Communication In Nursing

Communication In Nursing To listen to another person is the most caring act of all. Listening and attending are by far the most important aspects of being a nurse (Burnard 1992). One of the basic elements of nursing is good communication skills with patients. Being unable to communicate well with a patient immediately can destroy the nurse/patient relationship and therefore the patient may not trust the nurse (Anon 2007). The purpose of this essay is to discuss the importance of communication in nursing. Without communication nurses would be unable to provide the correct care, but improving communication is a life-long developmental process (Ewles and Simnett 2005). I will draw upon my personal experience from the clinical area to show how well the theory relates to the practical side of nursing and use the process recording sheet for structure and guidance (Appendix i). In accordance with The Nursing and Midwifery Council (2008) Code of Conduct, nurses must respect peoples right to confidentiality. Therefore for the purpose of this essay I have used a pseudonym and the patient discussed is referred to as Carol Brown and any personal or identifiable information has also been altered so as to protect her privacy and dignity which are also enshrined in the Nursing and Midwifery Council (2008) Code of Conduct. I asked Carol for explicit permission to use our interpersonal relationship in my communications essay and advised her of my obligations on my professional conduct to which I am bound by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (2008), regarding professional, moral and safe practice. Carol was in agreement to be involved with my assignment and on no account was her physical care at risk during this interaction. I was nearing the end of my placement in a general medical ward within a large general hospital. The ward treat a variety of medical complaints including diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders, stroke and alcohol liver disease. A young 36 year old female was admitted to the ward, now known as Carol Brown with an increased weight loss due to non-intentional self-neglect probably caused by her chronic condition although could be deep rooted to family relationships (Day and Leahy-Warren 2008). Carol was awaiting heart surgery, replacement hips and replacement knees at major surgical hospital in another area of the country. Her health status was poor as she suffered from rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and had a congenital heart defect. Carol was in need of pain management, and although it was currently being managed with a variety of powerful painkillers, these proved to have little relief. Carol spent the majority of time in bed due to her severe pain, and due to this she cried out a lo t. I thought that communication would be difficult with Carol as she was mostly in pain but I also believed that she would like someone to talk to but that person would need to be a good listener. It is important to remember that nurses have the duty to provide care holistically, for the whole person, not just for their physical needs but their mental and social needs too (Kenworthy et al. 2002). Carol liked to be washed in her bed every morning as movement for her was difficult. The bay that she was in was busy with little privacy and only the curtains for seclusion. I went into assist her to wash one morning and because of her psoriasis she needed special creams applied routinely. She spoke quietly about her illness and explained her difficulties to me. Her head was bowed and she had difficulty in making eye contact. She talked slowly and quietly and sometimes mumbled, she also appeared quite melancholy at times. Talking about her family, her illness and when she was younger made her sad and she was crying. I think this was cathartic for Carol and it could be that feelings beneath the surface may need uncovered in more detail to enable her to release her emotions (Bulman and Schutz 2008). I felt that Carols ability to communicate was linked to how she felt about herself. She was inclined to judge herself too severely and underestimated her abilities. This self-blame reflect ed her ability to communicate (Ewles and Simnett 2005). She was in so much pain, her head was bowed and she could not make eye contact. I was leaning in close to her bedside, touch was not good, her body was too sore. I tried to show empathy towards Carol by giving her time to talk, being patient and listening to her. This was an example of Egans (2007) Soler theory which is a non-verbal listening method that is used commonly in communication. Was she crying because she was in so much pain or was it because she was recalling happy memories from before she fell ill? I was keen in developing the therapeutic relationship. According to Arnold and Undermann-Boggs (2003), empathy is the ability to be sensitive to and communicate understanding of the patients feelings. Being compassionate is similar to being empathetic in a way that it is important to recognise that Carols feelings belong to her and not to me. I was interested in Carols illness, to learn more about her condition and hear about her difficulties. Getting to know your patient helps to promote dignified care (Nicholson et al. 2010). She was very independent and wanted to do as much as she could by herself. Help was minimal and she only asked when she was struggling to re-position her feet. I used active listening to allow to her speak without interrupting. Active listening is not only the act of hearing but of being able to interpretate any underlying