Category: Uncategorized

  • Assemble an online resource tool kit containing at least 12 annotated resources

    Assemble an online resource tool kit containing at least 12 annotated resources

    Assemble an online resource tool kit containing at least 12 annotated resources that you consider critical to the success of your safety improvement initiative. These resources should enable nurses and others to implement and maintain the safety improvement you have developed.
    It is recommended that you focus on the 3 or 4 most critical categories or themes with respect to your safety improvement initiative. For example, for an initiative that concerns improving workplace safety for practitioners, you might choose broad themes such as general organizational safety and quality best practices; environmental safety and quality risks; individual strategies to improve personal and team safety; and process best practices for reporting and improving environmental safety issues.
    Following the recommended scheme, you would collect 3 resources on average for each of the 4 categories focusing on a specific patient safety issue. Each resource listing should include the following:
    An APA-formatted citation of the resource with a working link.
    A description of the information, skills, or tools provided by the resource.
    A brief explanation of how the resource can help nurses better understand or implement the safety improvement initiative pertaining to a specific patient safety issue.
    A description of how nurses can use this resource and when its use may be appropriate.
    I am attaching an example and the powerpoint of the safety plan used.

    The post Assemble an online resource tool kit containing at least 12 annotated resources appeared first on Top Tier Homework Helpers.

  • Cyberbullying – an overview Essay

    In the past few years, the use of digital media and modern technologies has increased to a massive extent. Though, these innovations and technologies have brought a large number of benefits and opportunities for all kinds of people. However, at the same time they have introduced a wide variety of threats and crimes. In this scenario, cyberbullying is one of the latest emerging crimes that are performed with the support of digital media. Basically, cyberbullying is the latest form of digital media or electronic (by means of computers and mobile phones) harassment or blackmailing that is repeated eventually and entails a power inequality. Additionally, it is believed to be a violent, intended act conducted by an individual or a group, by making use of communication tools supported by digital media, repetitively as well as ultimately against a sufferer who cannot simply protect him or herself. In the past few years, the occurrences and potential for cyberbullying have increased with the growing dissemination of mobile phones and networked computers among young people. Some of the major instances of cyberbullying can comprise having confidential emails of text messages forwarded, getting frightening messages, discomforting images distributed or rumors spread on the Internet (Cheng, 2012; Ortega, Calmaestra, & Mercha¡n, 2008).

    In addition, cyberbullying is not limited to any specific country and it is very common throughout the world. However, Cyberbullying rates differ from time to time and location to location. The research has shown that almost 10–50 of young people undergo some kind of digital media based cyberbullying or harassment. In addition, the results of these threats can appear in the forms of depression, school avoidance and suicide. Moreover, interference gives emphasis to the role of teachers and parents in educating young people about adopting security and privacy measures while using digital media and technologies (Cheng, 2012; Ortega, Calmaestra, & Mercha¡n, 2008). This paper presents a detailed analysis of cyberbullying. The basic purpose of this research is to offer an understanding of the concept and suggest some steps to avoid such serious acts.

    Cyberbullying: An Overview

    Cyberbullying is the process of using digital media and technologies such as instant messaging, mobile phones, chat rooms, e-mail, or social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter with the purpose of carrying out some specific criminal tasks such as threatening, harassment or intimidate someone. The research has shown that these criminal activities are often performed by children, who have increasingly untimely access to these technologies. However, cyberbullying is difficult to detect for the reason that a person who is carrying out this act can cover himself behind an electronic cover, making his or her true identity difficult to detect. In this scenario, this confidentiality offered by the digital media strengthens the behavior of bullies and allows them to act more violently than they might have acted confronting each other. Additionally, cyberbullying is an umbrella term which covers a wide range of digital crimes such as sending provoking racial or abuse or ethnic slurs, threatening someone, putting an attempt to infect someone’s computer with a virus, gay bashing, and flooding an e-mail inbox with useless messages (Rouse, 2010; Silverman, 2013).

  • APN professional development plan

    The modern healthcare system requires nurses to stay on top of the latest developments in their field. An Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) must adhere to a rigorous set of standards and be prepared to tackle new challenges. APN professional development plan is essential to ensure that APNs remain well-versed in current medical practices and protocols.

    What is APN
    APN stands for Advanced Practice Nurse. An Advanced Practice Nurse is an experienced nurse who holds a master’s degree or higher in nursing and has been certified in their specialized field of practice. APNs are highly educated and have extensive clinical training, enabling them to provide advanced levels of care to patients.

