What Is Pozole How to Make Delicious Mexican Corn Soup

What Is Pozole How to Make Delicious Mexican Corn Soup SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Have you heard people discuss the deliciousness of pozole and you were confused because you didn't know what they were talking about? Have you eaten pozole, and now you need to know how to make it? Well, you're in luck. I'm going to educate you on all things pozole. By the end of this article, you'll know about the origins of pozole, how it's made, and you'll be able to prepare all the major types of this traditional Mexican stew. What Is Pozole? Pozole, AKAposole orpozolà ©, is a traditional Mexican soup. Because making it is labor-intensive and time-consuming, it’s often a treat for special occasions. Those who grew up with pozole associate it with family and festivities. I may be biased because I love it, but if you haven’t tried pozole, you need to ASAP. It’s rare to find somebody who’s tried pozole who doesn’t like it. Pozole comes from the Nahuatl word â€Å"pozilli,† meaning â€Å"foam.† Nahuatl was the language of the Aztecs, anindigenous people of modern-day Mexico. Pozole is made with hominy, which is processed corn with the germ removed, and meat, traditionally pork. It’s also often made with chicken, especially for those who don’t eat pork. The stew is seasoned with a combination of spices, and it’s typically topped with garnishes like radishes, avocados and lime juice. Here’s a pic of hominy. It looks like puffed-up corn kernels. You can buy dried hominy or make your own hominy from corn, but it’s easiest to buy canned hominy. All you have to do to make pozole from canned hominy is drain and rinse the hominy from the can. Then, it’s ready to cook. The History of Pozole Pozole originated with the Aztecs and other indigenous tribes in Mesoamerica. Historical texts state that the pozole of the Natives was made with sacrificed human flesh, and it was eaten on special occasions. Yummy. After the Spanish arrived and cannibalism was banned, the human flesh was replaced with pork. There is some speculation that the Aztecs opted to use pork because it tastes like human meat. I guess that means I’d regrettably find cannibalism delicious. Today, pozole is still a very common food for Mexicansto eat on special occasions, like weddings, quinceaà ±eras (special celebrations for girls’ 15th birthdays), birthdays, baptisms, and holidays. The Different Types of Pozole There are different variations of pozole associated with different regions of Mexico. These are the three major types of pozole: pozole rojo (red pozole), pozole verde (green pozole), and pozole blanco (white pozole). In my experience, red pozoles seem to be the most common, but one of the best meals I’ve ever had was a green pozole. Here’s how the different colors of pozole look. PozoleBlanco: Basic PozoleWithout Salsa PozoleRojo: PozoleWith a Red Salsa PozoleVerde: PozoleWith a Green Salsa Primarily, the difference in color in the salsas comes from the red chiles in pozole rojo and the green tomatillos in pozole verde. Also, instead of pork, you can make a pozole with chicken or goat. In Mexico, pozole is traditionally made with pig’s head, but because it’s a little harder to find pig’s head to purchase in the US, you can stick with pork shoulder or pork butt. However, if you’re feeling a little adventurous and can find a place that sells pig’s head, go for the glory. How to Make Pozole There are a number of ways to make pozole, but generally it consists of hominy, spices, pork or chicken, and vegetables. Depending on how you make it and the ingredients you use, it can take up to two days to prepare, but you can also make it in less than an hour. I’ll go through one complete pozole recipe and then provide information about how to make the major types of pozole. You can make slight alterations to pozole recipes based on your available ingredients and equipment. Also, you can change the amount or type of ingredients to suit your taste preferences. Chicken Pozole Blanco This is a white pozole recipe made with chicken. The white pozole is the easiest of the major types of pozole to make. I found this recipe on Simply Recipes. It’s intended to serve 6 people; adjust the amounts accordingly. The garnishes are just for extra flavor, so you only need to use those that you have and like. In most of the pozoles I’ve had, radishes, lime, and avocados are almost always included as garnishes. Ingredients for pozole 1 Whole chicken- 4 1/2-5 1/2 pounds cut into parts (but still on the bone) Salt 1 red onion sliced in half 1 large 6 lb. 9 oz. can of hominy, drained and rinsed 4 large cloves of peeled garlic 1-2 tablespoons of dried oregano (preferably Mexican oregano) Ingredients for Garnishes 1/4 whole cabbage thinly sliced 1 tomato, cored and chopped 1 avocado, peeled and chopped 1 red onion, peeled and chopped 1 large bunch cilantro, chopped 1 large bunch watercress, chopped Mexican cheese (queso fresco), sliced 4 red radishes, thinly sliced 2 limes cut into wedges Chopped seeded jalapeno or serrano chiles (you can substitute other chile peppers) Tostadas, tortillas, or tortilla chips Instructions First, put the pieces of chicken, still on the bone, in a large pot with roughly 3 quarts of water. Add the two half onions and a teaspoon of salt. Bring the water to a boil, and then