what Essays - Misha, Jeremy Harmer, Three Fates, Nightmare 8

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Patient Satisfaction †Nursing Essay

Patient Satisfaction – Nursing Essay Free Online Research Papers Patient satisfaction scores in hospitals have steadily decreased in the United States. According to Zwillich (2007), â€Å"Americans are more dissatisfied than citizens of other nations with their basic health care, even while paying more of their own money for treatment†. Research has shown that the nursing shortage that has plagued the United States has played a large role in the downward trend of patient satisfaction. Citing a report by Press Ganey Associates, Inc., Sara Nemeth (2007) reports that the higher the ratio between working Registered Nurses in any given state, the higher the patient satisfaction scores will be. From this data, it can be surmised that patient satisfaction will increase as the number of nursing staff increases. These results demand a call to action, and patient satisfaction depends upon it. A study published by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing states that the shortage of nurses may be affecting health care quality and patient outcomes, quoting the New England Journal of Medine as reporting that 53% of physicians and 65% of the public cited the nursing shortage as a leading cause of medical errors. The same study also states, according to Joint Commission for Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (2007), that the shortage of nurses in America is, â€Å"putting patients’ lives in danger†, and found that since 1996, low nursing staff levels were contributing factors in 24% of patient deaths and injuries. The nursing shortage is not going away any time soon. In the same article by the American Association of Colleges of Nurses, it is estimated that 30 states had shortages in the year 2000, and this projection is expected to intensify to where 44 states, plus the District of Columbia will have nursing shortages by the year 2020. In addition, according to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, the number of nurses taking state boards for the first time decreased by 20% between 1995 and 2003. Finally, Dr. Amy Tuteur quotes results Press Ganey President and CEO, Melvin Hall (2007) as saying, â€Å"The American Consumer Satisfaction Index (ASCI) from the University of Michigan has shown that customers’ satisfaction with healthcare has decreased significantly over the past several years†. Her statement is reflective of the majority of research being done in this area. According to the ECRA group (2007), healthcare leaders must be held accountable for the quality of care they provide. Patient satisfaction is increasingly being looked at as an indicator of positive patient outcomes, and a better quality of life. ECRA states that the patients’ perceptions of the quality of care they receive, and the attention that is paid to them can be as important as clinical health measures when patients are viewing their clinical outcomes. With the research showing that the nursing shortage is going to be here for quite some time, health care professionals must find a way to effectively deliver care, and bring patient satisfaction scores back to baseline, and above. Communicating with patients is key. Levinson (2007) states that poor communication often leads to patient dissatisfaction, whereas, â€Å"Effective communication enhances patient satisfaction and health outcomes.† Levinson also stated that the combination of a bad outcome and patient dissatisfaction, â€Å"Is a recipe for litigation†. In a similar article, J.W. Pichert (2007) stated that healthcare professionals must understand patients’ specific dissatisfactions and prevent them in the first place, thereby rectifying patients’ concerns. These findings suggest that nurses must find a way to enhance their communication with patients, reverse the trend of dissatisfied patients, and change the culture of patient care in a positi ve way. In 2005, the Studer Group (2006) introduced a strategy into the healthcare market, called, â€Å"The Nursing Bundle†. It has been adopted by multiple hospitals across the United States, and has provided the tools for hospitals to significantly increase their patient satisfaction scores, and increase patient safety. The Nursing Bundle is comprised of five key strategies, all aimed at promoting excellent patient care, proactively meeting the needs of patients, and increasing the level of patient satisfaction. Each component of the Nursing Bundle raises the standard of care on it’s own merit, but together, the five components tie into each other and have had a profound effect on the care delivery system. The first component is Individualized Patient Care. This refers to identifying key priorities to the patient upon admission to the nursing unit. The nurse asks the patient what the two most important needs he or she has that if met, would allow them to feel as though they have received excellent care. This information is written on a dry erase board in the patient’s room, and alerts all staff to the patient’s individual needs. The patient’s individual pain scale is also assessed, and written on the board. The patient will see that the staff is concerned about them as individuals, and that they don’t treat everybody the same. The patient’s perspective is valued as being the most important, and they will be reassured that everybody is aware of what their specific