Daily Grind Research Articles

I96) Prevalence of Burnout among Emergency Department Staff of the University of The Philippines Philippine General Hospital

Introduction:The emergency department is the frontline of care in any hospital. Quality of work is affected by the skills and knowledge of the medical staff and the stress in their daily grind. The emergency department cannot perform its primary function if its personnel continue to feel the burden of their jobs.Methods:This is a descriptive study of the emergency department staff at the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital. A self-administered questionnaire with socio-demographic and occupational variables using the 22-item Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) Scale assessing emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and professional accomplishment was used.Results were analyzed according to the major subscales of the MBI Scale. The percentage having severe, moderate, and low burnout levels were determined and analyzed based on demographic data (e.g., gender, age, marital status, years of experience, and qualification).Results:Eighty-seven qualified emergency personnel were surveyed. Of them, 41 were nurses, 13 were emergency medicine residents, 11 worked for Medical Social Service (MSS), 11 were emergency medical services (EMS) personnel/paramedics, and 11 were emergency department records personnel. Only 64 respondents were able to return the questionnaires (73.5%). Most of the male respondents had low burnout in emotional exhaustion and loss of empathy. They also scored low burnout at the professional level, which indicates that males were more satisfied with their professional achievements. The majority of the respondents 21—40 years of age had low and moderate burnout in the three subscales. Those in the 41–60 year and >61 year age groups experienced low burnout on all subscales. The unmarried showed moderate burnout in emotional exhaustion, but the majority of married respondents had low burnout in loss of empathy and professional fulfillment. Working in the emergency department for six months or six months-one year showed that the majority experienced moderate burnout, but revealed low burnout in professional fulfillment.Conclusions:The emergency medicine residents reported to have severe burnout in emotional exhaustion, but scored moderate burnout in loss of empathy and professional fulfillment. The EMS personnel had the lowest burnout level of all three subscales

Bewohnerbefragung in der stationären Altenhilfe – eine Pilotstudie

Resident survey in the residental care of the elderly – a pilot study Summary Until now, a continuous and systematic home research in institutions of residential care for the elderly is disregarded in Germany. Decisive for such institutions is the orientation towards the residents who are the focus of the attended daily grind of a home and who – at least for economic purposes – takes the position of a client. A positioning, orientated to the resident, succeeds by surveying and evaluating the contentment of the offered products and services. The contentment of the residents represents the cognitive and emotional evaluation of an individual’s complete experiences with products or services and it is a central factor for the management concept. Previously released results represent high values of contentment what also can be seen at the census of an Austrian provider of residential care for the elderly. Every evaluation is an intrusion into the social fabric of an organisation and it has a bearing on the results of an interrogation. The methodical proceeding with the survey of residents for their contentment is barely discussed scientifically and standardised formally. By means of the results, there could be derived references for the proceeding of an survey, e.g. the consult by an informal conversation and the interviewer’s appearance. Despite the keep of

Patient-Family Centered Care: Are We There Yet?

AS THE HOLIDAYS rapidly approach, much of our focus will soon turn away from the daily grind of work and professional activities, and re-center on renewing relationships with our closest family and friends. Many of us are currently spending much of our time sending out Holiday cards, buying just the right gift, and meticulously planning gatherings with family and friends. These gatherings and relationships are, after all, a primary focus of the holiday season. We strive to remain familyand relationship-centered in the midst of the chaotic holiday rush. As we turn our focus on this ‘‘family centered’’ season, I thought it would be appropriate to also explore the meaning of patient-family centered care (PFCC).

Some tributes to research colleagues and other contributors to our knowledge about kuru

At the meeting at the Royal Society on ‘The end of kuru: 50 years of research into an extraordinary disease’, we celebrated the impending end of the kuru epidemic and the achievements of many people who had worked on kuru over the last 50 years. Especially honoured were our two Nobel laureates,

Home, Capital of the Region

Home, Capital of the Region

Feeling valued is the best motivation

PurposeReviews the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoints practical implications from cutting‐edge research and case studies.Design/methodology/approachThis briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context.FindingsEmployees who work hard, produce results and provide excellent customer service are just what every employer wants. But what motivates employees to treat their jobs as more than just a daily grind that pays the rent and buys the groceries? If employers could only answer that question accurately they would be well on the way to creating the confident, committed workforce that is every HR officer's dreamPractical implicationsProvides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world's leading organizations.Originality/valueThe briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy‐to‐digest format.

