Saturday, January 25, 2020

Childs Safety versus Benefits of Risky Play

Childs Safety versus Benefits of Risky Play There is an ongoing debate whether to prioritise the safety of children or the benefits of risky play in early years setting. More particularly, the contention is on the issue of making certain children are safe against allowing them to play in emotionally and physically motivating and challenging contexts. The emphasis is currently on the right of children to participate in risky play. Thus far, there are no investigations classifying risky play. This study will attempt to accomplish this. In the present study, risky play is defined as stimulating or thrilling varieties of play that involve a possibility of physical harm. Children usually want to and participate in risky or challenging varieties of play although, and to a certain extent, it involves the risk of getting injured or hurt. Because of the safety concerns of the Western culture, the issue of risky play in early years and the degree such play should be monitored and regulated are crucial and continuous debates (Greenfield 2003). These debates on play safety have generated safety proceedings and legislation from concerned child care workers and parents. This has invoked further disputes on the balance between the benefits of risky play for child development on one hand, and safety proceedings and litigations on the other hand (New, Mardell Robinson 2005). Normally, play occurs under the supervision of adults, hence controlling what children are permitted to do and where they are permitted to go (Gill 2007). For this reason, adults are influencing the safety of children when playing, and, simultaneously, they embody the greatest limitation on the childs capability of experiencing challenges and risks that are eventually favourable for development (Gill 2007). A persistent argument in the literature is the children gain developmentally from taking risk, and that too much protection from risk can hamper development. Historical and Current Context of the Debate In a continuously evolving world, environmental and social aspects have significantly affected childrens opportunities for emotionally and physically challenging play. Where previously youngsters may have played in the street, playing ball games, riding bicycles or playing other outdoor activities, increased road hazards has made the streets and play opportunities restricted to children as the risk or perils are extremely high. Children nowadays are confined to their houses or designated areas for relatively secured places to play. Still even these are transforming (Ball 2002). With increasing populations, the enlarged need for housing in several areas, specifically urban areas, is weakening the play spaces of children. High-density housing is increasingly becoming widespread and housing units are becoming smaller (Rivkin 1995). Coupled with diminished opportunities for parents to allocate time for the supervision and participation in their childrens play due to expanded work obligat ions, this condition has led to greatly decreased opportunities for childrens participation in risky play (Rivkin 1995). In addition to this, diminished risky play experiences have been ascribed to the fears of parents for the safety of their children. A UK survey discovered that, although 91 percent of the grown-ups asked understood the benefit of risky play, 60 percent said they were worried about their childrens safety when playing in unsafe places (Valentine McKendrick 1997). Consequently, parents place higher constraints on their childrens independent plays. Their worries have aided the development of overprotective or domineering parenting, by which the world is viewed as a naturally unsafe place from which children have to be protected (New et al. 2005). This concern for safety is present on several levels, involving concerns linked to safety stemming from stranger danger (p. 49) and increased street hazards, as well as those linked to harm inflicted by the use of play equipment, such as skateboards, roller blades, etc., and playground. In contrast, Ball (2002) emphasises that, because the advantages of risky play are not simply determined using recognised western scientific processes, they have a tendency not to be properly regarded in discussions about risk and play. He argues: If the purpose of an activity is not directly considered, then a balance between risk and benefit cannot be struck and one is in danger of considering only one side of the equation (p. 51). It is claimed risk taking can have favourable effects in terms of childrens emotional, social and developmental needs, as well as their general well-being (Ball 2002). Advocates of risky play tend to argue that removing risks deny children the opportunity to evaluate them competently, and hence they are unprepared to cope with any circumstances they may experience in later life (Childrens Play Council 2004). It is argued that, by giving chances to children to deal with their own risks in a regulated environment, they will become skilled at important life capabilities required