needs are, thereby making them less anxious and more compliant with their care and treatments. Individualized patient care also allows staff the opportunity to ask about the patient’s individual needs when rounding, eliminating call lights for unmet needs. The nurse will be alerted to the patient’s pain needs, and the physician will be alerted to the patient’s desired pain level. Ultimately, the patients will be more satisfied that their individual needs are being met. The second component is Bedside Shift Report. Prior to the end of the shift, the nurse informs the patient that they will be doing bedside shift report very soon. The nurse tells the patient that their privacy is important, and asks if they would like the nurse to ask visitors to leave, should visitors be there at the time of shift report. This shows the patient that the nurse recognizes and facilitates their need for privacy. During the shift report, the nurse introduces the oncoming nurse to the patient. The patient’s condition, tests, and procedures are reported to the oncoming nurse, and any needed clarifications are made for the patient at this time. This serves to show the patient that the oncoming nurse is aware of their needs, and reduces anxiety that perhaps the next nurse does not know their case. They will be more satisfied because they know who their nurse is, and that things are being done and monitored throughout the shift. Finally, the process will aid in increasing communication. Studer has determined that communication issues are the root cause of about 30% of patient safety events, and improved communication between caregivers positively impacts patient care and outcomes. For the nurse, bedside shift report improves the sharing of information between healthcare providers by utilizing a standardized method of communicating. If asked questions, the nurse won’t have to say, â€Å"I haven’t seen my patients yet†, and will be more prepared. The off-going nurse can also use this time to use â€Å"hands-on† to show the oncoming nurse how to operate special equipment, or how special orders are being handled. Accountability will increase, since each nurse will know his or her patients’ condition at the beginning of the shift. Finally, bedside report improves the nurse’s understanding of the patient’s condition, as he or she is able to visualize the patient. With the nurse is better prepared and more comprehensively informed, the patient will have an increased sense of well being, and will ultimately be more satisfied. The third element of the nursing bundle, and the most important, is hourly rounding. In a study done by C.M. Meade (2007), â€Å"Specific nursing actions performed at set intervals were associated with statistically significant reduced patient use of the call light overall, as well as a reduction of patient falls, and increased patient satisfaction†. Hourly rounding has eight components that integrate to ensure that the patient is receiving the care that they need, and most important, the care they feel that they deserve. First, the nurse uses key words and/or actions to introduce themselves, their skill set, and their experience. The word â€Å"round† is used, because this is a word that is familiar to most people, and will help frame the context of the interaction. The patient is told when the nurse will round again, thereby decreasing anxiety and building trust. Second, the nurse performs any scheduled tasks during the hourly round. Performing tasks while rounding allows the nurse to include scheduled work into the rounds, thereby accomplishing everything in one trip to the patient’s room. If there is not a scheduled task, the patient still has the reassurance that the nurse is coming to the room, and has the opportunity to voice an unanticipated need. Third, the nurse addresses the â€Å"3 P’s† that Studer has identified as being the most common reasons patient use their call bells. These are pain, potty and position. Proactively assessing and treating pain keeps pain from becoming severe, and increases satisfaction as a result. Scheduling patients to use the bathroom on rounds avoids unassisted walks to the bathroom, which can lead to falls. Helping the patient change positions also helps to keep them comfortable, and reduces the chance of a pressure ulcer, especially in the elderly. Fourth, the nurse performs comfort measures, such as fluffing pillows, straightening sheets, filling water pitchers, and offering something to drink. These are basic nursing functions that often get left undone if not intentionally scheduled, and lead to additional call light requests, and ultimately result in patient dissatisfaction. Fifth, the nurse conducts an environmental assessment of the room. This allows the nurse to determine whether there are any needs the patient has not identified that could raise the potential for the patient needing the nurse to return before the next scheduled hourly round. These needs include making sure the call light and telephone are within reach, the garbage can is next to the bed, and the patient looks comfortable. Sixth, closing key words are used before the nurse leaves the room. These are words such as, â€Å"Is there anything else I can do for you before I leave?