Framing Homeland Security

In discussing homeland security and terrorism, it is necessary to work with clear definitions of the terms and concepts that frame this strategy. One of the greatest hindrances to a cogent discussion of terrorism and counter-terrorism has been that the terms lack clear, universal definitions. Strategic analysis must begin with clearly articulated and precise definitions of terrorism, counter-terrorism, and homeland security, as proposed in this article. To that extent, the recommended definition of terrorism is: acts of politically based violence aimed at innocent civilians with the intent to cause physical harm, including death, and/or conducting psychological warfare against a population aimed at intimidating it from conducting its daily life in a normal fashion. Ultimately, there are many approaches that we could take to define terrorism. We could look at the definitions currently employed domestically and abroad. We could look to academic debate on the subject. We could consider the inverse of terrorism in other words, define first what terrorism is not. We could also try to craft a definition that encompasses all of the terrorist groups and individuals our government is currently targeting or has captured in the War on Terror. The recommended definition captures the core elements of terrorism in clear and concise language. In reviewing scholarship and terrorists' writings, the overwhelming impression is that causing harm (physical or psychological) to the innocent civilian population is the central characteristic of terrorist action. The available literature articulates that harming civilians is the most effective manner from the terrorist mindset - to effectuate their goals. While causing death or injury to the innocent civilian population is the means to the end, I also suggest that intimidation of the population is of equal importance from the terrorist perspective. The emphasis whether resulting in death, injury, property damage, or intimidation is the attack, in whichever form, on the innocent civilian population. Accordingly, we must develop counter-terrorism policies that protect the innocent civilian population for whose protection and safety the government is responsible. In addition, the importance of impacting daily life cannot and should not be underestimated. Terrorism is a daily grind; it must be understood in the context of daily attacks rather than one-time, dramatic-effect attacks (such as 9/11). Smaller, more frequent attacks, while perhaps less dramatic, have a much greater long-term effect on an innocent civilian population than does a one-time major event whose undeniable short-term effects may not linger. In that vein, the proposed definition emphasizes the effect on the daily life of an innocent civilian population and the commensurate requirement for the state to respond to the continuous, constant threats that represent modern-day terrorism.

Marilyn A. Bowcutt, RN, MSN

Marilyn A. Bowcutt, RN, MSN

GASA Hybird Algorithm Applied in Airline Crew Rostering System

Crew rostering system is a daily grind in the management of both corporation and enterprise. A fair and reasonable rostering method plays a very important role in the arousing worker's enthusiasm and improving the work efficiency. This paper presents a method of building models for automatic crew rostering mode with computer and advancing the multi-objective optimum scheme. The method to build models for crew rostering system is also discussed. The question to crew rostering system model is solved by genetic algorithms and simulated annealing algorithms. Simulation results show the correctness of algorithms. The actual data of the airways have justified its reasonability and efficiency.

In this issue

In this issue

An Outdoor Journey in Scotland: Wilderness Therapy

The invitation to join the first An-Turus Wilderness Therapy Journey filled me with excitement and mild anxiety in equal measure. As the mother of a toddler, writer and part-time facilitator, I was struggling to squash the daily grind into its 24-hour timeslot. But deeper than my preoccupation with regular meals, clean clothes, sleeping enough and returning the phone calls that keep things on track, I knew that this journey down the Spey River was just what I needed. As ever, my deeper sense was spot-on.Living with my family in London, it had been a while since I had experienced nature in chunks bigger than my own garden, or the local playground. But whenever I go abroad to somewhere wild and beautiful, or visit the Lake District, Cornwall, or Snowdon (where I grew up) I feel an inward sigh and an upwards soar. Despite my love of nature, the thought of joining a group I didn't know, to do a sport I had never done (canoeing) was one of the more anxiety provoking ones…

Information and higher things in life: Addressing the pleasurable and the profound in information science

AbstractThe article discusses lower and higher contexts for information phenomena, and argues that there is clearly a need for a more concerted research effort in the latter sphere. The discipline of information science has traditionally favored lower contexts—like everyday life and problem solving—that are neutral or even negative by nature. In contrast, the neglected higher things in life are pleasurable or profound phenomena, experiences, or activities that transcend the daily grind. A literature sample of the scarce information research related to higher things indicates that beyond the spotlight of mainstream research, information processes often seem different and there may be significant dimensions of information phenomena that have been overlooked. Therefore, the article outlines a contextual research area in information studies to address higher things from the perspective of information. It is concluded that optimal functioning requires bringing the lower and higher sides to balance in information science. This would offer a rare chance to promote holism and interdisciplinarity in the field, and to make the discipline more relevant to the human being.

