Leadership Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 1

Leadership - Essay Example Overview of leadership context Leaders of today are important people in the decision-making process in order for an organization to function the fastest speed possible and compete effectively with its peers (Morrison, 2000). The quality of a leader can make or break an organization hence people should be very careful when searching for leaders in their organization (Carpenter, 2007). Kelly (2013) argues that top performing leaders are very creative and innovative and can be 13 times more likely to outperform their competitors in a fair competition. This is because they are very innovative and are more likely to devise ways and produce quality goods and services than their counterparts hence achieve satisfying financial indicators. Organizations that portray poor leadership quality always lag behind from their competitors leading to losses and lack of development. According to Eriksen (2009), leadership quality does not just affect the bottom line; it affects the employee retention an d engagement thus resulting to more competitiveness of a business. He further adds that organizations with higher quality leadership are likely to retain employees than their competition due to high understanding and respect they accord their workers. This is profitable for the business since there is a link between engagement and the retention of employees in the overall performance of the business. Passionate leadership are those who full energy to their works thus proactively makes value hence act with a sense of leadership required to move the organization forward (Masculli, 2011). A passionate leader is a very important person to the organization since they can easily inspire good work and performance from his followers. Quality of leadership and passion in leadership goes hand in hand and thus cannot be easily avoided separated in the context of a business (Story, 2004). Given the gravity and role that leaders play in these highly competitive environments, the leaders who can fully meet the needs of the organization are hard to find. The Human Resource professionals are the one who has expressed highest concern for the quality of leadership in their organizations they has a direct impact in their operations (Leslie et al, 2002). The majority of the HR professionals interviewed showed lack of confidence with their leaders with a mere 25% showing confidence and trust in the ability of their leaders. This means that majority of the organizations are missing a great opportunity in having a potent kind of leadership they require to propel them forward. Organizations experience various types of leadership in different capacities and the higher the level of leadership the more expectation required from him in terms of accountability and development qualities. On the global scope and in respect to HR professionals, leadership quality is rated highest in North America and lowest in Europe and Asia (Leslie et al, 2002). The recession of 2008/9 exposed most organiz ations and the quality of leadership they had due to the nature of their reactions in combating the effects of the global credit crunch as many of them were guilty of losing focus on talents. The fear of losing talents is making most of the organizations to fear losing employees for the future development of the organizations (Carter and Greer, 2013). Quality of leade

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee Essay -- To Kill a Mockingbird Essa

It’s interesting to see the ways different authors depict how a character matures. In Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mocking Bird we can easily see how she chose to do it. The novel is set in Alabama in the 1930’s, while black vs. white racism was a big issue and problem for many. Atticus is the father of Scout and Jem, young children who witness the discrimination first hand when their father, a white man, defends a black man in court. Lee does a great job developing the characters; especially the narrator, Jean Louise Finch (Scout). Scout’s thoughts, conversations, and actions, illustrate that she’s emotionally maturing from the innocent child that she was. Through Scout’s thoughts, it’s obvious that she is growing up. Readers can see this early in the novel in chapter six. Jem and Scout weren’t as close as they used to be mostly because Jem was maturing suddenly and fast. He and Dill started leaving Scout out because she was too â€Å"girly†. Scout doesn’t like this at first when she says, â€Å"It was then I suppose that Jem and I first began to part company. Sometimes I did not understand him, but my periods of bewilderment were short-lived† (61). The fact that she accepts this, something not many young girls would do, shows that she too is maturing a bit. Thoughts that show Scout is maturing also come near the end of the novel. Although Atticus would always tell her to stand in other’s shoes and see things from their point of view, it never really came through to her. Not until she stands on Boo Radley’s porch after he saves her and Jem from