The Lack of benefits available to soldiers returning from the Middle Term Paper

The Lack of benefits available to soldiers returning from the Middle East with mental and physically disorders - Term Paper Example It has been projected by some that close to fifty percent of current Middle East conflict veterans will seek medical treatment from the Veterans Administration. More than sixty percent of these injured veterans will seek short-term treatment, defined as medical care that lasts less than five years, but the other approximately forty percent of them will remain in the Veteran's Administration health care system for the rest of their lives (Patsner, n.p.). Unfortunately for these brave men and women, the resources available to treat injured and disabled veterans are currently severely lacking in quality. There are many reasons for the current situation. Among them are the sheer number of injured veterans returning from these conflicts and the cost of treating them, the type of injuries that are returning home, the number of veterans already in the system that also require care, the inadequacy of the existing system to handle patient transfers when a veteran moves from one part of the sy stem to another, and the lack of preparedness by primary care physicians outside the Veterans' Administration system to deal with war-related injuries. Many Americans are aware of the extremely high costs of the Middle East conflicts, as these operations have resulted in a continuous presence of American military members in that theater since the September 11, 2001 World Trade Center attack. As of the end of the 2010 fiscal year, the United States federal government had spent seven hundred and fifty-one billion dollars in Iraq and three hundred thirty-six billion dollars in Afghanistan (Belasco, p. 1). However, many people are not aware of the costs incurred after the injured veterans of these conflicts return home. One projection states that the costs of life-long medical care, disability benefits, and social security and pension benefits for veterans of the current Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts could eventually total over seven hundred billion dollars, which is more than the over all cost for the first five years of the conflict (Patsner, n.p.). Additionally, up to forty-five percent of Gulf War veterans may apply for long-term disability benefits. Over eighty-eight percent of those applying will be at least partially eligible to receive some form of disability payments. These disability claims could potentially add another three hundred fifty-five billion dollars to the total cost of health care for injured veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts (Patsner, n.p.) The Department of Defense and the Veterans' Administration have been ill-prepared to deal with the flood of injured service members and veterans returning from these conflicts. In 2001, before the current Middle East operations had begun, the number of backlogged Veteran's Administration cases was near one hundred thousand. As of April 2008, the number of unprocessed cases had jumped to over six hundred thousand. This means that not only are the currently returning veterans not being treated efficiently, resources are being re-directed from older veterans and reducing their access to care as well (Kenneth & Burris, 2330-39). This backlog of untreated cases, as well as the complexity of the application process for use of the Veterans' Administration medical resources, can lead to more issues of aggravated injuries for those veterans that are not adequately and quickly treated for their injuries. Due to the lack of screening as veterans separate from active

The consequences of Hortebort's syndrome Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The consequences of Hortebort's syndrome - Essay Example Enzymes are very essential to food digestion. Salivary glands, epithelial cells of the duodenum and duodenum are essential aids in the secretion of some of these enzymes, as well as the pancreas. Pancreatic juice will travel through a passage provided by tiny ducts running from the pancreas to the small intestine. By the time food reaches the small intestine, some the food would have already been partly digested. Starches and glycogens would have been broken down by salivary amylase, but only part of their bonds, which entails that most of the starches and glycogens will still remain undigested but enough to produce disaccharide maltose. Once it reaches the small intestine, pancreatic amylase will break down these carbohydrates into maltose. Disaccharide enzymes will break down sucrose, maltose and lactose into various forms of monosaccharides. Basically, all lipid digestions occur in the small intestine. Due to their solubility in water, these lipids will have to enter the small int estine in the forms of globules. ... When looked at closely, fingerlike villus or small hairs responsible for extracting nutrients lines the plicae circulars. The villus is full of capillaries which surrounds lacteal, which is a specialized lymphatic vessel. The villi aid the intestines in the transport of food along the digestive pathway, as well as increasing the amount of surface area available for nutrient absorption.2 Villus lacteals, also known as the lymph capillaries, will then collect the absorbed chylomicrons before they are distributed to the rest of the body through the fluids of the lymph. Villus is also responsible for absorbing carbohydrates prior to entering the capillaries. Absorption of digested molecules of fat, which also occurs in the small intestine, will go into the epithelial cells of the villi. These fats will be formed into bundles known as the chylomicrons passing into the lacteal. Chylocmicrons will be carried by lymphs away from each individual villus. In addition to that, the digestion of p rotein is also completely processed in the small intestine. 3 Proteins will initially be broken down into peptides before being broken down into amino acids before the villi absorbs them, and then pass through to the capillaries. The presence of enzymes is also present on the surface. Capillaries of the villi will collect the amino acids and simple sugars then be transferred into the blood stream. Due to the functions of the intestines in nutrient extraction, and enabling the body’s taking up of water and electrolytes, the body is enabled to maintain regular bodily systems. All elements absorbed are done so in a network of processes distributed all over the body through the

