Tuesday, October 8, 2019
Historical Criticism of Graham Greene's The Power and the Glory Essay
Historical Criticism of Graham Greene's The Power and the Glory - Essay Example Vol I). Sherry also informs us that as a young boy of 14 he suffered at the boarding school. His acquaintances and his experiences were shaping a mind which paralleled the tumultuous time he lived in. He ran away from home. And was sent for psychoanalysis. In 1925, he met Vivien Dayrell-Browning. A Roman Catholic conver, Vivien molded him toward Roman Catholicism, to which he got converted at the age of 26. His religious belief followed a trajectory vividly depicted in his catholic tetralogy: "Brighton Rock" (1938), "The Power and the Glory" (1940), "The Heart of the Matter" (1948), and "The End of the Affair" (1951). In fact, Greene's life is a reflection of the saga of Roman Catholic Church at that time. As Mark Bosco says that Greene's writings represent different phases of his Catholic sensibility. He emerges mature with liberation theology after Vatican Council II (Bosco 115-117). The novel draws parallels with T.S. Elliot's poem "The Hollow Men". The hollow men wander in a barren landscape, trying to remember the line after "For Thine is the Kingdom" in the Lord's Prayer. The phrase happens to be "the Power and the Glory" (Ways of Escape 65-68). Not only the theme, but even the milieu and the settings set Greene's novels apart. "The Quiet American" is set in the Vietnam of the early 50s, "The Heart of the Matter" is set in West Africa, "Our Man in Havana" in Cuba, "The Honorary Consul in Paraguay/Argentina. Greene was a globe-trotter. From Africa to Asia to Latin America, he had his share of experiences everywhere. A man who wrote "England Made Me", Greene spent the last 25 years of his life in exile in France. This is not surprising then to find that all but a few of his post-war novels are set outside Britain. His authorized biographer Norman Sherry suffered tropical diabetes in Liberia, dysentery in Mexico and intestinal gangrene in Paraguay in the course of his research. Sherry links Greene's constant urge to be on the move to his escapist tendency and an escape from the responsibilities of life (Sherry 350-354 Vol. I). His penchant for travels also stems from his love for Joseph Conard. Mr. Greene suddenly becomes a character out of the Conrad stories he admired. He exposes himself to all sorts of pain and jeopardy. He explores hitherto unpenetrated jungles. He climbs mountains, crosses wild and unbridged rivers, endures the pain and vulnerability of tropical sicknesses. He looks everywhere, it seems, listens with respect to the most obscure of his fellow human beings and thereby not only learns about and from others, but finds the direction of his own life's compass (Coles). Like his shifting destinations during the course of frequent travels, Greene's faith too followed a shifting trajectory. Today Catholicism is once again the topic of discussion thanks to Dan Brown's murder mystery "The Da Vinci Code." Before Brown's best-seller, Catholicism as a theme of a novel was a strange idea for the readers. As Lawson makes us believe: Today, Catholicism, wanderlust and expatriation all lack the attraction they had for writers in Greene's time. The centre of gravity of
Monday, October 7, 2019
Alexander the great Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words
Alexander the great - Essay Example As these anecdotes were around for a long time now and as Alexander even though historical, flourished better as a legend, leaving all of them out would have made the narration curt and dry. But a highly focussed decision maker like Alexander being portrayed as soothsayer dependent might not go well with the historical facts and figures. It is also mentioned by many that an ââ¬Ëuncommon viewpointââ¬â¢ is provided for the actions of the Greek poleis and the responses of King Philip. While writing about a king who had enormous effect on his subjects who looked at him for guidance, unintended exaggeration creeps in and that is nothing extraordinary. Greenââ¬â¢s showing the step-by-step conviction that Philip was a god himself, is the psychological assurance of an adoring child to whom the father could do anything. But it is difficult to find precedents for Greenââ¬â¢s argument, because we do not come across any other writing that says that Alexander was so impressionable. Another point that is difficult to agree with Green is that Alexander became more and more impervious to the needs of the people under him. History books say that he discarded ideas of further pressing forward in India because his soldiers were unhappy to go further. They had left their land long ago and wanted to return and he agreed. It is impossible to agree with Green that Alexander was evolving into a hard-headed dictator. The legends show that Alexander appreciated the heroism of Indian king, appreciated Indian philosophy and looked after his soldiers to the best of his ability. He always discussed matters of importance and mourned the death of his close friend for months and he had been kind to not only his people, but also to the vanquished. Green does not rely much on facts and real research and instead, relies on unconfirmed material. ââ¬Å"Nevertheless, few have been as free as Green in accepting uncorroborated slander as factâ⬠¦.it should not be a book to be introduced students to
Sunday, October 6, 2019
Policing Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words
