Analysis: Hospital Nurse Staffing and Quality of Case Essay

Hospitals with low nurse staffing levels tend to have higher rates of poor patient outcomes such as pneumonia, shock, cardiac arrest, and urinary tract infections, according to research funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and others. Yet increasing staffing levels is not an easy task. Major factors contributing to lower staffing levels include the needs of today’s higher acuity patients for more care and a nationwide gap between the number of available positions and the number of registered nurses (RNs) qualified and willing to fill them. This is evident from an average vacancy rate of 13 percent. This report summarizes the findings of AHRQ-funded and other research on the relationship of nurse staffing levels to adverse patient outcomes. This valuable information can be used by decisionmakers to make more informed choices in terms of adjusting nurse staffing levels and increasing nurse recruitment while optimizing quality of care and improving nurse satisfaction. continue over the next two decades. A Federal Government study predicts that hospital nursing vacancies will reach 800,000, or 29 percent, by 2020.2 The number of nurses is expected to grow by only 6 percent by 2020, while demand for nursing care is expected to grow by 40 percent. The most recent research shows a jump of 100,000 RNs, or 9 percent, in the hospital RN workforce between 2001 and 2002 because of increased demand, higher pay, and a weakening economy. However, since almost all of the Making a Difference Lower levels of hospital nurse staffing are associated with more adverse outcomes†¦Page 3 Patients have higher acuity, yet the skill levels of the nursing staff have declined†¦Page 5 Higher acuity patients and added responsibilities increase nurse workload†¦Page 5 Avoidable adverse outcomes such as pneumonia can raise treatment costs by up to $28,000†¦Page 6 Hiring more RNs does not decrease profits†¦ Page 6 Higher levels of nurse staffing could have positive impact on both quality of care and nurse satisfaction†¦ Background Periods of high vacancy rates for RNs in hospitals have come and gone, but the current shortage is different. According to a 2002 report by the workforce commission of the American Hospital Association, the nursing shortage â€Å"reflects fundamental changes in population demographics, career expectations, work attitudes and worker dissatisfaction.†1 In fact, the present situation may well Author: Mark W. Stanton, M.A. Managing Editor: Margaret Rutherford Design and Production: Frances Eisel Suggested citation: Stanton MW, Rutherford MK. Hospital nurse staffing and quality of care. Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; 2004. Research in Action Issue 14. AHRQ Pub. No. 04-0029. increase came from RNs over age 50 who returned to the workforce and a greater influx of foreign-born RNs, this does not alter the structural features in the long term: the aging of the nurse population and the increasing unwillingness of young women to consider nursing as a profession.3 Today’s difficulties are further complicated by other changes in hospital care, such as new medical technologies and a declining average length of stay, that have led to increases in the amount of care required by patients while they are in the hospital. New medical technologies allow many less seriously ill patients who previously would have received inpatient surgical care to receive care in outpatient settings. Also, patients who in the past would have continued the early stages of their recovery in the hospital, today are discharged to skilled nursing facilities or to home. During the period 1980-2000, the average length of an inpatient hospital stay fell from 7.5 days to 4.9 days.4 An important consequence of these changes is that hospitals have a higher overall concentration of sick people who need more care. Various groups, including the American Hospital Association, the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, and the Institute of Medicine (IOM), have expressed their concerns about the evolving nursing crisis. The IOM issued a report in 1996 that recognized the importance of determining the appropriate nurse-patient ratios and distribution of skills for ensuring that patients receive quality health care.5 Its report highlighted the fact that research on the relationship between The nurse workforce and nurse staffing levels the level of staffing by nurses in hospitals and patients’ outcomes has been inconclusive. The IOM’s analysis of staffing and quality of care in hospitals concluded by calling for â€Å"a systematic effort †¦ at the national level to collect and analyze current and relevant data and develop a research and evaluation agenda so that informed policy development, implementation and evaluation are undertaken in a timely manner.† To begin to meet that need, AHRQ-funded research and other research have pursued a number of different paths. Hospital nurse staffing and nursing-sensitive outcomes Hospital nurse staffing is a matter of major concern because of the effects it can have on patient safety and quality of care. Nursing-sensitive outcomes are one indicator of quality of care and may be defined as â€Å"variable patient or family caregiver state, condition, or perception responsive to nursing intervention.