Personal Ethics Statement Essay

My personal ethics statement includes my values and ideas important to me as an academic and in everyday life. My ethics are personal and define who I am as a person. The decisions and choices I make every day should be consistent with integrity and respect toward others. These ethics will ensure any happiness and peace as I hold these values. I believe everyone should be equal. Treating people with respect while holding myself accountable will ensure I treat people as I want to be treated. My preferred ethical len is the unrealistic role either on me or by other means that I need to pay close attention to my expectations of others. My expectations may not be the same as others. I must keep in mind that I can’t control ever situation. And that other people are capable of resolving problems. Trusting other people’s choices and decisions will help overcome this blind spot. My strength include courage in the face of obstacles. I can avoid fast decisions and at the same tim e face anything difficult. I value friendship and keep close connection with people I trust. I appreciate those who work along by my side and help to encourage me. My weakness include entitlement, hardness of heart and confusion. Believing that I am entitled to special prividges and persuade others. Hardness of heart come from expriece of people. I must practice mindfulness not to be confused. Identifying my weakness is important it allows for improvement. My value define me and my behavior or who I am. My behavior also affect others in relationships either casual or professional. The choices I make and behavior reflect me. My personal ethics determine my course of actions allowing me to see clear. Exploring and digging deep into my own emotions will allow me to my decision I make. Keeping an open and honest heart in all situations and reexamining my ethics will allow for improvement and corrections. I believe these things will help me keep focus and make better decisions and improve my life.

Psychological Disorders and Treatment

Tatiana Saunders PS124: Psychological Disorders and Treatment Prof: Marjorie Vandemark Kaplan University Everyone has a personality with character traits, but when these traits are rigid and self-defeating, they may interfere with functioning and even lead to psychiatric symptoms. A psychological disorder is describe as any disturbance of emotional equilibrium, as manifested in maladaptive behavior and impaired functioning, caused by genetic, physical, chemical, biological, psychological, or social and cultural factors.Schizophrenia is a disease that strikes people in their prime. It does not matter who you are, you can be diagnosis with schizophrenia. Many people all over the world are affected by bipolar disorders. There are two phases of bipolar manic and depressive. There are many new types of treatments used, such as drug therapy and psychological therapy. Schizophrenia is a serious brain illness that causes changes in how you think, feel, and behave. While treating Sophia Smith since she was 12 years old for schizophrenia.Sophia has presented symptoms such as misbehaving in school and at home due to mother and father divorce when she was reaching the age of 13 years, Sophia was the only child and didn’t really get along with the other children at her school. Sophia has been struggling in school because at times she feels and behaves in the wrong way and she is afraid that her classmates are going to look at her differently because she has a psychological disorder and is currently taking medications to help her behave properly in the classroom.Sophia received therapy every week for six months so that she can feel comfortable talking about what makes her lash out and have trouble behaving in the proper way as well as the way she thinks before she lashes out. While reaching out to Sophia I also reached out to her parents and even though they were separated I introduced the different treatments options that would benefit Sophia in therapy.Cognitive the rapy and behavioral therapy was applied to Sophia’s treatment approach in order to addresses her dysfunctional emotions, maladaptive behaviors and cognitive processes and contents through a number of goal-oriented, explicit systematic procedures. There were long time goals set up for Sophia while attending school to engage in activities to help her nteract with the different people in her school, Sophia has also set up long term goals at home to be more productive and be more open to having two homes one with her mother and one with her farther, She will also have therapy sessions with both her mother and farther in order to understand that the divorce was not her mistake, as well as knowing she always can talk to her parents no matter what she is going through they should be the first step in showing her problems.As a professional my obligation is to continue going through therapy with Sophia and making sure she stays on the right path in while dealing with her disorder and always let her know that she can become anyone she wants, she won’t be judged because of her mental disorder. Sophia has made tremendous progress and is not currently taking any medications just receiving therapy once a week and also getting positive feedback from her parents and classmates. More than two million Americans suffer from some form of bipolar disorder, a persistent, severe, sometimes lethal, and lifelong illness (Campbell, 2003).Vanessa Sawyer, like many victims of this illness, struggled for fifteen years before climbing out of the deep dark pit. Primary care physicians play a critical role in recognizing, diagnosing, and treating this disorder. Many symptoms of bipolar disorder go either unrecognized or victims and families are in a state of denial. The majority of patients with bipolar disorder will experience significant symptoms before the age of twenty-five years the disorder is complicated by co-occurring alcohol or substance abuse.While treating my client Bobby Lopez for about three months he has shown little signs of improvement, He started out with another therapist and was reassigned to me for a further study. Bobby stated that he started feeling down and didn’t really want to come out his house at times he would push his wife of three years away just because his mood was unstable, Bobby recently had a child who just turned 3 months he has had no interaction with playing or taking care of his child due to his mood.Before Bobby came to see a therapist he was drinking very heavily and would drink for sunrise to sundown to bypass the time and to make himself feel better. As we have been working on his drinking in order to help him to improve his mood disorder. The main goals of humanistic therapy in Bobby case is to find out how he will perceive himself here and now and how he can recognize growth, self-direction and responsibilities. This method is optimistic and attempts to help individuals recognize their strengths by offe ring a non-judgmental, understanding experience.Bobby since his treatment has become a better father to his wife and his child, he has also gained a job and his mood is gotten a lot better. I also still her Bobby once a week for therapy at times he brings his wife for family therapy. My professional obligation in the case of Bobby is to make sure he continue on the right path and receiving therapy as well as getting more involved with the world and a better relationship[ with his wife and also to build his self-esteem.In conclusion with as many problems as there are in today’s society, psychological disorders are very common. Since any behavior that is considered abnormal and disturbing can be described as a psychological disorder, there are various types of disorders. Along with these disorders are different techniques used by therapists to diagnose and treat the disorders. http://www. behavenet. com/personality-disorder http://www. counselling-directory. org. uk/humanistic. html

“A” for Alienation Essay

Alienation is a common theme in all writing; however, in The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, never has alienation been so vividly accounted. The Scarlet Letter is a story about Hester Prynne, a woman who commits adultery against her husband named Roger Chillingworth, with the local reverend named Arthur Dimmesdale; the result is a strange child named Pearl. The plot thickens as the mistress and the reverend strive to keep their sin a secret, and as Chillingworth appears back in town hiding his true identity; it climaxes on a scaffold where all secrets are revealed. Alienation is a heavy theme throughout the book, and it adds an incredible twist to see it’s affect on the characters. Alienation is portrayed through symbols, behavior, and drama with Hester, Pearl and Dimmesdale. Each character is associated with an important symbol that sets them apart from society. They also each deal with their alienation in different ways with different behaviors, and they are treated d ifferently by society causing drama. In the end, some can deal being outcasts from society, but some cannot. Hester, the main character of the book, is most evidently alienated from society for her sin. The most important symbol in the book, the embroidered â€Å"A† on her bosom, sewed on as punishment for adultery, is also a symbol for alienation. She is different from all of society because of that mark, and can never live a normal life because of it. â€Å"†¦Let her cover the mark as she will, the pang of it will be always in her heart,† (38), said a townsperson at first sight of the scarlet letter. As seen in this quote, society will always look at the scarlet letter as a wall between themselves and Hester. Hester’s behavior shows how greatly she is affected by her alienation. â€Å"Lonely as was Hester’s situation and without a friend on earth who dared to she herself, she, however, incurred no risk of want,† (57); in this quote one sees how being alienated from society can cause a person to become an introvert and become a lifeless body as Hester had become. There is a lot of drama surrounding Hester; all of society looks at Hester in shame. This complete shun from society drives Hester to live in an isolated cottage away from people. â€Å"In this little, lonesome dwelling†¦Hester established herself with her infant child,† (57). This particular dramatic  event alienated Hester geographically as well as socially. Hester’s alienation also causes others to become alienated like her daughter and the one she has an affair with; however, Hester is most sharply alienated from all. Hester’s daughter, Pearl, is also alienated from society. Her alienation has different circumstances, however, because she was born an alien, she did nothing wrong. Since she is the product of sin, many consider her a â€Å"demon child† with supernatural powers. For this reason, she herself is a symbol of her alienation; â€Å"It [Pearl] was the scarlet letter in another form; the scarlet letter endowed with life!† (70). She is compared to Hester’s symbol of alienation, but she is a breathing, living form of the same symbol. She alienated herself and her mother from society. She is not your normal child, she acts very different; â€Å"She [Hester] could recognize her [Pearl] wild, desperate, defiant, mood, the flightiness of her temper, and even some of the very cloud-shapes of gloom and despondency that had brooded in her heart,† (63). In this description of Pearl’s behavior, we see a child that does not fit in your normal Puritan mold; she is a child filled of energy, character, and mischief. She finds a way to live a happy life regardless of being an outcast from society. Because of Pearl’s behavior and her mother’s sin, lots of drama occurs around the possession of the child; â€Å"Women it is thy bandage of shame! †¦It is because of the stain which that letter indicates, that we would transfer thy child to other hands,† (76). Here, Governor Bellingham is trying to take Pearl from her mother to give her a â€Å"normal† life in attempt to raise the child into your average, molded Puritan. Pearl is a free willed little girl who circumstantially is outcasted by society. Arthur Dimmesdale, the local reverend, is Pearls father; however, this is a secret kept from society and is revealed in the final scene. Dimmesdale’s secret guilt alienates him internally from everyone around him. His hidden sin is eating him alive while he continues to put a mask on and preach to society as if nothing is wrong. This hidden secret is symbolized in the book as an unknown marking on his chest over his heart. â€Å"With a convulsive motion he tore away the ministerial band from before his breast. It was revealed!†Ã‚  (172); here, Dimmesdale reveals the markings on his chest to all of society and reveals his secret. This marking, weather it be a scarlet letter or not, is what symbolizes his alienation. It is an internal alienation from the outside world, and is not known by society until this moment. His behavior prior to this event should signs of a deep illness, not curable by any medicine. â€Å"His nerve seemed absolutely destroyed. His moral force was abused into more than childish weakness,† (109). Dimmesdale is weak in spirit and in health due to his extreme guilt alienating him from society. His behavior reflects his health which is in jeopardy due to his secret. This extreme pressure causes dramatic events to occur before the final climax. â€Å"Walking in the shadow of a dream, as it were, and perhaps actually under the influence of a species of somnambulism,† (101). The author here describes Dimmesdale’s journey to the scaffold one night; this night he can take the guilt no longer. It describes him to be in another world controlled by his guilt. He is alienated from all when he is in this frame of mind, and this can be seen through dramatic events such as this. Dimmesdale’s secret sin has caused his character to change considerably while ali enating him for the rest of the town. The three â€Å"aliens† in this story have different types of alienation, and are under different circumstance too; nevertheless, the simple fact remains, they are alienated from their surroundings. Each character deals with their alienation a different way, and this is evident at the end of the story. Dimmesdale cannot take his inner guilt any longer and dies, Pearl fights through her problems to live a normal life, and Hester lives forever in her sin on her own. Through symbols, each character’s behavior, and the drama occurring in their lives, alienation can be depicted with each character; however, the outcome of their alienation is governed only by the inner qualities of the character that the author has created. This reoccurring theme in literature has never taken a similar twist of outcomes, and it has brought interest, excitement, and meaning to the story.