Play Is Not Just for PE

P lay is reserved for the PE teacher. She's playfully dressed: whistle around her neck and tennis shoes ready to sprint. Her day consists of fun, spontaneity, and laughter. The work that is assigned doesn't feel like work. Yet, look closely at a classroom down the hall. The desks that have been cast aside are beginning to come into focus, the laughter is coming from the students as they read, and the state standards for reading and writing are clearly displayed on the wall. While most people may not associate fun, spontaneity, and laughter with an English classroom, I strive to incorporate these components in my classroom every day. Sets of papers to grade, high-stakes testing, and scrutiny from the community can lead to a heavy load. The daily grind can cloud our attempts at making learning fun. Students have come to expect a certain listlessness from us as English teachers. It is easy for students to enjoy the fun that happens in the gym and despise the drudgery of literature, writing, and grammar. Since the majority of our clientele-high school students-require us to subversively educate them, we can do this by including play.

An Entrepreneurial Journey: A Music Therapist's Story--Personal Reflections

ABSTRACT: The purpose of this paper is to focus on entrepreneurship in the field of music therapy, past trends, current practices, and future directions. The first section of this paper includes personal reflections by the author regarding establishing a business and uses those reflections to illustrate concepts and principles associated with successful entrepreneurship. Then the author describes the current state of practice regarding entrepreneurship and music therapy. Entrepreneurship including self-employment or serving agencies on a contractual and consulting basis has grown considerably in the past few decades. Wikipedia defines as a) an innovator-one who recognizes opportunities and organizes resources to take advantage of the opportunity; and b) someone who assumes the financial risk of beginning and managing a new venture, whatever that might be (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entrepreneurship). CFDC's Glossary of Business Terms states that entrepreneurship can refer to a new idea, a new way of doing something, a new location, or just attempting to get something done that has not been done before (http://www.cfdccariboo.com/glossary.htm). Becoming an entrepreneur begins with having an entrepreneurial conversation with yourself and with others around you. You have to think like a successful entrepreneur; you have to listen like a successful entrepreneur; and you have to speak like a successful entrepreneur. Some of the characteristics and traits of entrepreneurs are: visionary, stable, committed to goals, decisive, risk-taker, persistent, self-confident, and optimistic (Rogoff & Corbett, 2005). Millions of people in the United States have established small businesses. Many of these enterprising individuals simply grew tired of working for other people and decided to launch their own businesses (Moss, 2005). The book Starting from Scratch (Moss, 2005) is an excellent resource for individuals creating their own businesses. Moss has identified four common steps that entrepreneurs master on their way to entrepreneurial success. He calls these steps the HUNT: 1) Harness what you have. Identify your inherent skills and figure out something tangible you love-a product or trade you are proud to be associated with; 2) Underestimate your obstacles. Define a vision and mentally bypass the multitude of things that can go wrong or stand in your way; 3) Notice your network. Find those around you who can assist you in realizing your vision and utilize the leverage that others provide in reaching your goal; and 4) Take the first step. Develop a bias toward action, (pp. xvi-xvii) What are some of the signs that you might be ready for a HUNT that is suitable for an entrepreneurial venture? Do you often get that sick feeling on Sunday night as you think about the daily grind awaiting you on Monday? Do you daydream about the joys of being your own boss? Do you sketch out plans for your own business, one that actually excites and inspires you? If so, you have reached the tipping point-that critical moment when you know you are ready to give up the security of being employed or the frustration of being underemployed for the freedom of your own enterprise. According to Guy (2005), some of the reasons that music therapists become business owners include the ability to set their own schedule, freedom to select their preferred population and/or setting, independence from a boss/corporate setting, and the need to create a new job. Flexibility, confidence, and motivation are characteristics that help them move towards success. If you are thinking about changing careers or working for yourself, learn from the counsel of savvy mentors in the music therapy and related fields. Then, turn your entrepreneurial dream into reality. My challenge to the reader is to dream big! There are really huge opportunities in the music therapy profession, and some of us need to expand our dreams and put aside our fears of risk taking. …

