Ritual practices Essay Example for Free

Ritual practices Essay John A. Grim of Yale University explained that the term â€Å"indigenous† is a generalized reference to the thousands of small scale societies who have distinct languages, kinship systems, mythologies, ancestral memories and homelands. Much of these indigenous cultures were found in North America long before the European settlers arrived. Some of these cultures had their own way of living and unique ways of worshiping their gods and practicing rituals. Diversity in the belief of the divine, their spirituality and nature would be the most identifiable aspect, wherein some believe in reincarnation, concept of dual divinity and the â€Å"interrelationship of the microcosm of the body with the macrocosm of the larger world† (Grim, 2006), while others believe in kinship in animals and humans. The advent of modern civilization proved to be devastating to these indigenous cultures when natives where forcibly converted to Christianity leading to high suicide rates due to the suppression of their religion and culture. Many were sold into slavery and forced to live in reservations, therefore limiting their freedom to interact with nature leading to the death of some of their rituals and customs. With the passage of time, some of these indigenous beliefs were incorporated into the different contemporary religions were today’s respective native families attend to. Personal convictions consist of the combination of traditional beliefs with Christian elements. Some existing Native American tribes still practice rituals, rain dances, chanting and drum beating within the context of Christianity. No matter how great the difference in religious practices between life then and the contemporary times, indigenous people still believe that the past still lives in the present; as John Grim puts it, that central to indigenous traditions is an awareness of the integral and whole relationship of symbolic and material life. Ritual practices and the cosmological ideas which undergird society cannot be separated out as an institutionalized religion from the daily round of subsistence practices. Sources: 1) Native Religions Development (2006), www. religioustolerance. org [internet] http://www. religioustolerance. org/nataspir. htm Date Accessed: 17 January 2007 2) Grim, John A. (2006), Indigenous Traditions and Ecology (web page) http://environment. harvard. edu/religion/religion/indigenous/index. html Date Accessed: 17 January 2007

Globalization Strategies In Hollywood

Globalization Strategies In Hollywood Hollywood acts an important role in globalization and Americanization. Hollywood movies not only create the profit of economics, but also produce the global fun which is a form of Americanization. Meanwhile, Hollywood regards Chinese film industry as the most potential international film market. Obviously, Hollywood is drawing support from the strength of the US economics to extend market. After China has participated in WTO, Chinese film and the culture sovereign is confronted to the challenge. As a result, taking Hollywood an example would study the culture globalization and culture Americanization. Furthermore, it could benefit from successful Hollywood movies to find out the strategies of Americanization in order to develop the vitality of Chinese film industry. Current situation of Chinese style movies in Hollywood From Luise Rainer who patted locusts in movie The Good Earth in 1937 to Ingrid Bergman who put on bamboo hat in The Inner of the Sixth Happiness in 1958, and Tom Cruise had jumped down from a high building in Shanghai in Mission Impossible à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã‚ ¢, Chinese culture has affected Hollywood for more than seventy years. In 2008, Kung Fu Panda was coming. Obviously, it utilized more Chinese styles, but the whole film was produced by western teams and Hollywood patterns. Kung Fu Panda occurred in China, where have high mountains and lofty hills, indeed, it is like a traditional Chinese landscape paintings. Moreover, the roles in this film are also attracted audiences, such as the leading charactera lovely panda Bo and others like monkey, snake, tiger and red-crowned crane. All of these elements constitute this film which possesses the romantic charm with WuShu. It happens that there is a similar case, 2012 has showed in 2009. Some of the scenes have taken place in China. Due to the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army and civilians, human beings in the world could be rescued. Even though it is a story, it is no doubt that Chinese style is increasingly significant than before. From this view, Chinese style has two meanings which contain nature sightseeing and human flavor. On one hand, the wilderness in the west and the views which is charming and graceful in south of the Yangtze River constitute the nature sightseeing in Hollywood movies. On the other hand, from some westerns view, swordsmen films represent the typical model of Chinese culture. Therefore, in terms of Chinese style, the human flavor is another central issue of Hollywood. As some researcher has pointed out that film is like a specific culture product (Abercrombie and Longhurst, 2007), in fact, besides its material properties, films draw support from sounds, images, pictures and languages, these elements produce the symbolic signs and ideologies. Meanwhile, it connects with culture fields because films might shape to a sort of power which relates to collective values of society and the politic fields which includes culture intension. Obviously, the globalization in Hollywood has impacted Chinese domestic film industry. More importantly, it distributes American commercial, culture, politics, lifestyle and values to worldwide. Finally, Americanization will affect culture identity in order to achieve the future of world film industry. Due to that, the topic of Hollywood and Chinese film is emerging. Some concepts Globalization and Americanization In the previous articles, the concept of globalization was explained by which meant the expansion of European countries, thereby, achieving the global economics integration (Modelski, 2008). At present, this concept is quoted steadily which states that globalization represents a new phenomenon (King, 1991). Indeed, economic globalization is the core of globalization, and it consists of the multi- concept such as politics, culture, technology, military, security, ideology, lifestyle and the values. Americanization is not a new phenomenon. Even though Stead (1902) has stated that the concept of Americanization for more than hundred years, the real Americanization should be a kind of phenomenon in the middle of twentieth century. Storey (2005) brought up the features of Americanization is people who live all over the world drink Coco-cola every day, eat McDonalds, wear American style or the clothes which are made by America, see Hollywood movies and watch NBA, save and make use of dollars, speak American English, pay more attention to America no matter politics, economics and entertainments. Besides that, Americans export their values, ideas, policy and weapons to worldwide. After all, these features are only existed in studies; in fact, most of people all over the world even interested in Americanization. Above all, globalization is a kind of objective process; it describes the development of the world, as a result, it has undergone a deeply transformation. Although after 1990s, globalization has little changed by Americanization, the characters would not be altered. Americanization just limits the effect of communication in terms of American popular culture, in other words, it might transform the direction of culture in some countries which affected by American. However, Americanization could not completely influence. From this point of view, globalization and Americanization are two completely different notions. The former one is objective, and the latter one is a description of tendency which is in process. Culture globalization and culture Americanization Culture globalization is a kind of tendency which accompanied by the development of association. It seems that different culture exchange and culture identity has increased deeply, thereby, shaping the culture consistency which has the similar value and lifestyle. However, Crane (2002, p.2) stated that the best known model of culture