Social-Cognitive Perspective Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Social-Cognitive Perspective - Essay Example It emphasizes the role of biology and gene transmission across generations to explain current behaviors. Social Learning Perspective: Stresses the importance of unique experiences in family, school, community, etc. According to this viewpoint, we learn behaviors through observing and mimicking the behavior of people around us. Social-Cognitive Perspective: demonstrates an information processing model of social behavior, where we notice, interpret, and judge the behavior of others. New experiences may either be assimilated (using already held beliefs to interpret the event), or accommodated (which involves changing existing beliefs in response to the event.) By understanding the processing of information, we can better understand how patterns of thoughts impact behavior. One of the most important features of the social constructionist perspective is that much attention is given to the influence of the specific dialogues on the possible meanings. For example, to do justice to the self-understanding of the believing community, we cannot avoid the language of revelation. For practical theological discourse about revelation, this means that we have to consider the various dialogues in which different sets of criteria function. We encounter other branches of theology and engage in conversations with the social science and also connect with the church and the society in the process. A second important aspect of a social constructionist perspective is the emphasis on the performative dimension of language. Instead of asking what revelation is, what content is revealed, and how we can evaluate competing claims to revelation, a social constructionist practical theology will delve into what it means when someone invokes the language of revelation. This is not to be confused with relativism. The psychodynamic perspective originated from Sigmund Freud's psychoanalysis and lays emphasis on the unconscious components such as conflicts and instinctual energies. "psychodynamics" is a general term which incorporates all the components but keeps the unconscious as a primary element. The reason why scientifically oriented psychologists dismiss this perspective is its emphasis on the unconscious which can neither be observed nor measured. A language-centered perspective toward the social-rhetorical construction of knowledge can be constructed by juxtaposing Kenneth Burke's philosophy of language with Thomas S. Kuhn's philosophy of science. Kuhn's Structure of Scientific Revolutions has "had a wider academic influence than any other single book of the last twenty years" (Gutting v). In particular, Kuhn is honored as "father of current social constructionist thought" in a variety of disciplines (Bruffee 779). Therefore, a cross-fertilization of these two important thinkers' viewpoints should be a fruitful endeavor. Recently, J.E. McGuire and Trevor Melia have argued against opinions regarding "rampant rhetoricism" in rhetoric of science scholarship ("Rhetoric"). They argue that while the form and validation processes of science display rhetorical qualities, the "content" of scientific discourse ( which scientific language is about) is ontologically different from that of other forms of discourse, and, hence, in an important sense, science qua science is non-rhetorical ("Some" 97). Those who describe rhetoric as epistemic emphasize that language "embodies and generates knowledge" that is relative to specific

Discuss the History and Philosophy oh how the First Immortal Cell Line Term Paper

Discuss the History and Philosophy oh how the First Immortal Cell Line was Created from Cervical Cancel Cell - Term Paper Example Henrietta’s cells were the first ever immortal human cells which later proved to be essential in the development of polio vaccinations. They went up in the first ever spaceship sent out of the earth’s atmosphere to determine what happened when human tissue was exposed to zero gravity. Her cells live on, and since 1951 her cells have been used for in vitro fertilization, gene mapping and cloning. Henrietta’s cells, when first put in a petri dish produced a new generation every twenty four hours. HeLa cells, as Lacks cells have come to be known were initially a part of the research into the genes that are cancer causing and the ones that can suppress it. They have so far been used in development drugs for the treatment of leukemia, herpes, hemophilia, influenza and Parkinson’s disease. They have also provided the basis to study and learn more about sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s), lactose digestion, the bacteria that causes appendicitis, human l ongevity, mosquito mating, along with the negative cellular effects of working in sewers. Scientists have studied her cells for her DNA and chromosomes in such detail that they are now familiar with every niche and corner of the spiral that keeps replicating to keep the cells alive.(Skloot, R. 2010 )A high school biology teacher quoted that HeLa’s cell were the most important thing to happen to medical science in the past century. The interesting facts about Henrietta Lacks cells are not widely known but it was discovered that her chromosomes were incompatible with humans. Does this mean that the cells belong to a whole different species? Also, how do HeLa cells replicate and contaminate other cells in laboratory, almost like how weeds in the garden push their way through plants. No other human cells have so far ever been able to behave in this way. The ecological niche of those cells in not just limited to the human body but they have survived for many years outside showing us their ability to expand beyond human cultivation. Carcinoma in situ describes an abnormal growth of cells. Abnormal growth occurs when the stop button in cell growth is broken down and mitosis occurs repeatedly. Since it all started with cancer cells of a woman, we should take a look at the disease that caused scientists to spend so much effort on research. Uncontrolled growth of abnormal body cell is known as malignant cells are known as cancer. Cells in our body form tissues, which later on come together to build organs, so cells are known as the building blocks of life. Even the smallest living microbes have cells. ("History, Travel, Arts, Science, People, Places | Smithsonian Magazine." History, Travel, Arts, Science, People, Places | Smithsonian Magazine. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2012). The cells in the body have a life cycle, they die and new cells are made in order to replace the previous dead cells until death. Cancer occurs when normal healthy cells suddenly start reprodu cing without stopping. Sometimes the shape of the cells also starts to change, for example in leukemia, also known as blood cancer, the shape of the red blood cells changes from concave to lunar thus making it inefficient to carry out respiration. This is exactly what happened to Lacks. Her cells in the cervical started reproducing at a very fast rate. This is how doctors were able to do research on them. Definition: ‘

Maternal problem in Australia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Maternal problem in Australia - Essay Example Only Sweden (4.6) and Italy (3.9) are ahead of Australia in maternal care (Rogers, 2010). At the same time, the Department of health Australia (2015) says that smoking, alcoholism and drug use during pregnancy is common in Australia. It should be noted that smoking, alcoholism and drug use during pregnancy would cause immense harm to the physical and mental health of the mother and the child before and after its birth even though these habits may cause fewer threats to the life of the mother. In short, even though the death rates among the pregnant mothers due to maternal problems in Australia is less, crazy behaviors during pregnancy are causing problems to the newly born children in Australia As per the views of the Australian government: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (2013), Australia helps and advices developing and underdeveloped countries such as Asian and African countries in saving the lives of children, mother and pregnant women. In other words, Australia is currently giving tips to save the life of mothers and infants in the developing world. In fact they have the rights to do so since maternal problems in Australia is comparatively less and Australia has developed several innovative mechanisms to counter the problems during maternal life. At the same time, Perlen et al. (2013) conducted a study in Australia and concluded that many of the pregnant women in Australia are facing physical as well as mental problems. Perlen et al found that nine per cent of pregnant women (131/1500) had clinical depression in early pregnancy. As per their findings, the most commonly occurring problems during pregnancy are: exhaustion (86.9%) followed by morning sickness (64 .3%), back pain (45.6%), constipation (43.5%) and severe headaches or migraines (29.5%) The above findings are not much surprising considering the fact that a lot of pregnant women in Australia are smokers, alcohol users and drugs users.

The water pollution of the Yellow River Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

The water pollution of the Yellow River - Essay Example Currently, the Mother River is slowly dying. Stained with pollution, crowded with ill-conceived dams, tainted with sewage, it diminishes at its mouth to a lifeless trickle. There were many occasions during the 1990s that the river didn’t reach the sea at all (Wang, Xuejun, and Edwin, 282). It is no hallucination. The huge oasis in Ningxia, near the Yellow Rivers which runs 3,400-mile from the Plateau of Tibet has survived for close to 2,000 years, since the Qin emperor posted an army of peasant engineers to grow crops and build canal for soldiers protecting the Great Wall (Wang et. al.177). Many residents are trying to carry on that tradition today. Lured here almost three decades ago by the limitless supply of water, farmers near the river banks cultivate cornfields along the Great Wall next to the Yellow River (Selden, Mark and So, 152). From the irrigation canal, many residents appreciated the green expanse and loved the rivers power and always believed it was the most beautiful residence under the sun (Wang, Xuejun, and Edwin, 282). However, this earthly bliss is fading fast. The proliferation of industries, factories, cities, and farms which are considered goods of Chinas magnificent economic boom is affecting the Yellow River by making it dry (Wang et. al.168). All the water that is remaining is being polluted and poisoned by these disposals. From the canal bank another surreal flash of blood-red toxic chemical waste streaming from a pipe are considered the greatest pollutants of the Yellow River. These drainage makes the water turn garish purple (White and Matthew, 47). The canal drains into the Yellow River that was inhabited by turtles and fishes (Selden, Mark and So, 154). Currently, the water is toxic to be used for irrigation purposes. In addition, goats and livestock die within hours of drinking from the canal (Wang, Xuejun, and Edwin, 283). The hazardous pollution comes from chemical and pharmaceutical factories next to Shens

Intercultural Studies on Samoa Culture Research Paper

Intercultural Studies on Samoa Culture - Research Paper Example Along with the major changes in the structure and flow of business transactions today, developed countries continuously aim to increase their returns on investment not only by transferring the Western management practices all over the developing countries but also in learning more about the culture and sub-culture of other countries. For this reason, an effective intercultural communications plays a significant role in making global business transactions successful. An effective communication is all about being able to effectively transmit messages from the â€Å"sender† to the â€Å"receiver† (Konar, 2009, p. 159). In response to globalization, business people and other group of professionals should develop their intercultural communication skill in order for them to be able to send their messages effectively to the receiver of the message. It means that for the business people and/or other group of professionals to become competent in the use of intercultural communication, each one of them are expected to be able to fully understand not only the social customs of the person to whom they are communicating but also the entire â€Å"social system of the host culture† (Jandt, 2010, p. 55). By being able to understand the cultural factors that could significantly affect how a person think or behave, business people and/or other group of professionals will have the competitive edge in terms of being able to deliver an effectiv e communication. Each time a person intends to communicate with a foreigner, the process of going through a certain level of adaptation is necessary. It means that both the sender and the receiver of messages should be able to adapt with the native and host culture respectively. For this reason, effective communicators should first study the cultural background of their prospective business partner(s) or client(s) before initiating a conversation with them. To learn more about the significance of Samoa culture on intercultural communication,

The development of morality Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The development of morality - Essay Example Often times, children will have placed a lot of trust in an adult which adds to their influence over their moral development. Educators such as teachers also are influential in the process of moral development. According to a book entitled â€Å"Educational Psychology: Theory and Practice,† â€Å"teachers are in a position to foster the necessary social skills to allow students to become autonomous and socially competent individuals†( Robert E. Slavin, 2010).This can lead to conflict as a teacher’s morals might not be the same as the parent’s who does not want their children to be influenced negatively by contradicting morals. According to the article entitled â€Å"Fostering Goodness: Teaching Parents to Facilitate Children's Moral Development,† there are a few ways that adults can foster moral development within children. One of the most effective ways is through modeling which is an adult demonstrates a particular moral element by ways of words, behaviors, or actions in the presence of the child(Berkowitz, 1998).

