Understanding and Processing Keyboard Events in Delphi

Understanding and Processing Keyboard Events in Delphi Keyboard events, along with mouse events, are the primary elements of a users interaction with your program. Below is information on three events that let you capture a users keystrokes in a Delphi application: OnKeyDown, OnKeyUp and OnKeyPress. Down, Up, Press, Down, Up, Press... Delphi applications can use two methods for receiving the input from the keyboard. If a user has to type something in an application, the easiest way to receive that input is to use one of the controls that automatically responds to keypresses, such as Edit. At other times and for more general purposes, however, we can create procedures in a form that handle three events recognized by forms and by any component that accepts keyboard input. We can write event handlers for these events to respond to any key or key combination the user might press at runtime. Here are those events: OnKeyDown - called when any key on the keyboard is pressedOnKeyUp - called when any key on the keyboard is releasedOnKeyPress - called when a key corresponding to an ASCII character is pressed Keyboard Handlers All the keyboard events have one parameter in common. The Key parameter is the key on the keyboard and is used to pass by reference of the value of the pressed key. The Shift parameter (in the OnKeyDown and OnKeyUp procedures) indicates whether the Shift, Alt, or Ctrl keys are combined with the keystroke. The Sender parameter references the control that was used to call the method. procedure TForm1.FormKeyDown(Sender: TObject; var Key: Word; Shift: TShiftState) ; ... procedure TForm1.FormKeyUp(Sender: TObject; var Key: Word; Shift: TShiftState) ; ... procedure TForm1.FormKeyPress(Sender: TObject; var Key: Char) ; Responding when the user presses shortcut or accelerator keys, such as those provided with menu commands, does not require writing event handlers. What Is Focus? Focus is the ability to receive user input through the mouse or keyboard. Only the object that has the focus can receive a keyboard event. Also, only one component per form can be active, or have the focus, in a running application at any given time. Some components, such as TImage, TPaintBox, TPanel and TLabel cannot receive focus. In general, components derived from TGraphicControl are unable to receive focus. Additionally, components that are invisible at run time (TTimer) cannot receive focus. OnKeyDown, OnKeyUp The OnKeyDown and OnKeyUp events provide the lowest level of keyboard response. Both OnKeyDown and OnKeyUp handlers can respond to all keyboard keys, including function keys and keys combined with the Shift, Alt, and Ctrl keys. The keyboard events are not mutually exclusive. When the user presses a key, both the OnKeyDown and OnKeyPress events are generated, and when the user releases the key, the  OnKeyUp event is generated. When the user presses one of the keys that OnKeyPress does not detect, only the  OnKeyDown event occurs, followed by the  OnKeyUp event. If you hold down a key, the OnKeyUp event occurs after all the OnKeyDown and OnKeyPress events have occurred. OnKeyPress OnKeyPress returns a different ASCII character for g and G, but OnKeyDown and OnKeyUp do not make a distinction between uppercase and lowercase alpha keys. Key and Shift Parameters Since the Key parameter is passed by reference, the event handler can change Key so that the application sees a different key as being involved in the event. This is a way to limit the kinds of characters that the user can input, like to prevent users from typing alpha keys. if Key in [a..z] [A..Z] then Key : #0 The above statement checks whether the Key parameter is in the union of two sets: lowercase characters (i.e. a  through z) and uppercase characters (A-Z). If so, the statement assigns the character value of zero to Key to prevent any input into the Edit component, for example, when it receives the modified key. For non-alphanumeric keys, WinAPI virtual key codes can be used to determine the key pressed. Windows defines special constants for each key the user can press. For example, VK_RIGHT is the virtual key code for the Right Arrow key. To get the key state of some special keys like TAB or PageUp, we can use the GetKeyState Windows API call. The key status specifies whether the key is up, down, or toggled (on or off - alternating each time the key is pressed). if HiWord(GetKeyState(vk_PageUp)) 0 then ShowMessage(PageUp - DOWN) else ShowMessage(PageUp - UP) ; In the OnKeyDown and OnKeyUp events, Key is an unsigned Word value that represents a Windows virtual key. In order to get the character value from Key,  we use the Chr function. In the OnKeyPress event, Key is a Char value that represents an ASCII character. Both OnKeyDown and OnKeyUp events use the Shift parameter, of type TShiftState, a set flags to determine the state of the Alt, Ctrl, and Shift keys when a key is pressed. For example, when you press Ctrl A, the following key events are generated: KeyDown (Ctrl) // ssCtrl KeyDown (CtrlA) //ssCtrl A KeyPress (A) KeyUp (CtrlA) Redirecting Keyboard Events to The Form To trap keystrokes at the form level instead of passing them to the forms components, set the forms KeyPreview property to True (using the Object Inspector). The component still sees the event, but the form has an opportunity to handle it first - to allow or disallow some keys to be pressed, for example. Suppose you have several Edit components on a form and the Form.OnKeyPress procedure looks like: procedure TForm1.FormKeyPress(Sender: TObject; var Key: Char) ; begin if Key in [0..9] then Key : #0 end; If one of the Edit components has the Focus,  and the  KeyPreview property of a form is False, this code will not execute. In other words, if the user presses the 5 key, the 5 character will appear in the focused Edit component. However, if the KeyPreview is set to True, then  the forms OnKeyPress event is executed before the Edit component sees the key that is pressed. Again, if the user has pressed the 5 key, then it assigns the character value of zero to Key to prevent numerical input into the Edit component.

