Registered nurse Essay Example for Free

Registered piddle up EssayThe field of breast feeding has been well-known since the get down of civilization. People everywhere be familiar with this field because people have always and will continue to experience illness, pain, suffering and death. The purpose of this report is to leave readers with detailed information about the field of nursing including its history, occupation description, culture requirements, employment opportunities, job outlook, job availability and salary. The first roots to the modern nursing sens be traced back to Florence nightingale (Career As a Registered Nurse (RN),6). She has inspired numerous people around the world and was considered a heroine in her time. Nightingale was highly educated and would travel through Europe looking at hospitals trying to educate the staff on better patient care and hygiene. She wherefore served as a sop up for the British government tending to ill and wound soldiers during the Crimean War. Nightingale sta rted the first modern, formal nursing school in 1860, designation it the Nightingale School, after herself.Nightingale is said to have created the healthcare model that we follow today, which treats the patient as an individual instead of a disease. (Career As a Registered Nurse (RN),6). This paved the way for other binds to step up and make nursing a better field to deform in. In the United States, Clara Barton cared for soldiers in the Civil War that were fighting for both the North and the South. Clara Barton later developed the American Red Cross. (Career As a Registered Nurse (RN),7). Developments such as these operate to the first nursing school in the US opening.It was opened by the Bellevue Hospital in New York. (Career As a Registered Nurse (RN),7). This helped girls across the artless gain insight into the field of nursing which in turn created new schools and new opportunities for people to join the field. A registered nurse takes care of sick and injured people. The y are concerned with the Whole Person rather than the disease an individual may have. Registered nurses help with the emotional, physical and mental needs of the patient they are caring for (Registered Nurse (RN)).In the hospital registered nurses work under what they call a head nurse. According to the Registered Nurse (RN) web site, Registered nurses usually work eight hours a day, forty hours a week, rotating shifts, holidays and weekends. Registered nurses perform a variety of different jobs. They observe the patient and record the observations they see, they consult with the physicians and others healthcare clinicians with their observations, and they maintain and disconnectedness intravenous lines for fluid, give medicine, blood, and blood products. United States). RNs help with the plan of care for their patients the plan may include their activities of daily living, checking the dosages given to the patient, and administering medication (United States). An RN overly he lps explain to family members how to take care of their family member after they return theater. They may explain their diet plan, nutrition, care needs, and the exercise needed (United States). The RN teaches the patients family, along with the patient, how to take care of their injuries or illness (United States).These are only a few things that a registered nurse may do on a daily basis as their jobs are crucial for the recovery of sick and injured individuals. They are different educational paths that a registered nurse can lead from. They can get their bachelor-at-armss decimal point, an partner degree, or a diploma from an approved nursing program (United States). Many registered nurses choose to complete either a two year program with an associate degree or a four-spot year program with a bachelors degree.After they have successfully completed the nursing program, then they must take a national examination in order to stimulate a nursing license to physical exertion ( Career as a Registered Nurse (RN), 23). They are also plan of attackd practice nurses such as a nurse midwife, nurse practitioner, nurse anesthetist or nurse specialist. Advanced practice nurses need a masters degree in order to practice (United States). Degrees There are three different educational paths to becoming a registered nurse. They can choose to grow a bachelors degree (BSN), an associate degree (ADN), or a diploma (Career as a Registered Nurse (RN), 22).Bachelors degree programs are offered by universities and take an average of four year to complete the program. Associate degree program is offered by community colleges and take about two to three years to complete the program. Diploma programs are completed in the hospital, and they last about three years (Career as a Registered Nurse (RN), 22). After the student graduates from one of the three types of programs, and they complete their licensing examination, they can qualify for the entry-level sites as a staff nurse (United States).Several nurses that have taken the associate program will return to school to obtain a bachelors degree program they call this an RN-to BSN program (United States). People who have a bachelors degree program can return to school to obtain an accelerated masters degree in nursing (MSN). After completion of the ADN program to befool the BSN and MSN it takes three to four years to complete as a full time student to receive an award for both (United States). The bachelors degree program takes about twelve to eighteen months to crystallize the degree after completion of the associate degree program.For someone who holds a bachelors degree who decides to obtain an MSN, it takes an additional two years to receive their masters degree (United States). When taking classes at college for the associate degree program, the programs includes courses such as anatomy, physiology, sociology, microbiology, chemistry, psychology, and nursing classes. For associate degree programs l iberal arts is also a part of their coursework (Career as a Registered Nurse (RN), 23). Students must participate in supervised clinical experiences.These clinical rotations can be done in hospital departments such as maternity, psychiatry, pediatrics, and surgery (United States). Several other health care facilities that offer clinical experience include public health departments, home health agencies, nursing care facilities, and ambulatory clinics. Advantages and Disadvantages When deciding what degree should be obtained, students must consider everything before choosing what program is right for them (United States).If someone has chosen to take an associates program with a two year community college, they could be limited for advancement opportunities (United States). When someone takes a bachelors degree or higher(prenominal) with a four year university, they receive more training in areas such as communication, leaders and critical thinking and will have a better opportunity to obtain a higher position than someone with a associates degree (United States). People who obtain a bachelors degree have more clinical experience in nonhospital settings (United States).Bachelors degrees are often needed for teaching, consulting, and research positions (United States). Licenses In the United States, students are indispensable to graduate from an approved nursing program before they are allowed to practice nursing. Students are required to take and pass the national licensing examination known as the National Council Licensure Examination or NCLEX-RN (United States). After successfully passing the NCLEX-RN exam students will obtain their nursing license. Other QualificationsNurses are people who should love caring for others when they are sick and ill. They should be responsible and sympathetic for all patients. They need to be able to give people direction and supervise other co-workers who are under them. Nurses should be emotionally stable to be able cope wit h people who are suffering, dying, and emergency situations (Career as a Registered Nurse (RN), 19). Continuing education credits could be required in some states on regular bases (United States). Advancement Registered nurses most often start out as staff nurses in hospitals.The more experience the nurse acquires overtime, the more often the nurse will move to other departments or promoted to do jobs taking on more leadership roles and responsibility (United States). Registered nurses can advance from a head nurse to a senior-level nurse they are more of a director, vice president, chief of nursing and confederate director (United States). This job requires a graduate or an advancement degree in health services administration, and the administration program works with leadership, communication and dainty judgments (United States).If someone chose to advance in their nurse practice, there are four different advanced practice nurses to choose from they are clinical nurse specialist s, nurse anesthetists, nurse-midwife, and nurse practitioners (United States). When a nurse chooses one of the four types of advanced practice nurses, it requires a masters degree (United States). New graduates should consider if they want to advance in their career when first applying for a job in order to ask the hiring team if there is room for advancement within the facility and the position they will be taking.