A paper based on reading of I Am Not Your Victim by Beth Sipe and Essay

A paper based on reading of I Am Not Your Victim by Beth Sipe and Evelyn J. Hall. This paper will include both personal reflection and an analytical review - Essay Example It is also good for all women who, due to a myriad of reasons, feign ignorance towards domestic violence. I Am Not Your Victim showcase the role of culture, criminal justice institutions and family values in fuelling the vice that is domestic violence. It is unfortunate that the marriage, which she had put so much into, only ended when she killed Sam in self-defense (Sipe 2007). More moving are her vivid descriptions of her encounters with the mental health systems following his death and the criminal justice system which saw her lose custody of her children. Beth was brought up to believe that violence from her husband â€Å"was a sign of affection† and that it was unethical for a woman to be independent of a man. Cultural values instilled in Beth drove her to literally view marriage as a â€Å"for better or for worse† affair where she was supposed to tolerate any amount of violence from her husband. Culture also plays a huge role on Sam’s personality and respect towards women as he witnessed the frequency with which his mother was beaten up by his father. He therefore grew up believing it would not only be tolerable but also acceptable in his household. It’s also important to remember that Beth had been divorced once and a botched second marriage would mean that she had failed her culture miserably (Sipe, 2007). As a result of this, Beth, like any other woman, had to make the marriage work. Tolerating domestic violence and living in the hope that her husband would one day change for the better was the only v iable and culturally acceptable response and option for her. Beth’s fear of loneliness saw her recoil in the vicious cycle of domestic violence. This explains why she would sometimes feel the embarrassment to tell the physicians it was her husband’s blows that kept her checking in. Sam, who was always battering her,

Employee Development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Employee Development - Essay Example As a result, employee development policy is necessary to ensure that employees are highly skilled and benefit to the organisation. According to the University of California, Los Angeles' Campus Human Resources, Training and Development, employee development policies for un-represented employees provide access to training and personal development programmes, and reduce fees for university classes to employees who are admitted to the university. The purpose of employee development policy for the University of North Carolina at Greensboro is to develop and train employees through university-sponsored workshops, lectures, symposia, educational assistance and tuition waiver programmes, and the general equivalency diploma programme. The opportunity for professional and personal growth of employees allows the university to satisfy its general education mission. With the responsibility to provide programmes, the Department Human Resource Services (HRS) supports and improves the knowledge, skills and abilities needed for employees to perform assigned functions. HRS educates employees regarding university policies; encourage personal growth; and helps the university comply with state and federal laws. Programmes are available to any individual in any capacity employed by the university in a permanent position, which includes full-time, part-time, probationary and trainee employees. Other types of employee development policy include providing skills for employees, not through training but through growth in the job and increased responsibility; performance management systems with a combination of appraisal reviews and target-setting, performance feedback and merit pay; increasing personal discretion in tasks and empowering employees to make decisions that affect daily work. With the increasing number of part-time and temporary employees, it would be in the best interest of the organisation if skills were developed in the same way as full-time employees. Data from the Employment in Britain survey, performed in 1993 by the Policy Studies Institute indicate that part-time employees are less likely than full-time employees to rate themselves above average on output or quality. This is also true for temporary employees and fixed-term contract employees. Part-time employees have less access to development and temporary employees as well are not included in continuing development. Contract employees are much better integrated into continuing development systems because they receive higher pay for their services. However, for improvement, continuous development practices by personnel and human resource (HR) specialists are imperative. The Fife Council has committed to a competent and fully trained workforce and to a programme of development, which benefits employees and the organisation. The purpose of their employee development policy helps to ensuring that the vision outlined in the Council's Aims and Values is make possible for all employees. The Council supports and encourages appropriate personal development and needs of the individual and the organisation. Other principles of their employee development policy seek to ensure equality of opportunity and access for employees to in-house and external development and