    They work collaboratively with physicians, other healthcare professionals, nurses, and families to ensure that the patient’s needs are met. APNs provide direct patient care services such as physical assessments, diagnosis, ordering tests, interpreting results, and prescribing medications and treatments. They can also perform procedures, including suturing wounds and administering injections.

    The importance of the APN professional development plan
    The Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) is a crucial part of healthcare, as they provide specialized care to their patients. To ensure that APNs can provide the best care, they must pursue a Professional Development Plan (PDP).

    A PDP allows APNs to stay current on technologies and trends in the healthcare industry, thus improving patient outcomes
    A PDP helps identify objectives that an APN needs to accomplish throughout their career. It allows them to focus on areas they need improvement in or skills they wish to acquire
    This plan also assists with professional growth opportunities such as educational courses and certifications
    By taking these courses, APNs gain knowledge and experience, allowing them to provide higher-quality services and better patient care outcomes
    By having a well-developed plan in place, an APN can identify their strengths and weaknesses to attain a higher level of care delivery excellence
    APN professional development plan essay
    As an APN, you must continue your learning for the rest of your career to remain current on standards and guidelines in your specialty area. To successfully do this, creating a personalized plan for continuing professional development should be one of the first steps when starting as an APN.

    Writing a detailed essay on your professional development plan can provide structure and guidance to help you stay focused on achieving long-term goals. This essay can be used as a basis for annual reviews or to help track progress over time.

    Start by clearly outlining your goals and objectives. This will give you a roadmap for success while also helping you evaluate what kind of learning opportunities are available that match your needs
    Be honest with yourself about where you are currently in your career so you can set realistic expectations for future success
    After establishing these goals, identify potential courses or programs that would help you meet them
    Consider continuing education components, such as courses, conferences, seminars, workshops, and other opportunities
    Consider your current level of skill and knowledge about your future aspirations
    Include any challenges you face in developing these abilities, such as access to resources or personal constraints such as time management
    Outline areas needing improvement and address how those needs will be met
    Include concrete strategies for realizing those professional goals, such as pursuing continuing education or attending conferences relevant to the field
    Include long-term objectives and any international or national certifications that may be achieved
    Developing a Plan in APN
    Several components should be included when developing a plan in advanced practice nursing (APN).

    Familiarize yourself with the national standards and guidelines for APN practice. Knowing these will provide an essential framework for creating a comprehensive plan tailored to your needs as an advanced practitioner
    After gaining an understanding of the standards, you can begin to create a detailed timeline of desired outcomes and goals. This timeline should include short-term objectives that focus on current needs and long-term goals that consider your profession’s future expectations
    Consider all relevant factors when constructing this timeline, such as lifestyle, workload, educational attainment, and practice restrictions
    Once you have established your goals, then you can start mapping out a strategy for achieving them
    Consider the current state of your practice, identify any needs or gaps that need addressing, and determine what resources are available. This can help you decide on specific objectives that will move you closer to your desired end goal
    After determining these objectives, consider the potential strategies that could be used to achieve them
    When formulating strategies, consider what actions are necessary, what resources may be required, and whether any external support is available
    Tailoring the APN Plan
    Developing an individualized advanced practice nursing (APN) plan is essential for any medical professional. An effective APN Plan should be tailored to each patient’s specific needs and goals. As such, healthcare providers must consider various factors when developing an APN Plan tailored to their individual needs. When creating an APN plan, providers must consider the type of care they need and the best way to provide it based on the patient’s condition, lifestyle, and preferences.

    Providers must also assess current treatment protocols’ efficacy and identify gaps between what is recommended by evidence-based guidelines and what is applied in clinical practice. This includes determining if any adjustments or additions should be made to existing treatments or if new interventions should be implemented.

    Implementing & Evaluating APN Plan
    Implementing and evaluating an Advanced Practice Nursing (APN) plan is essential for successful healthcare delivery. APNs are uniquely positioned to provide the highest level of care to patients with complex medical needs, making this type of plan a priority for many healthcare organizations.

    The first step in successfully implementing an APN plan is to create a clear set of goals that outline the role and responsibilities of the APNs
    It should also include criteria for evaluating performance and improvement
    Once these goals have been established, it is essential to develop specific policies and procedures that support them
    These policies should be tailored to meet the particular needs of the setting and patient population being served
    Once all aspects of the APN plan have been implemented, it is time for evaluation.
    Benefits of APN PD Plans
    APN PD plans to provide an excellent way for nurses to keep up with their continuing education requirements to maintain their licenses and stay current in the field. These plans provide a cost-effective option for nurses and offer several other benefits that make them ideal for any nurse looking to develop their skills and knowledge further.