Gaskell North and South Essay Example for Free

Gaskell North and South EssayGaskells North and South, set in straightlaced England, is the drool of Marg aret Hale, a young woman whose life is completely turned on its channel when her family moves to northern England. As an outsider from the agricultural south, Margaret is initially shocked by the aggressive northerners of the dirty, smoky industrial townspeople of Milton, but as she adapts to her new home, she defies mixer conventions with her ready sympathy and defense of the working poor. Her passionate advocacy of the rase classes leads her to repeatedly clash with charismatic mill owner John Thornton over his treatment of his workers. While Margaret denies her growing attraction to him, Thornton agonizes over his foolish passion for her, in spite of their heated disagreements. As tensions mount surrounded by them, a violent unionization strike explodes in Milton, leaving e veryone to deal with the aftermath in the town and in their personal lives. Gaskells novel cou ld certainly be described as a affable commentary England at the time was extremely class-conscious, still In almost all cases, Margaret does non so much choose sides as acknowledge reciprocally dependent and beneficial relativeships.Though her family has very teentsy in the way of money or assets, her family roots are in the gentry, yet when the family is moved up North to Milton, Margaret befriends and friendlyizes with both ends of the social spectrum, mill owners and workers. Margaret is regular(a) capable of initiating a friendship of sorts between worker and owner, Higgins and Thornton even come up with a plan to add upher to provide a canteen for the workers to get hot nutriment. Differences in life in the South and life in the North are compared and contrasted often in a very subtle fashion, as are the differences in values and class structure.It is too very interesting to note that the difficulties of the lives of the impoverished grinder workers are highlighted, h owever the difficulties faced by the factory owners are also presented. Through Margaret, Gaskell is able to transcend social class and at the same time create a hero amongst the industrial scantness of Milton, she acts in a way that would have been un formulaic and frowned upon at the time for the good of such people as the Higgins family.When she is seen bringing a basket of food to the house during the workers strike, her peers condemn her at a dinner at the Thorntons. Highlighting both the differences between northern and southern culture and the clashes between social conscientiousness. It could be said that North and South is a novel defined by the resolution of binary conflicts Margaret Hale is presented with a number of divisions of sympathy, between industrialists and the working class, between conflicting views of Mr.Thornton, and even between her conflicting views of her own intelligence. Nancy Mann, in her essay Intelligence and Self-Awareness in North and South a Matte r of Sex and severalize stipulates that the novel concentrates on a crucial problem of the development of the novel in the nineteenth century, the relationship between abstract intelligence and self-awareness, and the ways in which this relationship may be affected by factors of sex and class(1).What Mann is saying is that Gaskell is successful in throwing off the conventional boundaries of the classic wild-eyed Victorian with all its feminist connotations and persuasions and has created a character that transcends the constraints of class and what is proper to existingly do some good in her new environment. Gaskells most self-aggrandizing social explorations however come in the form of contrasts. For example Margarets relationship with the Higgins family, especially Bessie, both nineteen years old when they meet, one wakeless and the other gravely ill can be seen as a dramatic comment on class iniquity.Gaskell uses Bessie as a dramatic artifice in the novel to draw Margaret an d her father closer, a task some literary critics consider to be so rise up done that Bessie is often discounted from the actual story. She is also a device to show the plight of the working class woman, Bessie is even described by one critic as the most vast portrait of a factory girl in the mainstream industrial novels, and as such, she reveals the political and economic tensions surrounding working class women(2).Even Margaret says Bessies comments manoeuver the specific problems of working-class women, problems that both unions and the middle class have an interest in ignoring. Even when Bessies religious beliefs and her questioning of unionism are considered she is very revealing, Margaret sees her as having a politics of her own which both reveals her sense of disenfranchisement from the ongoing struggle between masters and men and presents the most telling evidence in the novel of the iniquities of the class system.Something else that has to be considered in this scenario with Bessie as a dramatic tool towards Gaskells social commentary Elizabeth Gaskells North and south A field Bildungsroman. Victorian Newsletter 85 (1994) Briefly traces the emergence of and critical debate on the industrial novel, noting the industrial novels have been read largely in relation to male working-class history, not in relation to female working-class history or to the emerging nineteenth-century womens movement.The critic also goes on to stipulate that the comments on the patriarchal foundations of both Chartism and the union movement makes a case for the need to consider Marxist and feminist issues when considering the issues raised in north and south. He goes on to suggest that by placing her heroine, Margaret Hale, between North and South, Gaskell attempts to bring to the surface the unconscious bifurcations that produce class and gender ideologies and that because the novel is both a Bildungsroman as well as an industrial novel it acquires unusual dimensions in b oth categories(3).Feminism also plays a big part in Gaskells novel, through her trio main characters, Margaret, Thornton and Higgins Gaskell shows a struggle for growth and indicates what the future of society may hold for people in similar situations and how society can grow as a whole. When the novel is examined as a debate on class and gender issues, the amount of time the characters spend arguing about word choices, definitions and analogies it is sluttish that almost all interactions in the novel are affected in some way by gender or class, even in language, each term that comes under(a) debate is changed with class or gender import(4).With this much importance forced upon the characters class and gender by their social environment a reader is certainly inclined to read the novel as an exploration into the Victorian class system rather than a conventional love story of the time. Even in Margarets romantic capacity as a woman, her gradual sexual awareness of John Thornton an d their Marriage at the end of the novel is more understandable to read in a more feminist light than a romantic one.In marrying Thornton Margaret enters into a mutually equal relationship, one where her influence and goals will be felt as well as his, through Margaret, Gaskell subtly reveals the new directions women are taking toward free-lance action and freedom(5). However at the same time recognizing that the changes she undergoes are in no way revolutionary and that though the conflicting ideas of obedience and freedom are not completely settled by the end of the novel, at least one woman has emerged into responsible adulthood and has claimed her part in deciding the scathe of that settlement(6).What is most interesting about this novel is that all the elements of a romantic novel are there, but it is written in a way that turns the readers head from the sentimental pride and prejudice Esq. prose and makes them focus on the environment and its social deficiencies through this story of social rejection and Christian compassion, Gaskell charges her culture to replace what she sees as a rigid and reductive old testament ethic of charity(7).This idea of a old to new change in a religious sense is also backed by Gaskells own Unitarian background, her father was a Unitarian minister, as was her husband, Margarets father in the novel itself is also a minister it could even be suggested that Gaskells beliefs provided her with an alternative vision of society and code of behavior(8) the importance of Gaskells religious beliefs and Unitarianism can be found in many aspects of the novel, not least that Unitarianism believed in the cultivation of the intellect regardless of sex, she found the religious authority to challenge the patriarchal subjugation of women, especially