How to Get SAT Scores, Step by Step

How to Get SAT Scores, Step by Step SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips You've just taken the SAT. Congratulations! Once you get some rest, you'll probably start to wonder when your scores will come out and how to access them on the College Board website. In this post, we tell you exactly what time of day scores appear and how to check your SAT scores online. NOTE: Have you been out of high school for more than a year and not taken the SAT in that time? Then you should read our article on how to get old SAT scores instead! When Do SAT Scores Come Out? SAT scores come outabout two to three weeks after you take the test.The exact timeline for score release depends on which test date you sign up for, so be sure to check out the full schedule ofSAT score release dates. If, when you registered for the test, you listed colleges for your scores to be sent to, those scores will be sent within 10 days of becoming available to you. Scores are usually released starting at 5 am ET (2 am PT),but it can take a little while for all the scores to appear online. Most SAT scores are up by 8 am ET (5 am PT) at the latest. (As a result, we don’t recommend staying up late and hitting refresh until your scores are available- get some sleep and check in the morning!) There is no way to see your SAT scores before the score release date. In fact, scoring the SAT is such a complex process, it’s pretty amazing you can get your scores in less than three weeks! After you take the SAT, try to relax and be patient for those few weeks until your scores come out. How Do I Check My SAT Scores? Once scores are up, how exactly do you view your SAT scores? Follow our step-by-step guide to learn how. First, go to the College Board website. Click the yellow box that says Get Your Scores(in the image below, scores for May are available; the month will vary depending on when you took the test). The other option is to go to the student scores website directly and sign into see your scores: With both methods, you'll need tolog in with the username and password you created when you registered for the SAT. After you sign in, you'll be able to view your test scores. Your most recent scores will be listed first: This is yourscore summary page.You will be able to see your composite scores for each section, as well as any scores from old test dates. (Readmore on how the SAT is scored.) To see your full score report, which includes your raw scores for each SAT section and your Essay score (if you did the optional Essay section), click onView Detailsin the yellow box: Your score report will include yournational percentiles, information about questions you answered correctly and incorrectly, and your subscores.Take some time to read through the report so you can understand what you did well and what (if anything) you need to improve. This will be a huge help if you decide to retake the SAT. Getting Your SAT Scores: Tips and Advice These days, SAT scores are released entirely online. This means that you will not receive an SAT score report in the mail unless you specifically request one at registration.You can also call the College Board to ask for your scores, but they charge a $15 fee for scores released by phone. On score release day, make sure you have your username and password ready to goso you can see your SAT scores straight away! Finally, the SAT is offered often enough that you shouldn't have to retake the test on the next date unless you're running into yourcollege application deadlines. Sodon’t stress about immediately signing up for the next SAT if you're unhappy with your score. Besides, if you decide you want to retake the SAT, you'll want to give yourself sufficient time to study. What’s Next? SAT scores still not listed even though it’s score release day? Find out why! Now that you have your SAT score, you might be wondering how good it is. Read our guide tofind out what constitutes a good (and an excellent!) SAT score. We also teach youhow to set a goal score based on the colleges you're applying to. You've got your scores, but should you retake the SAT? Use our three-step process to help you decide! Unhappy with your SAT scores? PrepScholar might be the program for you. We guarantee an improvement of 160 points on your current SAT score, or your money back. We have the industry's leading SAT prep program. Built by Harvard grads and SAT full scorers, the program learns your strengths and weaknesses through advanced statistics, then customizes your prep program to you so you get the most effective prep possible. Check out our 5-day free trial today:

Requirements For Effective Business Writing Essay

Requirements For Effective Business Writing - Essay Example Conciseness refers to the ability of a person to use necessary and summarized words to address a particular problem. This element is mandatory in business writing. In addition, the audience intended for a piece of information dictates the form of conciseness that may be used by the writer. When writing to managers one should be as concise as possible. In addition, one should ensure the summary of their words addresses effectively the intent of the information provided. However, conciseness may be limited when relaying information to fellow employees. Additionally, the information may include instructions and details must be included. Information provided to the authority is mostly requests and recommendations which should be concise and necessary. For example, when addressing my department head the body of my letter may just include, â€Å"Kindly note that there is a deficit in the finances provided to enable my project competition. Kindly consider increasing the financial contribut ion†. The connection between the intended audience and the organization in business writing bear similar significance. In the organization setting, there is a large quantity of information conveyed on a daily basis. For instance, memos are addressed to specific audiences in the organization to which the information is relevant. In addition, the person from whom a message is from should be included. The provision of information to authoritative should be addressed with titles. For instance, I may write.

