice treatment for seasonal allergies by doctors, because it doesn’t have to be used long-term and doesn’t carry as much of a risk of side effects as daily-use medications like Singulair. One study found Flonase and other nasal sprays containing fluticasone to be superior to montelukast for allergy symptoms. However, if you experience negative side effects with Flonase, have had nasal surgery, or have an irritated nasal passage, Singulair or another oral medication might be preferable to Flonase. Nasal sprays like Flonase can be the best available treatments for allergy symptoms. #3: Sudafed (Pseudoephedrine) Sudafed is a nasal decongestant used to treat allergy symptoms such as sinusitis and stuffy nose. It is often available over-the-counter, but requires a prescription in some states in the U.S. Estimated Cost (Without Insurance): Sudafed is generally inexpensive, with 24 tablets costing around $8-10 at generic pharmacies. Pros: One study found that Sudafed (pseudoephedrine) was more effective than montelukast in treating nasal congestion. If you’re experiencing congestion as your primary symptom, Sudafed is an inexpensive OTC alternative to a prescription drug like Singulair. Cons: Some Sudafed users report negative side effects like anxiety, restlessness, hyperactivity, a racing heartbeat, high blood pressure, insomnia, or hallucinations. Also, Sudafed can make users drowsy. Sudafed, unlike Singulair, doesn’t treat asthma or prevent asthma attacks. Also, after four days of use, Sudafed doesn’t work as effectively. How Does It Compare? Sudafed is a cheap, convenient alternative to Singulair if your main allergy symptom is nasal congestion or inflammation of the nasal passages. One study at the University of Chicago found Sudafed and Singulair to be equally effective in the treatment of hay fever and to have similar side effects. However, Sudafed isn’t appropriate for long-term use, for more severe allergy symptoms, or for people with asthma. #4: Allegra (Fexofenadine) Allegra is an antihistamine, meaning that it inhibits the release of histamines- compounds that trigger allergic reactions- in response to allergens such as pollen. It relieves allergy symptoms like itching, hives, watery eyes, and congestion. It’s available OTC. Estimated Cost: 30 tablets of Allegra will cost you around $20 at most generic pharmacies. Pros: Allegra users don’t report side effects of depression or weight gain as commonly as Singulair users. Allegra can be used in babies six months or older, while Singulair isn’t safe for a baby until he or she has reached 12 months of age. Also, Allegra, unlike Singulair, comes in liquid form as well as tablet form, which some users (especially children) might find easier to take. Cons: Users of Allegra some report negative side effects such as impotence, other sexual side effects, drowsiness, and weight loss. Allegra can’t be prescribed to anyone with kidney disease, as it can (rarely) cause kidney damage or failure. Allegra is only used to treat allergy symptoms. It isn’t approved or effective in treating asthma. The risks of taking Allegra while pregnant are unknown. It’s generally considered to be safer to take Singulair than Allegra while pregnant. How Does It Compare? Allegra users who experience adverse reactions to the medication report different, but potentially just as serious, side effects- such as kidney damage or failure, rapid weight loss, anxiety, impotence, and other sexual side effects- as those frequently experienced by Singulair users. Allegra is an inexpensive, and often effective, allergy medication, but won’t be as helpful if asthma attacks or other breathing difficulties are your main symptoms. Allegra is generally considered to be safe for regular use, but there aren’t as many studies on long-term use of the drug as there are on chronic use of Singulair, so there isn’t as much data available overall. #5: Accolate (Zafirlukast) Accolate is an alternative to Singulair for asthma and allergies. Like Singulair, it's a prescription-only LTRA except that the active ingredient is different (zafirlukast rather than montelukast). Estimated Cost (Without Insurance): Accolate tends to be cheaper than Singulair. Currently, a month’s supply of Accolate would cost you around $126.80. Pros: Although changes in mood and behavior can be side effects of both medications, Singulair users report more frequent suicidal thoughts and behaviors, as well as more symptoms of depression as a result of taking the drug. This is rarer among Accolate users. Additionally, overall, more patients report negative side effects with Singulair than they do with Accolate. Cons: Although Singulair users report more side effects over, Accolate carries a higher risk of liver failure than does Singulair. Though this side effect is rare, it is serious. More Accolate users report certain other adverse side effects, such as severe headaches, as well. On a less serious note, Accolate has to be taken twice a day, unlike Singulair, which some users don’t prefer as it’s more difficult to remember to take. Also, Accolate hasn’t been on the market as long as Singulair, and it isn’t prescribed as often. Therefore, we simply don’t have as much data on Accolate’s side effects, particularly of long-term use of the drug. How Does It Compare? One study didn’t find many differences in the effects, or effectiveness, of Accolate and Singulair. Overall, the two medications are very similar both in how, and how well, they work for people with asthma and/or allergies. The biggest differences between Accolate and Singulair are their cost and side effects, with prices usually much lower for Accolate than for Singulair, and fewer users reporting suicidal thoughts or attempts when using Accolate as opposed to Singulair. Also, although Accolate and Singulair are both leukotriene inhibitors and thus very similar, their active ingredients are different, so one may work for you while the other doesn’t. Many users report more success with Singulair than with Accolate, and vice versa.