reduce the heat to a simmer. Simmer uncovered for approximately 20-30 minutes, or until the chicken is tender and fully cooked. Remove the chicken from the pot and let it cool until you can handle it without burning your hands. Use a fork to pull the chicken meat from the bones. Set the chicken aside and put the bones back in the pot. Simmer the bones uncovered for another half hour. While the broth and bones are simmering, put about half the can of hominy into a blender. Add two cups of stock from the pot into the blender. Then add the garlic cloves. Make sure the top is fully secured on the blender, and then blend until everything is fully blended. After the 30 minutes of additional simmering has elapsed, skim the foam and excess fat from the surface of the stock. Just use a large ladle to scoop it out. Remove the bones and any other solids from the pot. Pour in the hominy blend. Add the remaining unblended hominy and the oregano Simmer for an additional 20 minutes. During this last period of cooking, you can prepare the garnishes. Normally, the garnishes are put into individual bowls, so people can choose what and how much to add. Before serving, shred or chop the cooked chicken meat and add it back to the pot. If you like a little extra salt, add it to your taste preference. Then serve your pozole in individual bowls with a side of tortillas, tostadas, or tortilla chips. Add your garnishes to your bowl of pozole as you wish. Dig in! Chicken pozole blanco with garnishes on the side Pork Pozole Blanco If you want to make a pork pozole blanco instead, you can follow the same exact recipe except with 1  ½ -2 pounds of pork shoulder or roast instead of chicken. Pozole Rojo To turn this white pozole into a red pozole, you just have to add in a red chile purà ©e when you add the hominy blend and unblended hominy. Here’s how to make a red chile salsa for your pozole rojo. I got this recipe from Leite’s Culinaria, which adapted it from Pati’s Mexican Table. Ingredients 2 dried ancho chiles, rinsed, stemmed, and seeded 3 dried guajillo chiles, rinsed, stemmed, and seeded 1/4 cup of chopped white onion 3 chopped garlic cloves A pinch of ground cumin 2 whole cloves 1 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt, or to taste 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil Instructions Put the ancho and guajillo chiles in a medium saucepan. Add just enough water to barely cover them and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Simmer for about 10 minutes, until the chiles are softened and rehydrated. Put the chiles and  ¾ of a cup of their soaking liquid in a blender or food processor with the onion, garlic, cumin, cloves and salt. Blend until the mixture is smooth. Pour the purà ©e through a strainer and into a bowl. Press on the solids with the back of a wooden spoon to get out as much of the liquids as possible. You can discard the solids. Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat until hot but not smoking. Add the chile purà ©e and bring to a boil. Then, partially cover the pan and simmer. Stir occasionally, for roughly 6 to 8 minutes, until the purà ©e is thickened. Finally, remove the chile purà ©e from the heat, and it’s ready to be added to your pozole. Pozole Verde The green sauce for the pozole verde is added at the same time as the red sauce for pozole rojo. Again, add the green salsa when you add the hominy blend and unblended hominy. This recipe comes from recipe.com. Ingredients 1 lb. of green tomatillos, husked and halved 1 small onion, quartered 2 poblano chiles, cored, seeded, and quartered 2 jalapenos, seeded and quartered 4 large garlic cloves, smashed  ½ cup chopped cilantro 1 tablespoon oregano leaves Salt and ground black pepper 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil Instructions Put the tomatillo, onion, poblanos, jalapenos, garlic, cilantro, and oregano in a blender. Pulse until it’s finely chopped, and then add one cup of the pozole cooking liquid (the liquid from your unfinished pot of pozole). Blend until it’s smooth. You can use a strainer to ensure smoothness. Season the purà ©e with salt and pepper, so it’s to your liking. Then, in a large, deep skillet, heat the vegetable oil. Add the purà ©e, and cook it over medium heat. Stir it occassionally Cook it for about 12 minutes, until the sauce turns a deep green. Then, it’s done and ready to be added to your cooking liquid. Ta-da! 6 Other Ways to Make Pozole As I previously mentioned, there are tons of slight variations in pozole recipes. The recipes differ in the ingredients and how the pozole is prepared. Here are a few other examples of how you can make pozole. I'm giving you multiple options, so you can be more familiar with the different varieties and find the recipe that will work best for you. Traditional Pozole Here’s an extremely traditional pozole rojo recipe with pig head. And it provides instructions for making your own hominy from corn. Old school Mexicans believe that making your own hominy instead of using the canned hominy makes the pozole taste better. Also, in this recipe, the meat and bones are left in the pot throughout the cooking process. Pozole With Dried Hominy Additionally, you can make pozole with dried hominy that you prepare by soaking overnight in cold water before cooking. Here’s a pork red pozole recipe from The New York Times