Bob Ewell. She states, â€Å"A tticus was right. One time he said you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them. Just standing on the Radley porch was enough† (297). Standing on the porch lets Scout finally see things from Boo Radley’s point of view. Earlier in the novel, she was terrified every time she passed the house. Now as she stands on his porch, the way that she sees things has changed. The reader must realize that Scout herself has changed as well. As well as thoughts, the conversations and interactions between Scout and other characters show how she is mentally and emotionally aging. Near the end is where it’s more obvious that Scout has matured. After the Finch’s are safe from Bob Ewell, they go back to the house with the s... ... after all this behavior: "I ran along, wondering what had come over her. She had wanted to make up with me, that was it. She had always been too hard on me, she had at last seen the error of her fractious ways, she was sorry and too stubborn to say so." (29). This proves that Scout always thought that Calpurnia never liked her and that she didn't care about her, and that she deserves and accepts Cal's apology which is not what she would’ve done earlier in the beginning of the novel. Through Scout’s relationships, choices and actions, as well as the way she narrated the novel allows the readers to really see what kind of character Scout is and how she matured greatly. It’s surprising that we see it starting as early as page 29, and Lee does a wonderful job weaving it in through the story. When the novel is finished, it’s amazing how readers could glance right over the fact that Scout had matured, however they really have to look at how the author of any book, Harper Lee in this case, analyzes the characters through speech, thoughts, and actions. By the end of the novel Scout had grown up immensely, a very important step in everyone’s life.

Pleasures of Reading Essay

Some people get pleasure from picnics and tours. Others like to discuss various topics and find pleasure in it. But the reading of books provides us with such pleasure as we do not get from any other activity. Great is the blessing of books. Books are written by learned persons. They contain the best experiences and thoughts of their writers. Literature is said to mirror society. Writers put in their books not only their own ideas and feelings, but also what they observe and find in society. The books of the past reflect the condition of the times in which they were written. By reading books written by great thinkers, we come in contact with their minds. Books enable us to know the best of different countries. So, if we want to keep abreast of the great minds of all ages, we must read books. When we are alone, books are our best friends. They entertain us in our spare moments. Good novels, books on poetry and short stories, give great enjoyment. At times we become so absorbed in our books that we forget even our important engagements. Loneliness is no trouble for a reader. If we are in a cheerful mood, our joy is increased by reading. When we are in a depressed and dejected mood, books console and soothe our troubled minds. They provide us with the best advice and guidance in our difficulties. Indeed, books are out best friends as they help us in our need. Books contain grains of wisdom. They give us sound moral advice. That is why all great men of our country have liked to read the Gita and the Ramayan. The example of Rama and Sita is cited, whenever we want to emphasize noble deeds and their results. We call a bad man by the name of Ravan. It is through the reading of books that we learn to love virtue and hate sin. The reading of good books develops and elevates our character. Now-a-days the world is changing fast. A man cannot remain in roach with the changes in his own country, or in the world, without reading the latest literature. One who wants to be respected in cultured society must keep himself well-informed. Good magazines, newspapers and other books provide us with valuable upto-date information. It gives us great pleasure to feel that our knowledge is upto-date. We get great satisfaction when we feel ourselves to be well-informed and capable of moving in any educated society. Reading of good books is the key to the store-house of pleasure. It was the English author Bacon who said that reading makes a full man. No one can question the truth of this saying. But we cannot derive full advantage from reading, if our choice is not good. Some books are such that instead of doing any good, they do positive harm to the readers. Such books must be avoided. Cheap books, not in cost but in contents, should not be read, even if they provide some amusement and entertainment. It is the reading of good books alone which bestows upon us the maximum benefit. The advantages of reading – the pleasures of reading novels; they carry us into a different world and enlarge our experience; suspense and our tendency to identify ourselves with the hero – other kinds of books are also delightful. The advantages of reading are well known. Reading