Policing - Research Paper Example Policing How to Become a Police Officer in New York City New York has the second biggest police force in the United States with a total number of police officers in the department estimated to be about 5,000 (Skogan, 2006). The labor department foresees that there are going to be about 1,700 vacancies in the New York police department until 2018 (Skogan, 2006). Some of the positions available for interested candidates include aviation, highway patrol, criminal investigations, crime scene analysts as well as drug enforcement (Skogan, 2006). Educational requirements for candidates applying for positions in the police department in New York are a little bit higher as compared to other states. Candidates are required to have at least 60 credit units from college and a GPA of 2.0. The candidates are also required to be US citizens of about 21 years of age (Sherman & Eck, 2002). They must be New York residents with valid driving licenses and great vision of 20/100. Corrected vision with sp ectacle glasses has to be 20/20 for candidates to qualify. Apart from these qualifications, candidates are also taken through background investigations and tests as well as drug and substance abuse tests (Gaines & LeRoy Miller, 2006). The candidates are also obligated to take written Service Exam from the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS). This examination helps the department to pick highly qualified candidates to serve in the police force. Other examination tests taken include the written psychological test. Candidates will also be taken through very rigorous oral interviews and job standardized test to determine how the candidates can perform at various police tasks. Qualifying candidates will undergo police training at the New York Police Training Academy for about 28 weeks, after which they will go through field training for 10 more weeks before they can start serving the police department (Sherman & Eck, 2002). Management Structure of the New York Police De partment The New York Police Department is structured into various bureaus and units that help maintain peace and order in the State. The head of the department is the New City York Police Commissioner. The commissioner appoints deputies and assistants to help him run the department. In total, the New York Police Department is divided into eight different bureaus, among which six act as enforcement bureaus (Gaines & LeRoy Miller, 2006). The head of each bureau is known as the Bureau Chief, for instance the Chief of Patrol or Chief of Internal affairs. Each bureau is subdivided into various units, divisions and sections, each dealing with a specific issue (Gaines & LeRoy Miller, 2006). The department also has some specialized units that do not fall under any bureau, for instance the Operations Unit. These specialized units report directly to the Police Commissioner (Braga, Kennedy, Waring, & Piehl, 2001). The Police Commissioner, who is the head of the department, is a civilian polic e officer appointed by the Mayor of New York City (Braga et al., 2001). The police staff of the department comprises both civilian and uniformed police. Uniformed police officers in the department are charged with the responsibility of investigating crimes and performing law enforcement operations in the state. On the other hand, the civilian police o
Saturday, October 5, 2019
Multilateralism and the International Organizations Essay
Multilateralism and the International Organizations - Essay Example The first modern instances of multilateralism occurred in the nineteenth century in Europe after the end of the Napoleonic Wars where the great powers met to redraw the map of Europe at the Congress of Vienna. The Concert of Europe, as it became known, was a group of great and lesser powers that would meet to resolve issues peacefully. Conferences such as the Conference of Berlin in 1884 helped reduce great power conflicts during this period, and the nineteenth century was one of the Europes most peaceful. This system, however, was destroyed by the First World War and consequently, the League of Nations was created by the conflict world leaders in order to try to prevent any other form of conflict. Still, after the Second World War, the leaders saw the League of Nations failure and decided to create the United Nations in 1945 with a structure intended to address the weaknesses of the previous body. Unlike the League, the UN had the active participation of the United States and the Soviet Union, the worlds two greatest contemporary powers. Along with the political institutions of the UN, the post-war years a wide array of other multilateral organizations such as the GATT (now the World Trade Organization), the World Bank and the World Health Organization developed. The collective multilateral framework played an important role in maintaining world peace in the Cold War. Moreover, United Nations peacekeepers stationed around the world became one of the most visible symbols of multilatera lism in recent decades. Today there are so manyà multilateral institutions of varying scope and subject matter, ranging from the International Telecommunication Unit (ITU) to the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) and Organisation For the Prohibition Of Chemical Weapons(OPCW); although many such organizations were founded or are supported by the UN, they areà by no means maintained within the UN system.à Ã
Friday, October 4, 2019
Advertisements and Tourism Websites Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
Advertisements and Tourism Websites - Essay Example Advertisements and websites are the most prolific example of segmented marketing, where the target group decides the contents of advertisements. In the rapid globalization and advancing technology, websites of tourism are the most popular form of advertisements for the tourism industry whose. Tourism websites have become popular primarily because they are able to provide the customers with the necessary information and services that facilitate their desire for relaxation and at the same time whet their appetite for adventure. People have the inherent urge for adventure and tourist industry, the world over has left no stone unturned in order to provide an exciting adventure in the remotest part of the world. The information explosion and e-commerce activities in the tourism industry have further added to the attraction. The websites have made even a middle-class person, with limited resources, to crave for the attractions and exciting new packages that are on offers by the travel agen cies. ââ¬Ëhttp://www.guardian.co.uk/travelââ¬â¢ is one such website that is designed to seduce the customers with a vast choice of places offering attractive schemes. Rest and relaxation are an integral part of human nature where different people have different notion of rejuvenating themselves. The tips given by the travelers are designed to inspire and boost the confidence of the future customers.