Distance Education in Nursing Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Distance Education in Nursing - Assignment Example From the research it is clear that  distance education has become an increasingly acceptable option for nurses owing to a variety of reasons. While it is a convenient option for those who are based in a rural setting and wish to avoid inconvenience and costs of travelling to a university, many choose it for its vast flexibility, enabling them to manage their family, work and education effectively. Sometimes, after having completed their bachelors from an institute, the nurses are unable to find appropriate qualification enhancement in their rural settings and hence this mode of education is an appropriate solution. Some opt for it so they can maintain their operational licenses and certification and hereby stay up to date in their specialties, while many use it as a means to improve their skill sets. The blessings of this form of education are most prominent for those in a rural setting, for many nurses practicing in rural areas are required to demonstrate advanced knowledge and sk ills along with minimal assistance.  As the paper investigates  owing to the increased popularity and preference of this mode of education, most of the universities have incorporated various courses in post-basic RN baccalaureate programs, many baccalaureate and some master’s programmes as well. This means that in the future, the prospects of maximum education by means of technology will open ways for many more students, who wish to acquire nursing education at a variety of levels. (Kristen S Montgomery, 2002) Is distance education the best possible option? Arguments and justifications: The need to spread awareness and education in today’s world is extremely high. While those in cities are blessed with more than one medium of education, it is rural education that poses a severe concern to many. Distance education comes as a blessing in disguise for these areas, where basic healthcare facilities themselves are missing and the stature of the nurse is almost comparabl e to that of the physician himself. These nurses require training, without a shift in their location. For city nurses, the issue is a different one. They are involved in their jobs for most part of the

Comparison of Buddhism and Other Religions Essay

Comparison of Buddhism and Other Religions - Essay Example Like most religions, Buddhism has a structure through which relief from the burdens of life can be attained. Unlike most other religions, that state of nirvana is achievable during one’s lifetime in contrast to the idea of receiving peace at the end of life through admission into Heaven. The Buddhist religion can be compared to other religions with the result being an understanding of how it has logistically been embraced as well as why it has been aesthetically embraced. Throughout history, religions have rarely been focused on a single individual. Hinduism, the Greek Olympian Gods, and the Jewish faith were all based upon a God or gods that had not lived an earthly life. Even Christianity is not based upon the life of a man, but on the teachings of God as articulated through his experience in manifesting his son on Earth. Buddhism, on the other hand, is based on the teachings of a man who was born, had a childhood, and evolved into a great teacher through whom an ‘awak ening’ occurred that defined the beliefs of those who then followed his teachings. Through the teachings of the Buddha, a middle way is found that does not require the individual to live in extreme asceticism, but to also not indulge in an extravagant lifestyle. The teachings of Buddha allowed the individual to be released from the idea of gods ruling their lives and gave to them the concept that anyone can reach nirvana, which is a release from earthly woes. Self-mastery is attained through the Four Noble Truths and through the Eightfold Path. The Four Noble Truths are that all life is permeated through suffering, all suffering is caused by desire, desire can only be overcome by Nirvana, and the way to nirvana is guided by eight principles. Those principles are that righteousness can be found through right ideas, right thought, right speech, right action, right living, right effort, right consciousness, and right meditation. In following these teachings the individual will b e released from desire. Manichaeism was developed during the third century through an Iranian born man named Mani and can be compared to Buddhism through the emphasis on the teachings of this man, just as Islam is founded on the teachings of Muhammad, the last prophet of the one God. Whereas Buddhism and Manichaeism both focus on an earthly man’s thoughts, Islam teaches that Muhammad was channeling the teachings of God. Islam, Judaism, and Christianity all use human conduits as teachers for the same God; however these three religions have been in conflict for most of history. Manichaeism incorporated the ideas of the Judaism history in order to define a new power balance between God and Satan in which the power of God was diminished to equal that of Satan through whom a balance was created. According to Scott, the response that Mani had to Buddhism was to describe the Buddha as a Messenger of Light, just like himself, but that the teachings of Buddha that would have reflected the same message as his own had been corrupted because they were not written by Buddha himself.1 Mani asserted that the teachings of Buddha had been changed because they were not chronicled enough to survive his passing. Albright asserts the same about the teachings within the Judeo-Christian heritage as he reminds his readers that the Old Testament is likely corrupted and out of chronology because of the number of reinterpretations that have occurred through a series of rewrites that passed those words down through history.2 Buddhism is not the only highly practiced religion in modern society that is based upon teachings that are not directly written from the source. Christianity is defined by teachings that did not come to be