enables us to pass examinations and get jobs, and enhances our general ability and competence in any field of life. But the pleasures of reading are as important as its uses. In fact, books cannot be really useful unless they are first enjoyed. There can be few more delightful ways of spending a holiday than reading a good novel. One source of pleasure afforded by novels is that they make us escape for a time from the drab, humdrum circumstances of our lives. Romantic novels, of course, transport us into an exciting world poles apart from our own. But even realistic novels bring us into contact with experiences different from our own. Our personal experience in real life is limited and much of it is commonplace. Reading fiction is delightful, partly because it indirectly provides us with several experiences for which we have no opportunities in actual life. Another source of the pleasure of reading novels is suspense. A novel with a good plot makes us eager to know, from beginning to end, what is to happen next. It is because of this quality of suspense in some novels that we are unwilling to lay them aside till we have read them to the end. Again, as everybody knows, another reason why reading novels is pleasant is that we tend to identify ourselves with the hero or the central character, and experience his joys and sorrows for the time being. This mainly accounts for our pleasure in reading biographies. While fiction is usually considered to be a delightful form of reading, other kinds of writing too impart pleasure. Apart from plays which resemble fiction, books of travel and light essays are enjoyable. Poetry appeals to our feelings and sense of beauty. Reading even serious or heavy books – books on science or philosophy – is not without its joy for those who are interested in the subjects concerned. All knowledge is pleasure, and reading a book on the dullest or the most unpleasant subjects can be pleasurable, provided one is intensely interested in it.

When to Use a Singular or Plural Verb in Spanish

Spanish has several situations in which it may not be obvious whether a singular or plural verb should be used. These are some of the most common such cases. Collective Nouns Collective nouns — ostensibly singular nouns that refer to a group of individual entities — can be used with either a singular or plural verb for reasons that arent always clear. If the collective noun is immediately followed by a verb, a singular verb is used: La muchedumbre piensa que mis discursos no son suficientemente interesantes. (The crowd thinks my speeches arent sufficiently interesting.) But when the collective noun is followed by de, it can be used with either a singular or plural verb. Both of these sentences are acceptable, although some language purists may prefer one construction over another: La mitad de habitantes de nuestra ciudad tiene por lo menos un pariente con un problema de beber. La mitad de habitantes de nuestra ciudad tienen por lo menos un pariente con un problema de beber. (Half of residents of our city have at least one relative with a drinking problem.)   Ninguno By itself, ninguno (none) takes a singular verb: Ninguno funciona bien. (None function well.) Ninguno era fumador, pero cinco fueron hipertensos. (None were smokers, but five were hypertensive.) When followed by de and a plural noun, ninguno can take either a singular or a plural verb: Ninguno de nosotros son libres si uno de nosotros es encadenado. Ninguno de nosotros es libre si uno de nosotros es encadenado. (None of us are free if one of us is in chains.) Although some grammarians may prefer the singular form or make a distinction in the meanings of the two sentences, in practice there doesnt appear to be any appreciable difference (just as the translation of none of us is free in the translation might have been used with little if any difference in meaning). Nada and Nadie Nada and nadie, when used as subject pronouns, take singular verbs: Nadie puede alegrarse de la muerte de un ser humano. (Nobody can rejoice in the death of a human being.) Nada es lo que parece. (Nothing is what it seems.) Ni and Ni The correlative conjunctions ni ... ni (neither ... nor) is used with a plural verb even if both of the subjects are singular. This is different from the corresponding English usage. Ni tà º ni yo fuimos el primero. (Neither you nor I was the first.) Ni el oso ni ningà ºn otro animal podà ­an dormir. (Neither the bear nor any other animal could sleep.) Ni à ©l ni ella estaban en casa ayer. (Neither he nor she was at home yesterday.) Singular Nouns Joined by O  (Or) When two singular nouns are joined by O, you usually can use a singular or plural verb. Thus both of these sentences are grammatically acceptable: Si una ciudad tiene un là ­der, à ©l o ella son conocidos como ejecutivo municipal. Si una cidudad tiene un là ­der, à ©l o ella es conocido como alcalde. (If a city has a leader, he or she is known as the mayor.) However, the singular verb is required if by or you mean only one possibility and not both: Pablo o Miguel serà ¡ el ganador. (Pablo or Miguel will be the winner.)