Thursday, October 3, 2019
Hitler Became Chancellor in January Essay Example for Free
Hitler Became Chancellor in January Essay It signified unity and support behind a cause ââ¬â unseen since the beginning of the Great War. No longer were nationalists vying for the implausible return of a Kaiser, but joining behind Hitler. Furthermore Nazi support far exceeded that of the parties on the fragmented Left. Whilst in 1930 the SPD retained their lead on the NSDAP by two million votes, in 1932 the Nazi vote was almost double of the SPDââ¬â¢s, with 7 million more votes. By leading the most popular party, Hitler had the confidence of almost 14 million people which was an undeniable force. Then again, Hitler had not gained the 50% majority needed to become Chancellor. Democracy did not bring Hitler to power and 63. 6% of Germans had not voted for Hitler. Debatably, it was only a protest vote. The loss of two million votes from the July to the November 1932 elections demonstrates how the popularity of the party was perhaps more a symbolic facade which Hitler took advantage of. Some would argue that it was not the quantity of supporters that brought him power but the importance of individual groups. Having Nazi supporters in crucial interest groups such as industrialists, the army and Hindenburgââ¬â¢s own family was also important for funding and for political sway. Most important of these was popularity in military circles. Essentially the armyââ¬â¢s acquiescence and partial support for Nazis meant that when the SA surrounded Berlin in January 1933 threatening to seize power, Wilhelmstra? e was left with little choice. There was as many as four times the number of Stormtroopers as Reichswehr, although the army had machine guns and flame throwers. The most pressing fact was that General von Hammerstein had told Hindenburg that many soldiers may refuse to obey an order to crush the SA. Whilst the threat of a violent coup pressurized government, that the army was not loyal arguably made Hitlerââ¬â¢s appointment inevitable. Ruth Henig argues that it wasnââ¬â¢t the strength of its enemies that brought down the Republic as much as the striking absence of its friends. Not quite a ââ¬Å"Republic without Republicansâ⬠, but the political naivety of both parties and individuals in failing to cooperate was a considerable factor in Nazi success. Specifically, the SPDââ¬â¢s refusal as one of the strongholds of democracy: in November 1932 the left combined had 13. 5 million votes, whereas the right had 12 million. By uniting, the Communists and Socialists had potentially the ability to overrule the Nationalists. Stalinââ¬â¢s preference of Hitler over the SPD, who he believed were the real enemy, ensured complete disunity. Arguably a more decisive factor was Von Papenââ¬â¢s active role. His plan to ââ¬Å"frame inâ⬠the Nazis to utilize their mass support and then dispense with Hitler was short-sighted and naive. Meeting with Kurt Von Schroder, Papen not only in turn helped solve the Nazi financial debts to ensure the continuation of the party, but presented an opportunity to Hitler which he otherwise would not have been offered. Papen convinced Hindenburg the Nazi support could be harnessed and that its ambitions and extremist policies contained through safety features. The President agreed to only meet with Hitler when the Vice Chancellor, Von Papen, was present. Only two cabinet ministers were included. By offering this, Von Papen made perhaps the most fatal underestimation of the 20th century. He had had the responsibility of being decisive, thorough and unfaltering when Hindenburg could not be and so his weak acceptance of Hitlerââ¬â¢s demands ââ¬â when he was perhaps not even in a position to demand ââ¬â is surely a cause of Hitlerââ¬â¢s appointment. Debatably, this arrangement was a production of Hitlerââ¬â¢s own political skill as opposed to, or as well as, Papenââ¬â¢s great failure. Hitlerââ¬â¢s opportunism, vehement desire for power and ability to manipulate people was crucial for his success. Meeting with Von Papen in December 1932, he resolutely demanded the Chancellorship. Whereas Strasser faltered in making botched agreements with Von Schleicher for a lesser position, Hitler held out against odds. Additionally Hitlerââ¬â¢s chameleon nature meant that he was successfully demanding with Von Papen, yet very respectful with Hindenburg, bowing down to him publicly. Popularity got Hitler through the door, but Hitlerââ¬â¢s opportunism and manipulation brought his triumph. In summary, Nazi popularity gave Hitler the advantage. It offered him access to Germanyââ¬â¢s leaders so that he was able to exploit the scheming nature of Von Papen and ailing of Hindenburg. Nevertheless, Hitler failed to command a majority and thus his appointment of Chancellor was left to the decisions of incapable and self-seeking men. Perhaps Hitler succeeded because in that dire political situation, those in power could not ignore Hitlerââ¬â¢s strength. However the Presidentââ¬â¢s and Papenââ¬â¢s inadequacy and underestimation of Hitler in the face of his resounding obstinacy, as well as the threat his Stormtroopers, were the decisive forces.