    APN PD plans are convenient. Nurses can take courses anywhere with internet access so they can study on the go or at home. This helps ensure that even those who are busiest can still find time to complete their required courses on time
    Many of these courses are self-paced, so nurses don’t have to worry about taking tests or meeting deadlines; they work through the course at their own pace until completion
    Investing in professional development plans for APNs offers a range of benefits to clinicians and their organizations. For example, PD plans allow APNs to remain informed on the latest advances in medical technology and practices while also building expertise through specialized training opportunities
    PD plans can help reduce turnover rates among nursing staff by allowing them to develop professionally within the organization and providing employees with incentives for staying put.
    FAQ
    What is an APN professional development plan?
    An APN professional development plan is essential for any advanced practice nurse (APN). It outlines the goals and objectives of a nurse’s career, from educational advancement to clinical expertise. An APN professional development plan provides a framework for improving and maintaining competency, allowing nurses to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in their field. The plan also serves as a guide for working toward certification and specialty recognition.

    A comprehensive APN professional development plan includes continuing education activities such as conferences, workshops, seminars, or online courses that help build knowledge in areas related to the practice setting. Additionally, it should address how one will apply the new skills acquired from these activities to daily practice.

    What is a nursing professional development plan?
    A nursing professional development plan is essential for any nurse’s career. It is a roadmap for nurses to reach their short- and long-term goals. The plan lays out the steps necessary to achieve objectives inside and outside the workplace. It outlines how nurses can maintain their current competency level while expanding their knowledge and skillsets.

    Every professional development plan should include one or more specific goals that relate directly to a nurse’s career path. These goals should be measurable, achievable, and realistic for nurses to benefit from them entirely. Nurses should also create a timeline for these goals to track their progress and make adjustments.

    Bottom line
    APN professional development plans are essential for achieving successful outcomes in any healthcare setting. The ability to maintain, update and refine a plan as needed is critical to ensure that all APNs remain current on the latest practice standards and technologies. Developing a comprehensive, individualized APN professional development plan is an invaluable tool that can help improve patient safety and quality of care.

  • Bullying and Body Image: How Bullying Leads to Eating Disorders

    Bullying can have long-lasting results on the bullied, and in some cases, may lead to eating disorders, according to UK Charity Beat. A recent study of 600 people in the UK during Anti-Bullying Week by Beat found that at least 90 percent of respondents admit to being bullied at some time in their lives, and more than 75 percent of individuals suffering from an eating disorder admit bullying is a significant cause of their disorder.

    2013-03-05-shutterstock_108383702.jpg

    The researchers at Beat have found the link between bullying and eating disorders is rapidly increasing, with numbers up 67 percent since the same study was conducted two years ago. Just as concerning is the fact that more than 40 percent of respondents in the 2012 study said they were younger than 10 when they began to be bullied.

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    Susan Ringwood, CEO of Beat, suggests the rising link between bullying and eating disorders is due to the fact that young children are more susceptible to having a negative self-esteem as a result of bullying. “We know that low self esteem can lead to eating disorders,” said Ringwood. “And bullying of any kind lowers self esteem.”

    Individuals who are bullied may turn to eating disorders in an effort to manage their stress or take control of their lives. Others simply find solace in their eating disorder. “Anorexia became my friend — it gave me comfort and separated me from the scary world of socializing — I didn’t have anything else on my mind,” said one respondent in the Beat survey. “I am now recovering but am still exceptionally controlled and rigid around mealtimes.”

    Bullying must be taken seriously, whether in schools or in the workplace. “Any increase in bullying is very worrying, especially when such young people are involved,” Ringwood said. “We know how important it is for young people’s concerns about bullying to be taken seriously and sorted out quickly. Schools need to make sure their anti-bullying policies are effective and used — and not just a dusty document on a shelf.”

    To reverse the trend in an increasing link between bullying and eating disorders, parents, educators and coaches must learn to not only recognize the signs of an eating disorder, but of bullying as well. We must put an end to bullying.

  • Lesson 1: Sample, Population, Variables, and Levels of Measurement

    Introduction

    Welcome to Week 3. This week you will learn about some of the foundational principles for the statistical analysis of data. The principles of sample, population, variables, and levels of measurement play into the development of research studies as well as the critical evaluation of research studies.