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty Essay Example for Free

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty Essay The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is a short story that deals with the life of a Walter Mitty, a middle-aged, absent-minded man who spends much of his time daydreaming about a fantasy world in which he is at the center of various heroic escapades. During a trip to town with his wife, he dreams about a life filled with images of conquest—he pictures himself as being a Navy pilot commanding a hydroplane in the middle of a storm, a brilliant surgeon about to perform an emergency operation, an adept killer being questioned in court, and a brave soldier on a mission to bomb an ammunition dump. It is an interesting story, which can be interpreted in many different ways. Thematically, it touches on various aspects of social, psychological, as well as existential issues that afflict the common man and that many can relate with. One of the main and prevalent themes in the story is about escapism. Mitty is a timid and henpecked husband who appears to live a mundane and colorless life. He represents the average American middle-class man whose real experiences are dull and conventional. Through his depiction of Mitty, the author suggests that the life of an average, middle-class man offers little opportunity for an exciting existence. Because of this, Mitty tries to escape life through his imagination. This way, he is able to get away from the defeats of his life as well as the conflicts posed by his wife and society in general. The story shows how that for some people, fantasy is a welcome alternative to reality. In his mind, Mitty takes on the characteristics he would like to embody. Not only is he brave and heroic, he can hold quick and witty dialogues in his fantasies. In contrast to real life, he is meek and mild-mannered—in scenes wherein he parks his car and shops for puppy biscuit, it is seen that his real nature is the reverse of that of the characters he imagines himself to be. Another theme deals with failure and the feeling of helplessness in one’s life. Throughout the story, Mitty is shown passively taking orders from his overpowering wife. He wanders into his alternate reality even as his wife gives out orders. It can be speculated that Mrs. Mitty is one of the sources of his frustrations. While in his daydreams he is controlled and â€Å"masculine†, in real life, he lets himself be dominated and ordered around by his wife. His fantasies represent his inner character which he is too afraid to actualize in real life. The fact that Mitty does not complain is a sign that he feels powerless and that he is already resigned to his fate. Therefore, the only way he is able to survive his lackluster life is through his fantasies. Mitty also appears to have issues with self-fulfillment. One can deduce that he is not successful and thus re-creates himself as an accomplished man (i. e. being a celebrated doctor or a dazzling naval commander). Not only does his life lack excitement, it seems that his very existence is deplorable—his wife constantly nags him, park attendants and cops talk down to him, women on the street laugh at his actions. Mitty’s last fantasy can be interpreted a number of ways, one is that it evokes the feelings of helplessness Mitty feels about his real-life situation. He imagines himself facing a firing squad an this shows that he feels tired living his life and that he’d rather not live it.