† I have time†. This will not only decrease the need for the patient to ring the call light, but will allow the nurse to accomplish any other task while he or she is still in the room. It also tells the patient that all needs, no matter how small, are being addressed. The patient will be more satisfied with the nursing care if he or she knows the nurse has time to meet their needs. Seventh, the nurse explains to the patient when he or she will be back. When the patients know the nurse will be back hourly, they will cluster their requests in the context of the nurses rounds, rather than relying on using the call bell, as long as they know the nurse will be back in an hour, and their request is not urgent. Finally, prior to leaving the room, the nurse documents the rounds on a hourly checklist inside the patient’s room. This allows the patient to visibly see that it’s been only an hour between rounds, it allows the family to see that their loved one is being attended to frequently, and it allows the nurse manager to ensure that rounds are being done appropriately. Hourly rounding not only has the benefit of proactively meeting the needs of the patient, but by decreasing the call lights, the nurse is able to stay focused and round on a schedule. According to Carla Cox, Administrative Director for Cardinal Health (2007), â€Å"A patient who is confident a nurse is checking on them regularly is more likely to wait for the nurse to stop in, rather than hit a call light†. In addition to the research performed by the Studer Group, a study by Christine Mead, PhD, Executive Director of the Alliance for Health Care Research ((2007), had similar findings in regard to rounding. She stated, â€Å"Nurses’ rounds conducted regularly, every 1 or 2 hours, may help decrease patients’ use of call lights, as well as increasing patient safety and level of patient satisfaction†. In another article, Mary Shepherd, RN, Nursing Project Manager at Methodist Hospital in Houston, TX (2007) perhaps brought it together when she said, â€Å"Too many times we take for granted that the patient knows what we are doing when we enter their room. But these are non-clinical people who have no idea why we are asking them their name and birth date 30 times a day. One concept of the hourly rounding program is to take the time to verbalize everything that we are doing, letting them know it is for their safety, for their benefit†. The fourth element of the nursing bundle is Manager Rounds on Patient. The unit manager visits every patient on his or her unit at least once per day, and validates that the elements of the nursing bundle are being accomplished. He or she asks the patient if they have had any difficulty accessing their nurse, if the nurse has been in to see them frequently, and if their pain has been adequately controlled. They also ask if the individual need listed on the board has been consistently met, and if they have had any difficulty accessing the bathroom. The patient has an increased sense of well being, not only knowing that they have been receiving individualized care, but also knowing that the unit manager is rounding daily to ensure that it is being provided. The fifth, and last element of the nursing bundle is Discharge Telephone Calls. Patient’s perspective is valued as being most important. Discharge telephone calls make the patients feel cared about as a person, they decrease patient anxiety, provide an opportunity to evaluate patient education, to determine patients’ compliance with discharge instructions, to assess the overall impressions of the hospital’s performance, and to reinforce the patient’s perception that excellent care has been provided. For the staff, they provide a positive experience for staff, since most discharge calls are positive, they provide an opportunity for service recovery, and they provide an opportunity to identify trends that may require improvement in practice. The discharge telephone call is also the last opportunity the nurse has to be sure the patient was satisfied. The nurse has a scripted dialogue, and begins by identifying him/herself, and asking if it is a good time for the patient to talk. This shows that the nurse respects and values their time. The patient is asked if they understood their discharge instructions, and if any questions have surfaced since their discharge. This shows the patient that even though he or she has been discharged, the staff of the hospital still has their well being in mind. The nurse then states that the hospital always likes to make sure their patients were very happy with their care, and states it just that way, following with, â€Å"How was your care?†. Next, the nurse thanks the patient for allowing the hospital to care for them, and makes sure they have a telephone number to call if they have any other questions. The discharge telephone call gives closure in a positive way to the patie nt, and brings their care into their home setting. When they receive their satisfaction survey in the mail, they are more likely to remember the care they received having received the discharge call as well. With no end in sight to the nursing shortage, and the grim ramifications research has shown as a result, healthcare providers need to find ways to get back to the basics of nursing to improve the care delivery system, without waiting for the tide to turn again. The Studer Group (2006) has put together an excellent program to raise the bar back to where it needs to be. Fox News [Internet]. New York (NY): FOXNews.com; [cited 2007 Jan 12]. Available from: foxnews.com/story/0,2933,136990,00.html Press Ganey Associates, Inc. [Internet]. South Bend (IN): pressganey.com; [cited 2007 Jan 12]. Available from