with dried hominy. Bags of dried hominy Vegetarian Pozole If you don’t eat meat, you can also make a vegetarian pozole with hominy, aromatics, vegetables, and spices. Check out this vegetarian red pozole recipe that incorporates dried hominy. Pozole With Chicken and Pork If you’re a fan of meat, you can make a pozole with both chicken and pork. Just cut the amounts of chicken and pork in half. To serve 6, you’d need about 2  ½ pounds of chicken and a pound of pork. Or you can use 5 pounds of chicken and 2 pounds of pork to make a pozole with double the meat. Easy-to-Make Pozole There are variations of pozole that are super easy to make. You can substantially cut down on the time it takes to make pozole by using canned hominy and chicken that’s already cooked. Additionally, for your sauces, instead of making them by scratch, you can use canned green chiles for pozole verde and canned salsa to make pozole rojo. Here’s a 20-minute recipe for chicken pozole verde. While this type of pozole can taste good, it probably won't be nearly as delicious as pozoles that require more cooking. You probably shouldn't serve an easy to make pozole to a traditional Mexican. Different Spices and Chile Peppers Each pozole recipe will somewhat vary in the amount and type of spices used to season the pozole. Most call for garlic, cumin, oregano, salt, and pepper. A couple of changes you can make include using garlic powder instead of garlic cloves, and you can add paprika for a little extra kick. Furthermore, you can leave out any of the spices if you don’t like them. There are enough flavorful ingredients in pozole that you shouldn’t have to worry about your pozole being bland, especially if you’re making pozole verde or pozole rojo. Additionally, you can change the chile peppers in your red sauce or green sauce to alter the spice content. Traditionally, the red pozole sauce calls for ancho and guajillo peppers. For a less spicy sauce, you can use cubanelle peppers or anaheim peppers. If you want to go more spicy, you can use puya peppers or morita chili peppers. The green sauce tends to use poblano peppers and jalapeà ±os with the tomatillo. You can use fewer peppers if you want to decrease the spice level, or you can use a Sonora chili pepper. Keep in mind that when added to the pozole, the green sauce in pozole verde is pretty mild. To make it spicier, I would suggest adding additional jalapeà ±os. Jalapeà ±o peppers! The red ones are ripe. Pozole Garnishes As I mentioned previously, you add the garnishes to your individual bowl of pozole after the pozole is done. The garnishes add more flavor, and it’s entirely up to you how to garnish your pozole. These are the most common garnish options: Radishes Lime juice Avocados Cabbage Lettuce Cheese (Normally queso fresco) Tortilla strips Tostadas (on the side) Tortillas (on the side) Chopped onion Cilantro Jalapeà ±o Hot sauce Scallions Sour cream All you have to do is add any of these ingredients that you like to your bowl of pozole to maximize your pozole experience. If you're preparing pozole for multiple people, you can serve garnishes in individual bowls and let your guests decide what they want to put in their pozole. Now that you know what pozole is and how to make it, you should whip up a batch and find out how it tastes. You can thank me later.

The Keyboards Every Writer Should Be Using - Freewrite Store

The Keyboards Every Writer Should Be Using - Freewrite Store As a writer, you’ve probably used a variety of different keyboards, and  know that they’re not all created equal. Keyboards come in many different styles and choosing the right one can have a big effect on your typing speed, comfort, and accuracy. Some have traditional solid, clicky keys with switches inside them, some have modern flat, silent keys, and some fall halfway in between. What kind of keyboard should you be using? In this article, we’ll look at the three main types of keyboards, what makes them different from each other, and which one is likely to be best for you. Membrane keyboards These days, most desktop keyboards are membrane keyboards. Their name derives from their construction. Rather than each key being independent with an inbuilt mechanical switch, all the keys sit on top of a single plastic membrane that houses the electronic circuitry. Between the keys and the circuitry is a rubber sheet with domes that give the keys their characteristic bounce-back when you type. They’re popular because they’re light, cheap to produce, are relatively spill-resistant and give you a bit of tactile feedback. Chiclet keyboards If you’re typing on a modern laptop, chances are you have an island-style keyboard, popularly known as a chiclet keyboard because the square keys with radial corners look somewhat like Chiclets chewing gum. While there’s usually a membrane beneath these keyboards too, the rubber domes that are present beneath higher-profile keys are either omitted altogether or replaced with scissor switches or butterfly switches, which enable the use of very low, flat keys that can fit into thinner and thinner devices. Mechanical keyboards The main difference with a mechanical keyboard is that each key is a separate component with its own switch and metal spring. There are many different kinds of switches that can be used in mechanical keyboards, and each type gives a different