Wednesday, October 2, 2019
Factors for Motivation at Work in Nursing
Factors for Motivation at Work in Nursing Is motivation at work for nurses in two NHS hospitals dependant on job satisfaction or financial incentives? The National Health Service was described in a BBC News article in 2000 (BBC, 2000) as an organization in crisis as it analyzed various factors impacting the agency. The report indicated the new government mandate titled, ââ¬Å"The NHS Plan: A Plan for Investment: A Plan for Reformâ⬠(NHS, 2000) consisting of billions committed to improving the services across a wide breathe of areas which included the following concerns as brought forth via consultation with NHS staff members and the public (NHS, 2000). The consultation consisted of interviews and surveys with 58,000 staff members and 152,000 members of the public, with the following ten areas the top concerns the public and staff members voiced: Table 1 ââ¬â Top Ten Concerns Voiced by the Public and NHS Staff Members (NHS, 2000): Public Staff Members 1 More staff members with higher pay scales, the foregoing includes increased doctors, nurses, scientists and therapists, More staff, with the top concern mentioned as increases in this area and higher pay, 2 a reduction in waiting times for appointments as well as on trolleys and casualty, additional training along with an improvement in management shills across all staffing levels, 3 an improvement in the ways or working with ââ¬Å"bring back the matronâ⬠(NHS, 2000) mentioned as one aspect of the foregoing an increase in what was termed as ââ¬Ëjointed-upââ¬â¢ working with social services at the community as well as primary care levels, 4 focusing care that is centered on the patients with action to be taken on operations that have been canceled as well as providing more convenient services, reduced bureaucracy, consisting of less administration along with an improvement in funding systems, 5 a higher quality of care provided with cancer and heart disease mentioned prominently, more action and information on prevention to reduce the causes of ill health, 6 better medical facilities consisting of cleaner locations with a better quality of food and attention to getting the basics correct, improved working conditions along with increased aids for recruitment as well as staff retention, and more flexibility in working patterns, 7 an improvement in facilities for NHS staff, with rewards and recognition for the work done by staff members, a reduction in waiting times, 8 an improvement in location services along with improvements in local hospitals as well as surgical facilities, patient centered care, with staff frustration concerning the system being too focused on itself and its needs without meeting individual patient needs 9 an end to the postcode lottery and the assurance of higher quality in all locales, Increased performance as well as accountability systems to reduce variances in care in different locales 10 increased prevention along with better assistance on information and help on healthy living An increase in autonomy for local services to provide them with more control over their organization and a reduction in control from Whitehall The preceding indicates the similarity of views and concerns between the public and NHS staff in 2000 at the inception of the governmentââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"The NHS Plan: A Plan for Investment: A Plan for Reformâ⬠(NHS, 2000). In June of 2004 the Department of Health reported on the ââ¬Å"NHS Improvement Planâ⬠(Department of Health, 2004) which detailed the progress made in the NHS since the year 2000. The ââ¬ËForwardââ¬â¢ to this document by Prime Minister Tony Blair summarized the achievements and status of the NHS and the following calls attention to those areas as indicated in Table 1 Top Ten Concerns Voiced by the Public and NHS Staff Members: Under the ââ¬ËPlanââ¬â¢ thousands of additional doctors and nurses, representing a 22% rise in doctors, 21% increase in nurses and a 27% rise in scientific staff, new incentives for staff and pay contracts have been implemented, incentives have been created to reward staff for service commitments and improvements, dozens of new hospital facilities have been opened under the ââ¬ËPlanââ¬â¢, there has been a reduction in waiting times, from 18 months to under nine months, outpatient appointments have been reduced from 26 weeks to 17 weeks, cancer and heart disease death rates have been reduced, new services such as NHS Direct and Walk-in Centres have been implemented, patient care has been improved with faster diagnosis and treatment times clinical governance has aided in aiding in evaluation and overall service improvement as implemented under ââ¬Å"The NHS Plan: A Plan for Investment: A Plan for Reformâ⬠(NHS, 2000) The preceding represent a summary of the status report on the improvements in the NHS since the adoption of ââ¬Å"The NHS Plan: A Plan for Investment: A Plan for Reformâ⬠(NHS, 2000). The foregoing information is endemic to the examination of whether motivation at work for nurses is dependent upon job satisfaction or financial incentives as the NHS is a countrywide operation and the overall system impacts upon each hospital and staff member even in the best of situations. Thus, the overall climate and atmosphere