    Learning Outcomes

    At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

    • Differentiate between a population and a sample.
    • Discuss techniques for randomly sampling a population for a study.
    • Define independent and dependent variables.
    • Select a research article and evaluate the IV, DV, and level of measurement.
    • Differentiate levels of measurement for statistical analysis.

    Types of Sampling Methods

    Review the following video to learn more about sampling:

    Types of Sampling Methods TranscriptLinks to an external site.


    Evidence-Based Pyramid—Levels of Evidence

    View the following to learn about the levels of evidence and sources of each.

    Levels of Evidence Pyramid thumbnail image

    Levels of Evidence Pyramid TranscriptLinks to an external site.

    The EBP pyramid may be used as a guideline for selecting the best evidence to answer a clinical foreground question. The types of studies higher up the pyramid typically offer increased relevance to the clinical setting. However, fewer studies may be available and you may not find the highest level of evidence to answer your clinical foreground question. In that case, move down the pyramid and explore other types of studies.

    Click here to ORDER an A++ paper from our MASTERS and DOCTORATE WRITERS: NUR 705 Assignment 3.1: Levels of Measurement in Articles

    Independent and Dependent Variables

    Review the video on independent and dependent variables.

    Independent and Dependent Variables TranscriptLinks to an external site.


    Levels of Measurement

    Review the video on Levels of Measurement:

    Levels of Measurement TranscriptLinks to an external site.

    Levels of Measurement Transcript

    Quantitative researchers measure variables to answer their research question. The level of measurement that is used to measure a variable has a significant impact on the type of test researchers can do with their data, and therefore the conclusions they can come to. The higher the level of measurement, the more statistical tests that can be run with the data. That is why it is best to use the highest level of measurement possible when collecting information.

    In this video, nominal, ordinal, interval and ratio levels will be described in order from the lowest to the highest level of measurement. By the end of this video you should be able to identify the level of measurement being used in this study. You will also be familiar with types of tests that can be done with each level.

    To remember these levels of measurement in order, use the acronym, NOIR, or noir. The level of measurement of a variable depends on the nature of that variable as well as how the researcher collects the data. For example, some variables, like gender, can only be measured in a nominal way. Other variables, like household income, can be measured at multiple levels, depending on how the question is asked.

    The nominal level of measurement is the lowest level. Variables in this study are placed into mutually exclusive categories. Each category has a criteria that a variable either has or does not have. There is no natural order to these categories. The categories maybe assigned numbers, but the numbers have no meaning because they are simply labels.

    For example, if we categorize people by hair color, people with brown hair do not have more or less of a characteristic than those with blonde hair. Nominal sounds like name, so it is easy to remember that at a nominal level you are simply naming categories. Nominal data may be considered dichotomous or categorical. Dichotomous data falls into one of two categories, like male and female, or yes and no. Categorical data have more than two possible values, such as marital status or group membership. Sometimes researchers refer to nominal data as categorical or qualitative because it is not numerical.

    Since nominal data is simply categorical it allows for the few statistical tests. It makes sense to report the number or percentage of people who are male or female in a particular group. This data is often presented in bar or pie charts. The only measure of central tendency that makes sense with nominal data is the mode. Many other statistical tests just do not make sense from nominal data.

    For example, since there is no natural way to order nominal data you cannot find a median or middle number. Likewise, you cannot calculate a mean gender since numerical value for the data exists. Ordinal data is also considered categorical. The difference between nominal and ordinal data is that the categories have a natural order to them. You can remember that because ordinal sounds like order.

    Numbers are assigned to categories but they are arbitrary. They are simply used to establish a ranking and there is no absolute zero. While there is an order, it is also unknown how much distance is between each category. The intervals between each number are therefore not necessarily equal.

    Ordinal skills are often used to measure attitudes and perceptions. For example, a survey may ask how satisfied a customer is on a scale from very dissatisfied to very satisfied.

    Nurses often use an ordinal scale to get patients to rank their pain on a scale from one to ten. This data is ordinal, since it is unknown whether the intervals between each value are equal. On a ten point scale, the difference between a nine and a ten is not necessarily perceived to be the same as the difference between a three and a four. All we know is that if the patient rates their pains as an eight now, and a four after receiving pain medication, the pain is decreased. We cannot accurately measure how much the pain has decreased, since we do not know the difference between the points on the scale. It would be inaccurate to claim that the patient was in twice as much paid before receiving the pain medication. Likewise, you cannot say that one patient is in twice as much pain as another using this scale.