those who failed to fulfill their designated role in society.It is ironic to think in a period nearly defined by its theological doubt, Gaskells spiritual faith authorizes her revolutionary visio n(9). When Mr. Thornton, without further verbal explication, proposes to Margaret in a strange and presumptuous way at the end of the novel, we see the proper structure of an intimate relationship, both sides respect each others power while Thornton refuses to impose a political hierarchy. This is emphasized by the exchange over the flowers, which he bought as a token of her independent self, which is a revolutionary idea in itself at this point in history and conversely, gives rise to his second comment referring to marriage as possession, saying he had no hope of ever calling her mine, and the second refutation of such terms.Although the novel does not strive at any point to be romantic at the expense of the real issues that Gaskell tackles in the way people lived at the time, their unspoken resolution to marry signifies the resolution of the novel the binding of two genders, halves of England, social classes, and individuals, into one. In conclusion Gaskell is very successful in going further than any of her peers in actually exploring deficiencies in Victorian culture and society, although the main components of a classic love story are there, Margaret opts for the conscientious, religious option at every turn making the novel more a serious social commentary than anything else. Gaskells religious persuasion adds to this in that it allows her to transcend the class system and her constraints as a woman in Victorian England to address these problems under the banner of religion.

roles played by nurses and other professionals in the team

roles played by nurses and separate masters in the police squad upThis essay is meant to throw light-colored on the enormousness of having an inter nonrecreational team that would make the run deli rattling to patients easier. In this essay I allow demonstrate the roles played by nurses and other superiors in the team. The essay willing reflect the efficiency of such a team and their range distribution and involvement. I will highlight the shipway in which a team of professionals will work together to take veracious conclusivenesss during emergency situations and tackle them efficaciously. The essay will also critically adjudicate the various concepts of inter professional team work.An interprofessional team is a group of people who have a certain common goals or objectives which drives them to work together by setting aside individual goals. Inter professional team can be defined as a dynamic lick involving dickens or more health c atomic number 18 professional s with complementary backgrounds and skills, sharing common health goals and exercising concerted physical and mental effort in assessing, planning, or evaluating patient wish, accomplished through interdependent collaborationism, open communication and shared decision-making, and generates value-added patient, organizational and staff outcomes (Xyrichis and Ream 2007). Freeth et al (2005) defined inter professional team work as when two or more professional learn with, from and about each other to improve collaboration and the quality of care.The healthcare domain started cover interest in the interprofessional working during the early 1990. (Institute of Medicine, 1998ONeil and Pew Health Professions Commission 1998Pew Health Professions Commission 1995a,1995b,1998).The Association of American medical examination Colleges, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing suggested that the graduates must have enough kno wledge in interprofessional collaboration (Varkey, Reller, Smith, Ponet, Osborn, 2006). Varkey et.al (2006) also pointed out that t here should be enough cooperation amongst the various professionals in healthcare field for the success of this profession. But unfortunately this f behave is not included in the curriculum of the contrastive medical schools in USA. Inter professional teams are more effective in rehabilitating the patients than individual health care professionals. The number of patients having positive affect by the inter professional divine service is larger than those by individual service providers.A very strategic role played by nurses is highlighted now. The nursing tutors face the dual quarrel of preparing their students enter into nursing profession as well as equip them to cooperate effectively with other health practitioners (Lattuca, 200lNewell, 1998).An interprofessional team is working to provide service in a properly planned and systematic manner. In the health care sector inter professional teams are meant to develop groups that works towards expeditiously collapseing care to the patients. These teams include nurses, doctors, and other health care professionals. For a team to be efficient role clarity to inevit adequate to(p) and this will ease them define their own duties and responsibilities avoiding conflicts (West and Markiowicz, 2004). A team essentially will have a team trioer who will lead the team and motivate them to render good service working together (Martin and Rogers 2004). A health care team will work effectively if there is stability in the team, this will make the team member in the group work with shared trust and understanding (West and Slater (1996) Gair and Hartery, (2001)).Interprofessional teams are of various types, they include multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary etc. In case of multidisciplinary teams the members are from various teams. These members set their own discipline specific goals and wor k towards achieving it. But ultimately the result is calculated as the lend of all the disciplines (Dean and Geiringer 1990). The position of team members in the team hierarchy will affect the way in which the team functions and how it will render the service (Cotts, 1998). In case of a multidisciplinary team there exist subgroups of doctors, social workers, therapists and also subgroups which had nurses and other junior staff. Her study also unveiled the idea that the different subgroups had different perceptions about the inter professional teams.Inter professional team work is highly essential in operation theatres and intensive and trauma care units. Since these are the emergency units of a hospital the situation of such units cannot be predicted and thus highly challenging. The interprofessional team may have to work highly efficiently and together. thither exists a high rate of tension and stress in the team members in such emergency situations.According to McWilliam et al (2 003), interprofessional working is a very difficult projection for health care professionals. The patients didnt get the full benefit of interprofessional working due to the misunderstanding between the health care professionals regarding the policies and procedures in it.Mistreatment of seniors is a serious issue and its growing day by day. It is the responsibility of nurses to notice and prevent such occurrences (Baker Heitkemper, 2005). The nurses have a variety of roles to play in an Inter-professional elder mistreatment team. At present the roles involve screening and assessment, mandatory reporting, direct care, and complaint investigation. Elder mistreatment (EM) is a very complicated issue and can be effectively solved through inter-professional association.Critics like Bion (1961) say that the interprofessional teams fail to focus on the real task they should be doing. The primary tasks for which they have come together is forget most of the by the interprofessional tea ms. Whenever there is an issue the teams to fail to reach at a consensus and they do not take proper decisions on the issue (Strokes 1994). The meetings conducted in order to take decision on the matter are just a waste of time. These assumptions are based on the work group prospect theory. Critics of interprofessional team have questioned the values of the team. It is said that the teams are not well managed and they do not work properly and responsibily.Negotiation theory says front the stance of negotiating the personal and professional goals. (Strauss, 1978) The negotiations by professionals in the health care field have played a critical role in molding the characteristics of an interprofessional team. red ink and change theory reiterates that the health care professionals like doctors and nurses lose their professional identity as they are working in a team, this will lead to developing an improper relationship and improper behavior in the team (Atkins, 1998). Thus it crit ically points to the inter professional teams in that it wouldnt serve the purpose of forming a team the