user experience with varying levels of travel (the distance you have to press the key for it to register a stroke), bump (the level of tactile feedback) and noise (the click the key makes when depressed). Most mechanical keyboards contain Cherry switches. While their patent for the switch design has recently expired, opening the way for other manufacturers to imitate it, Cherry is still considered the industry leader in keyboard switch technology. Their MX switch, which was first introduced to the market in 1983, is one of the most successful ever made. Cherry switches come in different colors, and each color has its own set of characteristics. The full range is wide, but there are three main variants. Cherry MX Blue These switches have a tactile bump and a loud click that occurs when the keystroke registers, and are favoured by those who like a more typewriter-esque experience. They only need to be depressed to the click point to activate the keystroke but require more force than the Red or Brown variants. Cherry MX Red These switches are favoured by gamers because they have no tactile bump or noise and require less force to press, which is an advantage when you’re engaged in a fast-paced cyber-battle. Cherry MX Brown These are an excellent all-rounder switch – they require the lighter actuation force of the Reds but have the nice tactile bump of the Blues. They lack the Blues’ loud click, however, making them perfect for use in offices or coffee shops where you don’t want to annoy those around you with a constant flurry of clacky keystrokes. Why mechanical keyboards are better for writers People who convert to mechanical keyboards often become lifelong fans because of the satisfying typing experience and range of benefits they get from using them. What makes mechanical keyboards so good for writers? 1. Accuracy There’s nothing worse than trying to type fast on a chiclet keyboard where all the keys are flat and close together, and you’re forever hitting the key beside the one you want with the edge of your finger. Like the keys on a traditional typewriter, mechanical keyboard keycaps tend to be nicely contoured to help your finger naturally hit the centre of the key as you type, resulting in fewer typos. 2. Comfort Mechanical keyboards require less force to type, and you don’t need to press the keys all the way down – only to the point of the click or the tactile bump. Membrane keyboards require you to â€Å"bottom out† each key complete the circuit, something that people often describe as a heavy, â€Å"mushy† typing experience, leading to fatigue in the fingers, hands and wrists. 3. Speed Contoured, more responsive keys naturally lead to faster typing. Another benefit of mechanical keyboards is n-key rollover. Rollover is a technical term for how many simultaneous keypresses a keyboard can register accurately. Membrane keyboards often have a much lower rollover which results in â€Å"ghosting†. That’s when you’re typing flat out, your keystrokes overlap, and your keyboard registers extra keystrokes, resulting in additional â€Å"ghost† letters. Keyboards with n-key rollover can accurately register every keypress, regardless of how many keys you strike simultaneously, meaning you don’t have to slow down to improve accuracy or stop to fix ghosting typos. 4. Durability Mechanical keyboards last a lot longer than their membrane counterparts. Rubber dome switches tend to lose their bounce after about five million keystrokes, and you’ll notice that some keys will become unreliable or stop working completely. In comparison, Cherry key switches are designed to last for fifty million keystrokes. 5. Customization If you’ve got Cherry switches on your mechanical keyboard, you can swap out the keycaps for other styles. Gaming? Change your W, A, S, D keys to red, so they’re easier to locate quickly. Swap your function keys or numeric keypad to a contrasting color for extra style and visibility. Want to modify the feel of the keys? Grab a dampening kit to reduce the travel and key noise. Ready to make the switch? If you’re raring to write your next novel, article or poem on a mechanical keyboard, have a look at The Freewrite by Astrohaus - a smart typewriter that incorporates an industry-leading full-size mechanical keyboard into a portable device with an E-ink screen that works perfectly outdoors as well as indoors. A stand-alone writing tool, it contains none of the distractions of your desktop or laptop, but still has the ability to save your work to the Cloud. Designed especially for writers, the mechanical keyboard contains Cherry MX Brown switches which means not only will you be distraction-free, but so will everyone around you. Check out the Freewrite 2nd Generation Smart Typewriter for more information. Related: Laptop vs. Freewrite    About the author: Claire Wilkins is a freelance copywriter and editor from New Zealand. She loves to write about travel, health, home, and proper punctuation. After a career in financial services spanning almost three decades, Claire left the corporate world behind to start Unmistakable - her writing and editing business. She creates website copy, blogs, and newsletters for creative agencies and small businesses, and  specializes  in polishing existing content until it shines. In her spare time, Claire enjoys cloud-spotting, singing in the car and editing video.