meaning (Arnold and Undermann-Boggs (2003). I paid close attention to her facial expressions and body language and Argyle (1988 p.57) suggests facial expressions provide a running commentary on emotional states. I asked Carol open questions about her illness as I thought this would allow me to encourage her to talk and she responded to this well. Open ended questions are used to elicit the clients thoughts and perspectives without influencing the direction of an acceptable respon se (Arnold and Undermann-Boggs 2003 p.241). It also allowed Carol to describe her experiences, feelings and understandings and I felt this approach was appropriate. I wanted to try and distract her from her pain as I found it difficult to see her being so unhappy, so I commented on some magazines that were lying on her table and asked her about her taste in music. This was a good subject, her eyes lit up and she smiled. We finally made eye contact. Carol and myself were exchanging verbal and non-verbal communication in order to understand each others feelings. According to Kozier (2008) non-verbal communication can include the use of silence, facial expressions, touch and body posture. Carol was keen to talk about her taste in music and became very chatty, in fact, she became somewhat excited. I put some cds on for her to listen to and as I did this she asked me questions about my taste in music. There was now no barriers to our communication as we both shared the same taste in music. When the music was playing Carol was in a different world, she was more relaxed. Research has shown that the pain and tension of illnesses such as arthritis can be eased with music therapy (Murcott 2006). I took her hand and held it gently, her eyes were closed, she was smiling and she appeared more content. By holding her hand, I felt as though I was comforting and reassuring her. Touch is a form of non-verbal communication and can be a powerful way of communicating (le May 2004). This was an indication that I really did care and that I wanted to help her. Using touch skilfully and thoughtfully can convey that you are able to be with your patient (Benner 2001 p.57). Communication can be therapeutic and the music playing was not a barrier in communications, it was in fact beneficial. Music has the power to tap into our emotions and alleviate tension (Mallon 2000). Therefore, it is argued that effective communication is more than delivering high quality patient-centred care; but it also allows patients to feel involved in their care, which can make a significant difference to their outlook on their treatment (Collins 2009). Reflecting back I realised that I was really quite worried about the communication difficulties I was facing during my interaction. Carol was a very obstinate person who knew exactly what she needed and yet she desperately wanted to be as independent as possible. I wanted her to allow me in and for her to be comfortable with me. I am glad I eventually gained her trust and we both became more relaxed. Trust is an important element in the nurse/patient relationship and can in fact affect the patient care in practice (Bell and Duffy 2009). In fact, the impact that this interaction had on our relationship was that as the days went on we became very good friends and she was very special to me. Sully and Dallas (2005), suggests that to have an empathetic understanding of our patients needs we must recognise their need for comfort and we respond to this compassionately. It was important to be non-judgemental, I accepted Carol for who she was no matter what her circumstances were and my main concern was to care for her in a professional and beneficial way and in a manner that she preferred. The Royal College of Nursing (2003) suggests that the personal qualities of a nurse should include compassion, respect and a non-judgemental approach. Putting the interaction into perspective, I originally found Carol very demanding, always calling out and constantly pressing the call buzzer. Some staff were very reluctant to go to her because her personal care was very time consuming. It was time consuming but it was because she was in a lot of pain. Surely this was a barrier to communication as some staff did not take the time to listen to what Carol required and as health promoters, we need to develop skills of effective listening so that we can help people to talk and express their needs and feelings (Ewles and Simnett 2005). Rogers (2004) used the term unconditional positive regard, this meaning that people can be too judgemental and it is important to disregard how much of a b urden someone thinks a patient with complex needs might be and treat everyone equally. From recording and analysing my interactions I have learned to accept people for who they are as each of us have had different experiences throughout life and these experiences make us who we are. It was also important to acknowledge Carols point of view, her emotions and thoughts without judgement as being aware of these helped to appreciate her perspective and needs (Silverman et al. 2005). I have also learned to be a good listener and an active listener. Ewles and Simnett (2005) suggest that this means taking note of the non-verbal communication as well as the spoken words. It is important to maintain eye contact, observe the body language, listen properly and pick up on non-verbal signs as well as verbal signs. The environment is important too, along with being sensitive, honest and compassionate (Anon 2007). Collins (2007) argues that judgemental attitudes can stand in the way of getting to know your patient and that labels