The Age of Reason - Review and Summary

The Age of Reason - Review and Summary The Bottom Line If The Age of Reasons creates controversy today, imagine what readers must have thought at the time the work first appeared! Still, the work was a bestseller in America, and an important representative work from the time period. Pros Presented in a clear, straightforward style (accessible)Drawn from intellectual masters: Voltaire, Hume Spinoza (along w/other influences) Cons Mocks/ridicules religiosity (may be offensive to some readers) Description A deistic pamphletWritten by 18th-century British radical, Thomas PainePublished in 3 partsin 1794, 1795 1804 Guide Review - The Age of Reason Summary Thomas Paine is often associated with the American Revolution, because of his pamphlets; but The Age of Reason is still controversial (and has been banned) for its criticism of established religion and its challenge to the Bible. After reading The Age of Reason in 1757, Benjamin Franklin famously wrote: I would advise you... not to attempt unchaining the Tyger, but to burn this Piece before it is seen by any other Person, whereby you will save yourself a great deal of Mortification from the Enemies it may raise against you, and perhaps a good deal of Regret and Repentance. If Men are so wicked as we now see them with Religion what would they be if without it? Despite the controversy (and the many irate responses) that the pamphlet inspired, The Age of Reasons was a popular in Americathe work struck a chord. It appears to have inspired deep-rooted passionsit brought punishment and imprisonment to those associated with the early publishing history. Study Guide SummaryThe Age of Reason QuotesThe Age of Reason Questions for Study and DiscussionA Letter to a Friend Regarding The Age of Reason

Developing self-awareness Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Developing self-awareness - Essay Example At the same time, continuous self-examination of feelings and emotions within a person opens a way to self-mastery. This paper is an examination of the â€Å"self† and â€Å"others† processes. It directly discusses my self-awareness skills and how I can understand and improve it in my daily interactions. I understand that both positive and negative feedback are important to me and in order to improve, I should share with others what I feel. I am not aware of my cognitive style and how I process information and this needs improvement. My emotional maturity is not much improved and I only show the capacity to develop it. I struggle a lot to hide my emotions and try to rationalize them. However, sometimes I become emotional before thinking which lands me in saying unintended things to others. This has made me try my best to withhold my emotions as much as I can and dealing with them later by confronting myself. I do not like being uncertain about everything and I try my best to master situations otherwise I quit. I realize that I am quite principled in my behaviour because I have tried my best to nourish it since my early age. I also like being aware of what happens around me and rarely feel angry, depressed or anxious without knowing the reason. Sometimes I annoy others unknowingly an d I like apologizing where possible. I like having someone close to me to share my personal feelings When upset, I look into the problems without sometimes facing the real persons. I am concerned with others and like remaining in touch, though am less group-oriented. I like consulting others just as I tell others what I do not like. I like helping people opposed to each other to find something they can agree upon. In situations needing my attention such that I have to leave work early, I tend to exaggerate a bit to my colleagues of a duty I cannot fail to attend. I do not like people who yell at me when they are angry and

Situation Background Assessment Recommendation Assignment

Situation Background Assessment Recommendation - Assignment Example There are a number of them. But the best is SBAR (Situation Background Assessment Recommendation), according to most of the healthcare organizations for transfer of information in the correct manner. They are useful in communicating among medical staff, between doctor and patient between nurse and patient etc. The language is clear and simple and is applicable for both written and oral communication. The steps include stating the situation, the circumstances causing the situation, determining the problem and arriving at the best solution. The healthcare organization has their own procedures to fill up forms concerned with the patient's clinical history during the course of their treatment in the unit. That will give clear, concise information about the patient and the type of treatment he gets. However, the accuracy of the record is doubtful. At times the patient would not have given the proper information. It may so happen that the recording may not be proper or legible. Even so clinical record can be considered very valuable in most instances. During verbal communication, there is every chance of data being missed or misunderstood. The reason is that the doctors, nurses and other health personnel etc lack effective communication skill, though they may be good in their own field. The healthcare professionals including nurses have been educated to deal with patients in communic ation, but not among themselves or how to communicate during an emergency. Also, there are no rules for verbal communication, whether direct or through telephone. It is obvious that communication errors may have adverse effects on the patients. It is praiseworthy that various steps have been taken for the improvement of communication among the staff. These will ultimately result in the safety of the patients. According to Dr. Michael Leonard, MD, nurses' communication is descriptive. But that of the physicians is strictly to the point. He feels that SBAR model will nullify the differences in approach and style. It proposes how a nurse should communicate with a doctor. Adopting the SBAR tool has considerably improved patient's safety. It is valuable not only for communication between doctor and nurse but among a number of team members. Let us look at the following instance. One Mr. Joy took his wife to hospital. She had hysterectomy with bowel perforation. An overdose of medicines resulted in permanent brain damage. Joy had no idea about the SBAR tools. So because of his precarious and tense situation, Joy failed to inform the actual cause to the doctors. If he had communicated properly, he could have avoided the mental agony that he and his wife suffered. His wife would have got the correct treatment and would have been better placed. Even the doctor, who felt guilty for not successful in treating the wife would have been spared. Summary of Article This clearly shows how a little bit of care can prolong the life of the patient and enhance the happiness of his beloved ones. At the same time sheer neglect can endanger his life. The hospital staff should consider it their duty to contribute to the well being of the patients. There comes the importance of SBAR techniques. Conclusion It is