unhappiness of the team members can lead to inefficient functioning. The increase of cost in hospitals will also result if there is lack of proper communication between the professionals like doctors, nurses and staff and also if they are not coordinated well (Gavett, Drucker, McCrum and Dickinson, 1985).The roles played by nurses in the interprofessional teams are fast evolving. The importance of specialist skills for nurses is now recognized and new role have come up. The Macmillan nurse is an example of such new roles and they possess skills in palliative care and are expected to look after patients with terminal illness. Another group called night practitioners literally run the hospitals at night. They are skilled to assist either department and are sometimes considered better than junior doctors too (Martin Rogers, 2004)While working in an interprofessional team, there is an increased chance of conflict between the team members regarding the superiority in the team. The truth is everyone is equal while working in a team and nobody should themselves subordinate to anyone. But sometimes the nurses and their opinions are treat in an interprofessional team. Such events makes them reluctant to be a part of such teams (Martin Rogers, 2004).Task shifting is a common practice among the professionals now days (Reeves et.al, 2010). This would jocker the traditional professionals to relieve of their heavy workload. The nursing practitioners and physician assistants are such roles (Hooker McCaig, 2001).The multiplicative effects framework of interprofessional working views it more than the sum of its parts. Here the synergy obtained from such work is described (Leathard, 1994). According to this model, interprofessional working improves the contributions of individual team members and thus will help in the overall development of team.Decision making is an essential in ingradient of all teams it measures the efficiency of the group. Decision making in case of an interprofessional team also play key role deciding its service delivery process. The usual situation that happens in such teams is the unavailability of proper team leader and also reaching at a common consensus. The decision taken in team has the idea input all the members that needs to driven well in one direction for increasing effectiveness of the work the team does. Most of the important decisions concerning the activities of the team are taken mostly by the Doctors, or the medical staff in an inter professional team in hospitals. Solving important problems and resolving conflicts are the aims of masking decisions (Neil, 1978). in that respect are a few hindrances for nurses to be part of interprofessional teams. The health care sector has shortages or less number of nurses, and those nurses who are available have increased amount of work. As a result of which there is a limitation in case of inter professional support and collaboration (Mckay Crippen, 2008). Another barrier that can be highlighted is the disinterest on the part of other departments to participate and actively involve in the team and work together. The culture and hierarchy of the organization also plays a role in the formation of teams in the organization.According to Henneman.et.al (1995) coaction involves a partnership characterized by mutual goals and commitments in which participants willingly become involved in planning and decision making. Henneman.et.al (1995) also proposed that collaboration is a process by which members of various disciplines (or agencies) share their expertise. Accomplishing this requires these individuals understand and appreciate what it is that they contribute to the whole.Many authors have suggested ways to make the intercollaboration more effective. According to Fullan (1993), effective collaborations operate in the world of ideas, examining exist ing practices critically, seeking better alternatives and working hard together at bringing about improvements and assessing their worth. The National Network for Collaboration (NNC) put forward a frame work for effective collaboration and advocated that it should possess a common vision, problem, a desired outcome etc. NNC also pointed out that the members of the collaboration must share this vision and contribute equally. The NNC sees collaboration as an inclusionary process which should be constantly engaged and must strengthen the commitment and must identify that relationship building and maintaining is the key factor for the success of collaborations and they must try to sustain a win-win relationship. According to Garner (1995) and Hoeman (1996), it should be by means of collaborative communication rather than shared communication that the interprofessional team approach evolves.Efforts were made from the part of many authors for increasing the literature on interprofessional education for health professional students. But Cooper, Carlisle, Gibbs, and Watkins (2001) pointed out this literature to be diverse including a relatively small amount of research data and much larger amounts of evaluation literature. There were almost thirty works done on interprofessional education and all of them aimed to increase the level of co-operation and understanding between the members in interprofessional teams as well as to encourage a high quality care for the patients.There are a number of social science theories that explain the concept of interprofessional team work. Merton (1968) put forward theory in three modules. They are the micro, mid range and macro theories. The social sciences approaches that come under these three groups includeMicro psychodynamic post by Bion, Menzies, Marris,social psychological perspective by Tejfel and Turner, BrownInteractionism by Goffman and straussAll the above approaches that come under the micro group are of the keen type th at consolidates the team functions, identities and interactions.Midrange Activity theory by EngestromInstitutional influence by DiMaggio and PowellProfessionalization by FreidsonThese three approaches or theories are processual, organizational and contextual. Their task is to understand team activities, relation and performance, the relations between professions respectively.Macro Discourse theory and surveillance theory by FoucaultThey are of the contextual type that deals with the impact of society and social interaction of with respect to the interprofessional team work.There are a set of models supporter by theories that help provide the inter professional education well in the health care sector that enables the health care professionals perform well and deliver quality service. These models are whilst behaviorism, cognitivism and constructivism (Schunk D 2003).I will working for the betterment of the service provided to a patient using the things I learned. Working in an inte rprofessional team is has made me get involved with the Doctors and other professional in the field and has helped to build a strategy that elevates the level of service rendering process. As a nurse am able to act in the right way a right direction in case of any emergency and otherwise. From now I will be able to put into practise the concept I learned.The model that I would use is the Kolbs model of reflection. It is a process whereby, individuals, teams and organizations attend to and understanding their experiences and consequently modify their behaviour.The model mainly has 4 important aspectsExperiencing means really doing the task and experiencing the whole process.Reflecting- in this step the work is reviewed in terms of experience and the real process.Conceptualisation- here the various important occurrences and tasks are analysed and their connections among the events are noted.Planning- the events that have been understood will be analysed well in order to envisage the occurrences in future. This will help to prevent any improper events happening and build a proper strategy to do the next task.The Kolbs reflection model if one of the best models for teams. In case of a team there are aspects likeDoing- same as experience, where the team does the task or the action.Reflection- after the action, the team members openly discuss the whole process and share their views and experience.Interpretation- the members of the team now work with common identity and culture and as a team by leaning tail individual interests.Planning- in the final step team works according to the joint decisions and plan out ways to committing the action.Finally I would say that in any sector especially the health care there is an elementary requirement of having an inter professional team. The team in all ways will help in providing superior service since the decisions are taken as a team and under common grounds.