attached to individuals such as demented can act as a l anguage barrier. Effective nursing requires us to be assertive, responsible and to help our patients achieve the best possible health status (Balzer Riley 2008). In conclusion, the key points that have been discussed in this essay are that of the importance of communicating in nursing and how nurses can improve their communication skills and maintain their effectiveness. We must provide holistic care for our patients and the goal is to listen to the whole person and provide them with empathetic understanding. Another key point is that we must be non judgemental no matter what the patients circumstances are. Overall communication during this interaction was positive, therapeutic and helped to build a relationship. This essay has shown how personal experience from the clinical area relates the theory to the practical side of nursing and how it is imperative that communication is clear, understandable, appropriate and effective. 2059 words References ANON., 2007. Communication skills (essence of care benchmark). Nursing Times. http://www.nursingtimes.net/whats-new-in-nursing/communication-skills-essence-of-care-benchmark/361127.article (Accessed on 21.07.10). ARNOLD, E., and UNDERMANN-BOGGS, K., 2003. Interpersonal relationships: professional communication skills for nurses. 4th ed. Missouri: Saunders. BELL, E., and DUFFY, A., 2009. A concept analysis of nurse-patient trust. British Journal of Nursing. 18(1), pp. 46-51. BENNER, P., 2001. From novice to expert: excellence and power in clinical nursing practice. New Jersey: Prentice Hall. BLAZER-RILEY, J., 2008. Communication in nursing. 6th ed. Missouri: Elsevier. BULMAN, C., and SCHUTZ, S., 2008. Reflective practice in nursing. 4th ed. Sussex: Blackwell. BURNARD, P., 1992. Counselling: a guide to practice in nursing. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann. COLLINS, S., 2009. Good communication helps to build a therapeutic relationship. Nursing Times. 105(24), pp.11-12. DAY, M.R., LEAHY-WARREN, P., (2008). Self-neglect 1: recognising features and risk factors. Nursing Times. 104(24), pp.26-27. EGAN, G., 2007. The skilled helper: a problem management and opportunity development approach to helping. 8th ed. California:Thomson. EWLES, L., and SIMNETT, I., 2005. Promoting health: a practical guide. 5th ed. Edinburgh: Bailliere Tindall. KENWORTHY, N., et al., 2002. Common foundation studies in nursing. 3rd ed. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone. KOZIER, B., et al., 2008. Fundamentals of nursing: concepts, process and practice. Essex: Pearson Education. LE MAY, A., 2004. Building rapport through non-verbal communication. Nursing and Residental Care. 6(10), pp. 488-491. MALLON, M., 2000. Healing Sounds. The Scotsman. 12th May, p.9. MURCOTT, T., 2006. Music Therapy. The Times. 18th February, p. 17. NICHOLSON, C. et al., 2010. Everybody matters 1: how getting to know your patients helps to promote dignified care. Nursing Times. 106(20), pp. 12-14. NURSING AND MIDWIFERY COUNCIL, 2008. The NMC code of professional conduct: standards for conduct, performance and ethics. London: NMC. ROGERS, C., 2004. On becoming a person: a therapists view of psychotherapy. London: Constable. ROYAL COLLEGE OF NURSING, 2003. Defining nursing. RCN. http://www.rcn.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/78569/001998.pdf (Accessed on 29.07.10). SILVERMAN, J., et al., 2005. Skills for communicating with patients. 2nd ed. Oxon: Radcliffe publishing. SULLY, P., and DALLAS, J., 2005. Essential communication skills for nursing. Edinburgh: Elsevier. Communication in nursing Communication in nursing To listen to another person is the most caring act of all. Listening and attending are by far the most important aspect of being a nurse (Burnard 1992). One of the basics of good nursing is good communication skills with patients. Being unable to communicate well with a patient immediately can destroy the nurse/patient relationship and therefore the patient may not trust the nurse (Anon 2007). The purpose of this essay is the realise the importance of communication in nursing. Without communication nurses would be unable to provide the correct care, but improving communication is a life-long developmental process (Ewles and Simnett 2005). I will draw on my personal experience from the clinical area to show how well the theory relates to the practical side of nursing and use the process recording sheet for structure and guidance. In accordance with The Nursing and Midwifery Council (2008) Code of Conduct, nurses must respect peoples right to confidentiality. Therefore for the purpose of this essay the patient discussed is referred to as Miss C., and any personal or identifiable information has also been altered so as to protect her privacy and dignity which are also enshrined in the Nursing and Midwifery Council (2008) Code of Conduct.. I asked Miss C. for explicit permission to use our interpersonal relationship in my communications essay and advised her of my obligations on my professional conduct to which I am bound by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (2008), regarding professional, moral and safe practice. Miss C., was in agreement to be involved with my assignment and on no account was her physical care at risk during this interaction. I was nearing the end of my placement in a general medical ward within a large general hospital. The ward had a variety of medical complaints including diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders, stroke and alcohol liver disease. A young 21 year old female was admitted to