of the NHS is an important factor in understanding the context of this examination. The underlying facts are that in terms of health care expenditures and other areas the United Kingdom spends just $1,813 per resident as compared to $2,387 for France, $2,780 for Germany, $2,580 for Canada and $4,500 for the United States (OECD, 2003). And the foregoing is further exacerbated by the fact that the United Kingdom has just 2 physicians for each 1,000 in population as compar ed against 2.8 in the United States and 3.3 in Germany and France (Stevens, 2004, pp. 37-44). And while the shortfall of physicians represents a major NHS problem, it is the nurses who see to the multitude of tasks and daily patient care which makes the hospitals run and the shortage of these professionals is a critical component in better health care. A BBC News article in 1999 pointed out that some of the reasons for the shortage of nurses in the NHS are due to poor pay as well as conditions that have affected retention as well as recruitment (BBC News, 1999). The sub-standard pay scale was illustrated through a survey that found that one fifth of all health workers had taken on a second job to enable them to meet expenses, and that one third worked an average of two weeks per year without pay as a result of extra overtime work (BBC News, 1999). The article (BBC News, 1999) added that pay was not the only factor in the nursing shortage problem, the nurses mentioned conditions and a lack of job satisfaction due to the long working hours, heavy pressure, under staffing and lack of recognition. This document shall examine the crisis confronting the NHS with respect to nurses from the standpoint of whether the motivational factor for these professionals is dependant upon job satisfaction or financial incentives. This examination shal l utilize secondary survey sources as well as a primary survey to equate these aspects along with theoretical research and opinions. Chapter 2 ââ¬â Literature Review In examining the question of whether motivation for nurses in the NHS is dependant upon job satisfaction or financial incentives, an understanding of various motivational theories is critical to this review. A central subject in the study of psychology, motivation was equated by Sigmund Freud who thought that a good part of the behavior of human beings was based upon unconscious motives and or irrational instinctive urges (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2006). Behavioral psychologists, however, stress that the importance of external goals plays a huge role in prompting action, and humanistic psychologists believe that it lies in felt needs (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2006). A major study conducted by the Kings Fund (2002) pointed out that the governmentââ¬â¢s commitment to add an additional à £9.4 billion in funding to improve NHS services to bring the agency into closer proximity with the spending of other European countries, as well as the additional of more nurses, therapists and cons ultants in and of itself was not enough. The Report stressed that the problems of staff retention and recruitment have their roots in good morale and motivation, and that the foregoing is an essential component in order to have a healthy workforce as well as to aid in the attraction as well as retention of nurses (Kings Fund, 2002). The Report went on to state that the NHS needs to have a better understanding of both the positive and negative factors acting upon motivation and morale, as these aspects need to be addressed as part of improving the overall state of service delivery in the NHS (Kings Fund, 2002). The preceding implication has been borne out in an article by Margaret Callaghan (2003, pp. 82-89) who conducted a study on morale amongst fifty-eight nurses, 30 were females and 28 were male) regarding morale and career concerns. The study found that morale was extremely low among the respondents with a large number of the group surveyed seriously thinking of leaving the profession. More importantly, the feelings among the surveyed group were so strong regarding the negative aspects of nursing in the NHS that they indicated that the majority of those surveyed indicated they would discourage others from entering the profession, citing disillusionment, limited advancement opportunities, job insecurity, limited resources and the lack of support for furthered education, which equate to motivational issues, as well as low pay (Callaghan, 2003, pp. 82-89). Interestingly, the findings of the study indicated that recent increases in the pay scale had helped to improve staff morale however; this development only partly offset other factors (Callaghan, 2003, pp. 82-89). Additional information on the importance of nursing morale, motivational factors and job satisfaction are addressed in Chapter 2.1 the Broader Survey, which includes a number of surveysââ¬â¢s and studies. 