The Battle Of The Civil War - 1840 Words

The American civil war was fought from April 1861 through to May 1865 to determine the existence of the Union or freedom for the Confederacy. January 1861, 7 of the southern slave states declared their withdrawal from the U.S and began to form their own allied states of America. The South from then on produced and included in total 11 states, however, the north did not declare secession and stayed â€Å"loyal† to the US. Who really was to blame for the 1861 American civil war? It’s hard to find a clear conclusion as to why, whom or what was to blame for the outbreak of the civil war. Historian J.R Randall believes that the cause of the American Civil War was caused by the â€Å"Blundering generation of politicians†, the â€Å"blundering generation† was†¦show more content†¦Moreover, as well as the economic and slavery division between the Southern and Northern states, there was also the division between the radical politicians. When Abraham Lincoln stood up at Fort Sumter, there is much agreement that Lincoln can be blamed for making the first initial decision on imposing the American Civil War. The ideological viewpoint and historian John Spicer both agree that the main reason that caused the American Civil war was in fact Slavery. Back in 1619 the first ever African slaves were brought to the North of America (Virgina) to help with the important production of cotton, sugar and tobacco. However, the following year in 1860, with more than 60% of the electorate not voting for, Abraham Lincoln was elected as president. Lincoln’s anti-slavery became well established in the North; â€Å"Republican politicians quite consciously seized on the slavery and sectional issue in order to build a new party† (Holt, F.M, 1978) this quite clearly highlights that the republicans pushed for slavery, however, Lincoln did not in fact want slavery abolished completely. Lincoln agreed that slaves were allowed in the states that already had slaves, yet, he was to abolish slavery in states that had not yet emerged. Lincoln did not want slavery to expand but to only keep slaves where s lavery was already established. In 1861, 1 year after Lincoln was elected, 6 more

I’m Proud to be Lefthanded Essay - 596 Words

One in 10 people reading this is left-handed. There are nearly 34 million of us living in the United States, and about 500 million in the world. Throughout history, though, lefties have been looked down upon. nbsp; Centuries ago, the Catholic Church declared that left-handed people were servants of the devil. The word left comes from the Old English word meaning weak and worthless. In the 1600s in Europe, lefties were burned at the stake for alleged witchcraft and sorcery. nbsp; Just a generation ago, American parents tried to change their childrens left-handedness, even going to the extreme of tying their childs left hand behind his back to keep him from using it. Teachers also forced their students to use†¦show more content†¦nbsp; Famous leftie artists include Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Pablo Picasso and Lewis Caroll. nbsp; And, although they have trouble with a backward guitar, many musicians are also among us: Beethoven, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Jimi Hendrix, Paul Simon, Kurt Cobain and Billy Corgan. nbsp; Southpaw athletes, mainly baseball stars, include Babe Ruth, Barry Bonds, Reggie Jackson, Ken Griffey Jr. and Larry Bird. (Sportswriter Charles Seymour invented the term southpaw when he noticed that lefty pitchers throw from the south side of the mound.) nbsp; Furthermore, geniuses and icons like Albert Einstein, Aristotle, Isaac Newton, Joan of Arc, Ben Franklin, Mark Twain, Julius Caesar, Napoleon and Henry Ford were lefties. Of 42 American presidents, seven have been lefties. nbsp; But, some of the superstitions may be true, since lefties also include Billy the Kid, the Boston Strangler and Jack the Ripper. nbsp; Studies have shown that a child with two right-handed parents has only a 2 percent chance of being left-handed. A child with one right-handed parent and one lefty has a 17 percent chance, and with two lefties for parents, the child has a 42 percent chance of being a lefty. Also, men are three times as likely to be lefties as women. One more fun fact: left-handedness is twice as common among twins as single births. nbsp; As only 10 percent of the population,

Reflective Practice Free Essays