Porters Model Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Porters Model - Essay Example In fact, Porters theories base on the economic situation in the eighties. This period was characterized by strong competition, cyclical developments and relatively stable market structures. Porter's models focus on the analysis of the actual situation (customers, suppliers, competitors etc) and on predictable developments (new entrants, substitutes etc). Competitive advantages develop from strengthening the own position within this Five-Forces-Framework. Hence, these models cannot explain or analyze today's dynamic In fact, digitalization, globalization and deregulation have become powerful forces during the last years, but Porter's models rarely take them into consideration. Today's markets are highly influenced by technological progress, especially in information technology. Therefore, it is not advisable - if not to say impossible - to develop a strategy solely on the basis of Porters models. Shapiro and Varian explain in their book "Information Rules"that the economical laws that apply to products and services cannot be simply transferred to the new category information good. Production, marketing etc are different for products and services and, hence, are different for information too ". Moreover, the latest shift from dot-com-hype to dot-com-crashes has given evidence that the basic laws of economics are viable for the new economy or information economy too. Even in the eighties, it was not advisable to build a strategy on nothing but Porters models. Every strategy should base on a careful analysis of all internal and external factors and on their potential future development. This is no new insight. Michael E. Porter is an economist. His Five Forces model is based on microeconomics. It just describes them in a more understandable way. Porter talks about the attractiveness of an Industry that is influenced by the shape of five forces. In economics, the constellation of factors determines issues like profit maximization or supernormal profits. Porter's Model and Micro economics Porters Five Forces Areas of Microeconomics Bargaining Power of Suppliers Supply and demand theory, cost and production theory, price elasticity Bargaining Power of Customers Supply and demand theory, customer behavior, price elasticity Rivalry between Existing Players Market structures, number of players, market size and growth rates Threat of Substitutes Substitution effects Threat of New Entrants Market entry barriers Source: Primary Michael Porters models do not have the influence they used to have any more as the economic model has changed to Internet economy in the past decade. Now with the emergence of Global companies and Dot Com companies, considering only the economic perspective for a nation's advantage or corporate strategies or the growth and development of industrial clusters is not sufficient. New economic laws came up and other drivers started to transform markets. Drivers transforming Markets beyond Porter's Model: Digitalization: As power of information technology grows, all players in a market will have access to far more information. Thus, totally new business models will emerge in which even players from outside the industry are able to vastly change the basis of competition in a market. The rise of electronic shopping malls, operated for instance by telecom operators

Which structural form, if any, is most suitable for an SHRM approach Essay

Which structural form, if any, is most suitable for an SHRM approach - Essay Example Management theorists and researchers have emphasized the difference between, and importance of, strategic HRM and human resource strategy, in achieving organisational goals. Therefore, strategic HRM decisions are incorporated into the strategic plan from which HR strategies are derived. According to Price (2007), strategies are means used by organisations to achieve their objectives, in the form of decisions taken well in advance to meet the long-term goals of the organisation. Strategic HRM focuses on widespread aspects of organisation such as organisational culture, individual career development, having right people for the right job, etc. In relation to this, Mabey, Salaman and Storey (1998) have proposed four different perspectives: firstly, SHRM entails complex activities that are beyond the responsibilities of personnel or HRM managers and extend to all aspects of managing people including social and economic context of management of internal and external environments impacting the organisation and its people; secondly, it includes impact of strategies on business performance, and thus emphasizes on measurement of performance; thirdly, management styles are more defined and according to the existing people and goals; and lastly, development of organisational capability is encompassed through strategic knowledge management. Much work on SHRM field has resulted in various models and types of SHRM, which can be broadly classified into two groups, the general and prescriptive approaches. Delery and Doty (1996) and Richardson and Thompson (1999) have framed ‘best practices, ‘best fit’ and the ‘configurational’ approaches (cited by Armstrong, 2000); another perspective by Armstrong (2000) includes high-commitment, high-performance and high involvement models. In the ‘best practice’ approach, organisations adopt best HRM practices such as employment

Crime and Hand Unemployment Rate Essay Example for Free

Crime and Hand Unemployment Rate Essay Many contemporary macro-level theories of criminal behavior and empirical tudies pf crime rates address the relationship between economic factor and crime. Relationship between economic circumstances such as wage inflation and unemployment to criminal activity is the main subject matter of this study. Wage inflation and unemployment taken as predictors of crime rates. Unemployment and inflation are two intricately linked economic concept. In economics, inflation is a rise in the general level of prices of goods and services in an economy over a period of time and it is also erosion in the purchasing power of money. And unemployment occurs when a person is able to and willing to work but urrently without work. Unemployment is usually measured using the unemployment rate which is defined as the percentage of those in the labor for who are unemployed. One causes of unemployment is inflation. Over the years there has been a number of economists trying to interpret the relationship between the concepts of inflation and unemployment. This relationship is also known as the Phillips curve. Phillips curve is an inverse relationship between rate of unemployment and rate of increase in money wages. The higher the rate of unemployment, the lower the rate of wage inflation. In other words, there is a radeoff between wage inflation and unemployment lead to a problem that individual do such a thing Just to endure it. It means that if you are unemployed you will do anything to earn and to survive for everyday living. For this, some people tend to commit crimes especially crime against property. It is a common observation of many countries that unemployment rates and all crime rates are positively associated but negatively in the wage inflation.