2.1 The Broader Survey The annual RCN membership survey conducted in 2003 (Ball et al, 2003) found that the overall nursing population is getting older, with the media age increasing to 41 from 39 just five years ago. The respondent field consisted of a mailing of 15,917 RCN members with a 61% response rate, or 9,700 returned forms, thus the survey covered a broad number of members and it can be concluded that the sampling is an accurate cross section representing meaningful numbers that precludes bias. The significance of the foregoing with respect to the theme of this study is that the drop out rate for nursing students now stands at between 15% to 20%, with one out of ten of those surveyed indicating that they would not elect to work for the NHS (Ball et al, 2003). The findings indicated that the work hour demands placed on NHS nurses represents a real factor in dissatisfaction with their jobs in that 64% work full time averaging 44 hours per week as opposed to just 20% for GP nurses (Ball et al, 2003). The significance of the foregoing in the context of this examination is that nurses indicated that they want greater choice and control over their working hours and cited this as a major factor in moving into agency and bank work where they work for a lower rate of pay, and usually the same hours and the same settings as NHS nurses. This represents an interesting correlation in that nurses elect these options even though they complain about the lower rates of pay for the same work and grades, however, they are more positive about their experience in bank and agency work than their NHS counterparts (Ball et al, 2003). The foregoing is borne out by the fact that nurses in NHS hospitals are less satisfied with their choices over shift lengths, as noted by 40%, as compared to 26% of GP practice nurses and 22% of agency and bank nurses, thus representing a key job satisfaction issue. The preceding is further evidenced by NHS nurses working in excess of their 37.5 contracted hours, averagi ng 44 hours per week. 2.2 The Critical Review The RCN study uncovered that career prospects and the opportunity to progress are limited as three-fifths indicated that it was difficult to advance from their present grade, with E grade nurses as the most pessimistic (Ball et al, 2003). The lack of definitive job advancement opportunities represents a hurdle to motivating NHS nurses as well as recruitment, as do the survey findings regarding the following areas (Ball et al, 2003): Table 2 ââ¬â NHS Views of Workload and Staffing (Ball et al, 2003) Disagree Strongly Disagree Agree Strongly Agree Do not spend too much time on non-nursing duties 17 37 23 2 There are sufficient Staff to provide a good standard of care 21 40 23 3 I am not under too much pressure at work 19 37 16 1 My workload is not too heavy 23 39 13 1 The RCN study indicated that in terms of nurseââ¬â¢s issues, pay scales were not the overriding issue as factors such as workloads and hours worked played a large part in their perceptions. The study found that the respondents rated good pay as an important aspect by 75% of those surveyed, and 90% of the respondents stated that staffing was an extremely important issue and was one of the most cited areas by nurses to improve job satisfaction (Ball et al, 2003). The findings strongly indicated that as a result of dissatisfaction with working conditions that nurses were prepared to leave NHS jobs for less pay to gain control over their personal lives indicating the importance of job satisfaction as a key area. The lack of adequate opportunities for advance also rated high on the list of concerns and complaints voiced by respondents as 47% indicated that they were not graded appropriately (Ball et al, 2003). Pay scales are the outgrowth of the preceding thus naturally the attitudes t owards compensation rated high on the list of replies. Table 3 ââ¬â Views Regarding Pay (Ball et al, 2003) Disagree Strongly disagree Agree Strongly agree I could not be paid more for less effort if I left nursing 35 39 10 1 Nurses are not paid poorly in relation to other professional groups 54 36 3 2 Considering the work I do I am paid well 23 48 11 1 The replies in this area are consistent with the complaints regarding poor pay as voiced by NHS nurses as well as uncovered in numerous surveys and articles on this area, and nine of ten nurses feel that they are poorly paid in comparison with other professions (Ball et al, 2003). The importance of adequate pay was indicated by 75% of respondents, with 80% stating that receiving promotions based upon merit as equally important which represents a job satisfaction issue. Equating the factors representing motivation, job satisfaction and financial incentives in the nursing profession is an exceedingly complex task owing to the highly skilled nature of the work as well as the differing positions, grading and assignment variables involved. A significant measure of job satisfaction is the movement of staff in and out of the NHS. The study found that 25% of NHS nurses had changed jobs in the calendar year compared against 15% in the GP practice sector, and 17% involved in nursing and nurse education. Table 4 ââ¬â NHS Nurse Turnover 1996 ââ¬â 2002 (Ball et al, 2003) Year Percent 1996 23% 1997 21% 1998 18% 1999 19% 2000 20% 2001 23% 2002 24% 2003 25% It is important to note that in equating the preceding figures that a change of job does not always mean that one has left their current employer, as it could also mean a promotion, transfer or lateral move within the same organization. The survey revealed that 51% of the indicated changes in job represented a change in employer and that 13% of all nurses engaged in this practice during 2003 (Ball et al, 2003). The sheer overall size of the NHS means that most employment changes entailed jobs within the NHS system, with 96.5% of the nurses changing jobs who were in the NHS remaining in the NHS even though they switched or changed jobs (Ball et al, 2003), and these job changes can also entail the NHS bank. An important determinant of job satisfaction and motivation is what nurses plan to do in the future with regard to their employment. 