string(67) " interview with minimal interruption while I listened attentively\." In this essay, I will reflect upon my practice placements and discuss my development in relation to professional/ethical practice, care delivery, care management and personal/professional development. These are the four domains related to the learning outcomes required by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC, 2004)) for entry in to the professional register. They are all concerned with promoting high standards of professional practice and good quality of patient’s care. We will write a custom essay sample on Reflective Practice or any similar topic only for you Order Now I will also reflect upon the Enquiry Based Learning (EBL) activities and discuss how these have contributed to my development in practice.I have changed all the names used in this essay for confidential reasons (NMC, 2004). Nurses and other health care professionals are faced with challenging and unique situations in practice, by reflecting on these experiences it allows learning to take place and gain flexible ways in which to respond to these situations (Burns and Bulman, 2000). According to Whitehead and Mason (2003, reflection is the process of examining personal thoughts and actions while focusing on your-self interaction as an individual with colleagues and the environment to obtain a clearer picture of their own behaviour.They further describe it as a process within which a practitioner can think about and achieve a better knowledge of their practice. It is therefore a learning tool which provides a basis for changing practice through a systematic procedure that is logically constructed. Two different forms of reflection exist, reflection-on-action and reflection-in-action. Reflection-on-action means re-running and analysing events which have occurred in the past while reflection-in-action entai ls examining individual behaviour and that of others in situations which offer learning opportunities (Maslin-Prothero, 1997).Therefore, by writing and keeping a reflective journal, nurses can identify personal and professional growth to recognize their achievements (Ghaye and Lillyman, 2001). EVIDENCE Professional/ethical practice Ethics is a code of principles governing correct behaviour and in the nursing profession; it includes behaviour towards clients, their families, visitors and colleagues (Fergusson et al, 1998). The professional and ethical obligations for nurses are set out in the new â€Å"code of professional conduct: standards for conduct, performance and ethics† (NMC, 2004).NMC is the body that sets out regulations for registered Nurses and Midwives. The main purpose for these regulations is to inform the profession of the standard of conduct required of them, in terms of their professional accountability and practice (NMC, 2004). It is also to inform the public, other professions and employers, of the standard of conduct expected of a registered Nurse/Midwife (NMC, 2004). To achieve its aims and objectives, the NMC maintains a register of qualified Nurses and Midwives; sets out standard of Nursing and Midwifery education, practice and conduct.It als o provides advice on a professional standard to Nurses/Midwives and considers allegation of misconducts or unfitness to practice due to ill health. If a Nurse or Midwife acts against the code of conduct, he/she may have his/her names removed from the register (NMC, 2004). Care delivery Delivering care to various client groups across different care settings must be orientated towards practice which is responsive to their needs (Hinchcliff et al, 2003). It is reflected through the ability to assess needs, diagnose and plan, implement and evaluate care and empower clients and their carers to participate actively.Care management This is the capacity to accept responsibilities for the efficient and effective management of care provided within a safe environment (Hinhcliff et al, 2003). It involves being accountable in taking responsibilities to delegate aspects of care to other team members and to effectively facilitate/supervise their work. Both the nursing and other wider multidisciplinary team members should be involved in risk management which is the process of identifying risks that have adverse effects on the quality, safety a nd effectiveness of care delivered.They should also posses the ability to assess, evaluate and take positive actions to eliminate/reduce those risks (Hinchliff et al 2003). I will follow Gibbs (1988) reflective cycle, which is an Iterative Model based upon the idea that awareness, increased knowledge and skilfulness arise from the clockwise ‘movements around the reflective cycle’ (Ghaye and Lillyman, 2001). Gibb’s (1988) reflective model is a cyclical process with six stopping points from description of what happened, feelings of the individuals involved, valuation of the situation, analysis or making sense of what happened, conclusion to action plan and then back to description if needs be (Gibbs, 1988; Ghaye and Lillyman, 2001). I have maintained and developed a reflective journal during my clinical placement. The journal comprised of documented reflective accounts based on my own personal experiences which I have either learned from, feel I could have done better in, or times which I personally feel I have acted effectively in and improved on.To meet the requirement of this essay, the four areas of professional/ethical