globalization is cultural imperialism theory. Indeed, culture globalization has expressed two aspects (Gang, 2002). On one hand, at present, the content and the space of culture communication is increasingly widely, the acceptance of new culture and traditional one has risen gradually. From the previous development of human beings, due to the limitation of regions, communication of different groups were not active. However, accompanied by the technology and transportation, people in different places are more closed than before. In other word, people are not only confining the trade, but also developing religions and cultures. In general, the culture betw een different groups has already not restricted by region, meanwhile, the level of communication has enhanced. Therefore, globalization is concentrated on the phenomenon of cross-cultural exchange. On the other hand, every nation culture and region culture would reach an overlapping consensus. As I mentioned before, previous human culture had developed with geographical isolation, due to that, the culture difference is obviously. Firstly, globalization brings the circulation of capital, and then different nations would crash by different culture and values. These changes make people possess a wider horizon. As a result, people would adopt and improve their domestic culture, and they would tolerant with other different culture. In this process of seeking common ground while reserving differences, some advantages would be absorbed into the domestic culture system. By contrast, culture Americanization is a sort of phenomenon which makes American mass communication spreads to different countries in order to converge on domestic culture to American culture. It seems that this phenomenon tries to transform a multicultural society to a single culture. Compare to the definition of culture globalization, culture Americanization has changed a tendency which shapes some universal cultural characters, such as the assimilation of values and lifestyles into some specific tendency of American. However, the society of American has existed one kind of ideology. In general, due to the attraction of American culture, it has shaped a new former of global culture which concentrates on American values. Some researchers have upheld this point urgently and expect to achieve their wishes. Charles Krauthammer who is a columnist in Washington Post has written that it has no global mass culture before, therefore, the present culture is forming, and it is the specific American mass culture (Krauthammer, 2006). Hall (1991) argued that globalization is Americanization. It is determined by film and other culture terms. All of these points belong to mass culture, and American has the advantages rather than other countries. In fact, except American, there is no countries would like to become the reproduction of American culture. Culture Americanization has hit the point of researchers who want to product their domestic culture out of America. Some of them have overstated the influence of Americanization so that people are boycotting the cultural Americanization. Especially, few people have distinguished the concept of culture globalization and culture Americanization. Therefore, only understanding the basic notions of globalization and Americanization could study the American phenomenon, such as Hollywood more deeply. Successful reasons why Chinese style is so popular in Hollywood Kung Fu Panda has won the successful achievement no matter in China or in America. Audiences are intoxicated with the Chinese styles. Due to the shape, spirit and meaning, plus the creation, Kung Fu Panda is so popular in China and all over the world. Consequently, Hollywood producers have concentrated on Chinese style in order to attract audiences to appreciate Hollywood films. People feel that the distance of different culture has cut down. More specifically, someone has pointed out that the Hollywood production has overstepped the understanding of domestic culture for Chinese. The reason why Hollywood captured the marrow of Chinese culture is that Hollywood has developed the strategies in China. The Chinese film market in Hollywood eyes Due to China has amount of populations and the economics has grown, China has acted an important role in current society. Indeed, China possesses a significant position in terms of politics, economics and culture. When China wanted to join in WTO in 1999 ¼Ã…’film is an important topic. Because China always has limited foreign investment to enter the domestic film market, America expected Chinese government to admit more America film entering into China. Besides that, some America film company could invest and build new modern cinemas in China. On November 15th, 1999, China and America has reached the agreement which permits foreign company which invests 50 percent stocks engaging the cinema buildings and managements after three years. In fact, from 1920s, Hollywood had entered into China. During 1930-40s, Hollywood film had occupied 75 percent of Chinese market. More apparently, Hollywood was opened by Cecil B.Demille, Ernes Lubitscht and Mickey Mouse. To be honest, the direct result is that Hollywood has cultivated amounts of audiences. Most audiences in these year liked Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks rather than Hu Die or Jin Yan. More interesting, some fans assorted Chinese and Hollywood stars in pairs. However, at that time, some directors also imitated the Hollywood. In 1934, Han Langen acted Song of the Fishermen, from that, he worked with Yin Xiucen so that copied Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. Until 1949, because China has embarked on an independent, self-reliance road, Hollywood films were stooped. Therefore, Hollywood faded out gradually the entertainment in China. After 1980s, when the reform and open policy has suggested in China, meanwhile, with the relationship between China and the whole world h as increasingly closed than before, Chinese culture industry brought the moment for Hollywood, and then Hollywood paid attention to China again. With joined into WTO and one fifth percent of population in the world, even though there are some limitations of laws, cultures and ideology, the Hollywood producers are even addicted to China. As for America, the culture industry in China has not been developed at all. Because China culture industry has not enough investments, technology and regular companies, American producers are so interested in it. Consequently, as for Hollywood, Chinese film market is not only a gold ore, but an undeveloped diamond ore. Almost 1.3 billion potential audiences in China is a temptation for Hollywood. Indeed, when the Chinese film market opens, it will supply a fresh export film market for America, more importantly, China will probably be the second film market in the world, which beyond Europe and Japan. More specifically, in the future, every four Hollywood films would have one subject for China at least. Due to develop the Chinese film market, Hollywood film companies started to research Chinese market in the middle of 1990s. Some of them had established Chinese department, others had employed Chinese students going back to China which assumed an important position. Every film company has got in touch with the organizations which managed films in China. In 1999, Twentieth Century of Fox Film Corporation received the Chinese film delegation. In 2000, Warner Bros. provided financial aids to China in order to hold Chinese Culture in United States in America. Moreover, all of film companies such as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayes (MGM), Paramount Pictures, Inc., Warner Bros., Universal Pictures Co., tried to imagine how to enter into Chinese film market. Larry Gleason who is the CEO of MGM said 55 percent of America film incomes were from out of America; meanwhile, China has the most population in the world, it is no doubt that Hollywood must enter into China. Developing the potential of Chinese mar ket will be the aim of MGM. In fact, the points of Larry Gleason have represented most of Hollywood companies. The strategies of Hollywood in China As a developing country, on one hand, China insists on the policy of reform and open, on the other hand, China should retain the socialist system. Due to the political environment of China, Hollywood might confront some barriers