29% of the surveyed nurses indicated their intention to leave their employer in the next two years, with NHS nurses indicated this intention at 27% (B all et al, 2003). Those nurses who indicated that they intend to stay at the present employment cited that they felt that their work was valued as the primary reason, 63% (Ball et al, 2003). Nurseââ¬â¢s views regarding motivation along with job satisfaction can be also equated via morale which describes their views as well as attitudes. The survey uncovered that 73% of respondents indicated that they did not desire to leave nursing as a profession, and of the 27% who expressed a desire to leave only 22% indicated that they would recommend nursing to others as a career (Ball et al, 2003). 74% indicated that the career prospects in the profession have increasingly become less attractive and a higher percentage would opt to leave the profession altogether if they could think of a suitable alternative after the years they invested in the career (Ball et al, 2003). Table 5 ââ¬â Respondents Indicating They Would Leave Nursing If They Could (Ball et al, 2003) Strongly agree Agree Neither Disagree Strongly disagree Work is valued score 3.5 3.05 2.75 2.4 2.1 Table 6 ââ¬â Respondents Indicating They Want to Leave Nursing Percentages (Ball et al, 2003) 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55 and over Would leave 14.7 23 31 32.5 27 33 30 26 Planning to leave 5 9 10.5 9 7 7 11 34 The survey uncovered that the respondents who indicated a desire to leave the profession if they could was correlated strongly with their perception of a lack of advancement and or promotion opportunities. And those who feel that their work is valued indicated that they would either stay or did not indicate an intention or consideration of leaving. The preceding seemingly points to job satisfaction as the more important factor among nurses, feeling appreciated and valued, rather than low pay, which is cited often as a problem as well as advancement opportunities. Morale as well as being or feeling rewarded thus tends to fall closely with feeling valued and or appreciated as a reason for motivating nurses. In terms of correlating the information and findings uncovered as a result of the RCN membership survey conducted in 2003 (Ball et al, 2003) the Kings Fund survey of ââ¬ËMorale and Motivationââ¬â¢ in the NHS represents a interesting manner in which to compare results to determine whether motivation for nurses is dependent on job satisfaction or financial incentives. The Kings Fund survey indicated that while it is difficult to measure the way in which individuals feel regarding their work, the survey indications pointed to morale as well as motivation in the NHS as being low. The Kings Fund survey identified three distinct factors that affect both moral and motivation (Kings Fund, 2002): whether of not the staff feel they are valued, the working environment, and resources and pay scales These same three aspects were correlations reached in the RCN membership survey conducted in 2003 (Ball et al, 2003) and thus provides a strong case for the fact that job satisfaction seemingly represents the key motivational factor for nurses in the NHS. The Kings Fund summary indicated that nurses as well as doctors have elected to leave their positions in the NHS as well as to retire early in large numbers (Ball et al, 2003). The preceding has been found to be in huge part that NHS staff members feeling that they are not valued by the government as well as the media, which has been critical of their performance and quality of service, which reflects in shaping public perceptions to a great degree. The Kings Fund (2002) survey points to the example of hospitals in the United States that have been successful in the attraction and retention of nurses which studies have attributed to their including staff in decision making aspects to increase their perception of value and worth as we ll as involvement and control. The Kings Fund study indicated that the major factors that affect morale as well as motivation are as follows (Kings Fund, 2002): Working Environment The study found that the quality of the working environment which respect primarily to the staffing levels, speed of reform and the depth of same are major factors affecting morale as well as motivation. It indicated that too much change as well as too much political control represent de-motivating factors and represent key reasons that individuals indicate as desiring to leave employ in the NHS. Feeling Valued The RCN membership survey (Ball et al, 2003) strongly indicated the importance of ââ¬Ëfeeling valuedââ¬â¢ in the workplace representing an extremely strong factor in job satisfaction. The Kings Fund study stated that the value which nurses as well as other staff members perceived as a result of groups