for adulthood, and acquire the experience required to confront the changeable nature of the world (Childrens Play Council 2004). Gill (2007) claims that depriving children this opportunity may generate a society of risk-disinclined population, or citizens incapable of dealing with daily situations, or in children easily locating more hazardous areas to perform their risk-taking behaviour; risk-taking is regarded to have additional advantages, which contribute to the cultivation of favourable personality attributes, such as creativity (Ball 2002). Through exposure to cautiously supervised risks children become skilled at sound judgment in evaluating risks themselves, thus developing self-esteem, resilience, and confidence, attributes that are crucial for their later independence (Ball 2002). Moreover, a developing culture of litigation has led to the elimination of playground paraphernalia from numerous public places and a growing anxiety amongst educators and child care workers that they will be held responsible for any harm sustained by a child while in their supervision (Childrens Play Council 2004). Moreover, children who adopt and use more minor techniques to play may be open to the more threatening possibilities of chronic illness linked to diminished levels of activity. Experimental data with children in preschools (Smith Hagan 1980) and early school years (Pellegrini Davis 1993) shows that participants who have been denied of physical play for a given period of time will, when provided with the opportunity, participate in physical activities that are much more challenging and persistent. This effect of deprivation was discovered to be more intense for boys than for girls and indicates that risk reduction techniques that limit physical activities are prone to have a direct effect on the plays quality (Mitchell et al. 2006). Hence, the benefit of risk-taking in facilitating childrens development and learning in the context of risky play will be explored in the present study. Current Debate Providing opportunities of risk-taking for children in physical play does not imply that safety is taken for granted. Instead it implies that parents and educators have to be highly aware of the dangers and carry out all the essential steps to make sure that the environment is safe, and to have sufficient number of staffs to supervise risky play (Mitchell et al. 2006). Even within the field of playground safety and harm prevention there is recognition of the benefit of risk-taking during play. As argued by Mitchell and colleagues (2006), children should have opportunities to explore and experiment in an environment that provides a degree of managed risk (p. 122), because eventually, regardless how secure the play environment is, it will fall short in meeting its goal if it is not thrilling and appealing for children. Inopportunely, the concept risk-taking is generally understood with negative implications, with danger and risk usually viewed as synonymous (New et al. 2005). However, Greenfield (2003) thinks a differentiation should be made between these two concepts; risk links to the childs doubt about being capable of attaining the desired result, involving a decision whether to take risk or not, whilst danger is something the child does not perceive. Grown-ups can mostly perceive the dangers and try to get rid of them. The way is in that case certain for children to confront the challenge and take the risk should they decide to do so (Greenfield 2003). This also requires giving sufficient assistance and supervision and being conscious of those features of the childs activities that may contribute to severe injury, particularly as an outcome of improper use of playground tools (Ball 2002). The concept of finding the symmetry is integral if children are to have the chance to encounter some risk in their lives. This symmetry can be realised when adults respond perceptively to individual behaviour patterns (Gill 2007); to recognise and develop childrens capability of evaluating and managing risk, as well as their need for stimulation and challenge in their play. Conclusions Risk is a crucial deliberation within the play field, but it remains a comparatively under-studied field. The studies that have been conducted appears to assume that play is both pleasurable and favourable to children, and there is a number of substantiation that children have a higher understanding of and capability of handling risk than they are credited for. It also proposes that chances for children to evaluate and encounter risk in play are constrained because of several attitudes and structural limitations. Several authors call this a risk-averse society due to the carefulness of risk evaluation in childrens play opportunity, and the prevailing judgment adults adopt towards risky play. There is substantiation to indicate that several of the measures that have been adopted to build safer play for children are not needed or efficient. Scholars appeal for acknowledgement of the potential impacts that thorough safety norms have for children, and propose using a new strategy of risk evaluation.