†6 Some adverse patient outcomes potentially sensitive to nursing care are urinary tract infections (UTIs), pneumonia, shock, upper gastrointestinal bleeding, longer hospital stays, failure to rescue, and 30-day mortality.a Most research has focused on adverse rather than positive patient outcomes for the simple reason that adverse outcomes are much more likely to be documented in the medical record. a â€Å"Failure to rescue† is defined as the death of a patient with a lifethreatening complication for which early identification by nurses and medical and nursing interventions can influence the risk of death. The nurse workforce consists of licensed nurses—registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs)—and nurses’ aides (NAs). Both RNs and LPNs are licensed by the State in which they are employed. RNs assess patient needs, develop patient care plans, and administer medications and treatments; LPNs carry out specified nursing duties under the direction of RNs. Nurses’ aides typically carry out nonspecialized duties and personal care activities. RNs, LPNs, and nurses’ aides all provide direct patient care. RNs have obtained their education through three different routes: 3-year diploma programs, 2-year associate degree programs, and 4year baccalaureate degree programs. Almost a third of all RNs have a baccalaureate degree, and 7.6 percent of hospital nurses have advanced practice credentials (either a master’s or doctoral degree). LPNs receive 12-18-month training programs that emphasize technical nursing tasks. Nurses’ aides are not licensed but many acquire certified nurse aide or nursing assistant (CNA) status after proving they have certain skills related to the requirements of particular positions. Nurse staffing is measured in one of two basic ways: †¢ Nursing hours per patient per day. †¢ The nurse to patient ratio. â€Å"Nursing hours† may refer to RNs only; to RNs and LPNs; or to RNs, LPNs, and nurses’ aides. 2 www.ahrq.gov A broad array of research on this topic has found an association between lower nurse staffing levels and higher rates of some adverse patient outcomes. A new evidence report entitled The Effect of Health Care Working Conditions on Patient Safety, produced by an AHRQfunded Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC), reviewed 26 studies on the relationship between nurse staffing levels and measures of patient safety.b Most of the studies examined nurse staffing levels and adverse occurrences in the hospital setting, including in-hospital deaths and nonfatal adverse outcomes such as nosocomial infections, pressure ulcers, or falls. The EPC’s researchers found that lower nurse-topatient ratios were associated with higher rates of nonfatal adverse outcomes.7 This was true at both the hospital level and the nursing unit level. With regard to in-hospital deaths, however, the evidence does not consistently show that lower nurse staffing levels are associated with higher mortality. The largest of these studies on nurse staffing (jointly funded by AHRQ, the Health Resources and Services Administration, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and the National Institute of Nursing Research) examined the records of 5 million medical patients and 1.1 million surgical patients who had been treated at 799 hospitals during 1993.6,8 Among the study’s principal findings: †¢ In hospitals with high RN staffing, medical patients had lower rates of five adverse patient outcomes (UTIs, pneumonia, shock, upper gastrointestinal bleeding, and longer hospital stay) than patients in hospitals with low RN staffing. c †¢ Major surgery patients in hospitals with high RN staffing had lower rates of two patient outcomes (UTIs and failure to rescue). †¢ Higher rates of RN staffing were associated with a 3- to 12-percent reduction in adverse outcomes, depending on the outcome. †¢ Higher staffing at all levels of nursing was associated with a 2- to 25-percent reduction in adverse outcomes, depending on the outcome. Table 1 illustrates some of the major findings. For example, the researchers found that medical patients in hospitals with high RN staffing were 4-12 percent less likely to develop UTIs than medical patients in the comparison group. Lower staffing levels are linked to higher adverse outcome rates The EPC report included five studies funded by AHRQ that examined the relationship between adverse patient outcomes and hospital nurse staffing. All five studies found at least some association between lower nurse staffing levels and one or more types of adverse patient outcomes. How often do such adverse â€Å"nursing-sensitive† patient outcomes occur in hospital care? Different studies report varying adverse event rates, which vary by the type of patient (medical or surgical) as well as other factors. For example, UTIs occur in from 1.9 percent to 6.3 percent of surgical patients and pneumonia in 1.2 percent to 2.6 percent of surgical patients.8-10 b Table 1. Percent reduction in rates of outcomes among medical patients in hospitals with high nurse staffing (75th percentile) compared to the rates in hospitals with low nurse staffing (25th percentile) Amount by which rates are lower for: In order to improve the quality and delivery of health care services, AHRQ has sponsored a series of evidence reports that are based on rigorous, comprehensive reviews of relevant scientific literature. These reports are developed and written by outside research and academic organizations designated as Evidence-based Practice Centers (EPCs). The reports’ emphasis is on explicit and detailed documentation of methods, rationale, and assumptions. The goal of these reports is to provide the scientific foundation that public and private organizations can use to develop their own clinical practice guidelines, quality measures, review criteria, and other tools to improve the quality and delivery of health care services study measured RN staffing as hours per day and as