    Remember that the values in an ordinal scale simply express an order. All nominal level tests can be run on ordinal data. Since there is an order to the categories, the numbers assigned to each category can be compared in limited ways beyond nominal level tests. It is possible to say that members of one category have more of something than the members of a lower ranked category. However, you do not know how much more of that thing they have because the difference cannot be measured.

    To determine central tendency, the categories can be placed in order and a median can now be calculated in addition to the mode. Since the distance between each category cannot be measured, the types of statistical tests that can be used on this data are still quite limited. For example, the mean or average of ordinal data cannot be calculated because the difference between the values on the scale is not known.

    Interval level data is ordered like ordinal data, but the intervals between each value are known and equal. Therefore, the difference between two values is meaningful for interval variables. The zero point is arbitrary, since a score of zero does not actually mean that the variable does not exist. Zero simply represents an additional point of measurement.

    For example, tests in school are interval level measurement of student knowledge. If you scored a zero on a math test, it does not mean you have no knowledge. Yet, the difference between the 79 and 80 on the test is measurable and equal to the difference between an 80 and an 81.

    Temperature, if measured in degrees Fahrenheit or Celsius, is another good example of interval measurement. On the Fahrenheit scale, the difference between a temperature of 37 degrees and 38 degrees is the same as the difference between 89 degrees and 90 degrees. The zero is arbitrary, since the temperature of zero degrees does not mean that there is no temperature.

    With interval level scales, there is a direct measurable quantity, In addition, zero does not represent the absolute lowest value. Instead, it is a point on the scale with numbers both above and below it. If you know that the word interval means space in between it makes remembering what makes this level of measurement different easy.

    Interval scales not only tell us about order, but also about the value between items on a scale. Since the distance between points on the scale is measurable and equally split, it is possible to do more statistical test with the data. The mean, median and mode can all be calculated with interval data. The standard deviation can also now be calculated. However, the problem with performing statistical tests on interval scales is that they don’t have a true zero. Therefore, it is impossible to multiply, divide or calculate ratios.

    Ratio measurement is the highest level possible for data. Like interval data, ratio data is ordered with known and measurable intervals between each value. What differentiates it from interval level data is that the zero is absolute. The zero occurs naturally and signifies the absence of the characteristic being measured. Remember, that ratio ends in an 0, therefore there is a zero.

    Typically, this level of measurement is only possible with physical measurements, like height, weight and length. Any statistical test can be used with ratio level data as long as it fits with the study question end design. It is possible to compare amounts of the variable and make a claim that one is twice as much as the other. Remember, that when working with ratio variables, but not interval variables, you can look at the ratio of two measurements.

    Remembering the basic differences can help you remember the levels of measurement. Nominal is named, ordinal is ordered, interval has a known interval or difference, ratio has a true zero.

    To decide what level of measurement a particular variable is at, ask yourself these questions in order. First, is the variable ordered? If not, the variable is nominal. If it is ordered, ask yourself if there are equal distances between values. If not, the variable is ordinal. If values are equally spaced, ask yourself if a value of zero actually means that the variable being measured does not exit. If not, the variable is interval. If the zero means none, the variable is ratio because the zero is absolute.

    The level of measurement dictates the appropriate statistical test that can be used. One of the reasons for learning about levels of measurement is so you know a statistical test can be performed on different types of data. That way you can avoid making mistakes in your own work and critique the work of others.

    Be aware that some people gather ordinal data and treat it like interval data, once numbers are assigned to it. Researchers need to be careful not to make interval and ratio claims about ordinal data. Be careful not to claim that something is twice as much as something else if the data were not collected at the appropriate level.

    Classifications of some forms of data are debated. For example, some researchers treat the measurement of intelligence as ordinal, while others treat it as interval. Likewise, money in the bank account may be considered ratio since having a balance of zero means you don’t have any money. However, others argue it is interval, since it is possible to have a negative balance, which makes the zero point simply another point of measurement. So, what level do you think it is? Can you think of any other controversial examples? Comment below to start a discussion.

    What is important to know when reviewing an article is how the data was collected so you can identify if the appropriate statistical tests were used to analyze the data. If you are doing research, try to collect data in the highest form possible, so a wider variety of tests can be performed on it. Sometimes, how you ask the question will determine what level your data is at. Knowing the level of measurement for your data will help you avoid making mistakes, like taking the average of people’s marital status.