Handling, Storage and Disposal of Samples

Handling, Storage and Disposal of Samples Expectations of a Health Care Professional In the histology laboratory all specimens arrive fixed in 10% buffered formalin. In the laboratory, the specimen and the request form are labeled with the same lab number. The specimens are left in the same order the lab number is given and processed. Safety gloves and an apron are worn when processing the specimen. Unfixed specimens received in a plane container are fixed in 10% formalin which is commercially prepared and left for one day to process. This is done if the specimen requires fixation. Certain specimens are an exception to this rule. Lymph nodes are wrapped in gauze when lymphoma is suspected, skin sections for Immunofluorescence due to Pemphigus vulgaris are suspended in saline solution, and frozen sections are not fixed since fresh tissue is sectioned for microscopic examination. Whether the result has been reported or not determines which samples are disposed and stored if the result has been reported or not: After the samples are processed the pieces of the sample that were not inserted in the cassette are placed back inside the respective container. The fixed specimen in the container is refrigerated until the result is reported (figure1). 3 weeks after reporting the result a disposal list is created and the specimens to be disposed are packed inside boxes, labeled and then sent for incineration. Samples such as fetus are kept for burial. Empty containers are left for a week and a half as a quality control and for human errors. In many cases the label on the container shows the type of specimen so the empty containers are left in case verification of type of specimen is required. Blocks and slides are stored permanently inside a storage room. All blocks and slides are carefully and methodically filed so they are available for records or for future reference. As years pass blocks remain unchanged but stains on the slide tend to fade so there is sample deterioration. After cutting, the blocks are placed in numerical order according to the year and placed inside boxes. The first and the last number of the blocks in each box are written on the boxes. All sides and top box are labeled and sealed with tape. Slides are filed in numerical order after the report is issued. Slides are placed in a slide box and the lab number of the first and last slide are written on the box. Effective self-management of time and workload The opening hours for the histology are from 6.00 am till 5.00 pm. The lab is open from Monday till Sunday and time shifts are available so the laboratory remains more open and more service is given to the public. The laboratory does not open during night shift because results in the histology laboratory are not considered urgent. Results must first be seen by the pathologist so no immediate results are required so processing is done during the day. Samples that are considered urgent In histology, specimens are not considered urgent because they have to be viewed by the pathologist results are issued. Frozen sections are considered urgent since the sample must be quickly processed so an intra-operative decision can be taken by the surgeon. Samples can also be considered urgent when a pathologist needs the results in a quick time, due to surgery scheduled on that day or the following day. Career-Long Self Directed Learning What is CPD? CPD stands for Continuing Professional Development, an ongoing free training programme in histopathology including histology and cytology (Institute of biomedical Science, 2011). It is defined as â€Å"The systematic maintenance, improvement and broadening of knowledge and skills, and the development of personal qualities, necessary for the execution of professional and technical duties throughout the practitioner’s working life† (The Chartered Institution of Highways Transportation, 2011). This means that CPD allows the employer to improve and to widen knowledge, quality, competence and skills in his/her profession. What constitutes CPD activity? A CPD is constituted by meetings, short courses, conferences or workshops that are created to inform other members of stuff or even the public. Organization and participation are essential for a successful CPD. It must be transparent, accountable and visible (Fox Fox, 2004, p.182). CPD can be done: To present one’s own research report With the aid of websites, journals, posters, books and other printed media To show something encountered during work, that can be of interest to rest of the workers To make and encourage new procedures and changes Introduce a new course that will be of interesting to the public or workers How does the CPD scheme benefit Pathology employers? A CPD scheme enables the biomedical scientist to develop the necessary knowledge, attitudes, personal effectiveness and skills for his/her professional practice. The employer must identify his/her and their employer’s learning needs. In order to improve patient care the employer must be up to date on facts, new concepts and most importantly on opinion and consensus (The Royal College of Pathologists, 2010). The employer can record activity and document all learning achieved (Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, 2010). All this is done not for only the present but also for future progression (Institute of biomedical Science, 2011). What are the benefits to a biomedical scientist (the employee) participating in the CPD scheme? Keep up to date with current rapid and expanding knowledge (The Royal College of Pathologists, 2010). Increases job satisfaction, productivity and quality of working life (Chen, Chang Yeh, 2006) Acquire new skills for safe and effective practice. This builds up confidence in the employee (Institute of biomedical Science, 2011). Promote professional ideas and new initiatives, increasing job satisfaction (Institute of biomedical Science, 2011). Documentation of all that is learned from the scheme is encouraged (The Royal College of Pathologists, 2010). Benefit from quality control measures (Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, 2010). Encourage reflective practice (Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, 2010). Reduce risk of clinical isolation (The Royal College of Pathologists, 2010). Prepare for new roles example managerial. Employers value employees that undergo continuous CPD since such employees show learning agility (Chen et al., 2006; Royal College of Pathologists, 2010). Maintain a reputation of the biomedical possession and public assurance (The Royal College of Pathologists, 2010). Where is the information relating to CPD displayed in Pathology? When a CPD meeting is going to be held all biomedical scientists are informed through an email. The email is sent to the principle to make sure that all the histology staff knows about the meeting. Vertical Audit Site of origin The trucut samples were taken from the right breast upper outer quadrant (Figure 2) Sample Taking and Description of sample The trucut biopsy is taken after a mammography showed a suspicious result. To diagnose, a trucut biopsy was performed. A trucut (core) biopsy is mostly done to sample tissues from a solid mass or calcium deposits, increasing sensitivity (Youk, Kim, Kim, Lee Oh, 2007). Very small masses or masses that are too deep are sampled using a guiding imaging technique. No scars are left after sampling. It has the advantage of being highly sensitive and specific (Sadler et al., 1994). The biopsy was performed at Mater Dei’s surgical operating theater (SOP) (in the Breast Clinic). The patient was given local anesthetic and left for a few minutes. A 16mm gauge core needle (figure 3) was then used to obtain the tissue samples. The tissues sampled contain tissues from the mass and normal healthy tissues from the breast. The sections sampled contain also provide more diagnostic information than mammography and fine needle aspiration. The samples are larger than FNA therefore results are more accurate (Kasraeian, Allison, Ahlmann, Fedenko Menendez, 2010). The clinician or nurse localised the mass and its boundaries and the mass was then immobilised. The needle was inserted through the skin into the lump and the tissue section was taken. To increase the chances of diagnosis 6 trucut specimens were taken. Their length varied from 9mm to 14 mm. The needle was then detached. The trucut specimens were then introduced into a container contain 10% buffered formalin. The container and the request form where received in the histology laboratory the following day. Specimen reception/numbering A courier brought the trucut specimen for histology processing into the histology laboratory. In the laboratory, the request form which comes together with the specimen was left for a day where registration and processing began. The following day, the receptionist used the HOE system to input data so they can be available only in the laboratory. The ID number of the patient was inputted followed by location the specimen was sampled example BOFFA, the name of the medical lab scientist, and the name of the pathologist/consultant. If available, the macro examination results were also included. A label containing the lab number, the letter on the cassette, the last two digits of the year, and the patient’ name and surname was prepared and printed. The label was prepared to label the slide after staining (in this case only one label was required). Specimen Registration The sample and its respective request form were both labeled with a barcode containing a specific laboratory number. The barcode was stuck on the top of the request form and at the back of the container (without covering any patient’s details). The laboratory number was also written with the aid of marker on top of the tap of the container. The request form was stamped at the top and at the bottom with the date in which it was received in the laboratory. The trucut specimen and the other histological specimens were left one after the other, according to the laboratory number. Specimen processing proceeded in this order. Specimen Processing 1. Cut-Up The trucut specimen was first processed in the laboratory at the cut-up laboratory. The name and surname of the patient and the lab number on the request form and on the specimen container were checked. The trucut biopsies in 10% buffered formalin were taken out from the container, using forceps, on the working bench. A macroscopic examination was performed on the 6 trucut biopsies obtained. Their length ranged in length from 9mm to 14mm. They were all embedded in one printed cassette labeled A1. Blue foam was also placed and the cassette was covered with a medal lid. It was then was placed in eosin with the other specimens. The trucut biopsies were then ready for further laboratory processing. After all specimens were cut, a histopathology worksheet was filled in. This included the case number of the patient, the number of tissues taken (6) , the tissue type (breast trucut), the number of blocks (A1), any comments such as left to fix (not applicable), the name of the pathologist who will examine the slides, and the name of the medical laboratory scientist (in this case who performed the cut up). 2. Tissue Processing (Impregnation) The biopsies were processed in an automated processing machine. This was performed in a closed system for trucut specimens using program A. It is important that the specimen is not larger than 3mm since it will not fit and cannot be cut afterwards. The closed system has 14 baths and it provides pressure, waving, bubbling and rotation to the tissues so the reagent can penetrate better. This is performed overnight, therefore the processor is programmed. When time for embedding is prolonged, the fixation time is prolonged to compensate. The tissues were first fixed in 10% buffered formalin so that the fixation was continued They were then dehydrated in 2 baths of 70% alcohol, in 1 bath 95% alcohol and then in 2 baths of absolute alcohol. The dehydrated sections were then moved into the chloroform and xylene. This step was done for clearing. Chloroform is a carcinogen and it affects the nervous system. The tissues were automatically moved in wax for tissue impregnation. This caused the tissues to harden. A temperature of less than 60oC was necessary because a higher temperature would have affected elasticity of the wax. Fumes go in a waste bottle and charcoal filter is present to filter leak. The tissues were now ready for embedding. 3. Embedding During embedding, the formalin fixed processed tissues are surrounded by wax so a solid paraffin block is obtained. This will enable the medical lab scientist to obtain thin sections from the block so that they can be stained and later viewed by the pathologist. The procedure involved was as follows: The cassette was taken from the processor to the warm compartment of the histocentre. The histocentre is an embedding center that facilitates paraffin embedding. It is equipped with a dispenser, specimen handling tank, warmed embedding moulds, warmed forceps wells and warm plate for orientation of the specimen in the melted paraffin. After checking the wax tank was properly filled, the cold plate and light were switched on. The cold plate helps in transferring of the melted paraffin. The tissue cassette was opened and the number on the labeled cassettes was checked with that on the worksheet entry. A suitable mould compartment corresponding to the size of the tissues in the cassette was chosen. The mould was filled with paraffin wax The tissue was placed at the bottom of the mould, correctly orientated. Incorrect orientation ruins the first section taken The trucuts were placed centrally aligned across long axis of the mould, and not placed at random. Adequate border of embedding medium must surround all sides of the tissue to give maximum cutting support. The mould placed in its cassette was placed on a cold plate and allowed to solidify. The block was scraped along a para trimmer to trim excess wax on surface. Tissues embedded must be perfectly flat to ensure that a complete section will be obtained. 4. Microtomy After the block was trimmed, thin sections were now cut using a microtome. The block was first trimmed to expose the area to be sectioned. A sharp non-rusted blade was used not to cause damage to the tissue by scoring. The microtome was cleaned from staples and sutures that remained to avoid damage of the blade. Microtomy was then started. The tightly screwed blade was checked and adjusted in the correct position. The micrometer gauge was set at a thickness of 18-22 µm. The block was placed inside the block holder of the microtome and secured. The block holder was in parallel to the edge of the blade so a straight ribbon of sections was obtained. The block holder was moved using the couae trimming device until the wax block was almost touching the edge of the blade. The fine trimming rotator device was when the block touched the edge of the blade and trimming of the block was started. Excess wax from the surface of the block was removed until the surface of the tissue was exposed. Debris due to coarse cutting was removed using a Camel hairbrush. The block was then placed on ice to cool giving the tissue and the wax similar consistency. Water absorbed by the tissue, slightly swelling it, so cutting is easier later on. If this does not occur sections tend to crease. The block was reattached to the microtome, leaving the left-hand rotator device. The micrometer gauge was then set at 3 µm. A series of sections forming a ribbon were cut and the first one was not used since it is usually thicker than 3 µm. 4 layers were taken. This means that the after the first section was achieved, the next few layers were ignored and then a second section was taken. The same was done for the third and fourth. This is done so that the pathologist can study many layers from the site taken so that diagnosis is more accurate. The appropriate ribbon section (for all the four sections obtained) was gently transferred into a water bath using forceps. The water bath is set a few degrees below the melting point of the wax. The sections were floated onto a glass slide containing 20% alcohol. The ribbon section was then released on the surface of a water bath (at a temperature less than that of melting point of wax i.e. 60oC. The sections were collected on an APES-coated glass slide. They were placed on near the other. Coated APES facilitates adhesion of the sections onto the glass slide. 