the RN proportion of nursing hours. Hospitals with higher hours of RN staffing (75th percentile) had an average of 9.1 hours of inpatient RN nursing per patient day, while those with lower RN staffing (25th percentile) had an average 6.4 hours of inpatient RN nursing per patient day. Hospitals with a higher proportion of RN staffing (75th percentile) had an average of 75 percent of inpatient nursing hours provided by RNs, while those with lower RN staffing (25th percentile) had an average of 62 percent of nursing hours provided by RNs. Outcome in medical patients Urinary tract infection Upper gastrointestinal bleeding Hospital-acquired pneumonia Shock or cardiac arrest High RN staffing 4-12% 5-7% 6-8% 6-10% High staffing, all levels (RNs, LPNs, aides) 4-25% 3-17% 6-17% 7-13% c This Note: Difference is expressed as a range of values (e.g., 4-12 percent) because several statistical models were used in evaluating the relationship between nurse staffing levels and each adverse event. Source: Needleman J, Buerhaus P, Mattke S, et al. Nurse-staffing levels and patient outcomes in hospitals. Final report for Health Resources and Services Administration. Contract No. 230-99-0021. 2001. Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA. www.ahrq.gov 3 Medical patients in hospitals with high levels of total nurse staffing (RNs, LPNs, and aides) were 4-25 percent less likely to develop UTIs than patients in the comparison group. A similar analysis was performed for the smaller group of surgical patients (Table 2). Surgical patients in hospitals with high RN staffing had a 5-6 percent lower rate of UTIs and a 4-6 percent lower rate of failure to rescue than surgical patients in the comparison group.d Pneumonia rates are especially sensitive to staffing levels Three AHRQ-funded studies found a significant correlation between lower nurse staffing levels and higher rates of pneumonia. †¢ The first study found that adding half an hour of RN staffing per patient day could reduce pneumonia in surgical patients by over 4 percent.12 This study covered 589 hospitals in 10 States during 1993. †¢ A second study by the same researchers also found that fewer RN hours per patient day were significantly correlated with a higher incidence of pneumonia.13 The study examined administrative data on post-surgical patients in 11 States during 1990-96. †¢ A study of nurse staffing levels and adverse outcomes in California found that an increase of 1 hour worked by RNs per patient day was associated with an 8.9-percent decrease in the odds of a surgical patient’s contracting pneumonia. 8 †¢ This study also found that a 10-percent increase in RN proportion was associated with a 9.5-percent decrease in the odds of pneumonia. The researchers in the California study believe that the strong relationship between RN staffing and pneumonia can be attributed to the heavy responsibility RNs have for respiratory care in surgical patients. This study examined the effects of nurse staffing on adverse outcomes in 232 acute care hospitals from 1996 to 1999.f Unlike many earlier studies, the California study included only adverse outcomes that were not present at admission.7 Table 2. Percent reduction in rates of outcomes among surgical patients in hospitals with high nurse staffing (75th percentile) compared to the rates in hospitals with low nurse staffing (25th percentile) Amount by which rates re lower for: High staffing, all levels (RNs, LPNs, aides) 3-14% 2-12% 19% Outcome in surgical patients Urinary tract infection Failure to rescue Hospital-acquired pneumonia High RN staffing 5-6% 4-6% 11% Note: Difference is expressed as a range of values (e.g., 2-12 percent) because several statistical models were used in evaluating the relationship between nurse staffing levels and each adverse event. Source: Needleman J, Buerhaus P, Mattke S, et al. Nurse-staffing levels and patient outcomes in hospitals. Final report for Health Resources and Services Administration. Contract No. 230-99-0021. 2001. Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA. A second study, funded jointly by AHRQ and the National Science Foundation, examined licensed nurse staffing (RNs and LPNs) and adverse outcomes among both medical and surgical patients in Pennsylvania acute-care hospitals.11 It found a lower incidence of nearly all adverse outcomes it studied in hospitals with more licensed nurses. For example, a 10-percent increase in the number of licensed nurses is estimated to decrease lung collapse by 1.5 percent, pressure ulcers by 2 percent, falls by 3 percent, and UTIs by less than 1 percent. Also, with a 10-percent higher proportion of licensed nurses, there was a 2-percent lower incidence of pressure ulcers.e,11 d Surgical patients overall had lower rates of adverse outcomes than medical patients, perhaps because they are healthier. Also, the smaller number of surgical patients in the study may have made it more difficult to detect associations. Nurse staffing was measured in two ways: (1) the ratio of licensed nurses (RNs + LPNs) to the patient load (with and without adjustments for patient acuity) and (2) the proportion of licensed nurses to the total nursing staff (RNs, LPNs, NAs). The adverse outcomes selected for study were â€Å"either caused by or not prevented by medical management† based on criteria used by the Harvard Medical Practice Study. Nurse staffing was measured in three ways: all hours (the total number of productive hours worked by all nursing personnel per patient day), RN hours (the total number of productive hours worked by registered nurses per patient day), and RN proportion (RN hours divided by all hours).