the ward, now known as Miss C., with an increased weight loss and she was in need of pain management. Miss C., was awaiting heart surgery, replacement hips and replacement knees at major surgical hospital in another area of the country. Her health status was poor as she suffered from rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and had a congenital heart defect. Miss Cs., pain was managed with oramorph, ketamine and fentanyl patches, but these proved to have little relief. Miss C., spent the majority of time in bed due to her severe pain, and due to this she cried out a lot. Her head was bowed and she had difficulty in making eye contact. She talked slowly and quietly and sometimes mumbled, she was also a very sad person. I thought t hat communication would be difficult with Miss C., as she was mostly in pain but I also believed that she would like someone to talk to but that person would need to be a good listener. It is important to remember that nurses have the duty to provide care holistically, for the whole person, not just for their physical needs but their mental and social needs too (Kenworthy et al. 2002). Miss C., liked to be washed in her bed every morning as movement for her was difficult. The bay that she was in was busy with little privacy only the curtains for seclusion. I went into wash her one morning and because of her psoriasis she needed special creams applied religiously. She spoke quietly about her illness and explained her difficulties to me. Talking about her family, her illness and when she was younger made her sad and she was crying. I felt that Miss Cs ability to communicate was linked to how she felt about herself. She was over-critical about herself and underestimated her abilities. This lack of self-confidence reflected her ability to communicate (Ewles and Simnett 2005). She was in so much pain, her head was bowed and she could not make eye contact. I was leaning in close to her bedside, touch was not good, her body was too sore. I tried to show empathy towards Miss C., by giving her time to talk, being patient and listening to her. Was she crying because she was in so much pain or was it because she was recalling happy memories from before she fell ill? I was desperately trying to understand how she may be feeling. According to Arnold and Boggs (2003), empathy is the ability to be sensitive to and communicate understanding of the patients feelings. Being compassionate is similar to being empathetic in a way that it is important to recognise that Miss Cs feelings belong to her and not to me. I was interested in Miss Cs illness, to learn more about her condition and hear about her difficulties. She was very independent and wanted to do as much as she could by herself. Help was minimal and she only asked when she was struggling to re-position her feet. I used active listening to allow to her speak without interrupting but I paid close attention to her facial expressions and body language. Argyle (see Kenworthy et al. 2002) suggests facial expressions provide a running commentary on emotional states. I asked Miss C. open questions about her illness as I thought this would allow me to encourage her to talk. It also allowed Miss C to describe her experiences, feelings and understandings. Open ended questions are used to elicit the client s thoughts and perspectives without influencing the direction of an acceptable response (Arnold and Boggs 2003 p.241). I wanted to try and take her mind off her pain as it was upsetting to see her being so unhappy, so I commented on some magazines that were lying on her table and asked her about her taste in music. This was a good subject, her eyes lit up and she smiled. We finally made eye contact. Using the semiotic school of thought, Miss C and myself were exchanging verbal and non-verbal communication in order to understand each others feelings. According to Kozier (2008) non-verbal communication can include the use of silence, facial expressions, touch and body posture. Miss C was keen to talk about her taste in music and became very chatty, in fact, she became sort of excited. I put some cds on for her to listen to and as I did this she asked me questions about my taste in music. There was now no barriers to our communication as we both shared the same taste in music. When the music was playing Miss C was in a different world, she was more relaxed. I took her hand and held it gently, her eyes w ere closed, she was smiling and she appeared more content. By holding her hand, I felt as though I was comforting and reassuring her. This was an indication that I really did care and that I wanted to help her. Using touch skilfully and thoughtfully can convey that you are able to be with your patient (Benner 2001 p.57). Communication can be therapeutic and the music playing was not a barrier in communications, it was in fact beneficial. Therefore, it is argued that effective communication is more than delivering high quality patient-centred care; but it also allows patients to feel involved in their care, which can make a significant difference to their outlook on their treatment (Collins 2009). Reflecting back I realised that I was really quite worried about the communication difficulties I was facing during my interaction. Miss C., was a very strong willed person who knew exactly what she needed and yet she desperately wanted to be as independent as possible. I wanted her to allow me in and for her to be comfortable with me. I am glad I eventually gained her trust and we both became more relaxed. In fact, the impact that this interaction had on our relationship was that as the