Hat do you think is the most important economic issue facing the Assignment

Hat do you think is the most important economic issue facing the United States today - Assignment Example aced in procuring jobs this summer, a widespread job loss is still being anticipated even in sectors that are showing promising growth such as manufacturing and construction. This has resulted in many people saving more of what they earn and spending less thus resulting in lesser growth rate. A good stimulus package from the government would help the people to get over the recession period. In addition, employment either on a part-time basis or temporary basis would also help the economy. Surveys have noted that people are opting for a lesser pay-package to boost their family’s income and to reduce debt rather than remaining unemployed. During the recovery phase a better salary package could be provided. The number of part-time workers has increased considerably over the pat two years as more people are opting for the same. More people are also opting for starting a business such as recruitment agencies which has an increased demand at present as more people are approaching su ch firms to help them secure a job. Thus it is vital for people to remain employed to help them during this time of recession. Meanwhile it is up to the government to spend wisely and release the stimulus packages to slow down the recession and boost the

Television effects on Children Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Television effects on Children - Research Paper Example The essay discusses the effects of television on children in today’s society. Media greatly influences the character of many children. That is why most children chose the rock stars as their role model. Their way of dressing and character gives an affirmation to this. Research shows that children spend three to five hours watching television (Pressley 12). Television has both negative and positive effects on children. It educates, open their minds to new ideas, enable them to learn more about their culture as well as other people’s culture, it also gives them the chance to learn more about wildlife and the world that is other continents and planets lastly, it entertains (Datta 118). The positive effects only apply if the child chooses the right programme. On the other hand, television can be very detrimental on children. For instances, many movies show that one can achieve goals in life easily. This is to say that, television will display how ordinary people do extraord inary things to achieve a certain level of success for instance, engaging in theft. By so doing, children inherit this believes and presume how the school curriculum is wasting their productive time (Pressley 14). Because of this, children become violet and engage in theft activities to attain certain status in life. In addition, television creates stereotypes about life (Datta 117). For instance, men are portrayed to be wealthy and handsome while women are young and attractive. This makes them to assume that the society is supposed to be in that order. Because of that, many children have tried to achieve this level of life in the wrong way for instance theft as stated above and prostitution. As a child grows, television affects their health, weight, and sleeping hours. As children spend more time in front of television, screens they do not engage in physical activities. Sleep is also important for a growing child, lack of enough sleep results to fatigue (Voort 32). This makes the c hild to lose concentration in class affecting his or her performance. Recent research shows that the number of obese children in United States of American has doubled compared to the other years (Pressley 17). The main cause of this is many hours that the children spend on television screens. Television affects the social life of a child. A child may prefer to watch a certain programme instead of playing with other children. This also applies in the family where the child does not have time with the parents because of the television. Social interaction is an important aspect for a child’s development (Voort 32). Research has shown that about 85 percent of the children who are obese are vulnerable to diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, depression, and heart problems (Pressley 15). This is to say that diabetes increases the risk of getting chronic diseases. The increase in obese children results to increase in obese adults this reduces their life span. The radical f rom the society lowers their self-esteem (Voort 32). This makes them not to feel accepted by the members of the society. To curb this parents are supposed to limit hours that children spend on the television and encourage their children to engage in physical activities. The other negative effect of television is that it encourages aggressive behaviors among the children. The aggressive behavi

International Maritime Organization IMO-International labour Essay

International Maritime Organization IMO-International labour organisation ILO Co-relationship in Maritime Administration - Essay Example The establishment of the IMO in the year 1948 was in response to the proposal made by several countries stressing the need for an international body to promote maritime safety in a more effective manner. The IMO Convention proposed an article which summarized the purpose of the organization. It called for cooperation among governments in relation to technical matters governing the shipping industry, to adopt the highest practical standards for maritime safety, and to improve navigation efficiency and to control and prevent marine pollution (Introduction to IMO, n.d). Following the convention, the IMO adopted a newer version of SOLAS (safety of life at sea), which is concerned with maritime safety, in the year 1960. It further regulated international maritime traffic and the carriage of dangerous goods and also revised the measurement of tonnage in ships. In addition, following the increasing number of oil spills by oil tankers owing to the rise in the transportation of oil across cou ntries, the organization also laid down measures to reduce marine pollution due to tanker accidents as well as those resulting from disposal of chemical and garbage wastes into the sea. One of the important measures introduced by the IMO is the International Convention for the prevention of pollution from ships (MARPOL) which strictly regulated oil spills and also disposal of wastes into the sea (Introduction to IMO, n.d; IMO and ILO, n.d). In addition to taking measures to prevent marine pollution, IMO also adopted two treaties by which suitable compensation was provided to the victims who suffered losses due to the pollution. In the year 1970 the International Mobile Satellite Organization, which was launched as a global search and rescue system, has further improved the radio communication in ships. As a further advancement, the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System, which came into existence in the year 1988, now ensures that any ship in distress can be guaranteed with imme diate assistance through automatic message transmission (Introduction to IMO, n.d). The safety of the human force in ships are being taken care of by two standards, the International Safety Management Code and the amendment to the Convention for the certification and watch keeping of seafarers (STCW) (Introduction to IMO, n.d; IMO and ILO, n.d). In addition, further conventions related to maritime safety were adopted in the 2000s and several amendments have been adopted as a result changing technology or lessons learned from accidents. Some of the key issues of the IMO at present include tackling modern day piracy, reducing green house gas emissions from ships, and ensuring the safety of the seafarer. Secure, environment friendly, and maintaining sustainable cooperation in the shipping industry is the motto of the IMO and the organization is working towards achieving these objectives by adopting and implementing the right standards and legal practices (Introduction to IMO, n.d). ILO is the abbreviation for International Labor Organization which is a tripartite UN agency that oversees the labor standards, their rights and welfare across the world. It was founded in the year 1919 during the war crisis when it was strongly believed that universal peace can be achieved only through the establishment of a social justice system. Its representatives include the international labor conference, the

Interprofessional Working in Nursing

Interprofessional Working in Nursing Mr Alfred Robinson is 85- year-old and lived happily with his wife for 50 years in a London inner city borough. They had no children but got on well and socialised with friends and neighbours. Mr Robinsons wife, Lucy, recently passed away. Alfred seems to carry on with his life as usual, going to bingo, having lunch twice a week with friends and doing gardening. Six months after the wifes death, he seemed less communicative, unkempt and frail. He confided in Susan, a family friend, that he was missing his wife, having no appetite, and feeling tired all time. After discussion, Susan volunteered to accompany Alfred to his GP for a check up. Mr Robinson was diagnosed with chest infection and admitted to hospital. Within a short time he had two further admissions, one with dehydration, and weight loss, and the other with a fall which affected his self-caring ability and confidence to walk. Three hospital admission, Mr Robinson needs were met holistically by different health and social care professionals through an inter-professional working teamwork and he always made good progress. Using relevant literature, observations made and experiences gained during my clinical placements, this essay will discuss the case of an 85-year old frail and widowed man, Mr Alfred Robinson, who appears to be grieving from the loss of his wife, has suffered a chest infection, suffering from loss of appetite and weight and has had a fall which has affected his self-caring ability and confidence to walk. In addition to discussing interprofessional working, this essay will identify three health and social care professionals, and their roles within the interprofessional working team in their quest to restore Alfreds health. The essay will next focus, in greater detail, on one of the professionals and will cover issues such as accountability, responsibility, legal, moral, ethical and statutory regulation of the professional body to which the individual belongs. The essay will then reflect on how engaging in group discussion and presentation helped in writing this piece, and then conclud e with a summary of the main points raised. Interprofessional working, simply put, means working and learning together and sharing knowledge to achieve a common goal in relation to a patient care. As specialization grows in all the healthcare professions, so too does the need for the simultaneous development of practice that encourages working together. As Bleakley et al (2006, p467) have pointed out, there is a growing body of evidence to suggest that interprofessional practice offers greater benefits for patient care and safety than multi-professionalism. Hutchings et al (2003) opined that it is impossible for one professional to possess all the skills, knowledge and resources needed to meet the total healthcare needs of the society. Quality care and effectives services are the product of good team and these aspirations should be central in clinical guidelines, position statements or standard of practice. In spite of the apparent benefits of interprofessional practice, there are obstacles to interprofessional working. Headri ck et al (1998, p773) have identified some barriers to interprofessional working. These include: differences in history and culture, historical interprofessional and intra-professional rivalries, differences in language and jargon, varying levels of preparation, qualifications and status, fears of diluted professional identity and accountability, as well as concerns regarding clinical responsibility. Three health and social care professionals this essay has chosen to collaborate in order to restore Mr Alfred Robinsons health are: a bereavement counsellor, a dietitian and a physiotherapist. The bereavement counsellors role is to help Alfred to adapt to the death of Lucy, his wife for 50 years. Alfreds response and reaction to the loss (grief) of his wife includes physical, psychological, social and spiritual components. Alfred appears to be experiencing more complicated grief reactions to his bereavement and loss (Doka, 2006) and lack of progress towards psychical assimilation after passage of time and appears to be exhibiting the presence of maladaptive behaviours (Freud, 1917). The bereavement counsellor will assist in healing of Alfreds grief psychically in order that he experiences a less psychologically painful living without Lucy. The counsellor will also assist Alfred to have within the self an inner awareness of movement through his grief and towards a more adaptive relationship with Lucy (Fenn, 2011). A dietitian is a healthcare professional who focuses on proper food and nutrition in order to promote good health (WHO, 2010). Dietitians assess, diagnose and treat diet and nutrition problems at individual and wider public level. Uniquely, dietitians use public health and scientific research on food, health and disease which they translate into practical guidance to enable people make appropriate lifestyle and food choices (The British Dietetic Association, 2011). Working in consultation with other health care givers, a dietitian was involved in the diagnosis and dietary treatment of Mr Robinson. As Mr Robertson had poor appetite and had lost weight, the dietitian would have advised and provided a nutritional plan based on a comprehensive needs assessment of Mr Robinson, against which progress was monitored and outcomes evaluated in order to optimise his nutritional status and prevent re-infection and further weight loss. For instance the dietitian would have prescribed special diet , and nutritional supplement and Mr Robinsons weight reviewed regularly to ensure that the desired progress was being made. The rest of the essay will focus on physiotherapist, statutory regulatory of the physiotherapy practice, professional