American Constitution Law 4 paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

American Constitution Law 4 paper - Essay Example In his appeal the appellant argued that the state of Illinois was under a duty to provide him with a trial counsel at his expense as dictated by the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments to the Constitution. The Illinois intermediate appellate court affirmed the conviction by the Circuit Court. The Supreme Court of the state of Illinois also rejected the appellant’s argument and stated that it wasn’t obligated to extend its decision in Argersinger v Hamlin (1972) to the case. Although the appellant was charged with an offense for which imprisonment was authorized upon conviction, the appellant had only been fined $50 instead of imprisonment. Judgment: the appellant further lodged his appeal in the Supreme Court of United States. In its judgment the court affirmed the Supreme Court of Illinois’ decision that the Constitution of the United States of America did not require the Circuit Court of Cook County to appoint a state counsel for the petitioner (Scott). Holding (Justice Rehnquist): No: The sixth and fourteenth Amendments only stipulate that no defendant can be sentenced to imprisonment unless he has been accorded the right to appointment of a counsel to defend him by the state. The appellant’s liberty was not at stake in this case because the state court had preferred the less severe sanction of imposing a fine to the severe one imprisonment so the appointment of a counsel was not necessary. Rule of law: The sixth and fourteenth Amendments only stipulate that no defendant can be sentenced to imprisonment unless he has been accorded the right to appointment of a counsel to defend him by the state. Concurring (Justice Powell): Held that it was important for the federal Supreme Court to provide a clear guidance to the many courts in all parts of the country that confronted the problem of legal representation

Romeos character Essay Example for Free

Romeos character Essay The repetition of words and phrases is another effective device used by Shakespeare to communicate Romeos mood at different points in the play. The constant repetition of the word love tightens the tension of the plot as the two families are enemies and gives an extra insight into Romeos character. This shows that Romeo is adamant and once he has made is mind up, then it cannot be changed. In addition, Romeo communicates in an affectionate manner towards the start, but as tension builds up and everything seems to get serious, words like night and murder are used. These words build up tension and show to the audience that something bad is about to happen. Later in Act 3, Scene 3, this takes place at the Friar Lawrences cell. Romeo gets the bad news from Friar Lawrence about his banishment. Friar Lawrence opens his speech with Romeo, come forth, come forth, thou fear ful man, this shows that Romeo is frightened and knows that he didnt mean to kill Tybalt. As Romeo enters the scene he is shocked and scared, as he opens his speech he uses the word sorrow, which shows what else does he have to see. Friar Lawrence uses the quote, Not bodys death, but bodys banishment. This shows the audience that if Romeo dies his soul will still live on. Romeo has just realised that he has done something, which he will regret as he says, Be merciful say deathmuch more than death. Romeo is angry at hearing about is destiny. Friar Lawrence then moves on as Romeos anger rises as Friar says, Be patient, for the world is broad and wide. This sows that he world is a large place able to live somewhere else. Romeos anger is still rising as he thinks about Juliet, There is no world without Verona walls; this is where Juliet hides in the streets of Verona. Romeo continues on madly and angrily and soon Friar Lawrence gets frustrated and says, O deadly sin! O rude unthankfulness, here Friar is trying to calm Romeo down and him to have respect for Friar, as Romeo is just babbling on. However, Romeo still talks about the heaven which is Juliet as he thinks what life would be without Juliet in his life. Here the audience will have a shock in that Romeo will lose Juliet and also that he will be banished. Romeos mood here is high tempered as he is already suffering the effects of banishment. Romeo refuses to be comforted as he is going through to much pain and anger. However, Shakespeare uses the nurse as a dramatic device and dramatically Romeos mood changes Nurse! Romeo feels comforted as the nurse tells Romeo how Juliet is feeling O she says nothing, sir, but weeps and weeps.and then Romeo cries, and then down falls again. Romeo feels the pain that Juliet is going through and tries to stab himself, Tell me, that I may sack the hateful mansion (destroy my body). However, the nurse snatches the dagger away, as he feels guilty of killing Tybalt and doesnt want Juliet to hate him and not to see him as a murderer. Shot from the deadly level of gun, did murder her, as that names cursed hand murdered her kinsman. However, the audience feel the same way as Romeo does; angry and feeling sympathetic of what Romeo has done to be hatred by Juliet. Romeos mood is comforted when the nurse give Romeo the ring from Juliet, Here, sir, a ring she bid me give you, sir. Romeo replys How well my comfort is revived by this. This shows that his mood is changing time to time and now he is being relaxed instead of highly tempered as he was in the beginning of the scene. Friar Lawrence rebukes Romeo for his lack of manliness, love and intelligence. He reminds Romeo of his good fortune and plans how he can eventually be recalled from exile. Friar Lawrence delivers his long speech, first rebuking Romeo, then seeking to cheer him, then setting out a plan of action this keeps the audience interested in the scene. Romeo is trying to seek hope as he is anxious of meeting Juliet and afraid of losing her. Friar Lawrence sends Romeo to Juliet, warning him to leave early for the Mantua and await news. Sojourn (stay, wait) in Mantua: Ill find out your man, and he shall signify from time to time every good hap to you that chances here. Romeo is calm as Friar settles him down with his plan and he ends the scene with some hope for the future. William Shakespeares romantic tragedy Romeo and Juliet is a play full of dramatic devices, body language, facial expressions and especially Romeos mood changes. Romeo in the play uses facial expressions, voice tone and body language to express his feelings and use the correct tone of voice to emphasise the anger and pain that he is going through. Shakespeare shows Romeos change of mood and situation trough his choice of language, such as, when Romeo is feeling passionate he uses the word bright, sun and kill the envious moon to express his feelings towards Juliet as well as the audience/reader. However, when Romeo is in a critical state he uses words such as, murder, banishment and death to express his feelings as this indicates that the situation in the story has become serious, which creates tension towards the audience and builds up the atmosphere.