outside of the NHS such as politicians, the public as well as the media were highly important in this equation. The Kings Fund study indicated that like the American hospitals, those NHS facilities that involve nurses in decision making, planning and policy have a happier and higher motivated workforce with lower turnover rates. The Kings Fund study also included focus group discussions out of which ââ¬Ëfeeling valuedââ¬â¢ emerged as the key determinant defining morale and motivation. The critical issues identified from these sessions where as follows: Perceived Worth The study uncovered that the general consensus among those in the focus group was that they did not feel valued as professionals by members of their own profession who had higher educational achievements or degrees, as well as the public. Levels of Support Staff members indicated that they feel that they are not supported by politicians as well as employers, citing that the public perception of the NHS had changed after the government blamed NHS staff for service quality. Importantly, those focus group members who reported and or felt they were listened to felt motivated. Recognition and Treatment The status of treatment, in terms of recognition and support was indicated as an important consideration by members of the focus group study with regard to their feelings concerning their job and satisfaction with it. Job Satisfaction Job satisfaction is a category that is in lock step with morale and motivation, according to the Kings Fund study, and represents reasons linked with the intention to leave or as to why they have left employment. The foregoing includes factors such as the nature of the work, if there are advancement opportunities and other factors linked to job satisfaction. Resources and Pay In this context, resources referred to how well the service segment of the hospital facility is resourced overall as well as the manner in which staff members are rewarded. The foregoing highly influences morale as well as motivation as reported by medical managers and doctors. While some of the preceding areas seemingly do not correlate as being endemic to the examination of motivation and whether job satisfaction or financial incentives are the key to involvement for nurses, it was deemed important to draw a larger picture of the context to thus magnify the areas of importance within this context. The foregoing approach enables the research findings to draw upon additional information from which to support the rationales as well as aid in the formulation of the conclusion that the data suggests and points to. The foregoing also aids in the analysis of the primary research survey which represented a sampling of just 22 individuals. Chapter 3 Methodology The methodology utilized in equating the examination as to whether motivation at work for nurses in the NHS is dependent upon job satisfaction or financial incentives was conducted utilizing primary research in the form of a small survey as well as secondary research surveys as conducted by the RCN, the Kings Fund, Margaret Callaghan (2003, pp. 82-89), and ââ¬ËThe NHS Plan: A Plan for Investment: A Plan for Reformââ¬â¢ along with varied theories on job satisfaction and motivational factors. The utilization of five differing survey and studies on the subject were conducted to ensure that the conclusions drawn from this information was based upon having enough information from which to read into the examination. The secondary surveys and studies were both comprehensive as well as large and the topic field, while not specifically devoted to the examination as posed herein, did contain enough data, questions, elements and points to enable their use as viable information sources. Gr aph data was converted to tables herein to present the data in a more comprehensive and readable format. The utilization of various articles and news sources aided in identifying the past as well as the current temper of conditions, moods and attitudes in the NHS from the perspective of nurses as well as governmental actions and public opinions. The preceding enabled the establishment of an historical perspective, and the legislative actions undertaken by the United Kingdom government in the form of the ââ¬Å"The NHS Plan: A Plan for Investment: A Plan for Reformâ⬠(NHS, 2000) and the ââ¬Å"NHS Improvement Planâ⬠(Department of Health, 2004). The consensus of the overall effect of these plans is that the government has indeed made some progress in the hiring of additional nurses, doctors and technicians as well as introducing pay scale incentives, however, as stated by the BBC (2003) the NHS is still threatened with a shortfall of 50,000 nurses who are due to retire over the next five years despite the hiring of 40,000 extra nurses since 1997. The historical research utilize d as part of the methodology provided background information on the internal problems of the NHS which includes the fact that a large proportion of the 40,000 hired NHS nurses were obtained through foreign recruiting and that the pay incentive measures only reached 15,000 nurses in terms of the 12% pay raise (BBC News, 2003). Wheatcroft (2006) summarized the preceding in stating that all of the additional funds that have been provided to the N
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