    To help you remember what you need to know about the levels of measurement, try making a simple study table to include in your notes. It is helpful to include an example in the chart that will help you remember each level.

    For more information, you can check out some of my related videos or website. You are also welcome to subscribe for regular updates. If there is something specific you are looking for, or would like created, please comment and let me know.

    Thank you for watching.

  • Effects of Minimum Wage on Hunger and Environmental Nutrition Essay

    Most economies has set the lowest financial reward an employees should be entitle to given the existing living standard. Minimum wage therefore implies to the lowest compensation or salary a worker is entitled to for offering his expertise or labor. In most countries minimum wage is set to enable workers afford the basic human needs. The main aim is therefore is to shield workers off exploitation of employers. The practice of setting minimum wage is mostly established by government-employer contracts or simply through government legislation. Very many people in the world today suffer because of lack of enough food to consume. Malnutrition, that is, lack of necessary ingredients for growth and development of people has thus been of great importance in many journals. Even with individuals with enough not feel hungry can still suffer malnutrition. In this case, the malnutrition is not just on lack of food but improper balanced diet. Food security, variety coupled with their affordability defines an environmental nutrition standard of a country. Dietary behaviors influence the whole community in a country though individual practices at household level. These dietary patterns are influenced by various factors among them the income of a household.

    The purchasing power of a household is determined by its income, holding any other factor constant (Mabli et al., 2010). The introduction of minimum wage requirement exposes various households to a threat of limited amount of goods and services. An income for a household is divided into various categories of expenses (Green-Lapierre et al.’ 2012). These expenses include among others recurrent bill payment, Personal hygiene items, allocation for transportation and most importantly food purchases. This part of argument is mostly concerned with influence of the idea of minimum wage on food purchase part of the expense (Barre, Mizier-Barre & Macintyre, 2011). A considerable high income obviously allows households to exercise a greater freedom in partitioning between the expenses and thus allowing for wide scope of choices, such as with food selection (Kirkpatrick & Tarasuk, 2010). Prices of different commodities are very vital in any decision regarding consumption. The ability to buy of a person is a function of the price under consideration. This means that household with low income or who due to the urgency of the other categories of expenses cannot afford high-nutrition foods are forced to resort to cheaper, less healthy foods (Mabli et al. 2010). Nutritious food consumption is a very vital factor influencing health of a society. Among the aims of MDGs is reduction of poverty and hunger. This goal makes important to discuss how legislation on minimum wage impact on hunger and environmental nutrition.

    According to Barre, Mizier-Barre & Macintyre (2011) through their journal titled Socioeconomic Factors and Their Relation to Eating Habit in Two Communities in Nova Scotia, Canada give enough evidence to support is argument. This journal compares two communities in Nova Scotia, Canada. The researchers sent questionnaires regarding conditions and food consumption patterns to the communities. The questionnaires were then answered by an adult representative of a household (Barre, Mizier-Barre & Macintyre, 2011). The study recorded an eighty two percent and seventy percent response rate from Glace and King’s county respectively (Barre, Mizier-Barre & Macintyre, 2011). The study also recorded an equal representation of both sexes in the houses sampled. The average age of individuals included in the sample from thirty three to forty four years for the two areas under consideration. For an ethical consideration, the journal’s study was approved by the Human Ethics Committee at Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia, Canada. Amounts of food consumed, sources of food purchased and their current food security were compared among the two areas based on the analyzed earnings (Barre, Mizier-Barre & Macintyre, 2011). The study assessed the quality in the household by type the source of the food and number of portions consumed.

  • Economic Benefits of Increasing the Minimum Wage in New Jersey Essay

    In a recent debate, the Republicans and Democrats disagreed over proposal to increase the minimum wage in New Jersey to $8.50 from $7.25 an hour (Kosters 114). In addition, the Republicans sought to provide a system that evaluates the annual cost of living and adjust the minimum wage accordingly. On 19th November 2012, the Budget Committee allowed the bill to advance to the next stage by a 7-6 vote margin. However, the bill awaits approval by the Senate to become a law. The bill is designed to increase the minimum wage rate beginning March 1 and implement the cost of living allowances by Jan 1, 2014. Several economists have raised questions about its effectiveness in stimulating the economy. Since early 1990s, most economists and political analysts suggested that increasing the minimum wage destroys or reduces job opportunities. They all had a notion that if the cost of labor is artificially fixed, then the economy will experience a low demand for cheap human resources since the supply will be much higher. This is in reference to the classic law of economics that has lost its relevance in accounting for market forces affecting a modern economy such as that of New Jersey. The relationship between minimum wage and the rate of employment is not determined by the demand and supply forces of the market, but the market power of the employers. Increasing the minimum wage in New Jersey will spur New Jersey’s economy since low-income earners will have more money to spend to meet their basic needs hence boosting the local businesses in this region.