Muromachi Period Essay -- essays research papers

The Muromachi style of Zen Buddhism has influence art and design ever since it’s beginning in the 14th century. Although it was influenced by the Chinese styles at a parallel time, they both are still influential and noticed in today’s world.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  For years Japanese Ink Painting continued to be consistent with a basis on nature, and simplicity. Was the beginning of Minimalism in Japan? Was it intentional? The open composition of space and content on paper is a key of today’s design. The simplicity of monochromatic work is still appreciated in almost every art form.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This is a contrast to the Renaissance that occurred during the same time period. There was never work similar in Europe, it was mostly elaborate and colorful. This proves that the Asian styles are the origin of minimalism.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Even in architecture and landscape, there was interpretation and consistence of nature. The â€Å"Zen Garden† is a key concept that has lasted through the years. The Japanese styles of architecture were inspired by the consistency and simplicity of nature. They were the first to incorporate outside and inside, using a lot of patio space, and open surfaces, using round posts, and hinged translucent walls (Japan, 229).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The dominant styles of the Muromachi Period, Ink Painting, Landscape, and Architecture, are visible in today’s society in all cultures. Design fields incorporate the same appreciation that the Zen Buddhists did. Aesthetics, the set of principles of good taste and the appreciation on beauty, especially in the philosophy of art (Reader’s, 26). During the Muromachi Period, Sesshu (1420-1506) was known as the most famous artist in his medium of Ink Paintings. He was a monk that dedicated his life to painting. He traveled to areas of China and the natural landscape inspired his work heavily. He denied any influence from the Chinese art he saw on his journey. Like the work of Ni Zan (1308-1374), a Chinese Yuan Dynasty ink painter. (History, 842-861)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Sesshu’s most noted work was the â€Å"Winter Landscape.† This painting was done after his excursion through China, in the 1467. It is 18.25 x 11.5† in size, and was produced by rushing black ink on a paper. It is overlapped view of a landscape in the foreground, with large mountainous cliff... ...on of the arts really polluted all meaning behind it. This is a dramatic time in which the true Zen Monks doubted their faith in the work they produced. The understanding of this, left room for sarcasm, and criticism, and eventually dilution of the Zen theories of nature and serenity.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Put aside the debauchery of the art, this period has influenced so many cultures and design styles. It is key that styles like minimalism and even constructivism trace back to the monochromatic layout of image and text these monks produced.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Being a designer, it is astonishing to relate styles that I apply to work with these simple Buddhists. They lived a simple lifestyle, appreciating materials and imagery that both were provided by nature. The aesthetics applied is an important way of expressing yourself as a citizen of the world.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It is important that we as people seek to make the world better for mankind. Appreciating the elements, and applying workable solutions was a key contribution these monks made to society. Whether it is through our work or our deeds, it would be ideal that we all follow their example.

Oceanview Marine Company Engagement Letter

LILTS BERGER & ASSOCIATES 4-1 Certified Public AccountantsCW 11/23/2012 Ocean City, Florida 33140 October 30, 2012 Mr. Donald Phillips, President Oceanvien Marine Company 36 Clearwater Lake Road Ocean City, Florida 33140 Dear Mr. Phillips: This letter is to confirm our understanding of the terms of our engagement as the auditors of Oceanview Marine Company for the year ended December 31, 2012. We will audit the company’s balance sheet for December 31, 2012, and the related statements of income, retained earnings, and cash flows for the year then ended.The purpose of our audit is to form an opinion as to whether these statements are fairly presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. We will review the company’s federal and state income tax returns for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012. In addition, we will be available to consult with you concerning the tax effects of any transactions or changes in company policies.Our audit opinion will be based on our examination, made on a test basis, of your records, documents, assets, and equities. We will not examine all transactions, assets, or equities in detail, and the examination should not be relied on to detect all errors, fraud, or illegal acts that may have taken place. Notwithstanding, should we discover material misstatements resulting from error, fraud, or illegal acts during our audit, they will be disclosed to you. Please note that management of the company has the primary 4-2CW 11/23/2012 responsibility for maintaining adequate accounting records, for the safeguarding of assets, and for the preparation of accurate financial statements. If, for any reason, we are unable to complete the audit or are unable to form or have not formed an opinion, we may decline to express an opinion or decline to issue a report as a result of the engagement. The timing of our services is scheduled for performance and completion as follows: Begin field workDecember 15, 2012 Completion of fieldworkMarch 15, 2013Delivery of management letterMarch 22, 2013 Delivery of audit reportMarch 29, 2013 Delivery of tax returnsMarch 29, 2013 It is agreed that your staff will provide assistance with the preparation of data and by providing documents and records as needed. Our fees will be based on our standard hourly rates. Invoices will be submitted periodically as the work progresses and are payable upon presentation. Should we find any conditions that could significantly affect our initial estimated total fees of $21,000, we will notify you immediately.If the above terms are acceptable, and the services outlined are in accordance with the company’s requirements, please sign the copy of this letter in the space provided and return it to us. 4-3 CW 11/23/2012 Yours very truly, Per: Charles Ward Charles Ward, CPA Partner The services set out in the foregoing letter are in accordance with our requirements. The terms set out are acceptable to us and are hereby agreed to. Per: Donald Phillips Donald Phillips, President Oceanview Marine Company November 10, 2012