Examining the Recruitment process of ABC Company

Examining the enlisting physical process of first principle CompanyRecruitment or selection policies ar playing a central role in the running and long-lasting success for a company. The main aim of recruitment is to draw the attraction of the employees who can express germane(predicate) skills and experience, to make a positive and valued contribution towards the work of the company. Every individual employee essentialiness be selected on merit. The aim of any recruitment utilization is to find the best person for the trading. So whatever the person or the employee is good in work the company must provide them the work al-Qaeda on their merit.The recruitment and selection of staff of the right quality at the right time is crucial for the organization. Recruitment is the process to identify people to date for the organization. A good recruitment has some principle. A bad recruitment can hamper the whole productivity of the organization. In ABC company, keep companyed few s lander recruitment procedure while ar discussed in the future(a)-One of the crucial requirements for recruitment is placed the right people for the right job. Here, ABC Company doesnt follow this principle. Ashley Jones was expert in administrative work she has no experience in marketing field which is impact on performance of her position. In the case of Ashley Jones, she was decreed in ABC Company by the reference of one of the director in marketing department. As a result she is missing her monthly sign which besides ca applys a momentous decrease in the productivity.ABC Company did not emphasise on job analysis. Job analysis means a process where identify determine the particular job in details and relative significance of particular job. If ABC Company followed their job analysis it could be sorted out earlier. Again training is also an important part of recruitment. If ABC Company follows their trained Ashley Jones in a proper manner so the problems may not occur which leads to reduce productivity.A good reward and payment strategy is considered as a key tool of motivation as closely increase productivity. A poor remuneration system may reduce productivity of the employee. ABC company remuneration system was not well recognised which de motivated to perform her responsibility. After that she was de-motivated to work by the remuneration system of the company. ABC Companys reward and payment system is not well cognize as a result the performances of the employees are going down.One of the important principles in recruitment process is principle of fairness. It means that candidate should be recruiting on the basis of merit as well as by open competition. Organization should provide adequate information about responsibility before recruitment, which do to pick up right person. But ABC Company select by referencing which does not met the recruitment principle.All recruitment should be announced and push publicly. A wide recruitment leads lot of opportunity to get skilled person among different candidate. But ABC Company select internally. As a result lots of skilled person cant get the opportunity to do the job.3.1. Considerable factor for effective recruitmentA recruitment system is one of the most crucial aspects. Therefore it is important for efficient and effective operation of the organization. All candidates should be treated with alludely fairly (Deb, 2006). There are some suggestion are below for effectiveness of recruitment-1. Fairness Fair and competition should be considered when candidates are recruiting for the organization. Equal and reasonable accesses to information about job have to confirm by the recruitment team. Recruitment procedure must be reliable, objective and protective against bias. Recruitment procedure should be emphasised on qualification competiveness.2. Wide announcement All interested and prospective candidate can pass on, if it announced and advertised widely which help to appropriate consideration in the recruitment process. Wide announcement gives alternative choice to take best among candidates.3. Maintain highest professional standard Ethical code of conduct of must be follow during recruitment as well as must comply with legal provision of the country. Recruitment must be transparent patronage free, equal treatment should be applied during recruitment process.4. Documentation Appropriate documentation should be maintain in the recruitment process. The documentation included specify following things-The jobs objective.The main duties responsibilities.The needed skilled.Necessary knowledge for job.Required qualities.Essential attributes to carry out job.Documentation helps to make short list among candidates. Employee specification should not revision during recruitment process.5. Impartiality Recruitment process must be free from partiality. The best and capable candidate can be select only by fair way.6. Job analysis For effective recruitment, job analysis is very important to make the recruitment successful. A job analysis include find the needs training, compensation procedure, performance review etc. A job analysis makes the recruitment process effective (www.job.analysis.net).If the ABC company follow the higher up recruitment principles, which can be more effective for the organization.In term of to improve effectiveness and good employee recruitment in future some policies are given below A manager can recruit in two different ways i) Internal Recruitment ii) out-of-door RecruitmentInternal Recruitment It is the most favorite source of applicants in stable and developed companies. It needs a strong support from other HR Processes because of these the unmanaged internal recruitment process can guide to disappoint the managers and employees in the organization. The succession planning and strong performance management is needed to make sure the success of the internal recruitment.External RecruitmentThe most obvious advantage of external recruitment is the availability of a greater pool of applicants. Thus, only those applicants who have the exact qualifications will apply and be selected the company. This has cost for the organizations training budget. Whereas external recruits will require orientation upon being hired, as they will not require any extra training. It also brings new ideas and external contacts to the company for hiring them. Also, if political backbiting over a promotion might be a possibility, then external recruitment is one way of eliminating that occurrence. Under external recruitment the effectiveness are given below Recruit online and given ads in newspaper A company can extend employees on online which will help to reach a lot of people in short time. Again if the companys give ad in newspaper and perseverance trade journals many skilled job searchers who has less technical support can applied for the post. For this it will emphasized on qualification of different people. proce dure the best employee If the company uses its best employees for the interview of the people for the business, then they can collect the best candidates from the applicants.Documentation Recruiters must maintain the suitable documents for recruitment process. They must follow the jobs purpose, duties and responsibilities, proper knowledge for the job. This will help the HR division to make a short list from the candidates.Search in Schools The Company must build a good relationship with local schools, colleges and universities to attract graduates for trainee positions and always be ready to interview the candidates.Analysis the job To make a recruitment successful job analysis is the most important part. It makes the recruitment process effective.Use Job Center Plus A company can use Job Center Plus for recruiting people cheap and fast way. It is useful for finding permanent and temporary employees with no charge and they can shortlist the applicants for the company.If the ABC Com pany follow these process it can be more effective and beneficial for the company.Effective recruitment selection practicesBy R. L. Compton, Alan R. NankervisFig A normal strategic recruitment processRecruitment RequisitionCompetency or Position AnalysisPosition DescriptionPosition EvalutionPool of AplicantsBudget dampSourcingSelection ProcessDynamic EnvironmentVisionStrategicBusiness formulateKeyStakeholderDynamic EnvironmentHR StrategyHRPlanPoliciesRecruitment ProcessSource Nankervis, A, Compton, R, Baird, M, 2005, Strategic human resource management(6th ed), Cengage, South Melbourne.