Explore the ways in which Willy Russell makes use of language differences in act 2 scene 2

Willy Russell wrote the play in 1982 and was one of the best he wrote because of the fact that he emphasizes the differences between the rich and poor. Willy Russell was born in Whiston, near Liverpool, in 1947. He left school at the age of 15 where he worked as a hairdresser until he was 20 years old, where he then returned to school to complete his education. Their he began to write his first play called Blind Scouse, which was taken to the Edinburgh festival and noticed by a representative of the Everyman Theatre. They then went on to produce the world premieres of many of his plays, most of which transferred successfully to the west end. Throughout this play dramatic irony is used, this is where the audience knows something one or more of the caracters on stage don't know. Willy Russell uses this to emphasize the differences between the classes more. Stage directions are very important for somebody who has not seen the play and is just reading the play, this is because they help you create mental picture of whats going on in the play. The play repeatedly shows cultural differences though the way the boys speak throughout the play. An example of this is when Edward says â€Å"your a fuck off† showing his misunderstanding in the use of swear words, this contrasts to hen Micky says â€Å"take a flying fuck at a dounut† which shows his understanding and exposure to swear words as he has grown up. Another contrast in the boys language is when Micky says â€Å"It's a thingy, init† referring to a dictionary which shows lack of education because he doesn't know what a dictionary is. Where as when Edward says â€Å"Fantastic, I will look that up in the dictionary when i get home†, Edwards understanding of what a dictionary is and how it is used shows his intelligence and class. The audience would think that Edward is very intellectual in contrast to Mickey. One thing that the audience would be taken a back by would e the part in the play when Linda first sees Edward and says he's â€Å"handsome† even though Mickey and Edward are identical twins! This is because Edward has a overall better appearance than Mickey because he comes from a big house, has smart clothes and is clean which contrasts with Mikeys trodden down clothes and dirty appearance. I think Willy Russell is trying to say that people who come from a richer culture have a better chance at most things in life as is shown in this example. Another theme which repeatedly crops up during the play is the superstition and is shown in the beginning of the play where Mrs. Johnstone says â€Å"You never put new shoes on the table† which prompts Mrs. Lyons to ask â€Å"So, your superstitious? † to which Mrs. Johnstone replies â€Å"No I'm not, you just don't put new shoes on the table. † This shows an lack of understanding in the lower class because Mrs. Johnstone didn't even understand what superstition was. The audience would see how Willy Russell shows the difference between upper and lower class citizens. Adults are used thoughout the play to represent the boys, make the play more humorous and also because of the fact that some people might be offended if they see young boys swearing on stage.