Nursing in preventing hospital Essay

The aim of this essay is to ascertain what hospital acquired infection entails, the detrimental effects it causes and to highlight the active role nurses can take in the prevention of this type of infection. Hospital acquired (or nosocomial) infection is: ‘one that originated in the hospital environment; i.e. was not present or incubating on admission and which appeared 48h or more after admission’ (Azzam et al. 2001). Infection is caused by pathogenic organisms which invade the hosts immunological defence mechanism; this can be through wounds left by invasive procedures whereby the host’s natural body defences have been bypassed. It is the nurses’ responsibility to know the factors that can increase patients’ susceptibility to infection (i.e. age, underlying disease, drug therapy, or if they are undergoing surgery), this enables nurses to be able to assess which patients are most at risk so that they can develop a care plan and therefore they will know what extra, if any, precautions to take and protocols to follow. Sproat and Inglis (1992) cited by Mallett et al. (2000, p, 40) suggest that the assessment of a patient’s risk of infection to others, in nursing care plans, before the commencement of any procedure is a fundamental principle of infection control. The Bowell-Webster risk assessment guide for identifying patients at risk of infection (1990) cited in Alexander et al. (2000, p, 595) can be used to decide which protocols to follow. Steed (1999) states that not all nosocomial infections relate directly to the patients’ underlying disease but that many are caused by the actions of healthcare workers. Therefore great care must be taken by healthcare workers, especially nurses, who are directly involved in the care of patients. In this essay I am going to discuss the procedures followed by nurses to eradicate, if at all possible, cross infection. There are two ways of acquiring an infection in hospital: Cross (or exogenous) infection is when the infection has been spread from other people, either patients, visitors, hospital staff or even food and the surrounding environment; whereas self (or endogenous) infection is when the  infection is caused by microbes carried by the patient on their body, usually from septic areas. Compliance with universal precautions should be rigorous as to avoid spread of infection. For example, failure to change gloves between interactions with different patients can lead to the spread of disease (Piro et al. 2001). Ayliffe et al. (1992) contended that the regularity of infection in hospitals, caused by multiple types of bacteria, could increase to epidemic amounts if aseptic and hygienic measures in the hospital collapsed. According to the Healthcare-associated Infection surveillance Centre (2000) approximately 30% of nosocomial infections are due to urinary tract infections, another 30% are due to bloodstream infections, 20% due to surgical site infections and 20% due to pneumonia. These infections tend to occur during invasive procedures or when the body is very susceptible due to illness. The NHSSB infection control manual (1996) states that the inter-hospital transportation of infected patients is the main means of spreading infection and in extreme circumstances of spreading an epidemic strain. The spread of infection in hospitals between patients, or between patients and staff, cannot be entirely eradicated but it can be reduced, especially by nurses using methods I will discuss later. Evidence supporting the importance of infection control can be seen in a study by Worsley (1993) cited in Mallett et al. (2000, p,47) who found that in 1991 out of 175 patients who had developed nosocomial Clostridium difficile diarrhoea, 17 died and the organism was a contributing factor in a further 43 deaths. The cost of managing this outbreak was at least  £75000. Also in a study conducted by Plowman et al. (2001) they concluded that approximately 10% of patients will get infected during a stay in hospital and that this can lead to costs of up to one billion pounds per year in the U.K alone. These pieces of evidence and others (Chaudhuri, 1993) demonstrate the prevalence of nosocomial infection, the dire effects of it and also the extreme financial losses it incurs. Hospital acquired infection has many different consequences, it can: Delay or prevent recovery; Cause increased pain, discomfort and anxiety; Increase the patients stay in hospital which has financial losses due to drugs bills and extra staffing costs; Cause psychological stress as a result of long periods spent in isolation (Knowles, 1993, cited by Mallett et al. 2000, p, 47); it is demoralising for both staff, patients and their families which can lead to decreased public confidence in hospitals and doctors. Mc Millan Jackson (1999) insists that infection prevention and control is essential in healthcare settings to reduce the risks of morbidity and mortality in patients and healthcare workers. Nurses share responsibility with other healthcare professionals to reduce the risk of infection in patients. Patients have a right to be protected from preventable infection and nurses have a duty to safeguard the well-being of their patients (King, 1998, cited by Mallett et al. 2000, p, 39). The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Code of Professional Conduct (2002) outlines the nurses’ professional code, and also has implications for the role of the nurse in infection control, requiring them to protect patients and fellow healthcare workers from risks such as cross-infection. Clause 1 of the code informs nurses that, ‘You have a duty of care to your patients and clients, who are entitled to receive safe and competent care’. To fulfil these criteria, nurses must ensure that care is taken to ensure that dangerous or potentially harmful substances (e.g. drugs) or articles are handled and stored safely and that all equipment and appliances are properly maintained. Nurses are role models to the people with whom they come into contact, whether it is patients, visitors, students, or any healthcare workers. Therefore they should insist on compliance with basic procedures and practices as part of their job. They must assume responsibility for these practices as they are also held accountable under the NMC code of conduct and so should be at the forefront of efforts to prevent and control infections. Many infections are acquired through the patient’s own lack of knowledge of the effectiveness of simple procedure, such as hand washing, therefore the nurse has role to fulfil in providing education for patients and their families to give them a greater understanding of the importance of the need for thorough compliance of these procedures. ‘Standard precautions are designed to define a high standard of routine care that will be effective in reducing the transmission of potential pathogens between patients/ clients whilst protecting staff from pathogens carried by patients/ clients’ (NHSSB, infection control policy, 1996). General principles of infection control which all nurses must adhere to according to the Royal College of Nursing (1995) are, to: Wash hands before and after general patient care; Cover all cuts and abrasions with impermeable dressings; Use disposable gloves and aprons where necessary; Clean up spills and body fluids immediately according to local guidelines; Use and dispose of sharps safely, do not resheath needles; Dispose of clinical waste according to local guidelines; Handle and transport specimens safely by following local guidelines; Handle soiled linen according to guidelines; Use disinfection and sterilisation procedures following guidelines. Healthcare professionals need to have basic knowledge about the steps in the chain of infection to be able to determine how to control infection itself. These are: the causative agent; the reservoir; the portal of exit from reservoir; the mode of transmission from reservoir to susceptible host; the portal of entry into susceptible host; and the susceptible host. The main ways to interrupt the transmission of infection between humans and therefore break this chain is through the mode of