pressganey.com/scripts/news.php?news_id=57 American Association of Colleges of Nursing [Internet]. Washington (DC): aacn.edu; [cited 2007 Jan 12]. Available from aacn.nche.edu/MediaBackgrounders/shortagesfacts.htm Press Ganey Associates, Inc. [Internet]. South Bend (IN): pressganey.com; [cited 2007 Jan 12]. Available from http://treatmewithrespect.blogspot.com/2006/05/gap-widens-in-hospital-patient.html Chicago Chronicle [Internet]. Chicago (IL): chicagochronicle.edu; [cited 2007 Jan 12] Available from http://chronicle.uchicago.edu/970220/malpractice.shtml National Center for Biotechnology Information [Internet]. Atlanta (GA): ncbi.gov; [cited 2007 Jan 12]. Available from ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrievedb=PubMedlist_uids=96 ECRA [Internet]. Rosemont (IL). Ecragroup.com [cited 2007 Jan 12]. Available from ecragroup.com/healthcare/patientsatisfaction.html National Center for Biotechnology Information [Internet]. Atlanta (GA): ncbi.gov [cited 2007 Jan 12]. Available from ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmedcmd=retrievedopt=Abstra Nursing Spectrum [Internet]. McLean (VA). Nursingspectrum.com [cited 2007 Jan 12]. Available from http://community.nursingspectrum.com/MagazineArticles/article.cfm?AID=24949 Medscape [Internet]. New York (NY). Medscape.com [cited 2007 Jan 12]. Available from medscape.com/viewarticle/544021 Methodist Health [Internet]. Houston (TX). Methodisthealth.com [cited 2007 Jan 12]. Available from methodisthealth.com/cgi-bin/hmdim/home/newsItem.do?channelId=-1073829 Cardinal Health Systam [Internet]. Muncie(IN). accesschs.org [cited 2007 Jan 12]. Available from accesschs.org/about_chs/Nurse_Rounding_Story.htm StuderGroup. Patient Care Model: Nursing and Patient Care Excellence. Pensacola, FL: 2006. 80 p. Research Papers on Patient Satisfaction - Nursing EssayArguments for Physician-Assisted Suicide (PAS)The Effects of Illegal ImmigrationThe Fifth HorsemanResearch Process Part OneInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesTwilight of the UAWNever Been Kicked Out of a Place This NiceCapital PunishmentGenetic EngineeringThe Relationship Between Delinquency and Drug Use

Marketing design Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Marketing design - Case Study Example Michael E. Porter suggests that businesses must search for a sustainable competitive advantage, which comes from developing a distinctive way of competing (Goett, 1999). As part of the marketing strategy for the oxygen bar, methods for setting it apart as a distinctive brand will be addressed. Population growth and changing demographics are examples of social trends that can have an effect on sales (Nickels et al, 2005). As part of a well-organised PESTLE analysis, the identification of external factors directly affecting the success of the oxygen bar has revealed several relevant issues that could positively impact its survival within the market. It might be argued that oxygen bars are a socio-cultural trend towards better health, as oxygen has been said to boost energy, heighten concentration, reduce stress and detoxify the blood (Davis, 2003). The actual effects of frequenting the oxygen bar are socially independent, meaning that those individuals who have used the bars have found different personal satisfactions regarding oxygen usefulness for health and well-being. However, understanding that oxygen bar popularity has been on the increase globally, similar external social factors towards better, healthy living might well impact a strong customer loyalty to the servic e. In the mid-term, it is possible that new developments in health-related, professional research might indicate a different social trend towards health initiatives, negating positive consumer perceptions of oxygen effectiveness. It might be argued that consumer preferences fluctuate periodically, however, an individual need only witness extensive literature available on UK health studies to visualise a growing trend in better health awareness. Therefore, in the mid-term, no dramatic fluctuations Oxygen Bar 4 in socio-cultural values regarding customer discontinuation of the oxygen bar concept are anticipated. Economic factors, in the short term, do not necessarily affect the ongoing success of the Andrews Adult School Oxygen Bar as the pricing structure for the service will be kept at competitive levels. Pricing will be discussed later in the analysis, but it has been determined that the bar will be maintained at an affordable level, allowing for a broader market to be targeted for bar advertisements. From a community perspective, the oxygen bar will open new job opportunities (especially for the campus student population) and might be accepted for its positive economic impact on the community. In the mid-term, assuming the oxygen bar maintains a level of business and profit success in the community, advancing economic impacts could include more job opportunities to staff the business due

Must Liturgy Adapt to Culture or vice versa Essay