days went on we became very good friends and she was very special to me. Sully and Dallas (2005), suggests that to have an empathetic understanding of our patients needs we must recognise their need for comfort and we respond to this compassionately. It was important to be non-judgemental, I accepted Miss C., for who she was no matter what her circumstances were and my main concern was to care for her in a professional and beneficial way and in a manner that she preferred. Putting the interaction int o perspective, I originally found Miss C very demanding, always calling out and constantly pressing the call buzzer. Some staff were very reluctant to go to her because her personal care was very time consuming. It was time consuming but it was because she was in a lot of pain. Surely this was a barrier to communication as some staff did not take the time to listen to what Miss C required and as health promoters, we need to develop skills of effective listening so that we can help people to talk and express their needs and feelings (Ewles and Simnett 2005). From recording and analysing my interactions I have learned to accept people for who they are as each of us have had different experiences throughout life and these experiences make us who we are. It was also important to acknowledge Miss Cs point of view, her emotions and thoughts without judgement as being aware of these helped to appreciate her perspective and needs (Silverman et al. 2005). I have also learned to be a good listener and an active listener. Ewles and Simnett (2005) suggest that this means taking note of the non-verbal communication as well as the spoken words. It is important to maintain eye contact, observe the body language, listen properly and pick up on non-verbal signs as well as verbal signs. The environment is important too, along with being sensitive, honest and compassionate (Anon 2007). Collins (2007) argues that judgemental attitudes can stand in the way of getting to know your patient and that labels attached to individuals such as demented can act as a language barrier. Effective nursing requires us to be assertive, responsible and to help our patients achieve the best possible health status (Balzer Riley 2008). In conclusion, the key points that have been discussed in this essay are that of the importance of communicating in nursing and how nurses can improve their communication skills and maintain their effectiveness. We must provide holistic care for our patients and the goal is to listen to the whole person and provide them with empathetic understanding. Another key point is that we must be non judgemental no matter what the patients circumstances are. Overall communication during this interaction was positive, therapeutic and helped to build a relationship. This essay has shown how personal experience from the clinical area relates the theory to the practical side of nursing and how it is imperative that communication is clear, understandable, appropriate and effective. 1819 words

Daredevil Stunts at Niagara Falls :: essays research papers

Annie Edson Taylor a widowed school teacher from Michigan made history on October 24, 1901 being the first person to take the daring plunge over the picturesque yet treacherous Niagara Falls. Various people have taken on Niagara Falls and all it’s furry from trapeze artist to barrel jumper all seeking a degree of fulfillment, at what cost? That is the risk these daredevils are willing to take. While there were many daredevil acts before Mrs Taylor’s bold accomplishment, none quite so renowned, for no one had previously endeavored to drive themselves over the falls. Though Carlisle Graham had announced a few months prior he would journey down Horseshoe Falls he did not go forth with his plans. Annie was strapped into a Kentucky oak barrel that was held together by seven steal rings and packed with padding, the barrel was 34 inches in diameter through the middle and four and a half feet long. The lid was screwed shut and Annie was towed out by a small boat to the mainstream and released at 4:05 pm, several news people were on hand, ready to deliver Annie’s fate to the world. The barrel streamed toward the Canadian side and over the Horseshoe Falls. Mrs Taylor was in the barrel for 17 minutes after her frightening tumble down Niagara Falls, until it was close enough to the Canadian shores to be hauled in. The top of the barrel was cut away. Annie emerged s cratched and bruised, very stunned but satisfied, quoted to have said â€Å"No one ought ever do that again.† She did try to cash in on her accomplishment, for it is documented that it was one of her motives for such a precarious act, however she was far from victorious. In lieu of money, for 10 years she held the honor of being the only person to ever go over the falls. She died a pauper twenty years later, at the still disputed age of 83. Not unlike Annie Taylor numerous people tried a variety of different stunts seeking fame and fortune for there dare devilish ways, many paying with their lives. One of the most notorious people to take to the tight rope was Jean Francois Gravelot or better known as â€Å"The Great Blondin†, he was branded as the most bold and entertaining daredevil of all time, he was infatuated with crossing over Niagara Falls. Daredevil Stunts at Niagara Falls :: essays research papers Annie Edson Taylor a widowed school teacher from Michigan made history on October 24, 1901 being the first person to take the daring plunge over the picturesque yet treacherous Niagara Falls. Various people have taken on Niagara Falls and all it’s furry from trapeze artist to barrel