Methods of Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Methods of Analysis - Essay Example The purpose of this paper is to describe and analyze these three financial analysis techniques. Vertical analysis is utilized to analyze financial statements. Vertical analysis is a method that involves comparing each entry for each of the three major categories of account (assets, liabilities, and equity) in a balance sheet represented as a proportion of the total account (Answers, 2011). One of the advantages of this method is that is simple to implement and it can be applied to corporation of all sizes. The method helps financial analyst easily visualize relative annual changes within one business (Investopedia, 2011). Horizontal or trend analysis compares two or more years of financial data. Horizontal analysis shows the changes between years in both dollar and percentage form. Showing the trend in dollar form can help an analyst focus on the key factors that have affected profitability or financial position (Garrison & Noreen, 2003). The use of percentage form can help provide p erspective in regards to the significance of the changes that occurred. For example a change of 30% in sales between one year and another is significant, while a change of 0.25% in sales is insignificant. When dealing with companies that move millions of dollars in revenues the use of percentage form can better measure the relative change that occurred. A financial technique that can be very useful to evaluate the financial performance of a company is ratio analysis. The reason ratio analysis is such an effective tool is because ratio analysis can measure different aspects of a firm’s performance. There are different categories of ratios. The five major ratio analysis categories are liquidity, leverage, efficiency, and profitability, and market value ratios. Liquidity ratios measure the cash position of a firm. When a company is liquid the firm has enough money to pay off its short term and long term obligation. The current ratio measures the ability of a firm to pay its shor t term debts, while the debt ratio measures the ability of a company to pay off its long term obligations. The current ratio is calculated dividing current assets by current liabilities. The debt ratio is calculated dividing total assets by total liabilities. Three profitability ratios are net margin, return on assets (ROA) and return on equity (ROE). Net margin is the ratio that best measures the profitability of a company. It is calculated dividing net income by total sales. Another important profitability ratio is gross margin percentage. This ratio is calculated dividing gross margin by sales. The return on assets ratio measures how well a company is using its assets to generate revenues. Return on assets is calculated dividing net income by total assets. The return on equity metric measures how much revenues were generated in relation to its equity. The metric is calculated dividing net income by total equity. Two efficiency ratios are account receivable turnover and inventory turnover. The inventory turnover ratio measures how many times a company’s inventory has been sold and replaced during a year. The metric is calculated dividing cost of goods sold by average inventory balance. The account receivable turnover is a measure of how many times a company’s account receivable

Boston Tea Party Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Boston Tea Party - Research Paper Example This one single act is still quite clear in the minds of many Americans and is continuously taught in the educational institutes. This single event was regarded as the Boston Tea Party and is recognized as one of the main events that finally led to American Revolution that took place during the period of 1775 (Ayers, 2009). The event of Boston Tea Party can be said to be one of the responses to the war that took place during 1754 to 1763 and the war occurred between the French and the Indians. Several wars had taken place between the nation of France and England, but the war between the French and the Indians was the most expensive of all (Allison, 2007). The English government was of the idea that since they were at war to safeguard the colonists of America from their Native as well as Canadian French friends, the colonists should reimburse the expenses. They even believed that more money will be spent in order to protect the Western frontier and they planned to pay all these expenses by heavily taxing the colonists. But the colonists believed that it was a waste to pay for all these expenses. Since the English government wanted the natives to pay for the cost of protecting the frontier and to relieve themselves from the national debt, they passed several acts and levied several taxes on the colonists during the era of 1760s (Volvo, 2012). These acts included the Stamp Act that was passed during 1765 and as a result of this act taxes were levied on any form of paper that was used by the natives (Volvo, 2012). These taxes were never accepted by the colonists and to stop the government from obtaining these taxes, they started threatening those who collected taxes and even held various protests with huge amount of people. These protests and acts to make the British government stop taxing the colonists were quite well organized and constant pursuit provided them fruitful results as the English government had to back away. Due to