4 slides were obtained (a slide for each layer taken). The number of the block was written on the glass slide using a diamond pen and placed on a slide rack. It was dried in an oven at about 60oC for 10 minute. 5. Staining Together with the other blocks from the other specimens the slides were dried and now ready for staining. The routine gold standard stain in histology is Haematoxylin and Eosin stain. This was done in an automated staining machine which followed the regressive method. This allowed overstaining of the tissues and removal excess dye by differentiation. The staining procedure was programmed as followed: The slides were left in the heating station so that all water is removed. The slides were dewaxed in a xylene for 4 minutes. This removed the surrounding wax from the tissues. They were then placed in xylene alcohol for 15 seconds. This started the gradual hydration process and prepared the tissues to be stained by haematoxylin dissolved in an aqueous solvent. The hydration process is followed by 2 baths of absolute alcohol (15 seconds each). The slides were then passed into four baths: 95% alcohol, 70% alcohol, 50% alcohol, and 30% alcohol (15 seconds each). They were then passed for 15 seconds in distilled water since haematoxylin stain is water based. The slides were then passed for 10 minutes in haematoxylin stain. The time inside the haematoxylin bath varies according to the properties of the stain. The prolonged use of the stain increases the time the slides pass in the bath. The slides were rinsed in two baths of distilled water, the first bath for 30 seconds and the second bath for 10 seconds. Differentiation then occurred in acid alcohol for 1 second. This allowed the nucleus to retain the stain and to decrease the pH (acidic) so colour changes to light purple. The slides were rinsed in distilled water for 15 seconds. Bluing occurred in tap water for 5 minutes. This raised the pH so sections became light blue. The slides were then passed into a bath containing distilled water for 15 seconds. The slides were passed in absolute alcohol for 15 minutes for dehydration and because this favours alcoholic eosin staining since it is alcohol based. Counterstaining was performed in a bath containing alcoholic eosin for 3.15 minutes. The time in alcoholic eosin varies according to the properties of the stain. The prolonged use of the stain increases the time the slides pass in the bath. Prolonging time allows the cytoplasm to take up the pink eosin stain. The slides were then dehydrated in four baths of acid alcohol, 15 seconds each. The slides were cleared in xylene alcohol for 15 seconds followed in 2 baths of xylene for 5 minutes each. This helps during mounting since DPX mountant is xylene based. The slides were left in the heating station so that all water is removed. The slides were taken out from the rack and mounted with DPX mountant. Quality Control: Two slides are stained with H E stain using the automated machine in the morning before starting routine staining. Errors in staining such as weak stains and contamination (example of eosin) can be detected so they can be solved. The 4 slides of the patient were therefore well stained since the machine passed QC on that day. Results: Nucleus: Blue Cytoplasm and other eosinophilic structures: Pale pink After processing, the number on the slides was checked with that of the cassette and the block. The slides were then labelled with their respective label. The cassette was placed on top of the slide to see if all the stained sections present on the block were sectioned. All the stained sections agreed with those on the block. Role of the Biomedical Scientist The role of the biomedical scientist is to perform all the above procedures. The medical lab scientists are divided into different sections throughout the histology laboratory: in the cut-up room and in the embedding and staining section of the laboratory (excluding immunohistochemistry laboratory). In addition, the biomedical scientist must also fill several worksheets. The initials of the biomedical lab scientists performing the cutup, macro-examination, LID and embedding are written in the histopathology worksheet. The MLS must monitor any changes example in reagents. Any injuries or misshapen occurring in the laboratory must be recorded. Pathologist Role/Result Reporting After staining, the pathologist viewed the slides under the microscope and performed a microscopic examination. The observed results were noted. The microscopic examination results were sent to the secretary who typed the result in the results form. The pathologist then read the results form for any errors and once the result was verified the pathologist authorised the result. Result Entering and Authorisation After the pathologist viewed the slides under the microscope he took the fully written request form to the secretary. The secretary separated the forms into different piles, according to the pathologist. The form was typed in a result form and printed as a result sheet. The written and the print result form were separated into 2 different racks. The report sheet was taken to the respective consultant/pathologist who reviewed the printed result sheet for any mistakes. This includes patient details, clinical details, and examination results. Once the pathologist verified the data written, he used the software to authorise the result. Once the pathologist authorised the result, this was available in the LIS of the cytology and histology laboratories. The CMI system allowed the results to be available to the wards. The result sheet was taken to the secretary where the result form was piled with other results forms according to the pathologist/consultant. Copies were made and sent to ward and patient. Result Issuing (Describe the results form) The results form contains the details of the patient, including the name and surname, address, date of birth, sex and the hospital number. The name of the clinician and the site from where trucut biopsy was taken (SOP) are included. The date the specimen was taken and the date and time it was received are also included. The lab number associated to the specimen is important to be included because besides identifying the patient it can be used for future reference. If the slides or block containing the sections are required they are labelled (including lab number) and stored and easily retrievable. The specimen type and site from where the biopsy was taken, the macroscopic examination and the microscopic examination are all included. The included, in this case â€Å"Benign breast parenchyma of the right breast†. The pathologist and the date and time the result was reported and authorised (by pathologist) and the date and time the result form was printed are also included. Benign Breast Parenchyma: The breast parenchyma forms part of the normal breast tissue. It was reported as benign during microscopy because of few scattered (not clustered) lobules seen in breast sections. Since no atypical features were observed, no special stains or immunohistochemistry staining (example ER or Her-2 stains) were required. It is ideal the patient undergoes regular breast screening. Sample Collection and Specialist Preparation The containers to process routine surgical specimens vary from small to large received in 10% buffered formalin. Very large containers are rare. The container used depends on the size of the specimens. Small specimens such as polyps, prostate scrapings, appendix, trucuts, and trephines are received in small containers containing 10% buffered formalin. Some specimens such as fetus vary in size such as fetus and colon so they received in larger specimens (medium when compared to small containers). Large specimens such as lung, breast, and colon are received in large containers containing 10% buffered formalin. Large specimens require more than one day to be cut. First the specimen is opened and left for an additional day or more for further fixation. The following are types of specimen the laboratory receives that require specialist preparation techniques and the actions taken: Trephine and Bone specimens: – Decalcification with EDTA or formic acid. EDTA is used example for bone marrow trephine and formic acid is used example on bone sternum for one day Figure 4 showing a femur bone undergoing decalcification in EDTA. Infective specimen example with HIV – Over fixation in formalin to kill infective cells* Lymph node –The time of fixation depends on the thickness of the specimen. More time the more the fixative is allowed to penetrate the lymph node.* It is left for two or three days depending on the thickness of the specimen. Over fixation will destroy the surface antigens causing artifacts and a false negative result during immunohistochemistry. Sural nerve: Sent from operation inside a gauze soaked with saline. The request from and case summary are required. The cut up laboratory gives the lab number and send the specimen to the immunohistochemistry laboratory. The tubular sural nerve is wet, and the two ends of the nerve are cut. One end is sent to a pathologist to get an idea of diagnosis and the centre part of the nerve and the other cut end are sent abroad. Muscle: This is received in saline and a lab number is given in the cut up laboratory and then sent to immunohistochemistry laboratory. It is frozen at -70oC and cut by a cryostat at -20oC. The thin sections are then stained with a series of special stains example Oil Red O and with immunohistochemistry stains example myosin. APES coated glass slides are used to prevent the tissue section from sliding off. Imprints: Example lymph node: A slide is pressed on the lymph node and the imprint is sent abroad. The lymph node is then worked normally in formalin. Imprints are used for genetic studies. Liver with no tumour: A series of special stains are performed: PAS – useful if there is a high glycogen content upon staining Reticulin Stain – useful in liver cirrhosis and liver fibrosis Masson’s Trichome Stain – Useful in liver fibrosis Iron Stain – useful for haemosiderosis, haemochromatosis Title: Frozen Sections Aim Performing a macroscopic examination by the pathologist Cut up of the specimen Obtaining sections at -17oC using a micrometer, inside a cryostat Staining the section/s by haematoxylin and eosin stain Performing microscopic examination of the stained section/s by the pathologist Introduction A frozen section is a specific type of biopsy performed during surgery so that a rapid diagnosis of the tissue extracted is made (Brender, Burke Glass, 2011). The tissue can be sectioned and stained in the laboratory for microscopic examination by the pathologist. The surgeon is given flexible intra-operative decision making according to the result given by the pathologist after the rapid processing (KarcioÄÅ ¸lu, 2005, p.121). Principle A surgery is booked and a biopsy is taken and sent to the laboratory. As soon as the fresh specimen arrives in the histology laboratory the pathologist and the selected biomedical scientists start processing the specimen. The pathologist performs a macroscopic examination on the specimen and the observed features are written down by the pathologist. The MLS then start cutting thin sections according to the specimen, using a microtome inside a cryostat at -17oC. The sections are then quickly stained with haematoxylin and eosin stain. In contrary to routine H E, the sections are not passed through xylene and dehydrated down to water. This is because the frozen sections are not embedded in paraffin wax prior staining. Since the stain is very fast there differentiation with acid alcohol is also not performed. After mounting the pathologist checks if the stained slide is satisfactory and after performs a microscopic examination. This lets the surgeon decide what to do next. Materials and Equipment required Cryostat, OCT medium, cryospray, Glass slides, cover slips, disposable pipettes, Procedure 1. Macro-examination The pathologist opens the container/s containing the specimen/s. A macro examination is performed on the specimen/s and the pathologist starts a description so that the medical lab scientist writes on the request form. The description includes the size dimension (length x width x height) in centimeters, the shape of the specimen and if it is soft or hard. The consultant suspects carcinoma and sampling is them performed. 2. Cutting the specimen The consultant cuts piece of the specimen that covers the whole area of the specimen. It is important the most suspicious is included in the segmented section so that the consultant can find and detect the tumour during microscopy. If required, multiple sections can be taken to make a diagnosis. The size cut depends on the size of the sample and tumour. More than one pieces of the specimen can be cut example: two sections from a liver (due to liver transplantation), and from a lymph node attached to the liver. 3. Cryostat The cut specimen/s is/are placed, with the aid of tweezers, in the center of a cryostat object disk containing OCT medium. The cryostat object disk with the tissue is placed on the cryobar (holder) inside the -17oC set cryostat. The tissue is left to settle so it gets cold and this is enhanced by using a cryospray. When the tissue solidifies it is placed onto an object disk holder. The machine is set at 5 µ on the control panel and the block is moved towards the edge of the blade. After making sure it is properly clamped trimming is started. The rotator on the right of the cryostat is turned. The section begins to curl as the block comes in contact with the blade. The section is held down slowly and gently with tweezers and cut until the surface of the tissue is visible. The cryostat is now quickly set at 30 µ (this is the thickness used for most of the specimens in histology). A good section is detached and taken onto a glass slide placed opposite of the block. As the tissue comes in contact with the glass slide it sticks onto it since it melts and adheres to it. The glass slide is immediately in the staining station found adjacent to the cryostat. Haematoxylin and eosin staining is performed. 