body of physiotherapy and the roles of physiotherapist. The rationale for the choice of a physiotherapist is that Mr. Robinson had had a chest infection and a fall which had affected his self-caring ability and confidence to walk. The physiotherapist would have helped restore Mr Robinsons movement ability and confidence to walk. The physiotherapist would have, in addition, helped treat his chest infection through the removal the excess secretion in Mr Robinsons lungs, assisted cough, and tried to improve ventilation of the lungs by physical means. All physiotherapists in the United Kingdom have received training on dealing with chest diseases and infections. (The Jennifer Trust, 2009). As a student nurse, I had the opportunity to observe, explore, interact and collaborate with physiotherapists in delivering quality care to patients during my clinical placement. I was once placed in a stroke rehabilitation unit where I worked closely with other health and social care professionals. These include doctors, nurses, dieticians, physiotherapist, clinical psychologists, occupational therapist, speech and language therapist, healthcare assistants and others. During the placement I had the chance to observe the physiotherapist helping an elderly patient in maintaining his mobility and independence after a fall. I also had a unique chance to assist a stroke patient to walk around under the supervision of a physiotherapist. I also observed a speech therapist helping the same patient to re-discover his speech while a dietitian offer advice on nutrition and diet to the same patient who happened to be a diabetic as well. The World Congress of Physical Therapy in1999 described the nature of physiotherapy as providing services to people and populations to develop maintain and restore maximum movement and functional ability throughout the lifespan. Besides, physical therapy is concerned with identifying and maximising movement potential within the spheres of promotion, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation, (cited in Hammond and Wheeler, 2008, p3). The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) (2002b) defines physiotherapy as a health profession concerned with human function and movement and maximising potential. Physiotherapy uses physical approaches to promote, maintain and restore physical, psychological and social well-being, taking into account of variations in health status. Physiotherapy is science- based, committed to extending, applying, evaluating and reviewing the evidence that underpins and informs its practice and delivery. The exercise of clinical judgement and informed interpretation is at its core (Hammond and Wheeler, 2008 p3). In the CSP revised Scope Professional Practice (2008), the definition of scope of physiotherapy practice is based on four pillars of massage, exercise, electrotherapy and kindred forms of treatment (cited in Dimond, 2009, p4). With its root in massaging, the therapeutic touching of patients sets physiotherapy aside from other professions. Physiotherapists continue to use massage therapeutically in addition to manual techniques such as manipulation and reflex therapy. Therapeutic handling underpins many aspects of rehabilitation, requiring the touching of patients to facilitate movements (Hammond and Wheeler, 2008, p3). To practise in the profession of physiotherapy in the UK, one is required by law to be registered with the Health Professions Council (HPC), UKs statutory regulator for health professions. The titles physiotherapist and physical therapist are protected by the powers of Health Profession Order 2001 and may only be used by persons who are on HPCs statutory register. The essence of this is to protect patients from unqualified or inadequately skilled healthcare providers. HPC keeps a register for health professional that meets its standards and it takes action if registered health professionals do not meet those standards. The HPC sets the standards of professional training, performance and conduct for fifteen professions including physiotherapist (HPC 2011). The HPC has since 2006 put in place a system, requiring re-registration at intervals of two years and that all physiotherapists provide evidence that they have been developing and are continuing to develop their skills and knowledge while they are registered. The Continuing Professional Development (CPD) standards require physiotherapist to supply a profile on request demonstrating fulfilment of the CPD standards (tested through sample audit). The standard requires all registrants to maintain a continuous, up-to-date and accurate record of their CPD activities. This is to ensure that registrants CPD has contributed to the quality of practice, service delivery and benefits the service user. All registrants are expected to able to demonstrate that their CPD is a blend of learning activities relevant to current and future practice. Physiotherapists are fully autonomous practitioners and do not require a medical referral in order to see a patient. Patients may access a physiotherapist directly themselves, or may be referred to a physiotherapist by other health professionals. The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) is a professional body for physiotherapist. The CSP provides a framework for curriculum of physiotherapy education and approves those physiotherapy programmes that meet the requirements of the framework on behalf of the profession. Additionally the CSP publishes rules of professional conduct and standards of physiotherapy practice derived from within the profession and are in harmony with those of the HPC. Anyone on the HPC physiotherapist register may call themselves a physiotherapist, however, only those who are also members of the CSP, may call themselves as chartered physiotherapist. It is worthy to note that relationship with the HPC is one of registrant; with the CSP it is one of membership. The breadth of activity and resources that the CSP undertakes and provides seek to establish a level of excellence for the physiotherapy profession. Its education and professional activity is centred on leading and supporting its members delivery of high-quality, evidence-based patience care. The CSP is the primary holder and shaper of physiotherapy practice in the UK and works on behalf of the profession to protect the chartered status of physiotherapists standing, which is the one denoting excellence (Hammond and Wheeler, 2008, p2). The CSP sets standard and ideals of behaviours for its members. The CSPs Rules of Professional Conduct was first endorsed in 1895 (Barclay, 1994) and has been revised and updated periodically since that time. A new Code of Professional Values and Behaviour which will supersede the Rules of Professional Conduct (still valid) is being piloted with members (CSP, 2011). The Rules of Professional Conduct (the Rules) defines the professional behaviour expected of chartered physiotherapists which are intended to safeguard patients. The Rules require chartered physiotherapist to: respect and uphold the rights, dignity and individual sensibilities of every patient; ensure the confidentiality and security of patient