Friday, January 17, 2020

Philosophy of Professional Nursing Essay

Nursing as a profession includes a comprehensive strong set of principles, which should be understood and learned by each person, who decides to work in this field. Nursing philosophy, in my opinion, is not merely a philosophy of carative process, but also specific view on the patient. The present paper is designed to discuss my own approach to my profession and the related beliefs. Nursing first and foremost refers to health care, so the major value in this profession is health. I define this term as a state of physical, psychological and spiritual well-being. Individuals not always pay attention to their health, even though it substantially influences the quality of human life, so competent specialists are needed to help them understand the importance of health and lead them on their paths to positive individual and social functioning. As a nurse, or health care provided, I normally use Dunn’s approach to health as to maximum wellness, which can be described as â€Å"integrated method of functioning which is oriented toward maximizing the potential of which the individual is capable within the environment where he is functioning† (Smerke, 1989, p. 154). Individuals tend to engage in energy exchange with their environment and also seek to achieve balance in this process, or simply adapt to the environment. Although individuals strive to achieve balance and maximum functional status, they also actively seek new experiences that may disturb their balance at least temporarily† (Smerke, 1989, p. 155). This means, it is also important to deal with the roots of health dysfunctions such as lifestyle, habits, negative influences of the closest environment, job stress and so forth – I believe, each nurse is supposed to provide recommendations concerning the elimination or minimization of negative external influences and the development of healthy lifestyle, which increases productivity and both physical and psychological balance. Thus, it is necessary to take a holistic approach to health (Andrews and Amphlett, 1995), which would include both the satisfaction of health-related needs and attention to the patient’s individuality, as the final goal of nursing is the maximization of well-being. Speaking about the view on client within the philosophy of professional nursing, it is important to note that the patient â€Å"is a human being who has dignity, worth and the right to quality nursing care delivered with competence. The nurse practices with compassion and respect for the dignity and uniqueness of every individual with attention to the cultural and ethnic diversity of patients and their significant others† (Smith, 1995, p. 11). Individuals operate in dissimilar environments, so different issues might influence their health. Attentive listening and compassion within the basic nursing care might have really therapeutic effects, which will appear motivating to both nurse and health care service user. In addition, mutual understanding between the patient and the nurse are necessary to develop a true partnership in the relationship (Andrews and Amphlett, 1995), this aspect especially relates to the work with children, who often have fear of health services, hospitals and specialists in the corresponding uniform and thus refuse to cooperate. The respect for patient’s dignity includes non-judgmental approach to the client’s lifestyle and cultural sensitivity. The nurse is not entitled to be a spiritual teacher, and should be tolerant enough to avoid accusing patients of their health problems, such professionals, as I believe, should rather inspire patients to develop healthy habits rather than demonstrating strong dissatisfaction. Nurse’s role is not limited to the assistance in carrying out doctor’s orders, as they are often supposed to make their own decisions, as the number of unpredicted and unexpected situations is huge in the sphere of health care. I deem, nurses should also be advocates for patients, as they deal with service users much more closely than doctors and thus are welcome to suggest certain changes in the process of health care and discuss them with therapists (for instance, therapists not always notice that patients also require professional psychological counseling, so nurse should not hesitate to talk about this situation). I believe, nurses should also provide counseling in health care and, being prepared for work in the globalized society, they should take into consideration the client’s cultural background and their personal values, through which it is easier to articulate the necessity of adherence to certain recommendations. Furthermore, globalization also determines the need for social activity among nurses, as wellness and well-being might be threatened by dissatisfactory living conditions like poverty, against which they are encouraged to act, creating unions and associations. Working in health care teams, nurses also act as managers and team leaders, with respect to their competencies and skills. In the modern society, nursing should rely upon the specialist’s professionalism, or the ability to use the skills, learned in the course of education, depending upon the situation. Professionalism also involves the responsibility for human life and health (Smith, 1993), as nurses often have much freedom in health services and thus should be flexible enough to apply the knowledge of various disciplines where they are relevant. I believe it is also necessary to renew and enrich the knowledge; for his purpose, nursing includes the research of professional literature. To sum up, my own philosophy of nursing was developed to great extent owing to education (including self-training), as it was necessary to find out more about different approaches to health care and select the set of principles, with which I am completely consistent and to which I can adhere as a specialist. My philosophical views, as one can conclude, are comprehensive, as I take into consideration such issues as holism in health care, professional contact with patients, nurse’s roles, multiculturalism and research.

Thursday, January 9, 2020

Questions On Blm Proposed Rule - 1193 Words

BLM Proposed Rule With proposed rule BLM aims to reduce gas lost through venting, flaring and equipment leaks. Proposed rule has a 60 day commenting period, which will begin once published with the Federal Registry. Unless an extension is granted, BLM expects the commenting period to end around 4/08/2016. BLM proposes to amend 43 CFR parts 3100 and 3160 and add new subparts 3178 and 3179. 3100 - Onshore Oil Gas Leasing Proposal would change BLM’s regulations so that it would have the flexibility in the future to raise the royalty rate on its competitive leases above 12.5 %. BLM is not proposing to raise the royalty rate now, but would have the option to do so after the revision is made. 3160 – Onshore Oil and Gas Operations Proposal†¦show more content†¦Subpart 3179 - Waste Prevention and Resource Conservation Proposal would prohibit venting of gas except in limited circumstances, such as emergencies, or when equipment vents in an authorized way. Each emergency will be limited to 24 hours and operator may not have more than 3 royalty-free emergencies for a lease, unit, or CA within a 30 day period. The following specific limits are included in the proposal: o Pneumatic Controllers and Pneumatic Pumps: Operators would be required to replace high-bleed pneumatic controllers with low-bleed or no-bleed pneumatic controllers within one year of the effective date of the final rule. This requirement would apply only to pneumatic controllers that are not subject to EPA regulations, and would not apply when the operator demonstrates to BLM that replacing the controllers would â€Å"impose such costs as to cause the operator to cease production and abandon significant recoverable oil reserves under the lease.† o Storage Vessels: The proposal would subject existing storage vessels to the same standards that EPA applies to new and modified vessels on BLM leases. Operators would be required to route VOC emissions from existing storage vessels to combustion devices, continuous flares, or sales lines within six months after the effective date of the BLM rule. BLM can grant exceptions to operators that demonstrate that compliance would cause the