4. Haematoxylin and Eosin Staining The glass slide with tissue section is f Handling, Storage and Disposal of Samples Handling, Storage and Disposal of Samples Expectations of a Health Care Professional In the histology laboratory all specimens arrive fixed in 10% buffered formalin. In the laboratory, the specimen and the request form are labeled with the same lab number. The specimens are left in the same order the lab number is given and processed. Safety gloves and an apron are worn when processing the specimen. Unfixed specimens received in a plane container are fixed in 10% formalin which is commercially prepared and left for one day to process. This is done if the specimen requires fixation. Certain specimens are an exception to this rule. Lymph nodes are wrapped in gauze when lymphoma is suspected, skin sections for Immunofluorescence due to Pemphigus vulgaris are suspended in saline solution, and frozen sections are not fixed since fresh tissue is sectioned for microscopic examination. Whether the result has been reported or not determines which samples are disposed and stored if the result has been reported or not: After the samples are processed the pieces of the sample that were not inserted in the cassette are placed back inside the respective container. The fixed specimen in the container is refrigerated until the result is reported (figure1). 3 weeks after reporting the result a disposal list is created and the specimens to be disposed are packed inside boxes, labeled and then sent for incineration. Samples such as fetus are kept for burial. Empty containers are left for a week and a half as a quality control and for human errors. In many cases the label on the container shows the type of specimen so the empty containers are left in case verification of type of specimen is required. Blocks and slides are stored permanently inside a storage room. All blocks and slides are carefully and methodically filed so they are available for records or for future reference. As years pass blocks remain unchanged but stains on the slide tend to fade so there is sample deterioration. After cutting, the blocks are placed in numerical order according to the year and placed inside boxes. The first and the last number of the blocks in each box are written on the boxes. All sides and top box are labeled and sealed with tape. Slides are filed in numerical order after the report is issued. Slides are placed in a slide box and the lab number of the first and last slide are written on the box. Effective self-management of time and workload The opening hours for the histology are from 6.00 am till 5.00 pm. The lab is open from Monday till Sunday and time shifts are available so the laboratory remains more open and more service is given to the public. The laboratory does not open during night shift because results in the histology laboratory are not considered urgent. Results must first be seen by the pathologist so no immediate results are required so processing is done during the day. Samples that are considered urgent In histology, specimens are not considered urgent because they have to be viewed by the pathologist results are issued. Frozen sections are considered urgent since the sample must be quickly processed so an intra-operative decision can be taken by the surgeon. Samples can also be considered urgent when a pathologist needs the results in a quick time, due to surgery scheduled on that day or the following day. Career-Long Self Directed Learning What is CPD? CPD stands for Continuing Professional Development, an ongoing free training programme in histopathology including histology and cytology (Institute of biomedical Science, 2011). It is defined as â€Å"The systematic maintenance, improvement and broadening of knowledge and skills, and the development of personal qualities, necessary for the execution of professional and technical duties throughout the practitioner’s working life† (The Chartered Institution of Highways Transportation, 2011). This means that CPD allows the employer to improve and to widen knowledge, quality, competence and skills in his/her profession. What constitutes CPD activity? A CPD is constituted by meetings, short courses, conferences or workshops that are created to inform other members of stuff or even the public. Organization and participation are essential for a successful CPD. It must be transparent, accountable and visible (Fox Fox, 2004, p.182). CPD can be done: To present one’s own research report With the aid of websites, journals, posters, books and other printed media To show something encountered during work, that can be of interest to rest of the workers To make and encourage new procedures and changes Introduce a new course that will be of interesting to the public or workers How does the CPD scheme benefit Pathology employers? A CPD scheme enables the biomedical scientist to develop the necessary knowledge, attitudes, personal effectiveness and skills for his/her professional practice. The employer must identify his/her and their employer’s learning needs. In order to improve patient care the employer must be up to date on facts, new concepts and most importantly on opinion and consensus (The Royal College of Pathologists, 2010). The employer can record activity and document all learning achieved (Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, 2010). All this is done not for only the present but also for future progression (Institute of biomedical Science, 2011). What are the benefits to a biomedical scientist (the employee) participating in the CPD scheme? Keep up to date with current rapid and expanding knowledge (The Royal College of Pathologists, 2010). Increases job satisfaction, productivity and quality of working life (Chen, Chang Yeh, 2006) Acquire new skills for safe and effective practice. This builds up confidence in the employee (Institute of biomedical Science, 2011). Promote professional ideas and new initiatives, increasing job satisfaction (Institute of biomedical Science, 2011). Documentation of all that is learned from the scheme is encouraged (The Royal College of Pathologists, 2010). Benefit from quality control measures (Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, 2010). Encourage reflective practice (Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, 2010). Reduce risk of clinical isolation (The Royal College of Pathologists, 2010). Prepare for new roles example managerial. Employers value employees that undergo continuous CPD since such employees show learning agility (Chen et al., 2006; Royal College of Pathologists, 2010). Maintain a reputation of the biomedical possession and public assurance (The Royal College of Pathologists, 2010). Where is the information relating to CPD displayed in Pathology? When a CPD meeting is going to be held all biomedical scientists are informed through an email. The email is sent to the principle to make sure that all the histology staff knows about the meeting. Vertical Audit Site of origin The trucut samples were taken from the right breast upper outer quadrant (Figure 2) Sample Taking and Description of sample The trucut biopsy is taken after a mammography showed a suspicious result. To diagnose, a trucut biopsy was performed. A trucut (core) biopsy is mostly done to sample tissues from a solid mass or calcium deposits, increasing sensitivity (Youk, Kim, Kim, Lee Oh, 2007). Very small masses or masses that are too deep are sampled using a guiding imaging technique. No scars are left after sampling. It has the advantage of being highly sensitive and specific (Sadler et al., 1994). The biopsy was performed at Mater Dei’s surgical operating theater (SOP) (in the Breast Clinic). The patient was given local anesthetic and left for a few minutes. A 16mm gauge core needle (figure 3) was then used to obtain the tissue samples. The tissues sampled contain tissues from the mass and normal healthy tissues from the breast. The sections sampled contain also provide more diagnostic information than mammography and fine needle aspiration. The samples are larger than FNA therefore results are more accurate (Kasraeian, Allison, Ahlmann, Fedenko Menendez, 2010). The clinician or nurse localised the mass and its boundaries and the mass was then immobilised. The needle was inserted through the skin into the lump and the tissue section was taken. To increase the chances of diagnosis 6 trucut specimens were taken. Their length varied from 9mm to 14 mm. The needle was then detached. The trucut specimens were then introduced into a container contain 10% buffered formalin. The container and the request form where received in the histology laboratory the following day. Specimen reception/numbering A courier brought the trucut specimen for histology processing into the histology laboratory. In the laboratory, the request form which comes together with the specimen was left for a day where registration and processing began. The following day, the receptionist used the HOE system to input data so they can be available only in the laboratory. The ID number of the patient was inputted followed by location the specimen was sampled example BOFFA, the name of the medical lab scientist, and the name of the pathologist/consultant. If available, the macro examination results were also included. A label containing the lab number, the letter on the cassette, the last two digits of the year, and the patient’ name and surname was prepared and printed. The label was prepared to label the slide after staining (in this case only one label was required). Specimen Registration The sample and its respective request form were both labeled with a barcode containing a specific laboratory number. The barcode was stuck on the top of the request form and at the back of the container (without covering any patient’s details). The laboratory number was also written with the aid of marker on top of the tap of the container. The request form was stamped at the top and at the bottom with the date in which it was received in the laboratory. The trucut specimen and the other histological specimens were left one after the other, according to the laboratory number. Specimen processing proceeded in this order. Specimen Processing 1. Cut-Up The trucut specimen was first processed in the laboratory at the cut-up laboratory. The name and surname of the patient and the lab number on the request form and on the specimen container were checked. The trucut biopsies in 10% buffered formalin were taken out from the container, using forceps, on the working bench. A macroscopic examination was performed on the 6 trucut biopsies obtained. Their length ranged in length from 9mm to 14mm. They were all embedded in one printed cassette labeled A1. Blue foam was also placed and the cassette was covered with a medal lid. It was then was placed in eosin with the other specimens. The trucut biopsies were then ready for further laboratory processing. After all specimens were cut, a histopathology worksheet was filled in. This included the case number of the patient, the number of tissues taken (6) , the tissue type (breast trucut), the number of blocks (A1), any comments such as left to fix (not applicable), the name of the pathologist who will examine the slides, and the name of the medical laboratory scientist (in this case who performed the cut up). 2. Tissue Processing (Impregnation) The biopsies were processed in an automated processing machine. This was performed in a closed system for trucut specimens using program A. It is important that the specimen is not larger than 3mm since it will not fit and cannot be cut afterwards. The closed system has 14 baths and it provides pressure, waving, bubbling and rotation to the tissues so the reagent can penetrate better. This is performed overnight, therefore the processor is programmed. When time for embedding is prolonged, the fixation time is prolonged to compensate. The tissues were first fixed in 10% buffered formalin so that the fixation was continued They were then dehydrated in 2 baths of 70% alcohol, in 1 bath 95% alcohol and then in 2 baths of absolute alcohol. The dehydrated sections were then moved into the chloroform and xylene. This step was done for clearing. Chloroform is a carcinogen and it affects the nervous system. The tissues were automatically moved in wax for tissue impregnation. This caused the tissues to harden. A temperature of less than 60oC was necessary because a higher temperature would have affected elasticity of the wax. Fumes go in a waste bottle and charcoal filter is present to filter leak. The tissues were now ready for embedding. 3. Embedding During embedding, the formalin fixed processed tissues are surrounded by wax so a solid paraffin block is obtained. This will enable the medical lab scientist to obtain thin sections from the block so that they can be stained and later viewed by the pathologist. The procedure involved was as follows: The cassette was taken from the processor to the warm compartment of the histocentre. The histocentre is an embedding center that facilitates paraffin embedding. It is equipped with a dispenser, specimen handling tank, warmed embedding moulds, warmed forceps wells and warm plate for orientation of the specimen in the melted paraffin. After checking the wax tank was properly filled, the cold plate and light were switched on. The cold plate helps in transferring of the melted paraffin. The tissue cassette was opened and the number on the labeled cassettes was checked with that on the worksheet entry. A suitable mould compartment corresponding to the size of the tissues in the cassette was chosen. The mould was filled with paraffin wax The tissue was placed at the bottom of the mould, correctly orientated. Incorrect orientation ruins the first section taken The trucuts were placed centrally aligned across long axis of the mould, and not placed at random. Adequate border of embedding medium must surround all sides of the tissue to give maximum cutting support. The mould placed in its cassette was placed on a cold plate and allowed to solidify. The block was scraped along a para trimmer to trim excess wax on surface. Tissues embedded must be perfectly flat to ensure that a complete section will be obtained. 4. Microtomy After the block was trimmed, thin sections were now cut using a microtome. The block was first trimmed to expose the area to be sectioned. A sharp non-rusted blade was used not to cause damage to the tissue by scoring. The microtome was cleaned from staples and sutures that remained to avoid damage of the blade. Microtomy was then started. The tightly screwed blade was checked and adjusted in the correct position. The micrometer gauge was set at a thickness of 18-22 µm. The block was placed inside the block holder of the microtome and secured. The block holder was in parallel to the edge of the blade so a straight ribbon of sections was obtained. The block holder was moved using the couae trimming device until the wax block was almost touching the edge of the blade. The fine trimming rotator device was when the block touched the edge of the blade and trimming of the block was started. Excess wax from the surface of the block was removed until the surface of the tissue was exposed. Debris due to coarse cutting was removed using a Camel hairbrush. The block was then placed on ice to cool giving the tissue and the wax similar consistency. Water absorbed by the tissue, slightly swelling it, so cutting is easier later on. If this does not occur sections tend to crease. The block was reattached to the microtome, leaving the left-hand rotator device. The micrometer gauge was then set at 3 µm. A series of sections forming a ribbon were cut and the first one was not used since it is usually thicker than 3 µm. 4 layers were taken. This means that the after the first section was achieved, the next few layers were ignored and then a second section was taken. The same was done for the third and fourth. This is done so that the pathologist can study many layers from the site taken so that diagnosis is more accurate. The appropriate ribbon section (for all the four sections obtained) was gently transferred into a water bath using forceps. The water bath is set a few degrees below the melting point of the wax. The sections were floated onto a glass slide containing 20% alcohol. The ribbon section was then released on the surface of a water bath (at a temperature less than that of melting point of wax i.e. 60oC. The sections were collected on an APES-coated glass slide. They were placed on near the other. Coated APES facilitates adhesion of the sections onto the glass slide. 