Must Liturgy Adapt to Culture or vice versa - Essay Example It would seem that the trend in the liturgical changes points to an adaptation to the people’s way of life or culture. In the light of an increasing secularisation of society, the question begs: Must liturgy adapt to culture, or vice versa? The Essence of Liturgy One must rest upon the definitions of liturgy and culture to be able to take a handle on this question. The word liturgy comes from the Greek word liturgia which signifies an act of public service done for the community. From a Christian point of view , and particularly Anglicans, as explained in the Guiding Principles of Christian Worship, liturgy has come to be known as â€Å"the work of the people of God,† or their public obligation to give God thanks and adoration. It is very important to establish the relevance at this early of the six guiding principles of Christian worship as contained in the Book of Common Prayer. These are, one, that the Holy Scripture must be the foundation and the basic content of al l Christian worship; two, that tradition must be carefully respected; three, that the language in edification must be relevant to and understood by the congregation; four, that ceremonies need not be identical across cultures but must not also contradict Scripture or the Creeds; five, that the words and the liturgies should seek ecumenical convergence with the Universal Church, and six, that these words and forms of the liturgies must maintain continuity with the Church’s historic tradition, while giving way to creativity and innovation in response to societal change. Liturgy then is the vehicle for the people’s expression of their faith. In the exegesis of the six principles, it is said that in finding such expression, nothing must contradict the Holy Scriptures, it being the foundation of worship. Such deference includes the use of words, concepts and images. It is also said that in the process of expressing faith, tradition must be respected and preserved as close a s possible to when it transpired as indicated in the Holy Scriptures. One can see where Fr. Kavanagh is coming from. The admonition to adapt culture to liturgy has all its foundation rested on the guiding principles but reflects a growing fear of the consequences of the reverse happening. Torevell (2004) observes that liturgy is becoming less popular and the reason he cites is that people no longer have that creative and restorative sense of rite but rather look at liturgy as a stable act of repetition. The Essence of Culture Culture, according to Davey (2012), is a framework of behavioural patterns, values and experiences shared within and by a social group. It is the â€Å"order of life in which human beings construct meanings through practices of symbolic representations,† according to Inda and Ronello (2008). Samovar (2009, pp.144-146) define it as a set of social rules that provide the framework and meaning to events, objects and people, to make sense of the surround ings and lessen the uncertainty about the environment. It provides a sense of identity, of self, of belonging. It is learned, transmitted via generations and acquired through interactions, observation, and imitation from art, proverbs, history, teachers, parents, books and media. It is symbolic and its symbols are used exclusively by the group. It is about the group’s standards, their beliefs, their traditions, their habits, their peculiar way of living their lives or understanding

Business document comparisons Essay Example for Free

Business document comparisons Essay Document name Public council letter Thank you letter for participating in a marathon for a charity Purpose of the document To inform a member of the community to put a halt to the constant barking of their dog between certain times of the night To congratulate a member who took part in the run of a marathon for charity and thank him/her for His/her efforts in participation. Also inform the participant of his/her position in the competition. Target audience Specified house owner ages 18+ Specified participant in competition. Writing style and tone. Formal language but written so that the matter is taking seriously with no use of passive language i. e. please can you stop that dog barking, but dont worry if you cant do it straight away because this takes a sense of seriousness away from the letter. A congratulating and formal passage of writing. Specified to respect the recipient and his/her efforts. Presentation style This document is not set out to attract or catch the eyes of people; it is purely to present the recipient with the purpose/problem. So a variety of colours and shades are not used as there is no reason to. This document is based as a certificate with a letter. As it was produced to congratulate someones achievement. it has lots of colours and images on the topic of sport. Layout Logo. Address of recipient and councils address. Text (the main point/purpose of the document). Signature from person who wrote the letter. Logo. Address of recipient and councils address. Text (the main point/purpose of the document). Signature from person who wrote the letter. Accuracy, clarity and consistency The letter was made for its purpose; the letter goes straight to the point and does need anything else. The writing is specific and formal, with no spelling mistakes. It is also sticking to specifics and with formal language. It is more recipient friendly, what I mean by this is that the language is congratulatory towards the person and is of less urgency, in the way that something has been done wrong and needs to be acted on. What I would improve I dont think there is any improvement needed on this invoice, it has said what it has needed to and given the appropriate details for the recipient This is a good letter but I think there is an area of improvement for the presentation style. Dean smith 11k Letter comparison Dean smith 11k Letter comparison.