practice, care delivery, care management and personal/professional development will be discussed in a reflective format and the learning experiences will be displayed using the example below. REFLECTION ON LEARNING FROM PRACTICE EXPERIENCE. Description During my clinical placement, I joined Maureen, an Approved Social Worker (ASW) on a home visit to carry out an assessment of Jane, a 48year-old mother of four. Jane was referred to the community mental health team (CMHT) for social needs’ assessment by her Consultant Psychiatrist who had known her for over 2 years. She was receiving treatment for Agoraphobia (a morbid/abnormal fear of open/public places) and depression. I telephoned Jane to remind her of our visit before setting off. On arrival, Jane answered the door and we introduced ourselves before she allowed us in. She was very tearful with increased respiratory rates and pale in colour. She appeared very restless pacing all over the room and had difficulties in speaking at first.Maureen tried to find out what the problem was and she said; â€Å"I have got to do this†¦ I have been lying about it all, I never told anyone the truth†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦I was brought up by a lady who taught me to say nothing to no one. I cannot take it any more, you have got to help me†¦ you have got to get me out of here†¦.. † Maureen led the interview with minimal interruption while I listened attentively. You read "Reflective Practice" in category "Papers" Jane expressed her self and we found out that she had been using crack cocaine, cannabis and diazepam (approximately 24-30 tablets a week) for a very long time.Jane said that ‘all hell broke loose and her body and mind fell apart’ when she completely stopped using all the substances 3 days before our visit. Jane developed both physical and psychological symptoms of increased anxiety, panic attacks, insomnia, nightmares, fears of going mad, tight chest and breathless feeling, â€Å"flu-like† symptoms, nausea, diarrhoea, distorted vision, dizziness, shaking and ringing in the ears. She had no suicidal feelings or aggression but she described creeping sensation on her skin and increased sensitivity to light, sound and touch. She lived with her boy-friend who also used and supplied the substances. None of her four children lived at home but two of her sons were said to be frequently in trouble with the police. She continuously begged to be taken out of her flat to get help. She was prescribed Venlafaxine 75mg three times a day which she was not using as she was taking other substances. Maureen attempted to contact Jane’s general practitioner (GP) but the surgery was closed. She also phoned the Home Treatment Team to ask for their services but this was not successful as Jane did not meet the criteria.Eventually, I suggested that we could take Jane to Accident and Emergency (AE) department where she would be checked up by the medical team as well as Liaison psychiatric services. However, Maureen contacted the duty psychiatrist who advised her to change Jane’s prescription of Venlafaxine to 75mg once a day. I told Maureen that according to my training, it was against the guidelines for administration of medicine to give/take prescription over the phone and that in case of any error or adverse reaction; we would be personally accountable regardless of the doctor’s advice (NMC, 2004).Considering Jane’s physical condition, we explained to her the need to attend AE department. She expressed her fear of being judged by other people in the department but following our reassurance, she agreed. We accompanied Jane to the department where she was assessed by both teams. She was commenced on Zoplicone medication and allowed to go home the following morning. We made a follow up visit the following afternoon and Jane had marked improvement in her physical symptoms. Maureen asked if I was able to organise a GP’s appointment for Jane and make a referral to the Community drug team which I did.Jane was started on a gradual reduction dose of diazepam to limit the severity of withdrawal symptoms and her care was then transferred to the Community Drug Team who offered her immediate appointment. Feelings On reflection of the situation, I felt that we acted in the best interests of Jane, to promote and safeguard her well-being. I felt puzzled and speechless at the beginning as Jane had no known record of substance misuse on her file. She was very restless and tearful as she struggled to speak.She appeared very distressed and was breathing very fast. Maureen remained very calm while she encouraged Jane to express her feelings. It felt easier for me to remain silent and listen to Jane attentively as I had very limited knowledge of her difficulties. I also felt that the advice given to Maureen by the duty psychiatrist on phone to change the prescription of Venlafaxine was contrary to the NMC (2004) guides for administration of medicine. Any alteration/cancellation of a patient’s medication must be signed for by the prescribing doctor.Evaluation Section (1. 