Human resources Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Human resources - Case Study Example The wage rates of the people marked on an industry-average basis are evaluated in terms of piece-rate system relating more to the Production workers where pieces produced by each individual are noted. Basic Workers are also rendered yearly bonuses that also depend on their merit or performance rates. The compensation program of Lincoln Electric can be enhanced through introduction of non-financial benefits like Training and Job Recognition programs and yearly Compensation Cost attributed likewise is furnished to employees (The Lincoln Electric Company, n.d., p. 569-570). Compensation package of Southwest Airlines is however found to comprise of a basic pay which is below the industry average. Additions are rendered to Basic Wages in the form of Profit and Stock Sharing endeavors where employees are rendered a part of the company’s yearly profits along with encouraging them to purchase shares of the concern. The people procure shares through allocation of profits or through a d eduction in their pays. Other performance recognition and reward programs are also generated financial or non-financial in nature to enhance the Total Compensation Package. ... 586-587). Benefits and Services The Benefits and Services rendered should be properly planned and executed by the organization to match the demands and aspirations of the employees through the process of employee surveys. Innovation must be rendered to as to the type and range of benefits and enhancement would be rendered through comparison based on industry standards. In the process of surveys and decision-making ventures related to benefit planning both the employees and the union bodies must be taken into consideration. Finally having decided on the benefits based on the cost structure it must be adequately communicated to the beneficiaries to help them optimize and gain on present and future opportunities (Sims, 2007, p.484-485). Range of benefits and services rendered to the staffs in Lincoln Electric contain both financial and non-financial categories. In financial category benefits related to medical insurance and retirement financing schemes are on the cards. Non-financial be nefits consist of meals obtained from the office cafeteria at concessional or discounted rates. Again the employees receive insurance for disability or accidental reasons from the Employee Association body. The company also renders right to older employees to procure stocks of the company wherein they gain on dividends same like the external shareholders. However the executives of the company are devoid of other perks like parking facilities and reserved washrooms and eating zones (The Lincoln Electric Company, n.d., p. 571-572). Southwest Airlines is also found to render a host of benefits to the employees both financial and non-financial in nature. The financial benefits that consist of a range of insurance benefits related to medical, life, disability, mental needs and

Humanities Ethics Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 2

Humanities Ethics - Coursework Example Application of this understanding is equally to restate that human sexuality is to exhibit divine purpose that justifies why it is immoral to engage in sexual activities without the slightest intention and obligation to deliver the finality of the act. In other words, sexual activities are only mandated to be used for purposes of procreation. This one and the only end desire as evinced by the moral discourses. It is explained that only people in marriage that have the absolute authority of giving birth to offspring. Reproduction is essential in human life for the extensions of lineage (White 264). The family owns the moral objective ensuring that human beings multiply to fill the world as stated in the bible. The declaration does not however provide adequate information on giving birth to offspring outside the wedlock, but rather offers a poignant illustration on the danger of having children outside binding relationships that are sanctioned and approved by the society. For instance, if premarital sex can be used to raise offspring then there is a huge possibility that the family as a unit and a value will crumble (White 263). There will be immoral binding between such couples hence families will disappear and no one would take care of children. Sexual activities must therefore be for purposes of achieving the moral finality bestowed upon such an act, and this finality is procreation or reproduction. Other sexual engagements like homosexuality, pre-marital sex, masturbation are immoral since they do not possess any bit of the sexual moral teleology. They are meant simply for entertainment and recreation hence not justified by a moral discourse. There is no form explanation that can support sexual engagements outside marriage since they are not only valid for such important engagements b9ut most of them lack the ability to do so. It is immoral and unjustified by any available moral discourse. They do not meet the expectation of sexual activities as important and divine act given by the most high. 2. Explain the two sides of the debate regarding homosexual marriage and traditional heterosexual marriage, citing arguments both for and against. Which side appears to carry the weightiest arguments? Why? In a balance of acts, the society has undergone extremely severe changes. Many issues have not only cropped up, but they have delivered with them â€Å"moral justifications† for the respective acts. A huge proliferation of sexual acts has made the society succumb to a state of confusion. Many people are engaging in sexual activities such as homosexuality and masturbations. Homosexuality has gone to an extent of being integrated and accepted as a normal sexual act, hence people engaging in such kind of sexual activities should not be demonized or punished. In one way, this reasoning may be right because all human beings have the natural rights and freedom. They also have the constitutional right of liberty hence things that they do in thei r private lives should not be used against them as long as such acts do not affect others or those around them (White 274). On the other hand, these acts beat the logics of sexual morality. They do not see sexual engagements as unique phenomenon that is only entitled to provide the medium of reproduction or procreation. They defy the holiness that the religious moral emphasize in many occasions. Most of the religious mor