information; work safely and competently; not exploit patients; and act in a way which reflects credit on the profession and does not cause offence to patient and carer (CSP, 2002a). The CSP has since 1990, periodically published CSP Standards of Physiotherapy Practice (the Standards), the fourth edition was in 2005 and currently being revised (CSP, 2011). The Standards describes the professional consensus on the practise of physiotherapy and reflect the collective judgement of the profession. The Standards provides statements about the practical application of the ethical principles set in the Rules. The core standards provide a framework within which all chartered physiotherapist and associate members are required to practise. The core standards play a central role in the delivery of safe and effective physiotherapy to patients. For instance, the Core Standards 2 (CSP, 2005a) states Patients are given the relevant information about the proposed physiotherapy procedure, taking into account their age, emotional state and cognitive ability, to allow for informed consent. The expected measurable performance or activity set out for this standard include: the patient s consent is obtained before starting any examination/ treatment; treatment options, including significant benefits, risks, and side-effects, are discussed with the patient; the patient is given the opportunity to ask questions; the patient is informed of the right to decline physiotherapy at any stage without that prejudicing future care; the patients consent to the treatment plan is documented in the patients records. The Standards include clinical audit tools for measurable performance or activity to be assessed against. The clinical audit tool consists of a template for physiotherapist to assess both core and service standards so as to identify areas of good practice and also areas for development work. The essay will now consider some of the roles physiotherapists play in the health delivery system. Physiotherapists work in outpatients department of healthcare institution where they treat spinal and joint problems, accidents and sports injuries. In caring for the elderly like Mr Robinson, physiotherapists help maintain mobility and independence, rehabilitation after falls, treat arthritis and chest infection. In neurology, physiotherapists help restore normal movement and function in stroke and multiple sclerosis in patients. Physiotherapists play important roles in mental healthcare delivery by giving classes in relaxation, improving confidence and self-esteem through exercising. Physiotherapists work in hospice where they treat terminally ill people suffering from ailments such as AIDS and cancer. In paediatrics care, physiotherapists treat injured and sick children as well as those with severe mental diseases and physical deformities and conditions such as cerebral palsy and spi na bifida. This essay was facilitated by the feedback received during the group presentation. It helped me to research more to understand the topic in general and also to plan and structure the essay. In conclusion this essay has taken a cursory look at interprofessional working, its benefits and challenges in general and specifically how a dietitian, bereavement counsellor and physiotherapist collaborated in restoring Mr Robinson to good health. The essay explored the HPC as statutory regulators of physiotherapy to ensure high standards and to protect patients from unqualified or inadequately skilled healthcare providers. The CSP is the primary holder and shaper of physiotherapy practice in the UK and works on behalf of the profession to protect the chartered status of physiotherapists standing, which is the one denoting excellence.

Self-reliance Essay -- essays research papers

1. The essay that I elected to read and analyze was "Self-Reliance" by Ralph Waldo Emerson. 2. The Transcendental Movement held a strong opinion that one should have complete faith in oneself. Emerson, being an avid transcendentalist, believed in this philosophy. He supported this concept that we should rely on our own intuition and beliefs. "Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string." Emerson, along with the Transcendental Movement, believed in the vitality of self-reliance. One must have confidence and belief in oneself. "†¦the only right is what is after my constitution; the only wrong what is against it." Once one has reliance upon oneself, he can generate his own set of ideals and morals, not just the ideals bestowed upon him by society. In obeying these principles of life, he has created a constitution of his own. This constitution is the guiding light of his life; it leads the way to truth and ultimate liberation and provides the right path to follow. This idea brings about the transcendental concept of the belief in the worth of the individual. The individual, in transcendental philosophy, has the power to accomplish anything and everything. Social organization and friendship offer a small satisfaction of companionship and structure in life, but one will ultimately succeed based upon his own skills and conviction. In doing so, he will lose interest in the society and concentrate on more individual dependency as he strives to gain ultimate truth in life. "What I must do is all that concerns me, not what the people think." Once one considers less the social ramifications of his actions and considers more the personal consequences, he will become more apt to discover what he is looking for; in the transcendentalists’ case, it was the meaning of life. 3. a). "To be great is to be misunderstood." This statement was used by Emerson to explain the lagging growth of the conception of ideas and thought of his generation. Original and novel ideas were and still are scorned by those who believe that the best method for learning is repetition and memorization. When one comes up with a groundbreaking idea, it is generally disregarded because so-called "experts" do not agree with it. This is because soci... ...ing is uncomfortable, we should leave. Conformity with society has disabled this aspect of human nature, and I feel that it is something that needs to be addressed. 4. We should not conform to the preconceived laws of society. When we dislike something, we should not hesitate to be different and oppose. Believe in the power of the individual, and learn to depend on yourself, in order to achieve greatness. 5. In reading this essay, I saw many viewpoints on life that I have never seen before. They are opinions that are different from what is normal, and they are sometimes abrupt and shocking. Some of the opinions are opinions that I can relate with; others were completely out of the ballpark. I was surprised, and a little excited to read many of the philosophies that Emerson held to be the great truths of this world. Emerson had many ideas that can benefit the world today; they can help societies evolve into better places for people to live. They also provide a call for humans to evolve from conforming automatons to individuals who do and say what they feel. These thought that Emerson conveyed moved me and made me realize how precious our free will and judgement are.