4) of the NMC code of professional conduct requires nurses to have a duty of care to their patients and clients, who are entitled to receive safe and competent care (NMC, 2004; DOH, 1999). On reflection, our decision to take Jane to AE was beneficial as she needed a careful check to exclude any physical conditions which represent a contraindication to the usual benzodiazepine regime. These include liver disease (cirrhosis) and chronic airway diseases which may develop into respiratory failure. Daily use of even therapeutic doses of benzodiazepines (such as diazepam) for longer than 4 weeks has been reported to result in physical dependence (Clayton and Stock, 2004). Jane reported to have been using diazepam including other substances like cocaine and cannabis for several years. Withdrawal syndrome occurred after she suddenly stopped the regular use. Healthcare professionals including qualified nurses, students and managers should be proactive to ensure that risk and quality management is their priority (DOH, 1999).This means that, we should be able to identify actual and potential risks to clients, their carers, others and ourselves to promote and maintain health and safety at all times (NMC, 2004). Jane was at risk of developing withdrawal seizure or fit as a result of â€Å"cold turkey†. Stopping all at once overwhelmed Jane with severe withdrawal symptoms and as the pain and distress was unbearable; Jane would have started taking diazepam again, which can result in a sense of failure, or a fear of going through withdrawal again. Analysis Jane was very brave to seek help after so many failed attempts in the past.She thought that the information she had given us would be used to put her and her boyfriend in trouble. It is acknowledged that to trust another person with private and personal information about your-self is a significant matter. However according to the NMC (2004), if the person to whom the information is given to is a nurse, midwife, or a specialist community public health nurse, the patient or client has a right to believe that this information, given in confidence, will only be used for the purposes for which it was given and not be released to others without his/her permission.In contrast, I explained to Jane that the information she gave us would only be used for the purpose of her treatment and would not be released to others without her permission (NMC, 2004). As part of the shared values for all health care professionals caring for patients and clients in the United Kingdom, all nurses mus t: â€Å"respect the patient or client as an individual obtain consent before giving any treatment or care,†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ to maintain confidentiality of patient’s record†¦ co-operate with others in the team, †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦act to identify and minimise risk to patients and clients† (NMC, 2004).This requires nurses to work co-operatively within teams and to respect the skills, expertise and contributions of their colleagues. My suggestion that Jane should be taken to AE was valued by Maureen and this increased my confidence in inter-professional practice. Conclusion Risk factors in any situation, habit, environment or physiological conditions such as those experienced by Jane, increase the vulnerability of an individual to other illnesses. If Jane’s habit of substance use was uncovered earlier during assessment, she would have received some help before stopping the diazepam use abruptly.Rather, a gradual reduction of the dose would have been carried out to limit the severity of the withdrawal (Clayton and Stock, 2004). Action plan In future if I come across a similar situation, I would probably make the same decision to refer the patient to hospital where he/she would be clinically assessed by qualified professionals and an appropriate plan of care drawn. To maximise compliance, it is important that the rate of dose reduction is negotiated with the patient. The patient will need to see a speciali st at least once a week for supervision of the withdrawal. This provides them with an opportunity to monitor the dose to the severity of any symptoms. Most of the patients will require observation as their withdrawal symptoms do not follow a linear reduction but tend to exhibit occasional peaks. I will also remember that where an aspect of care is beyond my competency, I will seek supervision to ensure safe and effective practice. I will try to work according to the guidelines laid down for any procedure. PROFESSIONAL/PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT, According to the NMC (2004), one must identify his/her own professional development needs though reflection.Since starting the Diploma in nursing, the key areas I feel I have developed