Case Study Of Downs Syndrome

Case Study Of D places Syndromecapital of Minnesota Z is a 30 year old man who has a Learning deterioration and Downs syndrome. He lives at al-Qaeda with Mrs Z, his mother who is his main c arr and 18 year old sister S who goes to Sixth Form College and hopes to go to University. Mrs Z is given to capital of Minnesota and gave up her composition prison term job when he left school twelve years ago to look after him extensive time. Mrs Z who was widowed twain years ago has recently been prescribed anti-depressants by her GP as she was not sleeping well and finding life concentrated to cope with.Paul is adequate to complete his mortalal cargon and dresses himself appropriately, although he does sometimes learn prompting or supervising depending on his mood that day. Mrs Z finds it precise difficult to leave Paul at home for any length of time even though he is likely to be subject to cope on his own for a few hours. She get out occasionally leave him with his younger sis ter S but she has exams and a very full cordial life of her own. Neither has Mrs Z been willing to allow Paul to access friendship based figure outivities, other than the Day Centre which he attends two days per week, because she fears for his safety. Paul really enjoys the Day Centre where he has been given his own shelf in the greenhouse and a patch of garden where he move ups flowers and vegetables which he takes home to eat. Paul would like to increase his social activities, develop his independent living skills and excite access to a bigger garden to grow more vegetables and to possible sell them.Pauls fills include watching films, reading comic books and playing computer games and football. He in like manner enjoys swimming and accompanies Mrs Z when she goes. Paul is very sociable and well liked by all who meet him. Mrs Z does not drive and both she and Paul argon dependent on normal transport.Paul requires support when in the federation as he could be extremely vuln erable if left on his own because of his friendly and trusting nature. Paul has a good understanding of everyday things but due to his learning disability tends to make findings based on his every day experience and inspiration to please and whitethorn not have necessarily understood or interpreted into account all the information which might affect the decision. He female genital organ appear to have a better understanding of things than he has and he inevitably to be supported when fashioning more complex decisions. Paul is also very difficult to understand verbally and uses his own quarrel with a form of Makaton and picture Symbols. When he becomes anxious or worried he washbasin be aggressive even towards those who he knows well. Also due to his poor conference skills he finds expressing himself very difficult.3 approach pattern related questionsIn the consideration of Pauls circumstances post a critical analysis ofWhich types of judicial decisions would need to be i mplemented, how these would be most appropriately conducted and by whomThe first opinion that would need to be implemented would be an assessment of Pauls need for federation worry serve.As Paul has a learning disability and Downs syndrome, in that respect will be assessment barriers that need to be taken account for and overcome to enable Paul to participate fully in the assessment process. In addition this will go over that the relevant and necessary information is gathered to accurately assess Pauls need for community keeping run. As described Paul has poor verbal communication skills, this could make it difficult for Paul to express himself during the assessment process. Furthermore Paul may need serve well in making sense of and understanding information, this would need to be addressed to maintain Pauls full involvement and level of understanding in the assessment and for any decision. Pauls challenging behaviour would need to be taken into account so not to cause ha rm to him or others.Pauls assessment would normally be conducted by a social worker from Pauls local social run department (NHS Choices, 2009). The social worker would need to find ways of dealing with these potential barriers before the assessment takes repose. Paul communicates using his own language with this in mind it may be appropriate to have someone who knows Paul well to be part of the assessment so they are able to interpret the information to the assessor. Pauls mother or sister could do thisAlternative communication-picture symbols social worker could use these/interper however Paul is eager to please so may tell interviewer/social worker what they want to hear. May be case if mum/sister is present so an independent advocate may be advisable. As Paul stub get aggressive-build the relationship up before assessment. armorial bearingrs assessmentMothers own s47 assessmentThe issues relating to risk, proportionate response and capacity pretend assessment, vulnerable adult , MCA, IMCAHow you would work to promote Pauls independence and his right to make his own choices, with whom would you cooperate to achieve this and which theoretical perspectives would inform your practice.Person centred planning-Valuing stackSocial shape of disability3 Legal QuestionsWhat statutory duties, if any, does the local authority have in respect of assessing and providing community care services to Paul and/or Mrs Z? Please identify the relevant legislation.In respect of assessing Paul, the local authority under function 47(1) of the discipline Health Service and Community attention playact 1990, has a duty to assess his needs and depending on the result of that assessment, will decide whether Pauls needs call for the supplying of community care services. As Brayne and Carr (2010, pp.541) states there are two clear steps that are required by s.47(1)-an information gathering exercise and a decision making process. During the decision making process, the Local ascen dancy will follow the guidance set by the Fair Access to Care Services Guidance for Adult Social Care Needs issued by the Department of Health in the Local Authority Circular 2002 (LAC 2002 13). The eligibility criteria is based on the risk to independence caused by an individuals presenting needs. End with axiom about cc services to link to next paragraph.Community Care services are a range of services that are generally stomachd by social services to enable the hoi polloi who are receiving them to remain living within the community rather than moving, for example into occupierial care (Clements and Thompson, 2007). The main statue that directs community based services is Section 29 of the field of study Assistance effect 1948. This gives local administration the office staff and duty to provide domiciliary care services to disenable people who fall within the description as defined by the act and who are in need of such services. Services can be provided within the servic e users home or elsewhere, such as a day centre. As Paul has a learning disability and Downs syndrome, he would be bailable for these services. Under s.29 of the NAA 1948, Paul could receive arrangements to support him with gaining independent living skills, services for recreational and social activities and assistance with setting up his own business so he could sell his vegetables.Paul, under s.29 of the NAA 1948, is defined as being disabled and therefore Local Authorities have further might and duties to provide services under Section 2 of the inveterate sick(p) and Disabled Persons sour 1970. This section offers a wide range of services that could be available to Paul. He could benefit from outings outside of his home, assistance with travel arrangements for such outings, practical assistance within his home and holidays.Mrs Z is Pauls main full time carer and so would be entitled to an assessment under Section 1 of the Carers and Disabled Children action 2000, of her own needs in terms of her ability to provide and to continue to provide care for Paul. A carer, as described in the legislation, is an individual who provides or intends to provide a substantial amount of care on a regular alkali for another individual aged 18 or over. Within s.1 of the CDCA 2000, Mrs Z, would still be eligible for an carers assessment even if Paul was to refuse a community care assessment himself.The local authority involved in this case, has a statutory duty, under the Carers (Equal Opportunities) Act 2004, to inform Mrs Z of her right to an assessment and mustiness take in to consideration whether Mrs Z