    Discussion

    In 1992, the senate increased the minimum wage in New Jersey by 20% to level at $5.05. However, no changes were implemented in Pennsylvania as the minimum wage rate remained at $4.25 (Card and Krueger 45). A closer look at what happened in both States reveals an unusual trend in the rate of job employment. Contrary to the natural law of economics, food restaurants in New Jersey did not dismiss workers to maintain their nominal operational costs of running their businesses.

    Although the cost of hiring unskilled labor became much more expensive, the rate of employment in New Jersey increased than in Pennsylvania. Even though several economists believe this is an isolated case, it proves that increasing the minimum wage does not necessarily lead to decrease in the rate of employment. A recent study by Boeri and Van carried out in May 2012 in New Jersey is an evidence that sharply contradicts the conventional conception that increasing the minimum wage reduces the rate of employment of unskilled workers (Boeri and Van 85). The reason for this odd behavior is because of increased income caused a direct increase in how much low-income earners were willing to spend.

    However, Northwood conducted a similar case study in the San Francisco bay area and was surprised by the employment rates that he recorded in this area. An increase in the minimum wage did not result in any job losses in this area. Businesses in this area experienced increased sales since the employees had more money to spend enabling business owners to afford the high cost of recruiting unskilled labor (Northwood 158). In concise, low paid workers were getting more money, thus they were able to consume more hence boosting the economic activity in New Jersey. Payroll reports obtained from Wendy’s Burger King, Roy Rogers franchises, KFC Franchises reveals this unusual trend employment of unskilled labor after the minimum wage was raised in New Jersey.

  • Cyberbullying: Review of the Literature Essay

    Many adolescents are possibly experiencing violence through cyber bullying. Cyber bullying can be very harmful to teens because it can cause depression, anxiety, and even suicide. Cyber bullying is both harmful to the victims and the bullies. In some cases, the cyber bullies may not recognize the outcomes of their actions to themselves. Research was conducted by the Cyber Bullying Research Center and the outcomes indicated that 80 percent of teenagers are affected by cyber bullying. Girls are the most affected than boys. Almost half of teenagers have been victims of certain form of cyber bullying, while 10 to 20 percent experience it on a regular basis. This paper gives a clear picture of the entire concept of cyber bullying and provides solutions to this problem.

    Bullying is defined as repeated acts of peer aggression intentionally designed to harm a person who is weaker than the bully. Bullying has distractive influence in student’s achievement, and the school environment. When students having fears of going to school because of violence and harassment, their attendance decreased and cause gap achievement. Advances in technology, such as the internet and social media applications have led to a new form of bullying, cyber bullying. Cyber bullying is defined as bullying through electronic media, such as through social networks, e-mail, or mobile devices. The bullying may take the form of mocking, lying, threatening, or sharing private information without permission (Yalda, 2012). Some cyber bullies are victims of real word bullying, and go online and bully others to feel powerful. Others are bullies offline, and want to extend their sphere of influence and power to the online world. Other cyber bullies just want to show that they can do certain things online to show off (Raskauskas & Stoltz, 2007).

    Statement of the Problem

    Cyber bullying has been found to be a serious threat to the social and academic health of adolescents. One of the most effective strategies for stopping cyber bullying is curtailing the bully’s access to devices used to bully, such as the internet. This is challenging because (a) it requires parental cooperation, and (b) schools have to be careful not to violate students’ rights (King, 2010). Before these challenges can be dealt with, the first step to implementing the strategy must be in correctly determining if cyber bullying is occurring. Identifying cyber bullying is the necessary first step to stopping cyber bullying and providing the victim with appropriate treatment. Most cyber bullying takes place between school peers, so educators, in addition to parents, are in a unique position to watch for cyber bullying. The purpose of the proposed research is to determine how well educators recognize the signs of cyber bullying (Yalda, 2010).

  • Minimum Wage and its Impact on State and Federal Economies Essay

    There is conflicting opinion, research and statistical data about the impact of minimum wage increases or decreases to the state-level and federal-level economies. From a microeconomics perspective, there is enough supporting evidence that minimum wage increases maintain negative outcomes to the economy. In similar accord, thinking from a macro perspective, minimum wage increases create similar negative economic conditions. Based on research and statistics, it should be said that minimum wage rates, when increasing rather than remaining steady, have broad negative consequences to state and federal economies.