4 slides were obtained (a slide for each layer taken). The number of the block was written on the glass slide using a diamond pen and placed on a slide rack. It was dried in an oven at about 60oC for 10 minute. 5. Staining Together with the other blocks from the other specimens the slides were dried and now ready for staining. The routine gold standard stain in histology is Haematoxylin and Eosin stain. This was done in an automated staining machine which followed the regressive method. This allowed overstaining of the tissues and removal excess dye by differentiation. The staining procedure was programmed as followed: The slides were left in the heating station so that all water is removed. The slides were dewaxed in a xylene for 4 minutes. This removed the surrounding wax from the tissues. They were then placed in xylene alcohol for 15 seconds. This started the gradual hydration process and prepared the tissues to be stained by haematoxylin dissolved in an aqueous solvent. The hydration process is followed by 2 baths of absolute alcohol (15 seconds each). The slides were then passed into four baths: 95% alcohol, 70% alcohol, 50% alcohol, and 30% alcohol (15 seconds each). They were then passed for 15 seconds in distilled water since haematoxylin stain is water based. The slides were then passed for 10 minutes in haematoxylin stain. The time inside the haematoxylin bath varies according to the properties of the stain. The prolonged use of the stain increases the time the slides pass in the bath. The slides were rinsed in two baths of distilled water, the first bath for 30 seconds and the second bath for 10 seconds. Differentiation then occurred in acid alcohol for 1 second. This allowed the nucleus to retain the stain and to decrease the pH (acidic) so colour changes to light purple. The slides were rinsed in distilled water for 15 seconds. Bluing occurred in tap water for 5 minutes. This raised the pH so sections became light blue. The slides were then passed into a bath containing distilled water for 15 seconds. The slides were passed in absolute alcohol for 15 minutes for dehydration and because this favours alcoholic eosin staining since it is alcohol based. Counterstaining was performed in a bath containing alcoholic eosin for 3.15 minutes. The time in alcoholic eosin varies according to the properties of the stain. The prolonged use of the stain increases the time the slides pass in the bath. Prolonging time allows the cytoplasm to take up the pink eosin stain. The slides were then dehydrated in four baths of acid alcohol, 15 seconds each. The slides were cleared in xylene alcohol for 15 seconds followed in 2 baths of xylene for 5 minutes each. This helps during mounting since DPX mountant is xylene based. The slides were left in the heating station so that all water is removed. The slides were taken out from the rack and mounted with DPX mountant. Quality Control: Two slides are stained with H E stain using the automated machine in the morning before starting routine staining. Errors in staining such as weak stains and contamination (example of eosin) can be detected so they can be solved. The 4 slides of the patient were therefore well stained since the machine passed QC on that day. Results: Nucleus: Blue Cytoplasm and other eosinophilic structures: Pale pink After processing, the number on the slides was checked with that of the cassette and the block. The slides were then labelled with their respective label. The cassette was placed on top of the slide to see if all the stained sections present on the block were sectioned. All the stained sections agreed with those on the block. Role of the Biomedical Scientist The role of the biomedical scientist is to perform all the above procedures. The medical lab scientists are divided into different sections throughout the histology laboratory: in the cut-up room and in the embedding and staining section of the laboratory (excluding immunohistochemistry laboratory). In addition, the biomedical scientist must also fill several worksheets. The initials of the biomedical lab scientists performing the cutup, macro-examination, LID and embedding are written in the histopathology worksheet. The MLS must monitor any changes example in reagents. Any injuries or misshapen occurring in the laboratory must be recorded. Pathologist Role/Result Reporting After staining, the pathologist viewed the slides under the microscope and performed a microscopic examination. The observed results were noted. The microscopic examination results were sent to the secretary who typed the result in the results form. The pathologist then read the results form for any errors and once the result was verified the pathologist authorised the result. Result Entering and Authorisation After the pathologist viewed the slides under the microscope he took the fully written request form to the secretary. The secretary separated the forms into different piles, according to the pathologist. The form was typed in a result form and printed as a result sheet. The written and the print result form were separated into 2 different racks. The report sheet was taken to the respective consultant/pathologist who reviewed the printed result sheet for any mistakes. This includes patient details, clinical details, and examination results. Once the pathologist verified the data written, he used the software to authorise the result. Once the pathologist authorised the result, this was available in the LIS of the cytology and histology laboratories. The CMI system allowed the results to be available to the wards. The result sheet was taken to the secretary where the result form was piled with other results forms according to the pathologist/consultant. Copies were made and sent to ward and patient. Result Issuing (Describe the results form) The results form contains the details of the patient, including the name and surname, address, date of birth, sex and the hospital number. The name of the clinician and the site from where trucut biopsy was taken (SOP) are included. The date the specimen was taken and the date and time it was received are also included. The lab number associated to the specimen is important to be included because besides identifying the patient it can be used for future reference. If the slides or block containing the sections are required they are labelled (including lab number) and stored and easily retrievable. The specimen type and site from where the biopsy was taken, the macroscopic examination and the microscopic examination are all included. The included, in this case â€Å"Benign breast parenchyma of the right breast†. The pathologist and the date and time the result was reported and authorised (by pathologist) and the date and time the result form was printed are also included. Benign Breast Parenchyma: The breast parenchyma forms part of the normal breast tissue. It was reported as benign during microscopy because of few scattered (not clustered) lobules seen in breast sections. Since no atypical features were observed, no special stains or immunohistochemistry staining (example ER or Her-2 stains) were required. It is ideal the patient undergoes regular breast screening. Sample Collection and Specialist Preparation The containers to process routine surgical specimens vary from small to large received in 10% buffered formalin. Very large containers are rare. The container used depends on the size of the specimens. Small specimens such as polyps, prostate scrapings, appendix, trucuts, and trephines are received in small containers containing 10% buffered formalin. Some specimens such as fetus vary in size such as fetus and colon so they received in larger specimens (medium when compared to small containers). Large specimens such as lung, breast, and colon are received in large containers containing 10% buffered formalin. Large specimens require more than one day to be cut. First the specimen is opened and left for an additional day or more for further fixation. The following are types of specimen the laboratory receives that require specialist preparation techniques and the actions taken: Trephine and Bone specimens: – Decalcification with EDTA or formic acid. EDTA is used example for bone marrow trephine and formic acid is used example on bone sternum for one day Figure 4 showing a femur bone undergoing decalcification in EDTA. Infective specimen example with HIV – Over fixation in formalin to kill infective cells* Lymph node –The time of fixation depends on the thickness of the specimen. More time the more the fixative is allowed to penetrate the lymph node.* It is left for two or three days depending on the thickness of the specimen. Over fixation will destroy the surface antigens causing artifacts and a false negative result during immunohistochemistry. Sural nerve: Sent from operation inside a gauze soaked with saline. The request from and case summary are required. The cut up laboratory gives the lab number and send the specimen to the immunohistochemistry laboratory. The tubular sural nerve is wet, and the two ends of the nerve are cut. One end is sent to a pathologist to get an idea of diagnosis and the centre part of the nerve and the other cut end are sent abroad. Muscle: This is received in saline and a lab number is given in the cut up laboratory and then sent to immunohistochemistry laboratory. It is frozen at -70oC and cut by a cryostat at -20oC. The thin sections are then stained with a series of special stains example Oil Red O and with immunohistochemistry stains example myosin. APES coated glass slides are used to prevent the tissue section from sliding off. Imprints: Example lymph node: A slide is pressed on the lymph node and the imprint is sent abroad. The lymph node is then worked normally in formalin. Imprints are used for genetic studies. Liver with no tumour: A series of special stains are performed: PAS – useful if there is a high glycogen content upon staining Reticulin Stain – useful in liver cirrhosis and liver fibrosis Masson’s Trichome Stain – Useful in liver fibrosis Iron Stain – useful for haemosiderosis, haemochromatosis Title: Frozen Sections Aim Performing a macroscopic examination by the pathologist Cut up of the specimen Obtaining sections at -17oC using a micrometer, inside a cryostat Staining the section/s by haematoxylin and eosin stain Performing microscopic examination of the stained section/s by the pathologist Introduction A frozen section is a specific type of biopsy performed during surgery so that a rapid diagnosis of the tissue extracted is made (Brender, Burke Glass, 2011). The tissue can be sectioned and stained in the laboratory for microscopic examination by the pathologist. The surgeon is given flexible intra-operative decision making according to the result given by the pathologist after the rapid processing (KarcioÄÅ ¸lu, 2005, p.121). Principle A surgery is booked and a biopsy is taken and sent to the laboratory. As soon as the fresh specimen arrives in the histology laboratory the pathologist and the selected biomedical scientists start processing the specimen. The pathologist performs a macroscopic examination on the specimen and the observed features are written down by the pathologist. The MLS then start cutting thin sections according to the specimen, using a microtome inside a cryostat at -17oC. The sections are then quickly stained with haematoxylin and eosin stain. In contrary to routine H E, the sections are not passed through xylene and dehydrated down to water. This is because the frozen sections are not embedded in paraffin wax prior staining. Since the stain is very fast there differentiation with acid alcohol is also not performed. After mounting the pathologist checks if the stained slide is satisfactory and after performs a microscopic examination. This lets the surgeon decide what to do next. Materials and Equipment required Cryostat, OCT medium, cryospray, Glass slides, cover slips, disposable pipettes, Procedure 1. Macro-examination The pathologist opens the container/s containing the specimen/s. A macro examination is performed on the specimen/s and the pathologist starts a description so that the medical lab scientist writes on the request form. The description includes the size dimension (length x width x height) in centimeters, the shape of the specimen and if it is soft or hard. The consultant suspects carcinoma and sampling is them performed. 2. Cutting the specimen The consultant cuts piece of the specimen that covers the whole area of the specimen. It is important the most suspicious is included in the segmented section so that the consultant can find and detect the tumour during microscopy. If required, multiple sections can be taken to make a diagnosis. The size cut depends on the size of the sample and tumour. More than one pieces of the specimen can be cut example: two sections from a liver (due to liver transplantation), and from a lymph node attached to the liver. 3. Cryostat The cut specimen/s is/are placed, with the aid of tweezers, in the center of a cryostat object disk containing OCT medium. The cryostat object disk with the tissue is placed on the cryobar (holder) inside the -17oC set cryostat. The tissue is left to settle so it gets cold and this is enhanced by using a cryospray. When the tissue solidifies it is placed onto an object disk holder. The machine is set at 5 µ on the control panel and the block is moved towards the edge of the blade. After making sure it is properly clamped trimming is started. The rotator on the right of the cryostat is turned. The section begins to curl as the block comes in contact with the blade. The section is held down slowly and gently with tweezers and cut until the surface of the tissue is visible. The cryostat is now quickly set at 30 µ (this is the thickness used for most of the specimens in histology). A good section is detached and taken onto a glass slide placed opposite of the block. As the tissue comes in contact with the glass slide it sticks onto it since it melts and adheres to it. The glass slide is immediately in the staining station found adjacent to the cryostat. Haematoxylin and eosin staining is performed. 4. Haematoxylin and Eosin Staining The glass slide with tissue section is f