works or wishes to work or would like to undertake any education, learn or leisure activities. The results of Mrs Zs assessment would be considered during the decision making process of Pauls need for the provision of community care services.If Paul was going to be fixed in residential care what statutory duties or powers does the local authority have to place hi m in residential care, and what statutory duties does the local authority have in respect of the choice of accommodation. Would your answer differ if Paul lacked mental capacity to decide where he should live?If Paul was going to be place in residential care, the local authority has a duty to provide this under Section 21 of the National Assistance Act 1948. Within this act it states that residential accommodation must be provided for psyches aged eighteen or over who by reasons of age, illness, disability or any other circumstances are in need of care and attention which is not available.Once Paul has been assessed as eligible for accommodationAs Clements and Thompson (2007, pp.222-223) states the NAA 1948 (Choice of Accommodation) Directions 1992 constitute one of the few examples of reliable choice that individuals have in relation to their community care services.The NAA 1948 (Choice of Accommodation) Directions 1992- gives individuals genuine choice that individuals have in r elation to their community care services. When they are engaged, the directions give service users a legal right to choose setting of their residential care.Once a social services authority has assessed a person as eligible for accommodation under NAA 1948, S21, it is then obliged to make arrangements to accommodate that person in a care home of his or her choice provided that the conditions in direction 3 of the NAA 1948 (Choice of Accommodation) Directions 1992 (as amended) are satisfied.S1(2) MCA 2005 -presumption of capacityS2 MCA 2005 Decision must be time and issue specific.S4 MCA 2005 if lacks mental capacity then a best interest decision is requiredc)In the context of the case study please identify any vulnerable adults and say why and in what circumstances you consider them to be vulnerable. What assessments if any would you carry out and what measures if any would you put in place to protect them? Critically analyse which other individuals and/or agencies, if any, you wo uld involve in the safeguarding process. sagaciousnessthither are a number of statutes that deal with the matter of assessment.The overarching duty on local authorities is set out in the NHS and Community Care Act 1990.NHS and Community Care Act 1990 Section 47(1). This imposes a duty on local authorities to carry out an assessment of need for community care services with people who appear to them to need such services and then, having regard to that assessment, decide whether those needs call for the provision by them of services.An assessment is triggered where The person appears to be someone for whom community care services could be provided andThe persons circumstances may need the provision of some community care servicesThere are a number of other Acts which deal with the matter of assessmentThe NHS and Community Care Act 1990 Section 47(2). If, during the Section 47(1) assessment the person is determine as being disabled *, that person has additional rights as set out in Se ction 47(2). This requires local authorities to make a decision as to the services required under Section 4 of the Disabled Persons (Services and source and Representation) Act 1986.Note * see Section 29, National Assistance Act 1948 belowDisabled Persons (Services and Consultation and Representation) Act 1986 Section 4. This imposes a duty on local authorities to decide whether the needs of a disabled person call for the provision by the Local Authority of any services in accordance with Section 2(1) of the chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970.National Assistance Act 1948 Section 29 (1). To qualify for services under this Section persons must beaged 18 or over who are blind, deaf, or dumb, or who suffer from mental disorder of any description, and other persons aged 18 or over who are substantially and permanently handicap by illness, injury, congenital deformity or such other disabilities as may be prescribed by the Minister.The definition of disabled person should be interpreted in this context to mean people over 18 years who have a permanent and substantial disability such as learning disability, physical disability, sensory impairment, mental health difficulties, chronic illness or any combination of these.LAC(93) 10 Appendix 4 asks councils to give a wide interpretation to the term substantial to take full account of individual circumstances and a flexible interpretation to the term permanent in cases where they are uncertain of the duration of the condition. Examples include episodic or recurring illness, intermittent disability / conditions.People who are disabled within the terms of this definition are not obliged to register with the Department, nor is access to assessment and services dependent on registration.Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons (CSDP) Act 1970 Section 2. This places a duty on local Authorities to assess the individual needs of everyone who falls within Section 29 of the National Assistance Act 1948 above. linchpin to topAssessment of CarersThe Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000 Section 1. This section gives carers, aged 16 or over, the right to an assessment of their ability to provide care or continue to provide careWhere they provide or intend to provide a substantial amount of care on a regular basis for another individual 18 or overAndthe local council is satisfied that the person cared for is someone for whom it may provide or arrange for the provision of community care services.This right exists even where the person cared for has refused an assessment by the local council social services department or has refused the delivery of community care services following an assessment.Note The Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000 will only rarely be used by councils looking at the needs of 16 and 17 year old carers. Where it is used in these circumstances the assessment must be child centred and follow the guidance set out in the role model for the Assessment of Children in Need and their F amilies (paragraphs 3.61 to 3.63.)(Ref The Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000 policy and practice guidance).The Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000 Section 6 . This section provides that a person with maternal responsibility for a disabled child has the right to an assessment from the local authority of their ability to provide (and to continue to provide) care for the child. The local authority must take that assessment into account when deciding what services, if any, to provide under section 17 of the Children Act 1989. (Ref The Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000 policy and practice guidance).Disabled Persons (Services Consultation and Representation) Act 1986 Section 8. Carers also have rights under this section which requires local councils to have regard to the ability of the carer to provide or continue to provide care when deciding what services to provide to the disabled person. In these circumstances the assessment of the cared for person must take account of the carer situation and record this as part of the assessment of the cared for person. This requirement exists even where the caring role is not of a regular or substantial nature.back to top mental Health Act 1983, section 117 requires a local authority jointly with the Health Authority to provide aftercare services for people leaving hospital after being compulsorily detained. It is implicit in such a duty that a process of assessment must be undertaken prior to discharge to identify needs and how they will be met.The delivery of all mental health services is framed within the Care Programme Approach (CPA) which provides the framework for all patients, both in hospital and in the community. Among the key elements of the CPA areSystematic arrangements for assessing peoples health and social care needsThe formulation of a care plan which addresses those needsThe appointment of a Care Co-ordinatorRegular review of the care plan.Other specific assessment requirements within Mental Health are determined by Sections 2, 3, 4 and 7 of the 1983 Mental Health Act. These sections require an Approved Social Worker