    The Evidence

    Some of the highest state-issued minimum wage rates are Vermont at $8.46, Washington at $9.04 and Oregon at $8.80 (Parrott, 1). The intention of these increases was to improve poverty rates and also stimulate more consumption in the economy. However, a very recent news article indicates that the unemployment rate in Oregon has increased to 8.9 percent in September, up almost a whole percentage point in August (Foden-Vencil, 1). In Washington state, the unemployment rate rose from 8.3 percent in June to 8.6 percent in September (PSBJ, 1). In Vermont, the unemployment rate rose from 4.7 percent to five percent in August (CT Post, 1). Why is this significant?

    The New England Public Policy Center indicates that rises in the minimum wage rate make it more inviting for business owners to cut employee benefits in an effort to offset higher payroll costs. A current study discovered statistically that when minimum wage rates increase by 20 percent, business-sponsored health care offerings to employees also decrease by four percent (NEPPC, 8). Because many business owners do not like to carry the stigma that is usually associated with social judgment for non-compliance to corporate social responsibility, they will often reduce hours of existing employees rather than slashing health care benefits (NEPPC, 8). All of these efforts are intended to prevent significant capital losses that occur when the minimum wage rates increases, especially important for small business owners without a strong cash or market position.

    Three of the states having the highest minimum wage rates also all have increases in the unemployment rate at the state level. According to the National Center for Public Policy Research, minimum wage hikes actually cause job losses in the long-term (NCPPR, 1). This is because it is usually the small business owner that offers jobs at a minimum wage, however small businesses make up the majority of businesses currently operating in the United States. At the same time, small business owners are experiencing inflationary increases in their supply chain, cost of health care provision, distribution and transportation for finished products, and utility costs. Therefore, significant spikes in minimum wage cannot be offset except through investment and hedging strategies, which is something that small business is not in a position to consider.

  • Macroeconomics: Minimum Wage Essay

    Minimum wage refers to the lowest remuneration that an employee gets legally in hourly, monthly or daily bases. It may also be defined as the lowest wage that that employees may use to sell their labor. In order to have a motivated workforce in the private as well as in public sector, governments intervene and set up minimum wage that employers should adopt. It is worth to note that even though minimum wage regulations are followed in many jurisdictions, there exists difference of opinions that touches on the benefits in addition to the draw backs of the minimum wage (Sowell 21). According to the supporters of the policy, minimum wage improves standard of living of workers, reduces inequality and poverty, improves morale and makes businesses to be efficient. On the other hand, opponents argue that minimum wage increases poverty and unemployment as well as causing damage to businesses. This paper seeks to develop five economic implications that minimum wage has on the environment, global operations, nationally or locally.

    Small business employment

    According to the supply side economists, the major opponents, minimum wage has negative implications at small businesses in local places as well as in urban areas. Their argument is that minimum wage directly affects the operations of small businesses since large amount of their earnings goes directly to pay their operating expenses. This entails purchasing of equipments, lease and mortgage, credit lines, employees wages and inventory among other expenses. For the small businesses the single major costs are the workers’ wages and benefits. Additionally, this cost cannot be controlled. By initiating a higher minimum, the business must hire fewer employees or reduce the number of workers as a way of complying with the minimum wage law. This results to increased rate of unemployment. Based on the positive impact of small businesses in the national economy for example in absorbing the unemployed individuals, minimum wage may thus affect the development of a country through reduction real GDP.

    Poverty

    According to research that was done by Heritage Foundation in 2003, increasing minimum wage would not reduce poverty level. This is based on the fact that there are few people who are employed full time and earn minimum wage. For example, the foundation noted that 75% of the employees who earn minimum wage are part time workers (The Economic Journal). They do not significantly rely on their income to improve their living standards resulting to increased consumer spending but little impact on poverty level.

    Employment level

    Employment levels are directly and inversely related to minimum wage. Notably, the two have disproportionate impact on the young and unskilled workers. In case there is a rise on the minimum wage, young employees who are also unskilled become a major part of the unemployment pool. Based on the fact that the workers have little experience and are unskilled, small business opt to hire the skilled and experienced individuals. Similarly, this has an impact on the level of unemployment since the experienced employees must accept low paying positions to avoid becoming underemployed for example falling in the U-6 rates as indicated by United States levels of unemployment.