Survey Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 4

Survey - Essay Example A recommendation is therefore given that strategies should immediately employed to price match products in the online market. The internet market has grown considerably in the past couple of years. Statistics show that the number of online shoppers reached an all time high of about 178.5 million people in 2011. Recently, there have been proposals to the company to reconsider its online trading policies to boost its sales volume. Presently, the company does prices match its products online and neither does it offer their competitor’s online prices. Therefore, a research was carried out to determine whether the proposed strategy of price matching online products would be profitable to the company. The method of research used was questionnaire that was conducted online for a period of about a quarter of the fiscal year. Online shoppers from the United States (14 years and older) that visited the company’s websites were randomly selected to participate in the questionnaire. First, a pilot study was conducted on the online shoppers. This involved open-ended questions that placed no limit on the customer’s response. Questions in this study were general in nature like, what is their overall attitude to Wal-Mart customer relations policy. Later, a close-ended questionnaire was used to provide a better reflection of the public view. A maximum choice of five answers to each question was given. The questions were generally categorized into 4 sections each covering a unique field. The survey was voluntary and anonymous and no personal data was collected. There was an approximate response rate of 88% to the questionnaire from both prospective buyers and those who actually made online purchases. A complete breakdown of the responses is shows that the majority of respondents were in favor of the company providing price matching information. About 80% of the respondents indicated that they would buy more products if

Consideration Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Consideration - Case Study Example The discussion of this case study aims to provide the course of action for Nigella in regard to the legal position of this case. This case study presents the contractual matter between the Nigella and Ramsay. There was a valid agreement between the two parties, and consideration for Nigella to Ramsay was the teaching services she promised to offer to him. On the other hand, Ramsay’s promise to pay for the services constituted consideration of Ramsay to Nigella. When parties are in agreement they all have to discharge the obligations they owe each other until the end of the agreement. This implies that Ramsay was entitled to receive services from Nigella until the end of the agreement. However, this appears to carry periodic payments and the imposition of new prices by Nigella to Ramsay resulted to new conditions and that was tantamount to forming a fresh agreement. This implies that Ramsay was bound by the agreement since he agreed to pay even though he would refuse to pay if the examination was near. It is immaterial for Ramsay to decline to pay the additional charges for the services already offered. In Central London Property Trust v High Trees House [1947] KB 130 High Court, the High Trees had rented property from Central London Property (CLP) at a cost of  £2,500 in 1937. However, during the world war the landlord was unable to let out all the houses and decided to reduce their value in order to attract new occupants. This compelled the defendant to lower the price of the houses by half in 1940 because there was no sign that the situation prevailing at that time was going to improve in the foreseeable future. By the start of 1941, the claimant started paying the reduced rental charges. However, when the war came to a halt the demand for houses increased hence the landlord reverted to the original rental charges. The case was presented to court, and

Is the French ban on headscarves (al-hijab) in schools a good idea Research Paper

Is the French ban on headscarves (al-hijab) in schools a good idea - Research Paper Example During the period of 2004, the government of France passed a legislation that disallowed individuals from wearing and using any religious symbol in public schools (Hrw.org 1)1. This move made by the French government has been opposed as well as supported by Muslim and non-Muslim populations France. Around 80% of the people living in France have the ban on hijab (Coleman 1)2. Banning of Hijab is a good idea because The ban on headscarf levied by the government of France is correct because such legislation is consistent with the laws and regulations of human rights. The article 18 of human rights law states that individuals should only be allowed to freely practice their religion if their practice does not coerce or leads to public’s feeling of insecurity (Minorityrights.org 1)3. Recently, Muslims have been majorly held responsible for conducting acts of terrorism and due to this the public has started feeling insecure due to the presence of Muslims around them. Individuals even experience fear and mental torture when they see a Muslim female wearing a headscarf in the public. This fear of hijab is recognized as Islamophobia and islamophobia is infringing upon the rights of the student population of France to freely move around without the fear of being attacked (Crg.berkeley.edu 1)4. Since headscarf infringes upon other’s right of living a life without fear, headscarf’s ar e against the rules and regulations of human rights and should be continued to be banned in French schools. Another reason due to which France was correct in banning hijab in public schools was to protect the female Muslim student population from being coerced and discriminated against. Since the terrorist attacks of 9/11 Muslims have been heavily discriminated against throughout the world. They are discriminated in organizations, schools as well as in public. They have been beaten up and pushed around in different settings.