to undertake an assessment of an individuals mental health along with key health colleagues.back to topProvision of ServicesFair Access to Care Services and the Duty To ProvideOnce a community care assessment is carried out, councils need to make decisions about whether to provide support or not to individuals. Fair Access to Care Services (FACS) provides councils with an eligibility framework for adult social care to identify whether or not the duty to provide services under the following legislation is triggered. (Ref. Fair Access to Care Services policy and practice guidance).The duty on social services to provide or arrange services is triggered only for those people with eligible needs that is needs above the sceptre for services line. The national FACS policy LAC (2002)13 states that councils may take account of the resources available to them in decidi ng which needs to meet.Needs that are identified as eligible needs and which sit within the laws relating to a duty on Social Services to provide services must be met. How those needs are met is a separate issue.Provision of services takes place primarily underThe National Assistance Act 1948, Section 21 and Section 29The Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970, Section 2The Health Services and Public Health Act 1968, Section 45The NHS Act 1977, Section 21Mental Health Act 1983, Section 117Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000Community Care (Direct Payments) Act 1996back to topDuty to arrange/provide services for people with Eligible NeedsNational Assistance Act 1948 Section 21(1). Concerns the provision of residential accommodation to certain groups of people over 18 years who with age, illness, disability or any other circumstances are in need of care and attention which would otherwise be unavailable to them. The duty is owed to people ordinarily resident in the Local Aut horitys area.National Assistance Act 1948 Section 29. The local council has a duty to exercise its powers for people ordinarily resident in its area and must provideA social work advice and support serviceFacilities for rehabilitation and adjustment to disabilityFacilities for occupational, social, cultural and recreational activitiesChronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 Section 1. This section imposes a duty on local authorities to provide information about relevant services.Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 Section 2 (1). This section sets out the types and range of services that local councils should have available to meet the needs of disabled people *. These include provision of practical assistance in the home provision of recreational facilities outside the home or assistance to take usefulness of educational facilities provision of assistance with works for adaptation in the home provision of meals.Note * See Section 29(1) of the National Assistance Ac t 1948 above.National Health Services Act 1977 Section 21. This section identifies that services can be provided in relation to expectant mothers, prevention and after care and that home help and laundry facilities are functions exercisable by social service authorities. Schedule 8 identifies the power to provide and maintain day centres or similar facilities and power to arrange services specifically for people with alcohol and drug problems. Also to provide laundry services as part of the input of home help services.Mental Health Act 1983 Section 117(2) This section creates a joint duty on the local Health and Social services Authorities to provide after care services to various categories of people who have been detained in hospital for as long as the person needs them. Aftercare services are not defined in the Act but will include social work support in helping the ex-patient with problems of accommodation or family relationships, the provision of domiciliary services and the us e of day centre and residential facilities.Community Care (Direct Payments) 1996 Act This sets out the circumstances when direct payments should be considered. It gives local authorities the power to offer people cash payments as an alternative to arranging social care services to meet their assessed, eligible needs. (Ref Direct Payment policy)Carers may also have access to Direct Payments. See Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000 Section 5 powers set out below.Health Services Act 1968 Section 45. The Local Authority has a power to make arrangements to promote the welfare of older people.The Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000 Section 2. Under this section the Local Authority has powers to provide services for carers following a carers assessment (whether joint or separate) under Section 1 of this Act. Services to carers are not defined by the Act. The local authority may provide any services they see fit to provide and which in their view help the carer care for the person cared for. These services may take the form of physical help or other forms of support such as training or counselling for the carer. (Ref The Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000 policy and practice guidance).The Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000 Section 5. This section extends the option of Direct Payments to carers aged 16 years or over who care for a person aged 18 or over. (Ref The Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000 policy and practice guidance).

Hoovers Relief Efforts Essay -- essays papers

Hoovers Relief EffortsIn the early years of the Great Depression, before 1932, President Herbert Hoover was faced with a terrible problem. The absolute country, and to a large degree the consummate world, was in the midst of one of the worst economic recessions in current history. All around the country, people were out(p) of work, down on their luck, and starving. One in every six American males was unemployed, and the future out brass was not much better.In 1930, drought struck Arkansas, declivity the already terrible conditions under which the poor sharecroppers and landowners lived in. The Depression had already been had on these farmers, who had seen the market value of their produce dwindle significantly. As conditions worsened, it soon became common for entire families to go without food for several days. President Hoover, aware of the terrible conditions, decided to turn the relief effort over to the Red Cross because he believed in private charities, and in self-he lp, rather than giving public money directly to individuals. This particular policy proved to be ineffective, and had terrible results. The Red Cross asked the landowners to look over their sharecroppers and determine which ones were in need of subsistence. This would have worked fine, except that the landowners were afraid that free food would cause the sharecroppers to not work as hard, and reported imitation figures. The other problem was that the Red Cross quickly ran out of resources when faced wit...

Dinosaurs And Birds Essay example -- Archeology Dinosaurs Birds Essays

Dinosaurs and BirdsAre birds really dinosaurs or are they simply related? That is a question that has gained pertly life in recent years due to the overwhelming facts the are pouring in from newly found fossils and studies from fossils that have been found in the past. devil sorts have ca-caed in the study of this question those who believe birds are a direct result of dinosaurs and those who feel dinosaurs and birds must have had a frequent ancestor. Determining which view is correct is a matter of opinion based on fact. The main problem involves the use of cladistics or phylogenetic systematics to group organisms according to characteristics they share. When one looks at dinosaur fossils, he or she may feel that certain characteristics are used for something entirely different than someone else who has looked at the homogeneous fossil. One can non talk about dinosaur and bird lineage without mentioning Archaeopteryx. Most paleontologists agree that Archaeopteryx was the first bird. Archaeopteryx thus represents what paleontologists would call a transitional form between two major groups of animals, the reptiles (dinosaurs) and birds. The main difference between the theropods and Archaeopteryx were the long arms of the Archaeopteryx, adapted as wings, the feathers, and the presence of a wishbone that the theropods did not have. All of these features tie it to birds and its other characteristics tie it to theropods. One might say it was the missing link between the ...