transmission, this is achieved by: hand washing; aseptic technique; sterilisation and disinfection; and isolation procedures. Overviews of epidemiological evidence (Gould, 1991, Sharir, 2001) have shown that hand washing techniques are often inadequate and infrequent, and that the quality of hand washing is more important than the quantity (Van der  Broek et al. 2001). These conclude that hand medicated transmission is a major contributing factor in the current infection threats to hospital patients. According to RCN guidelines (1995) hands should be washed: before and after any duty which involves close contact with a patient; before and after aseptic technique or invasive procedures; after contact with body secretions/ excretions; after handling contaminated laundry or equipment; after removal of gloves, masks and aprons; before administration of food, drink and drugs; and at the end of a span of duty. Precautions adopted to destroy pathogens, prevent the spread of infection and to protect patients against infection during their stay in hospital, include the use of barrier nursing and the aseptic technique. These are adopted to increase the patient’s resistance to infection, to eradicate the sources or potential sources of infection and to minimise, or if possible stop, the means of bacterial transfer to the uninfected patient. The idea of barrier nursing is to keep an infectious patient, and materials they have been in contact with, apart from vulnerable others. This can be achieved by isolating the patient in a single room or by isolating a number of infectious patients in a purpose built ward. Another method used is to isolate patients whose immune systems are severely depressed thereby protecting them from harmful organisms. This is usually referred to as reverse barrier nursing. Aseptic technique is the use of sterile equipment and fluids, when carrying out any invasive procedure that breaches the body’s normal anatomical defences, to prevent contamination of wounds and other vulnerable sites by pathogens in the operating theatre, the ward, and other treatment areas. These procedures can only be effective if the healthcare professional, i.e. nurses who are in contact with the patients adhere to the general policies relating to the care of patients, especially infectious ones, such as hand washing and protection of personal clothing. It is my personal responsibility as a student nurse to ensure that I am fully immunised against common diseases, and diseases I may be in contact with in the  healthcare setting, if there is a vaccine available. If I feel that I am ill and suspect that my illness may put patients at risk of infection, it is my duty to inform the necessary people and to stay off work. It is also my duty to remove any jewellery (with the exception of a wedding ring) before work, to keep my nails short and clean, and to keep my hair (if long) tied back. Recent studies have proven the importance of wearing a clean uniform each day to work, and that you should ensure that your uniform is laundered at as high a temperature as the garment allows (Perry et al. 2001). During my clinical placement I had to adopt barrier nursing techniques due to a patient on my ward having Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA). I was therefore required to adhere to more thorough precautions when dealing with this particular patient. Source isolation was partially used to deal with this patient as I was working in an open mental health ward, therefore the patient could only be segregated to a certain degree. The nursing staff then needed to be aware of this patient’s movement so that we were effectively able to disinfect the areas she came into contact with as detailed in the local procedure we used. During meal times this patient had her meal brought into the ward to her on a tray, once she was finished I had to follow the local procedure by washing my hands with chlorhexidine gluconate 4% before donning gloves, I then had to place her used tray in an alginate polythene bag (which dissolves in the dishwasher), where it would then have been brought to the kitchens to be cleaned separately and at a higher temperature from the usual dishes. Next I had to change my gloves and then disinfect the table and chair, at which the patient had been sitting, with Haz tab solution, then rinse the area with fresh water and let air dry. Finally I remove and dispose of my gloves appropriately and wash my hands, with chlorhexidine in 70% Isopropyl alcohol solution, and dry with paper towels. In this way staff and the other patients are protected from contamination. As I have shown many hospital acquired infections can be easily prevented by the compliance of simple procedures, thereby reducing the extra costs hospital trusts and governments have had to pay, and most importantly reducing the ill effects caused to patients and their families. Not all  hospital acquired infection can be prevented, but with nurses and other healthcare workers working together in the constant assessment and evaluation of all techniques utilised, so that they remain consistent and be improved if necessary, there is no reason why they cannot be severely reduced. In conclusion it is clear to see that it is the nurse who has the primary role in implementing procedures used for the control and prevention of infection, with the intension to curb its spread and thereby ensuring that all patients are able to be cared for in a safe environment, as is their right. REFERENCES Alexander, M.F., Fawcett, J.N. and Runciman, P.J. (editors) (2nd edition) (2000) Nursing practice: Hospital and Home – The adult. Edinburugh: Churchill Livingstone. Ayliffe, G.A.J., Lowbury, E.J.L., Geddes, A.M., Williams, J.D. (editors) (3rd edition) (1992) Control of Hospital Infection, A practical handbook. London: Chapman and Hall Medical Azzam, R. and Dramaix, M. (2001) A one-day prevalence survey of hospital- acquired infections in Lebanon. Journal of Hospital Infection, 49: 74-78. Chaudhuri, A.K. (1993) Infection control in hospitals: has its quality enhancing and cost effective role been appreciated? Journal of Hospital Infection, 25: 1-6. Gould, D. (1991) Nurses’ hands as vectors of hospital-acquired infection: a review. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 16: 1216-1225. Symth, E.T.M. (director) Healthcare- associated Infection Surveillance Centre (2000). Mallett, J. and Dougherty, L. (editors) (5th edition) (2000) The Royal Marsden Hospital: Manual of Clinical Nursing Procedures. Oxon: Blackwell Science. Mc Millan Jackson, M. Nursing Clinics of north America: Contemporary Infection Control for Nurses. The healthcare marketplace in the next millennium and nurses’ roles in infection prevention and control. Vol 34, number 2, June 1999. Northern Health and Social Services Board, (1996) infection control manual. Nursing and Midwifery Council, Code of Professional Conduct, (2002). London: NMC. Perry, C., Marshall, R. and Jones, E. (2001) Bacterial contamination of uniforms. Journal of Hospital infection, 48: 238- 241. Piro, S., Sammud, M., Badi, S. and Al Ssabi, L. (2001) Hospital acquired malaria transmitted by contaminated gloves. Journal of Hospital Infection, 47: 156-158. Plowman, R., Graves, N., Griffin, M.A.S., Roberts, J.A., Swan, A.V., Cookson, B. and Taylor, L. (2001) The rate and cost of hospital-acquired infections occurring in patients admitted to selected specialties of a district general hospital in England and the national burden imposed. Journal of Hospital infection, 47: 198- 209. Royal College of Nursing: Guidelines on Infection Control, for nurses in general practice. (1995) London: RCN. Sharir, R., Teitler, N., Lavi, I. and Raz, R. (2001) High-level handwashing compliance in a community teaching hospital: a challenge that can be met! Journal of Hospital infection, 49: 55- 58. Steed, C.J. Nursing Clinics of North America: Contemporary Infection Control for Nurses. Common infections acquired in the hospital, the nurses role in Prevention. Vol 34, Number 2, June 1999. Van der Broek, P.J., Verbakel-Salomons, E.M.A. and Bernords, A.T. (2001) Handwashing quality not quantity. Journal of Hospital Infection, 49: 297.