jumper all seeking a degree of fulfillment, at what cost? That is the risk these daredevils are willing to take. While there were many daredevil acts before Mrs Taylor’s bold accomplishment, none quite so renowned, for no one had previously endeavored to drive themselves over the falls. Though Carlisle Graham had announced a few months prior he would journey down Horseshoe Falls he did not go forth with his plans. Annie was strapped into a Kentucky oak barrel that was held together by seven steal rings and packed with padding, the barrel was 34 inches in diameter through the middle and four and a half feet long. The lid was screwed shut and Annie was towed out by a small boat to the mainstream and released at 4:05 pm, several news people were on hand, ready to deliver Annie’s fate to the world. The barrel streamed toward the Canadian side and over the Horseshoe Falls. Mrs Taylor was in the barrel for 17 minutes after her frightening tumble down Niagara Falls, until it was close enough to the Canadian shores to be hauled in. The top of the barrel was cut away. Annie emerged s cratched and bruised, very stunned but satisfied, quoted to have said â€Å"No one ought ever do that again.† She did try to cash in on her accomplishment, for it is documented that it was one of her motives for such a precarious act, however she was far from victorious. In lieu of money, for 10 years she held the honor of being the only person to ever go over the falls. She died a pauper twenty years later, at the still disputed age of 83. Not unlike Annie Taylor numerous people tried a variety of different stunts seeking fame and fortune for there dare devilish ways, many paying with their lives. One of the most notorious people to take to the tight rope was Jean Francois Gravelot or better known as â€Å"The Great Blondin†, he was branded as the most bold and entertaining daredevil of all time, he was infatuated with crossing over Niagara Falls.

Television Broadcast News: Credible information or Merely Entertainment?

In today’s journalistic world it is sometimes difficult to decipher between news broadcasts rendered as credible information as opposed to merely entertainment. It is safe to say that the media does have a responsibility in reporting the news truthfully and with honesty. As we begin to look more closely on the role of the News Media, local and national, we will find many interesting facets of the broadcasts to be analyzed. It is also expected that the media deliver news that is detailed, informative and credible.Unfortunately the content of the information sometimes broadcasts has other insignificant focuses such as, news regarding celebrities, entertainment (especially here in Los Angeles so close to Hollywood) and other tragic but unnecessary news. The content seems at times unimportant, weak, and falsely dramatic rather than a factual honest and necessary report of important occurrences local, national and international. At times the news seems more like a dramatic soap ope ra rather than news. Competion and monetary gain seems to drive the media to serve information that can be sometimes manipulated or sometimes just simply inappropriate.Another facet of the news media is the status of female anchors and reporters on network and local newscasts, which will be examined in this paper. It is important to note that the media has been known to be a field influenced by gender, racial and ethnic biases. These important topics will also be examined. It seems that the News Media is not very particular in choosing quality journalism these days. Some exceptions do exist although it seems that shows which function as informative shows are merely just entertainment and tabloid-like journalism.Such shows include, â€Å"Entertainment tonight†, â€Å"The E channel† programs, â€Å"Inside Edition†, and â€Å"Access Hollywood† to name a few. Even reality shows like â€Å"Cops† which are credible and reflect real life experiences are p ackaged for entertainment and sensationalist viewing. Also, when analyzing the role of local and national television broadcast news we still need to view the content of these programs with a grain of salt. News broadcasters are more influenced by events that will cause an immediate impact and sensational effect on the viewers than actual, credible and significant news. It is common for news broadcasters to begin the news  with such broadcasts covering such events as a â€Å"Wild Pursuit† or freeway car chase.Or, other such glamorized topics may include the arrest of famous actors or musicians whom have committed crimes. The O. J. Simpson case was a perfect example of such media frenzy or, the famous pop musician George Michaels being arrested for masturbating in the Beverly Hills Park restroom. How can the media choose to cover such insignificant events when the local areas, the nation or the international community has so many other important social, economical, political and humanitarian problems and events that are hardly addressed.Also, when we pursue to analyze the credibility of broadcasters, how are we sure that the information given to us is factual? Are we to believe everything that CNN reports is untainted and free of excessive nonfactual events and information? It would be justified to question the source of reported events and news stories. There has been so many times in which different views and different versions of the same story have been reported by varying news channels. Therefore it is sometimes difficult to decipher between fact or fiction and credible information or merely entertainment.It is also interesting to note that the media