The Role of the Reflexive Ethnographer Essay -- Anthropology Culture R

The Role of the Reflexive Ethnographer Works Cited Missing The role of the reflexive ethnographer has been constantly defined and redefined since the beginning of the study of anthropology. The use of reflexivity has and will always be questioned in anthropology. Malinowski, who was a pioneer in the field of anthropology, discouraged the use of reflexivity; he, instead, believed that anthropology was scientific and could produce â€Å"concrete evidence† (Malinowski 17). Reflexivity is way in which anthropologists try to get rid of this scientific and rigid anthropology; it is a move towards an emotional and self-reflective anthropology. Reflexivity denies the structuralism which Malinowski and Levi-Strauss attended to. In addition, reflexivity tries to diminish the authority which anthropologists such as Malinowski and Levi-Strauss claimed to have. Thus, reflexivity is an attempt to humanize rather than structure a society. Although reflexive anthropology aims to liberate itself from authority, it often does just the opposite; ethnographers such as Behar and Kondo use their supposedly humane approach to anthropology to position themselves within the field of anthropology. However, their attempts to recreate anthropology by emotionalizing it produce interesting and somewhat effective ethnographies. Visweswaran, another female and self-proclaimed reflexive anthropologist, explores what it is to be a reflexive feminist anthropologist in a fie ld that is dominated by men. Reflexivity is thus a hot topic for past and present ethnographers to discuss. With the help of the women’s movement and the rise of feminism, female anthropologists were able to publish their own ethnographies. However, women ethnographers conti... ...ocially allowed to be anthropologists: â€Å"Anthropologists would only become articulate about borders thanks to the writing of Chicanas like Gloria Analdua and Sandra Cisneros--who had to invent their own borderland anthropology in poetry, myths, and fictions because it didn’t exist in the academy† (Behar 174). The solution to anthropology, according to Behar, is reflexivity. By being reflexive, Behar writes, one can â€Å"respond vulnerably† to others’ writing. Ergo, she pleads for an anthropology that breaks your heart. Behar’s authority lies in this pleading. In this essay, she is implying that she is more vulnerable or more feeling than other anthropologists or literary critics. This establishes her authority as the reader sides with her emotional state. In summation, reflexive anthropology is an anthropology which looks upon the self in relation to the Other.