if it will get into Chinese market. First of all, Chinese government even keeps the film administrative limitation. Second, there are some differences between Chinese unique culture and Hollywood culture. Thirdly, Chinese film market is in disorder status. Because of that, Hollywood has a clear awareness. Therefore, from these years, Hollywood adopted sorts of strategies to try to overcome and reduce these barriers, thereby, preparing getting into China for maximum effect. Firstly, Hollywood expected to utilize America political power to expand their survival space. Moreover, Hollywood tried to invest and manage the film production industry, distribution industry and project industry, so that it could establish the Chinese film market. Thirdly, Hollywood want ed to take pictures which are acted by Chinese producers or actors or utilize the Chinese style in order to cater to the Chinese audiences. Finally, with other media formers, Hollywood tried to cultivate audiences to possess wider interests in Hollywood, thereby, developing the potential Hollywood market. In general, these strategies had been used in Hollywood history, and it gained the success. As for Hollywood, China is the second Europe, and it would be the new world from their expectation. From the views of promoting Hollywood, America government always acts the role of guard. As for a product, America government sales films to worldwide. Instead of how to make films, government would think about what should they do first in order to create condition for producing. In 1922, America film production has set up The Motion Pictures Producers and Distributors Association (MPPDA) ¼Ã…’this association has cooperated with government, thereby, striving for abroad benefits. After World War à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã‚ ¡, The Motion Pictures Exports Association of America (MPEAA) was built. This association was duty to address the external transactions. These organizations often kept in touch with the Department of Commerce. Obviously, political factors are always the reinforcements of Americanization. As a result, in the future, America government must strive for the rights through the politics. To some extent, Hollywood is a new force for Americanization. The second strategy of Hollywood globalization is investing other countries film industry in order to set up an organization which is duty to manage it, thereby, controlling foreign film market. In fact, when Hollywood occupied the Europe film market, the first step was co-production and distribution. At present, Hollywood tried to adopt the same method to enter Chinese film market. For instance, Hollywood needs make films with Chinese, on one hand, Chinese film produce system could be bring into Hollywood; on the other hand, it could make a similar pattern which based on Hollywood, and the audiences could be cultivated by the this new pattern film. Take Kodak for example, they once considered choosing one of five countries or districts where has the biggest potential of film industries, Chinese mainland is in it. Fortunately, they have chosen Chinese mainland because they believe film business opportunities in China are the best. Furthermore, Kodak has planned to build up 6 to 8 mod ern cinemas in Beijing, Guangzhou and other big cities. Besides that, Kodak initiated that they would show both foreign language films and domestic films in order to cater to the requirements of Chinese audiences. Consequently, the reason why Hollywood and other film companies would get involved with Chinese film industry is one of the strategies to enter into Chinese film industry. Through the history of Hollywood, it is very fruitful that Hollywood used foreign directors, actors/actresses and subjects to conquer the hearts of foreign audiences. On one hand, all of these foreign sentiments have poured Hollywood into cultural nutrition; on the other hand, it would bring the culture sympathy from foreign countries. To illustrate, Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and Jet Li represent the Chinese style influences of Hollywood. This strategy has increasingly covered the brand of Hollywood. At the same time, it regards global film to enter into the Chinese film market. The globalization of Hollywood has not only limited the export of films. Every year, there is a grand ceremony in Hollywood which is called Oscar. Meanwhile, Hollywood is utilizing the auxiliary product of film, such as DVD, books, toys to expand the infiltration of Hollywood. In general, Hollywood has stared at the Chinese film market. For the strategies of globalization in America, Hollywood has not only opened up the second market which is inferior to America, but also weaved many America fables through the American love story and hero story. Therefore, Hollywood would conquer the foreign nations. Hollywood has altered the America to the world; meanwhile, the world is changing by America. Discussions The strategies of Americanization and films With the strategies of Americanization, culture industry, especially the film part is a significant chess for America. When culture has become an industry, the functions of economics and culture have overlapped. Indeed, the exports of cultural product have expanded the economic market, also gains the profits. At the same time, on one hand, these culture products could be sold by America lifestyle or values, on the other hand, culture is like a product and product would express culture, they are interaction. Due to culturae products have gained profits and they also create the meaning of advertisement, all of these elements which contain images, sounds, words, pictures and models have exploited the huge market of America politics and economics. As culturae products have its special meanings, America is making great efforts to be Americanization, especially the Americanization of Hollywood films. Early in 1930s, America government realized that film and other formers of mass culture not only possessed the meaning of industry, but conducted America culture, economics and politics. These mass culture and film would possess a priority function. The export of culture might affect other countries, districts and the awareness of nations, religions, culture even languages, in order to weaken their traditional culture, thereby, creating the memory of nation culture and promoting the mixture of America values and beliefs. Consequently, from World Warà ¢Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã‚  , America spread films, TV programmes, records and other mass cultural products to all over the world. During in World Warà ¢Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã‚ ¡, Hollywood became an important tool which helped the government conduct America. Films which become the most international media industry play a significant role in culture industry. To some extent, from beginning, Hollywood has spread America to the world and America movies possessed an international horizon. The first ten years of twentieth century, Hollywood producers have begun to set up offices out of America. From World Warà ¢Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã‚  , America films have replaced by France, British and Germany, became an international film market. From 1919, foreign film markets have brought into the budget of American films. After 1930s, the income of foreign film market already has accounted for one third to one half profits in total of American films. In other words, World Warà ¢Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã‚  and World Warà ¢Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã‚ ¡placed American films into the leader of the world in terms of economics and produce. After that, this priority position has not been wavered. Although the sound film had emerged, and the language barriers also had brought some threatens for American fi lms, Hollywood had adapted this method of art and technology changes, thereby, consolidating its powerful position. Until 1995, Hollywood films have possessed almost 75 percent of Europe box office income in total. Moreover, Hollywood even owns film market in Canada, Latin America, Oceania and Asia. Even though in Hong Kong where has been called Eastern Hollywood, American films have consolidated its domestic position. In the late of twentieth century, Hollywood has gained 7.5 billion dollars in America as