tries to maintain an air of social and political correctness when it comes to choosing its journalists although certain biases still due exists in the journalistic field. It is only in recent times that the news media has decided to hire more ethnically diverse journalists. Also in a field that had bee n mostly dominated by men, in recent times we have seen the hiring of more female anchors, reporters and journalists. Sometimes broadcasters use attractive journalists to gain the interest of the viewers.One of the most important TV news personalities of the last 40 years has been the famous Barbara Walters. She is one of the first women to gain acceptability and credibility from television news viewers. Also Christian Amanpour remains the first female TV broadcaster in our history who commands the same kind of respect as the long line of father figures that started with Murrow and continues with Rather, Brokaw and Jennings. Women journalists such as Walters and Amanpour have gained respect and stardom through many years of hard work and struggle through journalism.Nowadays, historic news stories have become the journalistic fast track to celebrity. And this happens so routinely that the search for the new media stars automatically built into coverage of the events themselves. Withi n hours of the attack on the World Trade Center, you could already hear people in the media world asking, â€Å"Who’s going to be made by this one? † Such celebrity came to female anchorwoman Ashleigh Banfield, a 33-year-old Canadian-born journalist when on September 11, Banfield covered groundzero in New York for MSNBC.Standing firm as she became coated with ash, network executives were so dazzled by her on-camera savvy that, although she had almost as little international knowledge as our president, they jetted her off to Pakistan, where she began anchoring the week-nightly news show â€Å"Region in Conflict. † Since then, she seems to have been everywhere for the cable channels covering a variety of important news stories and issues. A similar story occurred when Andrea Thompson made headlines when she recently revealed that she was quitting ABC’s â€Å"N. Y. P.  D Blue† to do a three-month tryout at the CBS affiliate in Albuquerque, N. M. to become a TV anchorwoman.Shortly after Andrea Thompson was hired by the CNN as an anchor. The 39-year-old actress and model has said that she believes her skills as an actress are transferable to TV news, even though she does not have any background in journalism. Although it’s not a matter of acting the news, it’s hard to fake a journalism background if you do not have one. Again this proves how today’s news media functions more as entertainment than credible responsible journalism.Some may say that it does not take any journalism skill to read a news script, and most stations want an appealing person, so why not have a pretty person reading a copy of the news? Personally I believe that this is unfair to other journalists male or female who have pursued a career studying and experiencing modern journalism. It is unfair to hire â€Å"sexy† or â€Å"sexual –attractive† journalists to report the news when the most important factor is the conten t and truthfulness of the news itself. It may be appropriate to flaunt ones sexuality in the fictional soap opera or fictional TV show arena, but not in the modern journalistic forum.Gender and sexuality should not be a factor. It would be hopeful to expect the News Media to cover more events with greater importance and significance to all people rather than to use journalism as a form of entertainment for the masses. Furthermore, it seems to me that the actual event and truth in media shouldn’t be tainted by such factors such as gender, ethnicity, age or how one presents him or herself physically, the events and news topics covered should speak for themselves, not the other way around.

Symptoms And Treatments Of Chagas Disease - 1093 Words

Chagas disease occurs in two stages. The severity and course of infection might be different in people infected at different times in life and in different ways. The first stage is the acute stage, which is characterized by the presence of chagomas. This stage lasts for the first few weeks or months of infection. It usually goes unnoticed because it is either asymptomatic, or the infected only exhibit signs/symptoms that are not entirely unique to the disease. This includes headaches, rash (chagomas), loss of appetite, fever, fatigue, body aches. The signs on physical examination may include mild hepatomegaly or splenomegaly and swollen glands. The most recognized marker of acute Chagas disease is called Romana’s sign, which refers to the swelling of the eyelids on the side of the face nearest the initial infection area (CDC, 2013). Even if these symptoms do occur, they usually fade away on their own, which is why the infection usually persists. If left untreated and/or unnot iced, the infected will end up in the chronic stage of the disease. In this stage, the infection may continue to remain silent for decades, or even throughout the entire life. 30% of infected in this stage will develop cardiac complications (cardiomyopathy, heart failure, cardiac arrest) or intestinal complications (megaesophagus, megacolon) (CDC, 2013). For most patients who develop a cardiac complication, it is too late and there is no treatment besides symptomatic. Chagas disease can be diagnosed byShow MoreRelatedDr. Alvarez, A Banana Plantation Worker s Mysterious Ailment1638 Words   |  7 PagesAdrian through his journey of the mysterious disease, diagnosis, and alternative treatment. The