Examining leadership theories

Examining leadership theories 2.1.1 TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP THEORY Transformational leadership are those leaders that have vision and passion for great things and ensure that their followers are inspired by injecting enthusiasm and energy into them. According to Bertocci (2009), transformational leadership starts with the development of a vision, a view of the future that will excite potential followers. Transformational leaders are people oriented and they aim at making sure that the employees are highly committed to achieving the goals of the organisation. They encourage the employees to participate in contributing to the growth of the organisation by allowing them initiate ideas towards strategic directions. Transformational leaders motivate their followers to perform effectively in an organisation by encouraging, supporting and rewarding their performance. Furthermore, they also delegate task to their followers to enhance their performance and do a follow up to ensure that they are on the right direction of achieving the goals of the organisation. Transformational leadership focuses on achieving a vision and exceeding goals through intrinsic motivation and rewards, Bertocci (2009). The transformational leaders encourage the flow of communication in the organisation by clearly communicating the vision and goals of the organisation to the employees and they create a learning and development culture to make the employees to become competent. More importantly, they create an interesting workforce where the employees or followers are happy to deliver good services to the customers. 2.1.2 TRANSACTIONAL LEADERSHIP THEORY Transactional leadership are leaders that reward their employees according to their contributions in order to enhance their performance and make them effective in the organisation. Transactional leadership focuses on the goal to be accomplished and provides rewards that are tied to performance but does not intervene unless the goals are not being met, Bertocci (2009). Transactional leaders believe that employees must obey the instructions given by them and that any task delegated to them must be done on time in order for their efforts to be rewarded. It should be noted, that transactional leadership style is one of the most used styles in organisation to enable the leaders or managers enhance the performance of the employees and to increase productivity in the organisation. According to Bass, the best leadership is based on both transformational and transactional, Homrig (2001). 2.1.3 A CASE STUDY OF ASDA Asda store is the UKs second largest supermarket and was founded in 1949 in Leeds. For a short time in the 80s Asda stores ltd was a subsidiary of Asda MFI plc. The company went through financial issues in the early 90s, however, under the leadership of Archie Norman (CEO), Asdas long-term sustainability plan was developed. When Norman left the organisation to pursue his political career, he was replaced by Allan Leighton and in 2005 Tony de Nunzio replaced Leighton. At present the (CEO) of Asda is Andy Clark. 2.1.4 THE IMPACT OF TRANSFORMATIONAL AND TRANSACTIONAL LEADERSHIP THEORIES IN THE OPERATIONS OF ASDA Asdas aim is to deliver the best services to its customers by providing affordable goods and services. In order to achieve these aim colleagues at Asda are highly committed at performing their duties effectively. The organisation decided to change the structure and culture of Asda during the period of Norman by adopting the transformational style of leadership. Archie Norman transformed Asda by creating new strategies to change the culture of the organisation; his strategies focused on lower prices in order to attract more customers and also developed a customer friendly culture and a flat hierarchy. Norman wanted to build a culture that valued listening, open communication, learning and speed of response. During an interview conducted with one of Asdas store manager who stated that at present Andy Clarke has continue the use of the same transformational theory of leadership in order to accomplish the vision and sustainability of Asda, and one of the reason was to develop a dedicated team for delivering goods to the customers and to make sure the customers are happy. In order to motivate their colleagues in achieving the goals of the organisation they encourage their performance through what they call huddles. The huddle is a way of keeping everyone informed about how the business is performing, Asda (2008). The store manager ensures that they communicate the activities for the day and help the colleagues stay focused in achieving the goals of the organisation. They also provide training and development programmes that is suitable for the employees in order to support them with everything they need for their job and to also enhance their performance. The programme is developed to also strengthen the employees in order for them to be able to achieve the goals of the organisation and most importantly for them to have knowledge about the job. They also make sure that new employees understand the nature of their job and the unique culture of the organisation through a proper induction programme. After which they provide the employees with all the necessary tools to deliver their jobs effectively. Asda provides training programmes such as tailored training, colleague to manager, new retail managers etc. The duty managers at Asda also empower their colleagues by giving them the opportunity to put ideas that will add more value to the organisation Andy Clark uses his suggestion scheme to encourage colleagues to present ideas to make the business even more successful, Asda (2010).The tell Andy gives the colleagues opportunities to contribute ideas during meetings which eventually encourages the colleagues at Asda to be part of the organisation. At Asda, the leaders encourage the performance of their colleagues by recognising their contributions towards the success of the organisation. They offer those employees that have contributed in a unique way a competitive package to show their appreciations. At Asda, the leaders also reward their employees according to the contributions they bring forward. The bonus scheme is designed to recognise and reward colleagues for their valued contributions. It should also be noted that the managers allocates and communicates what is to be done to their colleagues and also make them aware of the rewards and benefits they get according to how effective they are in carrying out their various task. 2.2 LEADERSHIP STRATEGY THAT SUPPORTS ORGANISATIONAL DIRECTION Leadership strategy makes explicit how many leaders you need, what kind, where, with what skills and behaving in what fashion individually and collectively to achieve the total success you seek, Pasmore (2010). In order for a leader to become effective in an organisation, the leader needs to understand the vision, mission, values and goals to be able to formulate strategies to really fit with the objectives of the organisation and how to achieve the strategies to accomplish the goals of the organisation. A leader cannot move an organisation forward without the people, therefore people with potentials are needed to support the growth of the organisation. Andy Clarke created strategies to support the growth of Asda by using a concept which he called tell Andy concept and the suggestion scheme to encourage colleagues to come together to meet the goals of the organisation. The idea of the strategies is to make the colleagues be a part of the organisation by presenting their ideas to make the business even more successful. Furthermore, if the ideas of the colleagues are accepted the duty managers ensure that the contributions are recognised and rewarded. 2.3 CONCLUSION In my analysis, I was able to understand that the impact of transformational and transactional leadership theories in Asda makes the organisation very effective in providing the best services for their customers. However, I would like to also suggest the path goal theory of leadership in the organisation which will also contribute to making sure that the task given to employees at Asda will be carried out within the given period of time. The path goal theory proposes that effective leaders motivate their followers by rewarding performance and the accomplishment of goals within time frames set by the task, Bretocci (2009). The use of the theory in the organisation will further encourage employees more and make them even more effective in delivering good customer service in Asda. BIBLIOGRAPHY Asda 2008: www.asda.jobs/all-about/index.html assessed on 30/12/2010 Asda 2010: www.asda.jobs/hourly/training-and-benefits/recognition assessed on 30/12/2010 David I. Bertocci 2009, leadership in organizations: there is a difference between leaders and managers (published by university press of America inc.) pgs. 52, 56, 59 Colonel Mark A. Homrig 2001(http://www.leadership.au.af.mil/documents/homrig.htm) assessed on 21/12/2010 TASK 3: PLANNING FOR LEADERSHIP 3.1 INTRODUCTION In this task I will be presenting the leadership requirements and planning for the development of leadership skills to support the growth of an organisation. 3.1.1 APPROPRIATE METHODS TO REVIEW CURRENT LEADERSHIP REQUIREMENTS In order for an organisation to be successful in their business the management needs skilful and talented leaders that will support the employees in effectively driving the workforce of the organisation to attain its goals. To be an effective and good leader entails looking into the future of the organisation for continuous growth therefore it is important for every organisation that is working towards success to have leaders that will initiate and bring ideas forward in the interest of the organisation and a highly skilled labour force that will also help the organisation to become highly competitive. Therefore, to be a competent leader, effective communication skills, effective time management, effective decision making, effective innovative skills, effective planning, effective listening skills, effective coaching skills, effective people management skills, effective motivating skills etc. are needed to develop plans to meet the requirements of the organisation. More importantly, the performance of the employees to meet the objectives of the organisation depends on the culture and structure of the organisation and it should be noted that a bad culture can be an obstacle to the progress of the organisation. However, as a good leader with good qualities of leadership Im required to restructure the organisation by initiating ideas to move the organisation from a bad culture and structure to a better one. Also bearing in mind that the most difficult part of restructuring is telling employees not to do what they are used to doing which might lead to the employees resisting to changes in the organisation, therefore a drastic leadership qualities will then be needed to change the behaviour of the employees by communicating with them to let them know the reasons for a strategic change and how the change will have an impact on them as well as the organisation. It is however, also important to adopt different styles of leadership to enable me adapt to different situations or difficulties that might arise in the organisation. Furthermore, the purpose of adopting the different styles of leadership is to be able to deal with challenges like managing people in the organisation during the strategic change by supporting them in carrying out an effective task in the new structure. The purpose of change is to move an organisation from its present point to a different one which is more desirable in meeting its objectives, Hannagan (2002). 3.2 PLANNING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF FUTURE SITUATIONS Planning helps to ensure that the future is taken into account, which may help the organisation to control the situation it finds itself in as far as possible and to prepare for unexpected eventualities, Hannagan (2002). There are new approaches and technological advancements coming up every day and in order to keep up with the changes in technology, training and development is important. Therefore, coaching skills is required to coach and support the employees with the ever changing developments to enable them come together to achieve a goal. To follow up on the employees is my responsibility as an effective leader to make sure everything is going well with them during the training and if additional coaching is needed to make them carry out their task effectively it should be provided without any hesitates. 4.1 PLANNING FOR THE DEVELOPMENTS OF LEADERSHIP SKILLS FOR A SPECIFIC REQUIREMENT Having identified the leadership skills required above (see fig 3.1.1) to become a competent leader in taking up a role in management, it is important to carry out a proper plan on developing the skills. It should be noted that, i already have some leadership skills used in supporting my personal business but it is important to improve the skills and develop new ones to enable me meet professional requirements. To attain the role of a human resource manager in the family business in two years it is necessary to get a degree in the MBA programme by 2012 to set me on a journey of achieving my training goals. Furthermore, the learning objectives is to make me exhibit required skills in managing people because the human resource department is all about looking after the welfare of the people in the organisation, to exhibit communication skills to be able to express and analyse clearly the vision, mission and goals of the organisation. However, it should be noted that there are different ways of communicating with people; therefore, it is important to develop interpersonal communication skills like listening skills, writing skills to be able to interact with the employees. It will also help to exhibit skills in team-working because the human resource manager is all about working with other members and departments to come together to achieve the goals of the organisation. In achieving the learning objectives it is important to practise and develop myself by addressing major issues that include managing people during a strategic change, problem solving and all the other necessary skills required of a human resource manager in an organisation. In order to boost the leadership skills, it should be noted, that practising these skills will help to improve my performance on how to effectively lead employees in the organisation. More importantly, to be a professional leader, continuous learning and self-development is also necessary so after my MBA programme I would like to further gain more experience in human resource management by enrolling in a three months professional course back home in my country to enable me boost my profile and to be well qualified to take over the role of the human resource manager in the family business. On successful completion of the MBA programme and the three months professional course in human resource management, I am sure to have improved on my skills and be ready to effectively carry out my responsibilities as the new human resource manager in the family business in the nearest future. 4.2 REPORT ON USEFULNESS OF METHODS USED IN PLANNING THE DEVELOPMENTS OF LEADERSHIP SKILLS The purpose of the learning method is to enhance my knowledge and performance on the new and existing skills that I have. The learning is useful because it gives the knowledge of how a good leader should behave and set good examples for the followers. It further gives me a better understanding of strategic leadership and management. The use of the self-development method in planning for the leadership skills needed is to help me develop myself through practising the skills of a leader. 4.3 CONCLUSION Finally,