Evolution of the Brain Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 14500 words

Evolution of the Brain - Essay Example Arran Gare (2002) traces the key development of ecology to the tradition of plant geography of Herder and Goethe and most significantly to Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859) who saw â€Å"nature as a process of becoming† and established the development of â€Å"anti-mechanistic naturalism† (p.135). Nature’s dynamic condition was already recognized. All forms of life were seen as â€Å"self-organizing† and interdependent with each other and their environment (p.135). This concept became prevalent in society even before Ernst Haeckel came up with the term â€Å"ecology† in 1866 (Allaby 2000, p. 13). The view of ‘underlying causal unity’ within the world also inspired the idea that energy is conserved by the transformation of nature (Kuhn, 1977) (qt. in Gare 2002, p. 135). Most significantly, Von Humboldt’s work inspired the further study of organisms by Darwin, Lyell, Agassiz, Thoreau and Edward Suess who coined the term â€Å"bio sphere† in 1875 (p.135). Allaby (2000) discussed that in the 18th and 19th century, development of ecology was influenced by the concept of ‘economy of nature’ based on evolution theory and ‘balance of nature’ derived from natural theology and German Romanticism. Charles Darwin in his 1859 book Origin of Species explained that â€Å"all of nature appears to be an orderly, well-regulated system of interactions among plants and animals and with their environment†. Darwin asserted that â€Å"the appearance of the organization was the result of a natural process of evolution based on a struggle for existence by each individual organism† (p.13). While according to natural theology, God â€Å"endowed all plants and animals with needs and the means to satisfy them as to guarantee that harmony among them would be preserved†. Nevertheless, the concept of â€Å"balance of nature† and its corresponding notion of static ecosystems is now considered by science as a ro mantic myth.

Clinical supervision and reflections on practice Essay

Clinical supervision and reflections on practice - Essay Example Reflections and Supervision: Caring for the sick and elderly Conclusion References Introduction Reflective strategies are used to enhance professional observation of the work experience with others and it enhances clinical supervision. Reflection is a process of generating meaning from experiences by considering actions taken with the aim of improving upon future decision-making (Jasper, 2003). Reflective strategies help in identifying gaps in knowledge, skills and learning needs. Reflective strategies also help in analysing communication and relationships with colleagues. Reflective strategies examine decisions taken and are essential in order to identify errors made during decision-making and steps to be avoided when making future decisions. One strategy which the author has used herself for reflection in her work place is clinical supervision. In the future, she would like to consider the use a reflective diary as well. The following discussion will be contextualized both in terms of relevant literature and postings in the MOODLE Discussion Forum by this author and various contributors commenting on the usefulness of a â€Å"reflective diary† and the value of â€Å"management and supervision† of the nursing practice. As the MOODLE postings show, practice may be perceived as benefiting from reflection and supervision. Not everyone agrees, however. Nevertheless, postings on this and the issue of supervision are a very useful way of entering on a discussion of their benefits. Reflections and Supervision: Caring for the sick and elderly â€Å"Reflective practice is associated with learning from experience and is viewed as an important strategy for health professionals who embrace life-long learning† (NHS Guidelines, 2006). Reflecting upon one’s work or practise as a nurse is thus essential (Nursing Standard, 2011; Jasper, 2003). When finding oneself in a difficult situation, one may benefit from stopping and taking time to reflect on what just transpired with the goal to learn from a past mistake in order to make amendments and adjustments to be able to do things differently next time (Johns, 1995). Reflecting upon one’s own position in a certain work process that typically involves a team that has to interact to produce a beneficial outcome, scrutinizing one’s own emotions and the way one often â€Å"balances† between the demands of biology and medicine and the needs of the sick one cares for as a nurse is fundamental to ensure â€Å"best practices† (Bowling, 2009). Keeping a â€Å"reflective journal† or a â€Å"reflective diary† are effective reflective techniques (Heath, 1998, pp. 592-598). Other useful reflective strategies include mentoring, clinical supervision, appraisals, handovers, meetings, group supervision. These means imply an evaluation of skills and enhance learning. The author of this essay has herself benefited from reflecting on her practice and various factual events when she was a student nurse, recording her private experiences, emotions, thoughts and views in a â€Å"reflective diary†. Once a qualified nurse, she abandoned the use of this important tool but has again come to realize its great benefit for nurses in always attending to the above-mentioned distinction and the uniqueness and humanity of each patient. â€Å"I have overlooked the reflective diary in my experience as a qualified nurse at junior level, even as a unit manager. I felt limited by it, and if one loses the diary all the data are lost. After doing the APEL module, my focus is totally different. From the 1st of Feb 20011 till my retirement I am determined to reflect on my practise, use a reflective diary and make a secure electronic copy of it† (â€Å"Reflective Diary†, this author, MOODLE Discussion Forum, 24 January 2011). There is wide agreement on the Forum on the usefulness of the diary (cf. Rolfe et al., 2001). One contributor note s that she qualified as a nurse a long while ago and not until