well as over 6 billion dollars from overseas film markets. It became an important component in America new economics (Rao, 2009). After a half century of international efforts, nowadays, American films have been the world film and Hollywood is prevalent. Hollywood films no longer seemed only in America; instead, it became a byword for films. Consequently, America mass culture does not like an imports objective. Indeed, Hollywood has conquered the whole world, and we are becoming a Hollywood star. In the past ten years, due to commerce and military, the debate of information era and information society has become the main struggle of international politics, economics and culture. In fact, the competition of countries depends on information creation and the speed of circulation. Therefore, dominating the media is controlling the benefits of politics and economics. In other words, creating the media industry is producing the benefits of politics and economics. Due to this global competition, in many developing countries, culture nationalism is emerging. Consequently, because of the conflicts of nationalism and global tendency, how Chinese films would maintain its national orientation under the impact of Hollywood is becoming an inevitable thinking. From a higher level, this is a question which deals with globalization of Chinese culture. The vitality of domestic movies in China Even though Hollywood is a huge threatens for the domestic films, Hollywood would not become the gravedigger of domestic films, especially for China which has oriental culture for thousand years of history as well as suffered from vast disaster. As a matter of fact, Hollywood is impossible to replace the domestic culture in China. Even if in 1990s, Hollywood films had entered into China, it was still a number of domestic films had a higher market allotment in Chinese film market. For instance, in 2000, the income of Mulan and Notting Hill has less than ten millions, but the income of Chinese film Be There or Be Square has over 39 million (Rao, 2009), which had exceeded any of Hollywood films in that years. It seems that the domestic films in China are also having a place to live in after Hollywood is getting into China. The key point of Chinese film industry needs to exploit, cultivate and expand its advantages as well as reduce the disadvantage, thereby, strengthening the vitality o f domestic films. As for China, the Chinese films advantages could provide buffer of space, and they also require a kind of potential. For Chinese films, the most obvious advantage is China has a long history as well as the specific culture tradition. Though from 19 century, western culture has affected China, it also has a large difference between western and China in terms of lifestyles, values and languages. Due to that, film Star Wars which made a great sensation in Europe and United States has not accepted by Chinese audiences. Furthermore, the film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon which was directed by Ang Lee was well liked by western audiences rather than China. These examples have showed that China and western countries even has existed the difference, it means Hollywood cannot replace the domestic films, in other words, Chinese films possess their special characters that Hollywood would never have. Therefore, if Chinese films may utilize Chinese traditional resources of culture creatively, the domestic films would occupy an important position in China even in Asia and Chinese culture space in the world. From another point of view, oriental culture tradition might provide a fresh cultural reference to western audiences, thereby, entering into the mainstream of Hollywood. More importantly, China has special condition. Compare to western countries, China is experiencing the transitional era, which transforms traditional society to modern society. Any of the transitional eras are the golden eras of the domestic films, in other words, the transition promotes society relations, interpersonal relations and family relations, due to that, the destiny and values have been altered. Indeed, the true life has provided the materials which are full of dramatic rather than drama as well as it requires much fresher life legend instead of stories. Thus, as for Chinese audiences, on one hand, they need Hollywood produce momentary of imagines; on the other hand, they also use film which is like a mirror to reflect the variation of soul. It should be said that from 1990s, such as The Story of Qiu Ju, Lovers Grief Over the Yellow River, The Treatment have fully utilized the domestic, actual cultural resources to reflect the situation at that moment. All of them are good at combing the social pictures, the ordinary civilians fate to the popular movie patterns. Not only expresses the experiences of transition eras, but also the desire of survival and wisdom, thereby, obtaining the audiences. Therefore, the domestic reality is the cultural superiority of Chinese films. According to the process of globalization, Chinese films also have a significance domestic superiority which is the potential film consumption market. Take Beijing for example, if resident see five films per year, it will reach 6 million RMB in total. Indeed, China has more than 12 million populations, if everyone sees one film per year, though the price is 5 RMB, the income of the whole year should achieve 60 million RMB. This income would support Chinese producers make the excellent domestic films. Moreover, China owns three hundred thousand employees and over hundred years film history, most importantly, there are amounts of talented person who are interested in films, all of these are the advantages of competition. Especially, because China has lower lever economics, the cost of films would less than Hollywood. Therefore, it would become an important strategy of contending for Hollywood. Above all, as I mentioned before, all of them should based on the root, once they come true, the fate of Chinese films would tend to be a bright future. Even though film which is a culture industry would not adapted by all market principles, if Chinese films would not run into market, Chinese films will not be paid attention by the world. Therefore, due to adapt to the market requirements, Chinese film industry must carry on the reformation of industrialization. Overall, Chinese films should make efforts from four aspects in order to open up the international space of Chinese films. First of all, China should establish film produce and distribution organizations which possess the international marketing, thereby, shaping a professional film enterprise. Furthermore, recruiting a number of film management persons who has professional quality of movie as well as carrying on the transitional economics. Thirdly, supporting film companies which produce films according to the requirement of international market, so that film companies could create the domestic film brands which are made in China. Finally, film companies should develop the products which are related to films, with TV, videos, DVD and networks to increase the added values. Conclusion It is no doubt that many people blamed the cultural invasion, even some pointed out that the whole world would be brought into the capitalism system which was hold by powerful capitalism countries. However, some researchers argued that globalization has affected domestic films. Obviously, with the development of globalization, the properties in different countries would not distinguish. When international films become an international culture, it is a risk of cultural environment. Indeed, Chinese film is confronting some challenges and threatens not only from Hollywood. Nevertheless, WTO and Hollywood are just providing an opportunity to refer. As for China, the domestic films must reform to themselves rather than imitating. More precisely, reformation is the only way to live and develop, otherwise, whether Hollywood entered into China or not, Chinese film has no way to go. Consequently, China should explore a kind of film industry and market which is suitable for the condition of China in terms of adapting Chinese politics, economics and cultural principles. The future of globalization not only means the choices of hegemony, but also obtains the equal rights of weakness. To some extent, the diversity of culture is the prerequisite of cultural vitality.