doctor diagnosis Adrian with the Chagas disease, which is endemic to Costa Rica and Central South America. The doctor suggests that Adrian should get admitted to a hospital for treatment however; Adrian refuses because he is an illegal immigrant in Costa Rica. Adrian hesitantly takes the prescription from the doctor but wants alternative way to treat his disease so he would not have to see the doctor againRead MoreTypes Of Pathogens That Cause Diseases And Illnesses1313 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction There are many types of pathogens that cause diseases and illnesses. Parasites are one of these pathogens. A parasite is an organism that needs a living host to survive. There are multiple species of parasites that are known today and each one is unique. Medicine has advanced throughout the years, but not all illnesses and diseases can be cured. Parasites can typically be treated with antiparasitic and other types of treatments. Parasites can infect multiple organ systems such as theRead MoreHeart Failure, Cardiac Arrhythmia And Thromboembolism1643 Words   |  7 Pages Cardiac manifestation is in two stages; acute phase characterized by high grade parasitemia with flu-like symptoms: fever, malaise, myalgias, sweating. Cardiac involvement occurs in 90% of cases with conduction abnormalities that last 6-8 weeks. Spontaneous recovery in 95% of the affected patients is expected. Chronic phase indeterminate form in which there is no physical signs or clinical evidence of organ damage with subclinical degree of cardiac involvement after Echo/Holter studyRead MoreDisease Report : Chagas Disease1261 Words   |  6 Pages CHLP 4623 Disease Report: Chagas Disease Hannah M. Lahodny || Dr. Jones || December 16th 2014 Introduction Discovered in 1909 by Carlos Chagas, Chagas disease, or American trypanosomiasis, affects an estimated 8 million individuals annually according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The number of individuals affected by this disease annually makes it a significant, yet preventable, problem. As a chronic parasitic infection, the disease is transmitted by insectsRead MoreMedical Case Study1057 Words   |  5 PagesWhen a disease that has a regular prevalence in a geographic region begins to present a higher incidence rate than the standard, an investigation is can be necessary to verify a possibility of an outbreak (WHO, 2017). When an epidemic occurs in a community or region several people are infected by the same disease that originates from the same source of spread (Gordis, 2014). An outbreak can also be identified when a disease that has already been eradicated or has never been detected in a region infectsRead MorePopulation Of Brazil Has Experienced An Epidemic Pro blem Known As Chagas Disease888 Words   |  4 Pagesknown as Chagas disease, where outbreaks are most common in underdeveloped countries. Shikanai-Yasuda and Carvalho (2012) concluded the etiologic agent of the disease forms in the blood and fluid of infected animals and humans and is transmitted at the bite sites of the triatomine bugs feces. The Amazon Basin in Brazil has experienced another form of transmission, orally, which is now considered the principal form of Chagas disease in the country. The outbreaks of orally transmitted Chagas in BrazilRead MoreLaboratory Techniques Employed in Blood Analysis3315 Words   |  14 Pagesand after a surgery to examine the general health of a patient and measures important chemicals produced and needed in the body. Different abnormalities it could identify such as liver diseases which is caused by excessive alcohol consumption that causes enzymes levels to increase; kidney diseases; pancreatic diseases, etc. M3 Several components of the blood can be separated and used in emergency as blood products for transfusion. These separated blood components are called blood products. A. NameRead MoreA Man Named Carlos Chagas1979 Words   |  8 Pages    A man named Carlos Chagas found the Chagas Disease. He was born in Oliveria, Brazil on 1879. Their family owned a coffee plantation. Carlos’s father passed away when he was around 4 years old. His mother wanted him to study engineering, however, his uncle, who was a physician, sparked his interest in medicine. He told Carlos that Brazil was not industrializing due to endemic disease that was in the country. In 1896, Carlos Chagas studied at Rio de Janeiro. He chose â€Å"Hematological Aspects ofRead MoreHow Does Glycolysis Is Essential For Trypanosoma Brucei ( Tb )1834 Words   |  8 Pagescauses African sleeping sickness in humans and nagana in livestock, and to Trypanosoma cruzi (Tc), that causes Chagas Disease. Hexokinase (HK), the first enzyme in the glycolytic cycle, is a potential and valid target for antitrypanosomal chemotherapy. The three dimensional (3D) structure of a drug target is vital to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the molecular basis of a disease , to gain insights on the impact of genetic variations on the protein structure and function, and to investigateRead MoreNicaragua And Its Effects On The United States1443 Words   |  6 Pagessystem in particular. Families did not have access to any type of medicine, unless they lived in the village and had money to spend. However, this was not the case for many of the families in the village so several of them suffered and fell ill to diseases and infections. Also, the water was not very clean and access to clean water, once again, could only be found in cities. About 50% of the population lives in poverty in which 85% of this population struggle to live on more than one-dollar daily (Balint