Free Essays on The God Or Gods

‘necessary existence’ are logical part o... Free Essays on The God Or Gods Free Essays on The God Or Gods There are three major arguments that attempt to explain the existence of God. Firstly, it is important to establish a definition of God. According to philosophers God is an infinitely perfect being that upholds a divine unity of ultimate goodness and of ultimate power. God is referred to as Omniscient, Omnipotent and Eternal. God has unlimited knowledge and intelligence, so basically God is the ultimate model of perfectionism. Though all Philosophers agree with this definition of God, it does not state whether or not this ideal concept of God exists. The Ontological, Cosmological and Teleological have been developed throughout time to attempt to prove God existence. There have also been many criticisms into these arguments, which attempt to disprove each argument. The Ontological argument was developed by Anselm; a theist who argued for the existence of God. In his argument he refers to God as a perfect being, therefore ‘that than which nothing greater can be conceived’. He began his argument by saying that even a ‘fool’ (atheist) can grasp or understand the concept of a being than of ‘which nothing greater can be conceived’ as they already have an understanding or idea of what it means in their mind. Though this idea exists in their mind, it does not mean God doesn’t exist in reality. Anselm refers to God as a perfect being, and because he is so perfect he must have infinite perfectionism, therefore Anselm is arguing that if God lacked existence he would not be perfect, as he is perfect he must exist. There are many criticisms to why Anselm’s Ontological argument fails. Kant saw Anselm’s argument as merely a word game, playing on words and not reality. In this sense, Kant sees the Ontological argument as an exercise in verbal analysis, the means where anyone can anaylse the meaning of a word or concept, and draw a logical explanation from it. Therefore, Anselms’ words ‘necessary existence’ are logical part o...