Nursing Shortage: Impacts and Strategies

Nursing Shortage: Impacts and Strategies The Nursing Shortage Steven Donahue Introduction According to research conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in December of 2013, the United States is at the precipous of a substantial nursing shortage. Their study indicated that the registered nurse (RN) workforce is expected to grow from 2.71 million jobs in 2012 to approximately 3.24 million in 2022, a 19% increase. This considerable growth coupled with an estimated 525,000 nurses retiring within the same time frame, brings the total of nursing openings to just over one-million jobs (1). The shortage is projected to spread across the country, but be most intense in the South and West regions (1, United Stated Registered Nurse Workforce Report Card). Other professions often endure similar reports about workforce shortages, but shortages specifically affecting the nursing profession are persistent and cyclical. The history of nursing shortages can be linked back to the beginning of nursing as a profession and the first nursing diploma schools, founded in 1873. These diploma schools focused on apprenticeship, and gave young women an opportunity for financial independence and solid employment that was previously not accessible. Physicians and hospitals soon realized the young nurses were a cheap source of labor, and further recruited upper and upper-middle class society for possible nursing candidates. â€Å"It may be argued that the first nursing shortage in the U.S. occurred when hospital training schools found the supply from the upper strata of society had evaporated† (3), and the hospitals were required to scramble and recruit nurses with different economic and cultural backgrounds. Nursing shortages were also prevalent between the years of 1932 and 1952, and exacerbated by the World War II which highlighted an increased need for competent nursing care. In 1943, Congress passed legislation to create the Cadet Nurse Corps, which helped provide an influx of proficient nurses during this shortage. It is estimated that students who graduated form the Cadet Corps provided nearly 80% of the care of hospitalized patents during World War II (3). Documented nursing shortages also occurred in the early 1960’s, early 1980’s, and twice in the 1990’s. Cut? The cause of more recent nursing shortages have become more complex and difficult to define. Research by Goldfarb et. al. in 2008 described two standards to to define a nursing shortage. First, a shortage occurs when there is not enough nurses to provide a certain level of quality care. Secondly, a nursing shortage exists when there are not enough nurses to fill open positions. Based on this description, the current situation can be simplified and more easily defined as a nursing shortage. The causes, impacts, and potential solutions for the current nursing shortage will be further explored. Factors Affecting the Nursing Shortage Societal Demographics A major cause for the nursing shortage is be related to the increased damand required to care for the aging baby boomer population. Members of the baby boomer generation were born roughly between 1946 and 1964 and created a demographic bubble. Between the years of 2008 and 2018, the 55-year old plus demographic is expected to grow more rapidly than any other age group, and will account for a larger share of the total population (9). Figure 1 below illustrates the age distribution and median age from 1960 to 2010 in the United States, and highlights the increasing median age associated with the baby boomer generation. This demographic disparity will create a challenge for healthcare providers, and require a proportional increase in the professional nursing workforce to accommodate the rising elderly population(4). Figure 1. Age distribution and median age: 1960 to 2010 (SOURCE) Demographics of Current Nursing Workforce The current nursing workforce demographics nearly mirror the United States demographics as a whole. According to a survey conducted in 2013, 55% of the registered nursing workforce is age 50 or older (1, #6), and only 14.8% of nurses are aged 30 or younger. The current nursing shortage was further complicated by the 2008 economic collapse. The economic collapse had devastating effects on personal finances, with figures showing an average loss of more than 25% of individuals 401K’s for those nearing retirement (aged 56-65) (http://www.ebri.org/pdf/briefspdf/EBRI_IB_2-2009_Crisis-Impct.pdf). This forced many older nurses to remain in their current positions, or required part-time nurses to return to full-time employment. Statistics showed that the downturn in the economy lead to an easing in the shortage in many parts of the country (1), but this is only temporary and may intensify the shortage after these nurses decide to retire. Nursing Faculty Shortage There are a variety of reasons for the current nurse faculty shortage. First, the average age of nuring faculty also nearly mirrors the United States demographics as a whole. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nurses (AACN), the average doctorally prepared professor is 56.8 years old, and the average master’s degree nursing faculty is 55.1 years old. (http://www.aacn.nche.edu/media-relations/fact-sheets/nursing-faculty-shortage). As a wave of retirements over the next decade hits academia, the replacements are both scarce and advanced in age. Salary differentials between nursing educators and those with similar credentials in the private sector is making it difficult to retain nursing educators. Data colleted in 2012 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics found that a Master’s prepared Nurse Practitioner earned a median salary of $92,670 while a Master’s prepared Associate Professor earned $72,590, a differential of approximately $20,000 (BLS website). This monetary difference, along with an increasingly high loan burden associated with attaining a graduate degree makes the private sector more enticing for new graduates with advanced degrees. The faculty shortage has had a significant affect on nursing school admission. The AACN conducted a survey in 2012 and determined that U.S. nursing schools turned away nearly 80,000 qualified undergraduate applicants due to a scarcity in faculty, clinical sites, and classroom space (1,#10). Two-thirds of of respondants indicated that faculty shortages were the number one reason for turning away qualified applicants. Furthermore, approximately 15,000 qualified applicants were turned away from graduate programs for the same reason. The nursing faculty shortage then becomes a two-pronged issue. The nursing shortage requires more nursing students, but a nursing faculty shortage creates limitations on how many students can be prepared for employment, and limits the ability to prepare future nursing educators. Working Conditions Wages The nature of the work, physical fatigue, orthopedic issues,and family strain due to working nights and weekends lead many nurses to leave the hospital setting or the profession altogether. In an era of litigation, nurses must also be cognizant that the individual, and not the system may be held liable in case of patient safety errors. This increased accountability without sufficient decision making authority leads to increased stress on the nursing workforce (4). The nursing profession is challenging and stressful, and many believe that the salary does not reflect the difficulty of the job. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, salaries for registered nurses have increased only 4% between 2008 and 2014. While this stagnation may also be indicative of the 2008 economic collapse, the effect of the nursing shortage on wages may not be fully understood until the economy fully recovers. Nursing Shortage Implications The pinnacle concern of the nursing shortage is the effect that it may have on patient loads and quality of care. The growing elderly population coupled with the a shortage of nurses will lead to an increase in patient loads. Numerous studies have indicated that higher patient loads lead to a riskier environment for the patient. A study published in 2011 by Dr. Jack Needleman analyzed the records of 197,961 patients, and found that the mortality rate increased from 1-6% if a facility was understaffed (http://www.nejm.org/doi/pdf/10.1056/NEJMsa1001025). Another study in 2011 indicated that when the hours per patient day was high (an indicator of proper staffing), the incidents of congestive heart failure, failure to rescue, infections, and prolonged lengths of hospital stays decreased (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21407034). Lastly, a study conducted in 2013 observed the relationship between higher patient loads and readmission rates of pediatric patients. The research showed th at when the ratio was adjusted by just one patient (5:1), the likelihood for readmission rose 11% (http://qualitysafety.bmj.com/content/22/9/735.full). An increase in readmission rates will further aggravate the problem of patient loads, and has a heavy economic toll. While increased patient loads effect the overall quality of care, they also adversely effect the working conditions of nurses. In a survey conducted in 2005, 75% of respondents believed that the nursing shortage will effect their quality of work and limit the amount of time they can spend with patients. Additionally, 93% of those surveyed believe that the effects of the nursing shortage will cause nurses to leave the profession (1,#11). Another study in 2012 concluded that nurses were likely to attribute staffing insufficiencies as a major factor in job dissatisfaction, stress and burnout. The nursing shortage will ultimately effect patient loads, working conditions, and quality care for the patients in all nursing sectors. If propoer strategies are not developed, the increased stress associated with the shortage may lead to greater turnover in the profession, which only compounds the shortage issue. Strategies to Address the Nursing Shortage Addressing the General Nursing Shortage One way to entice new nurses in to the field has been to make the cost of education more affordable. On the federal level, the Nursing Education Loan Repayement program has been initiated and pays for 60% of a students loans in exchange for a two year commitment to a geographic area determined to have a critical shortage. Many hospitals have reimbursement programs for nurses looking to advance their education in exchange for a future working commitment. While this may entice more new nurses, economists warn that government and other subsidies may interfere with the free market, and may actually depress nursing wages. One possible solution to the free market interference is pay for performance programs. Rather than give subsidies to specific nursing students, pay for performance programs give subsidies to facilities that provide a high quality of care. Since quality care is intinsically tied to nursing performance, this would increase the economic value of nurses, thus improving wages , work environments, and retention (3). In addition to nursing faculty shortages, insufficient clinical sites play a huge role in limiting the student capacity of nursing schools. Increased coordination and strategic partnerships between universities and the private sector can help expand student enrollment. For instance, a joint venture between the Minnesota VA Health Care System and the University of Minnesota in 2013 has helped expand the schools BSN program. In this agreement, the VA committed $5.3 million dollars to expanding clinical placement sites within their facilities and funded additional faculty for the University. By teaming with the University of Minnesota, the VA received enhanced care for their patients. A better work environment can help attract new nurses and limit the amount of nurses who â€Å"burn-out† and leave the profession. Strategies to better the nursing work environment must focus on the emotional and physical stresses of the profession. Research has shown that limiting heavy lifting, decreasing walking, and providing easy access to equipment and information will keep nurses from leaving the profession (From #4 Goodin, 2003) Additionally, â€Å"increasing autonomy, re-allocating work in a more patient centered way, creating systems to recognize achievement in the areas of mentoring nurses, educating patients ans personal growth in practice, creating meaningful internal labor markets, and enhancing supervisor and administrative reports† (Morgan and Lynn, 2009). In order to combat further nursing turnover and burn-out, hospitals and nursing facilities must focus on nurturing an environment that provides these qualities. This is even more important when increas ed nursing turnover costs hospitals millions of dollars per year in recruiting and training new nurses. Further research in 2009 found that organizational constraints and high patient loads adversely affected job satisfaction. Supporters of mandated patient-nurse ratios believe that mandatory ratios will increase positive patient outcomes, increase job satisfaction, and ultimately combat the nursing shortage. Currently, thirteen states have staffing laws for hospitals, but only California has mandated minimum nurse-patient ratios. It should be noted that the American Nurses Association does not necessary support mandated patient-nurse ratios, but rather supports a legislation model which empowers the nurses to create staffing plans specific to each unit, giving the nurses autonomy to make staffing decisions that are best given the fluidity of hospital admissions (http://www.nursingworld.org/mainmenucategories/policy-advocacy/state/legislative-agenda-reports/state-staffingplansratios). Addressing the Nursing Faculty Shortage One major issue plaguing the nursing faculty shortage is the inability to recruit BSN prepared nurses in to the education realm, and has been noticed on both the state and federal level. In January of 2014, Wisonsin announced the â€Å"Nurses for Wisconsin Initiative†, which provided 3.2 million dollars in fellowships and loan forgiveness for nurses who agreed to pursue advanced degrees in nursing education and teach in the state after graduation (1). On the federal level, in December of 2013, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provided 45.4 million dollars in funding to provide low interest-loans for nurses pursuing nurse education degrees (Macdonald, 2013 see citation below). In order to attract more nursing educators, the pay discrepancy between the private sector and nursing educators must be addressed. References Budryk, Z. (2013). Is there another way to solve the nursing shortage?. Newton: Questex Media LLC. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1466237287?accountid=3588? Clark, R. C., Allison-Jones, L. (2011). Investing in Human Capital: An academic-service partnership to address the nursing shortage. Nursing Education Perspectives, 32(1), 18-21. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/89382362?accountid=3588? Dolan, Tamara B., RN, M.S.N., O.C.N. (2011). Has the nursing shortage come to an end? ONS Connect, 26(8), 8-12. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/885241529?accountid=3588? Fox, R. L., PhD., Abrahamson, Kathleen, PhD., R.N. (2009). A critical examination of the U.S. nursing shortage: Contributing factors, public policy implications. Nursing Forum, 44(4), 235-44. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/195019237?accountid=3588? Keeping nurses on the job: Retention is part of the answer to the nursing shortage. (2010). AANA Journal, 64(6), 8. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/747116085?accountid3588? MacDonald, I. (2013). The nursing shortage: Myth or reality?. Newton: Questex Media Group LLC. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1467698816?accountid=3588? McNamara, M. (2009). Combating the nursing shortage. American Nurse, 41(2), 14. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/205506517?accountid=3588? Miovski, Natalie, AIA, L.E.E.D.A.P. (2009). Healing the nursing shortage with staff-friendly design. Healthcare Design, 9(8), 66-69. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/195019237?accountid=3588? Schaeffer, R. (2013). The nursing shortage†¦.fact or fiction? Arizona Nurse, 66(2), 3. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1365796219?accountid=3588? Talbert, JeanAnne Johnson, APRN-BC, FNP, MSN, A.O.C.N., D.H.A. (2009). Distance education: One solution to the nursing shortage? Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, 13(3), 269-70. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/222754879?accountid=3588? References (cont.) Vioral, Anna N., MSN, M.Ed., R.N., (2011). Filling the gaps: Immersing student nurses in specialty nursing and professional associations. The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 42(9), 415-20. doi:10.3928/00220124-20110601-01 Wynn, Stephanie D, DNP, R.N.-B.C., P.M.H.N.P.-B.C. (2013). Addresing the nursing workforce shortage: Veterans as mental health nurses. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing Mental Health Services, 51(12), 3-4. doi:10.3928/02793695-20131029-05

How to Read a Roman Portrait :: Roman Portraiture

Roman portraiture is more realistic than previous idealistic Hellanistic styles. They better depict each subject’s individuality to a degree never seen before. The purpose of Roman portraiture is to address the audience and convey specific messages to them. Each Roman portrait is an imperial commemorative relief and are representations of each subject’s ideology in ruling. The Roman portraits allegorically communicate these ideologies through the veristic image of the ruler. The portrayals of their emotions are also pragmatic. The way the leader’s image is portrayed, (i.e. by the way they choose to wear their hair and beard), depicts how their leadership will be perceived. Augustus’s statue portrayed him as an individualistic faction leader and tended to be more idealistic. For example, although he did start ruling as a youth, at the age of 18, his face was, continually, throughout his life, shown with youthfulness and vibrancy. He also had an archetypal body type of a hero and is shown with the omission of his boots, a reference to the ideal heroic statue. Lastly, there is a dolphin riding Cupid at his ankle which reminded the viewer that he was of divine descent. However, there was a limit to which he could exalt himself. He could not promote his individual character and will above the Roman public which would call for distrust and resentment. On the contrary, other portraits tend to be more veristic in style, humbling the subject. Their portraits tend to call to attention their service to the state and faithfulness to the constitution of the republic as opposed to their individual greatness or divinity. This was shown through their crude images of wear and tear in their expressions. For example, in the portraiture of the unknown republican shows him balding and toothless, aged and wrinkled. His character reflects that of a grim and haggard state from the agonies and stress of a Roman civil war. Although each imperial relief may differ, there are organized central motifs which surround them. These themes include: â€Å"pietas in the scenes of sacrifice, clementia in the scenes of pardon, extended to supplicating barbarians, virtus in the scenes of military conquest, concordia in the scenes of address and counsel† –Nodelman, p19, which are the common criteria upon which a emperor is fit to rule.

A Midsummer Night?s Essay :: essays research papers

This play reaction is written about William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The play is a comedy and it was copyrighted in 1974, it was published by the Houghton Mifflin Company. In this particular book the play starts on page 222 and ends on 246.The opening of the play is the reader finds out the basic environment that they’re in and the Duke (Theseus) is proclaiming that he shall be wed to the Queen of the Amazons (Hippolyta) in five days. The reader also learns (in the exposition) about most of the characters that are in the play. The exciting force basically begins when Egeus brings his daughter (Hermia) to the Duke, but she is already in love with Lysander. Hermia’s father is completely aware, and against the entire relationship between the two and he demands that Hermia be judged by the Duke and he tells her that if she doesn’t marry Demetrius (her fathers choice for a husband) she will die unless she wants to live her entire life a virgin. This situation results in the decision for Hermia and Lysander to elope, in a distant wood outside of Athens.When the couple elopes the admirers (people who have crushes on Hermia and Lysander) follow them into the woods where the climax takes place. Puck is sent out to give one Athean man a love potion. When Puck is sent out to do so he gave the potion to a sleeping and unaware Lysander. When Lysander awakes he saw Helena (the admirer of the admirer of Hermia, Demetrius) and falls completely in love with her. Meanwhile Hermia is wondering what happened to her love.In the falling action Puck fixes what he has done wrong , and all the lovers are extremely confused.Then all the couples marry one another and all live happily ever after. The main characters in the play are Hermia, Lysander, Helena, and Demetrius. Hermia is the daughter of Egeus and the mutual lover of Lysander. She is a very beautiful,nice, and free spirited girl. Lysander is madly an love with Hermia but Egeus says that he is not fit to be her suitor because Egeus believes that Lysander is just interested in . . . "play". In all actuality Lysander is really in love with Hermia. Helena is madly in love with Demetrius and there is nothing anyone can do to dissuade her in her feelings.