greatly in include self awareness, assertiveness and communication. Communication is an important aspect of nursing, effective communication is central to providing sensitive and individualised care. Patient centred care involves respect for and responsiveness to patient preferences, needs and values. Achieving patient centred care requires complete and effective communication between healthcare workers and patients (Riley, 2000). When I first begun my nurse training, I was a quiet person who did not communicate much with others.I found it difficult to mix with people I did not know and I was quite happy to sit on the side lines and allow everyone else to do the talking for me. However I feel that the lectures and experiences I have had through out the course of my training regarding communication were extremely helpful. This allowed me to see how I could improve within myself and strengthen my communication skills and the important non-verbal communication. By reflecting on these lectures and paying more attention to how I portrayed myself, I discovered that I rarely made eye contact when speaking to people I did not know and I frequently stood with my arms folded. According to Riley (2000) we disclose ourselves in many ways, through what we say and do. This includes facial expressions, gestures and other forms on non-verbal communication. Non-verbal communication does not involve words and is used unconsciously as we interact with other people (Riley, 2000). I learnt that my posture and standing with my arms folded could actually portray lack of interested in the other people (including clients) and to others; I may come across as hostile.Riley (2000) believes that if a non verbal message contradicts a friendly verbal one most people will believe the non verbal message. Eye contact is a powerful non verbal cue used as a method of regulating the flow of conversations for example, looking at someone normally means we would like to start a conversation with them (Riley, 2000). I have realised that by not making eye contact with new people, I was probably halting any chances I could have had to acquaint my-self with them. However, I am now more aware and conscious of my non verbal cues.I rarely stand with my arms folded and when speaking to people, I maintain eye-contact with them whether I know them or not. Riley (2000) argues that many of the unconscious judgements we make in regards to other people are based on the amount and type of eye-contact we make. In other words, communication is essential to our development as social beings. The ability to relate and communicate with others enables the development of either short or long-term relationships (Miller, 2002). ENQUIRY BASED LEARNING (EBL):Through the use of enquiry based I have developed the following Intellectual skills; Demonstrate a commitment to continuing professional development and lifelong learning through the development of skills in relation to self directed and independent study; use problem solving skills and decision making strategies to support sound clinical judgement, use skills of reflection, evaluation and critical thinking to support the delivery of care to people with mental health and their families / carers.I use scenarios to develop an understanding of practice theory links and inter-professional learning, which I can apply in my professional role in the future and the wider context of Health and Social care. I used a variety of learning methods such as lectures, student led seminars, small group work, skills based practice sessions, self directed studies including internet resources and through practice to promote the ethos of lifelong learning and take the responsibility for my own learning (Glenn and Wilkie, 2000).Summary The reflective learning has allowed me to enhance my personal learning, which has improved the way I will care for my patients in future and it has improved my confidence and ability to critically think and act while being self aware of the situation. More importantly, however, it reminded me to be more aware of patients’ right to make a personal, informed choice about their nursing care and treatment. I know that failure to obtain informed choice and consent is a serious breach of conduct. NMC (2004: clause 1. ) In conclusion therefore, through reflective practice, I have heightened my awareness and increased my understanding of the true essence and value of nursing. It has also contributed to my professional development by helping me to recognise, understand and value my abilities, strengths, achievement and experiences. It also created opportunities for me to identify areas for improvement and self-development. Reflective practice therefore, should involve thinking consciously and systematically about professional actions and experiences in order to learn from and maintain/improve high standard of practice (Hinchliff et al, 2003). How to cite Reflective Practice, Essays