Admiring courage: Nurses’ perceptions of caring for patients with cancer

This paper details one of the findings of a large phenomenological study into the effects of nurse-patient encounters on clinical learning and practice. Every nurse faces the challenge of caring for a patient with cancer at some point in his or her nursing career. The participants, 392 nurses, were asked to provide an account of a care episode from their practice. These narrative/clinical exemplars were for a patient with a diagnosis of cancer and participants were asked to discuss the impact this encounter had on clinical learning and clinical practice. Each day nurses work through the daily grind of the job and occasionally encounter a person, who inspires them, someone they admire because of their courage. Responses from the participants identified a number of such people. Nurses used powerful language, brave, strong, courageous, to describe these patients. The diagnosis of cancer is a daunting prospect and is seen as a challenge physically and emotionally. Participants spoke of their admiration, affection and their sadness when describing the nurse-patient encounters. The life-threatening potential of cancer for the patient and the perception of potential and actual suffering does impact on nurses, their learning and their clinical practice. The struggle against such a daunting adversary places patients diagnosed with cancer in a position to be seen by nurses as people with immense courage. Participants clearly felt the influence of patients' courage, personally and professionally. Many spoke of the inspirational qualities of their patients. Participants detailed learning from the encounters and reflected with great insight on themselves and their practice. The identified nurse-patient encounters were seen to have changed their clinical practice forever.

Making Institutions Work for Women

Aruna Rao looks at how change is happening through the daily grind of gender equality activists. She argues that in order to achieve basic development objectives we need both better delivery and better accountability for a range services to women – not just education and health, but also agricultural extension, land registration and property protection, regulation of labour markets, and safety. She also argues that institutional insiders and outsiders need to support each others’ different but complementary roles as change agents.

Passion, Prophecy and Perseverance—the Leitmotif of Carmel

If a spiritual tradition is to have any relevance in the twenty-first century, it needs to be both tough and resilient. The image of 9/11 haunts this new millennium, and our waking hours seem fraught with stories of violence. Terrorism at the international level is breeding a climate of fear in all nations. Alongside this reality, in the West we continue to move ever more insidiously into new cultural art forms centred on the shopping mall. We experience ourselves as people under stress. This is due not just to increased security measures, but to the daily grind of living. Job security, economic stability, family and health matters top the list of stress inducers. Fragmentation appears the order of the day at all levels of society.

Piika, taivaallintu ja agitaattoriakka

In this article I describe how the relationships between women and religion are represented in a set of books by Eeva Joenpelto. The Lohja-series, whose name comes from the story’s milieu, is made up of four novels published in the 1970s. It describes a village in southern Finland during the 1920s and 1930s, i.e. the period between the two wars, the Civil War and the Winter War. From the novels, I take three female characters who represent different gendered presentations of religion. Mari, the faithful servant of God, derives her strength from Lutheranism, and thus endures the hard and endless daily grind in the kitchen. Sofi is a childlike bride of Christ who finds her place in the Pentacostal movement and expresses her religion in charismatic and passionate ways. Tilta is an agitator who has found her life’s meaning in the Communist Party. My questions are the following: What kinds of possibilities for religious expression and fulfillment are available to women in the Lutheran Church and the Pentacostal movement? What is the place of religion in women’s every-day life? How do women outline the categories of sacred and profane, of purity and impurity, or do they combine them? How does a commitment to political ideology offer a woman a meaning system analogical to religion?

The Archaeology of the Daily Grind: Ground Stone Tools and Food Production in the Southern Levant

Few people in the world today work with stone tools that they, or their immediate community, manufactured. But this is a recent development, as stone tools have played a central role in daily life for many millennia, for hunter-gatherers, settled agriculturalists and pastoralists. As a fundamental component of the food-production tool kit, these are the most visible artifacts to provide information about a daily activity necessary to human survival. Ground stone tools can offer insights into such diverse phenomena as changes in diet and food processing techniques, mobility and residence patterns, division of labor, and specialized activities related to cultic practices.

Destressing in the geekosphere.

Finding a balance in the daily grind requires creativity and a sense of play. Kendall Powell explores how lifestyle can complement science.