How to job hunt without your boss finding out

How to job hunt without your boss finding out The job search can be a bit weird if you already have a  job- everyone does it, or no one would ever have a new job. But it has to be done in a top secret way, because you can’t let your boss know what’s going on. Even if he or she knows you’re unhappy, you don’t want this person knowing that you tried to leave- especially if you don’t get a new job right away. And even if you have a great, open relationship with your boss and she wants you to do what’s best for yourself, it’s still awkward. You don’t want to be marked as a flight risk†¦so how do you manage the process without tipping off the boss? Don’t check out from your day-to-day work.If you’re clearly not putting time and effort into your daily work, it’ll be a first sign that something is off. It’s not only bad practice in general to let your performance suffer, but it’s also a clear sign to your boss that you’re trying to get out the door, one way or another.Don’t use your boss as a reference.This one probably seems obvious, but you’d be amazed at how many people think they have to use their current boss as a reference. I once had a friend who listed her current boss’s contact information on a (stealth) job application, then freaked out when the new company actually called the current boss. If you need a reference but don’t want to tip your hand with your current boss, use a trusted colleague who is familiar with your work and can vouch for you.Don’t use your work computer.At this point, it’s safe to assume that Big Brother is always watching- and in this case that could include your boss. Don’t use your work computer to search for new jobs, work on your resume, or reach out to potential employers. There’s a good chance this runs afoul of your company’s computer usage rules, for one, and if you’re applying to competitor companies, it could be a legal issue as well. So make sure you’re doing your job hunt stuff on your own time, on your own devices.Don’t shout about your plans on social media.If you’re not Facebook friends with your boss or connected on LinkedIn, you might think it’s safe to talk about your job search or send out a â€Å"hire me!† blast. Don’t count on that â€Å"friends only† post to stay private. There’s nothing stopping one of your other contacts from letting it slip that you’re hunting, or from sending your boss a screenshot of your â€Å"I hate this place, get me out of here† rant. If you really don’t want your boss to know you’re looking elsewhere, don’t post anything on social media that you wouldn’t want him or her to read.Ideally, your boss won’t know about your job search until you have an offer in hand and a lovely resignation letter ready to go. But if you practice some basic di scretion, it doesn’t have to feel like a Cold War spy mission, either.

MISSISON STATEMENT OF NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION Research Paper

MISSISON STATEMENT OF NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION - Research Paper Example All through these years, the organization made continuous attempts towards spreading out its offered services always with the intention to put a stop to along with alleviating suffering (American Red Cross, 2012). The paper will intend to assess the mission statement of the organization in order to ascertain its effectiveness. Consecutively to ascertain the effectiveness of the mission statement of the non-profit organization, it becomes necessary to gain a lucid comprehension regarding its activities. Presently, the organization focuses on not only providing aid related to domestic catastrophes but it even puts in its contributions and endeavours towards providing empathetic relief services in other fields as well. The American Red Cross was found to extend its helping hand by way of making available community supported services for assisting the deprived and poor. It is also learnt to support along with consoling and reassuring the military members and also their respective immedia te families accompanied. The organization is also found to undertake initiatives for gathering, processing and dispensing lifesaving blood and the other relevant products. Various educational curriculums are provided by the organization in order to trigger general consciousness for the promotion of better health as well as safety and providing international aid along with conducting numerous development programs (American Red Cross, 2012). ... Around four million individuals have been predicted to donate their blood with the help of this organization which makes it one of the major and leading blood suppliers as well as products in the entire United States (US). The American Red Cross is also learnt to extend their support and aid to the several service members of the US who need to live staying away from their respective families owing to the nature of their military duty by way of keeping them connected with their families. The Red Cross on the whole commands a national association of almost 186 nationwide societies and with mutual cooperation and support aids in reinstating hope as well self-esteem to the globe’s most weak and defenseless individuals (American Red Cross, 2012). Majority of the volunteers along with the employees engaged with Red Cross are believed to serve around 70, 000 sufferers of catastrophes in both the large as well as small communities every year. It was estimated that on an average above 9 million individuals are provided training by Red Cross on the aspects of water safety, first aid accompanied with various other skills which are believed to prove to be helpful in saving lives each year. It was also predicted in this context regarding the considered organization that on the basis of a made average around 91 cents with respect to each Dollar spent by Red Cross gets invested or contributed towards the compassionate programs as well as services. As already mentioned that Red Cross functions and operates as a non-profit organization for which reason it remains heavily dependent on the donations related to money, blood and time in order to keep on carrying out and maintain a constant flow of its services (American Red Cross, 2012). Although the organization is believed to be