Waiting Room :: English Literature Essays

Waiting Room Ring! Ring! Who could that be, wondered Henry as he glanced at the clock. It’s three a.m. â€Å"Hello.† â€Å"Henry, its Jake. Sandra was in an accident last night†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Is it serious?† Fear clutched Henrys heart. â€Å"Yes, but she will be O.K. She is unconscious right now. Listen, buddy, I need your help. I have to go on maneuvers in a few minutes and was wondering if you could call the hospital every once in a while. I would also like for someone to be there when she wakes up.† Henry eagerly bolted from the comfort of his bed. â€Å"I’ll get ready to leave right now.† â€Å"Henry, why don’t you go back to sleep and when you wake up in the morning, you can go visit. No need for you to go right now; she’s still asleep and will be for a couple of more hours. Thanks for doing this, buddy.† Not waiting for a response, Jake hangs up the phone. †Hey! Not a problem, she’s only your wife; no need to be worried or anything like that,† Henry sarcastically thought. Henry did not like Jake very much. The only reason he talked to him was because he was married to his ex-wife. He still loved her very much. Henry hated how he treated her. â€Å"Your typical military man--more concerned about himself than his family,† Henry thought to himself. He took a shower, got dressed and within thirty minutes, he was in the VA hospital. He was glad that the construction on the interstate did not slow him down to Long Beach, where the VA hospital is located. â€Å"Excuse me, could you please tell me what room is Mrs. Sandra Anderson, I mean Davis, is in?† Henry asked with some concern. â€Å"Yes sir, she’s in room fifty-seven, but you cannot see her until seven am. You may stay in the waiting room at the end of the hall if you wish.† Said the Nurse pointing to Henry’s right. â€Å"Thank you, ma’am,† Henry said. He walked to Sandra’s room and looked through the window. He saw Sandra lying asleep, with all sorts of hoses and contraptions attached to her. Sandra’s head was heavily bandaged; she had a cast on her left arm and leg and a long gash from her chin to her neck. â€Å"You’re so beautiful, my little Sandra,† Henry murmured softly to himself, as tears welled in his eyes.

Business Law: Exemption Clause

An exemption is a clause in a contract that exempts or removes liability from one or both parties in certain circumstances. Exemption clauses are used frequently in business organization contract. These clauses apportion risk between the parties concerned and the law upholds them, assuming the parties negotiated them while drafting the contract 2. The two ways in which exemption clauses can be incorporated in a contract are: (1) Incorporation by notice and (2) Incorporation by signature. 3.I would first ask X if he was notified of the hotel’s policy while, he was checking in. If He was informed of a policy to secure valuables at the front desk, then he was responsible for his losses and Y had no obligation to reimburse him for his losses. However, if he was not informed of Y’s policy on securing valuables while checking in then he was entitled to be reimburses by Y. He is entitled for reimbursement because the notice in the room did not form part of the contract between himself and Y.He became aware of this policy after the contract was made and therefore it cannot form part of the contract. Y is therefore responsible for replacing his valuables. 4. Tim went to Danto Auto Rental to rent a minivan for his family trip in Maxboro Estate. He was notify that the Danto Auto Rental is not responsible for any damages inflicted to any occupant of the minivan cause by mechanical problems or any vehicle accident. Tim signed the document exempting Danto Auto Rental from liability case by mechanical problems or any vehicle accident.For an exemption to be upheld there must be sufficient notice of the exemption or the exemption must be incorporated by signature. This means that the exemption must be in a contract signed by both parties or a party must be made aware of the exemption clause in reasonable time or at the time of the contract. In this case the contract was made when Tim sign the rental documents. 5. An exemption clause must satisfy both the common la w and statutory criteria. The courts in recent cases have, however, tended to concentrate on the statutory criteria. . Misrepresentation is: A statement of fact made by one party to contract (the representor) to the other (the representee) which, while not forming a term of the contract, is one of the reasons that induces the representee to enter into the contract. 7. In a misrepresentation case, for the courts to make its decision, it generally looks for the following two things in the representor’s statement: (1) Statement of fact and (2) Inducement. 8. In a case of Tim v Roy – T Company build concrete houses with plycemet backing instead of blocks.The marketing department of the company, market the houses as fully concrete. R purchase one of the houses from T Company at the cost you would pay for a fully concrete house. After living in the house for a month R found out that the house was not fully concrete. The plaintiff sued on grounds that he bought the house from the company because he thought the company was building fully concrete houses and he was deceived when they did not. In this case the information given by the Marketing department was of a fraudulent one therefore it was a fraudulent misrepresentation.When proving a fraudulent misrepresentation the plaintiff have to prove that the representor acted in a fraudulent manner or that they made the statement knowingly or without belief it was true or recklessly. All of the above was proven. Tanya’s Boutique v. Andrea Collins – In this case, Tanya gave wrong information concerning the originality and make of the dresses she sold in her boutique. This information was given based on facts that she got from the Dictoria Secret weekly which have a reputation from outstanding information on quality dresses. Andrea later found out that the dresses she bought was a knock-off and not an original.She returned the dresses and requested that her money be return. Tanya refused to return the money. In the case, the misrepresentation by Tanya could be classified, as innocent misrepresentation because she believed the dresses were original. Therefore, her burden had been discharge and her representation could be classified as innocent misrepresentation. 9. (a)(b)(c) Type of MisrepresentationRemedies Available 1FraudulentRescission & damages 2Negligent (common law)Damages only 3Negligent (representor must show reasonable grounds to believe in the truth of the statement)Rescission & damages 4InnocentRecession & Indemnity 0. 1. Indemnity – Compensation for wrong done, or trouble, expense or loss incurred. An undertaking usually by deed to indemnify another. An indemnity can only claimed for loss arising from the entering into the contract and not for any consequential loss, which can only be claimed as damages. 2. Damages – The pecuniary satisfaction awarded by a judge or jury in a civil action for the wrong suffered by the plaintiff. (Exemplary damages; n ominal damages) Damages can be assessed either on a reliance basis or on an expectation basis. 3.Rescission – Putting a contract to an end or voiding a contract usually caused by some type of misrepresentation. It is an equitable remedy and therefore discretionary. It can be loss because of reaffirmation, lapse of time; restitution is no longer possible and a third party has gained an interest. Rescission can be lost where the subject matter of the contract cannot be restored to the representor, and where a third party has gained an interest in the goods. 4. Onus – Burden of proof 5. Contra Proferentem rule – States that any doubt or ambiguity in the wording of a clause will be construed against the person seeking to rely on it.