Distracted Driving Essay

Recently â€Å"Texas college student Chance Bothe’s last words prior to driving his truck off a cliff were in the form of a text message: â€Å"I need to quit texting, because I could die in a car accident.† He miraculously survived, but Bothe’s story has become an ironic example of the dangers of texting while driving† (Zafar). Distracted driving has become a worldwide problem that is ending/injuring the lives of hundreds of thousands of innocent people each year. â€Å"A statistic from 2009 declares that in the United States alone 5,474 people were killed on roadways and an additional estimate of 448,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes that were reported to have involved distracted driving† (Aldana). Distracted driving is causing many unnecessary and unintended fatalities and injuries among the drivers and passengers of motor vehicles in the world today; these incidents can be easily avoided if the education of distracted driving is conveyed to all those in possession of a license to operate motor vehicles and the laws being put in place to avoid it are followed and enforced by all. In recent years distracted driving can almost be described as a pandemic outbreak with only negative effects on the lives of many humans. Some may ask what is the exact definition of distracted driving it is as follows: â€Å"distracted driving is any activity that could divert a person’s attention away from the primary task of driving. Any type of distraction endangers the drivers, passengers, and bystanders safety† (What is Distracted Driving). Drivers are not only responsible for their own safety when operating a vehicle but also for their passengers and those in other vehicles around them on the road. When driving, the driver must maintain the three aspects of driving focused on the road these are visual, manual and cognitive (Injury Prevention & Control: Motor Vehicle Safety). Visual is the driver’s ability to see everything occurring around him or her on the road. It is known that it is the driver’s responsibility to keep his or her eyes on the road at all times to make sure there is no prevalent danger that  may occur to anyone. Manual is making sure the driver keeps one or both hands on the wheel while it is being operated; which is also common knowledge to all drivers because it is how it is taught during driver’s education and is a major part of passing the license exam. Lastly cognitive is the driver’s awareness of his or her surroundings while on the road so he or she is able to make smart decisions. One should not be thinking of anything other than the road in front of them when operating a motorized vehicle. When the topic of distracted driving comes up in conversation it is usually never a good thing, but the typical first thought of any person is texting while driving. Which is â€Å"by far the most alarming distraction while driving because it requires visual, manual, and cognitive attention from the driver,† (What is Distracted Driving) consequently meaning all three aspect which should always be focused on the road are taken away making the driver almost blind and oblivious to the road. Texting while operating a vehicle is positively the worst distraction because it has been calculated by scientists that when a driver is â€Å"sending or receiving a text message he or she takes their eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds, the equivalent of this, at fifty-five miles per hour, is driving the length of a football field† (Distracted Driving 2009). Just imagine how many things could go wrong in that amount of road, especially at that speed a great deal of serious damage and possibly even death could result from just that one text message. However, there are also many other devices and actions the driver may partake in to diverge his or her attention away from the road such as â€Å" using cell phone or smart phone, eating and drinking, talking to a passenger, grooming, reading (including maps), using a navigation system, watching a video and adjusting a radio, CD player or MP3 player† (What is Distracted Driving). All these activities are common among every person while driving. Some of these activities being so common for people to do in a car, that some do not even think of them as distracting while operating a motor vehicle, especially the ones where the driver is only eating, drinking or just talking to the passenger. But when we think about it after hearing so many of these statistics we can see how many elements that are crucial to driving can be impaired by some simple multi tasking by the driver to save  some time through their day or just making naà ¯ve conversation. With today’s technology world constantly improving and becoming more popular among the world’s people, both older and younger, it comes with its negative effects of increasing the rates/statistics of distracted driving accidents. This is proven by the statistics taken by the Center of Disease Control Prevention, displayed in their document Injury Prevention & Control: Motor Vehicle Safety, which states the proportion of drivers reported to have been distracted at the time of a fatal crash has increased from seven percent in 2005 to eleven percent in 2009. Although many may not view this as a huge percent in the first place and maybe no a big increase either, but the though of how simple it is to fix this problem but many are not willing to do so. Another statistic from 2010 of a national telephone survey on driver distraction shows results of more than three quarters of drivers reported that they are willing to answer calls on all, most or some trips; yet feel unsafe when riding in vehicles in which the driver is texting (Aldana). These negative increases in statistics are surfacing the dire need to educate the public on the hard facts of distracted driving. The solution being proposed by many organizations today is to educate drivers of the dangers distracted driving poses not only to driver but also to other drivers, passengers and pedestrians. Although, with this solution comes the responsibility of the people to help spread the education they learn and also help enforce others to act on their new knowledge when operating a motor vehicle. In the two cities of Hartford, Connecticut and Syracuse, New York multi-market efforts were made in 2011 to decrease the rate of distracted drivers (Aldana). These pilot projects found dramatic declines in distracted driving, with texting dropping seventy-two percent in Hartford and thirty-two percent in Syracuse (Aldana). Since these pilot projects have shown such a great decrease in distracted driving, which also shows a decrease in motor vehicle accidents, proves effectiveness of educating drivers to be aware of the dangers of distracted driving. Now that it has proven to improve distracted drivin g rates many states are taking action against texting while driving. Also well-known figures of today’s world such as President Obama are getting involved; on September 30, 2009 he issued an executive order prohibiting federal employees from texting while driving on government business or with government equipment (Injury Prevention & Control: Motor Vehicle Safety). Also â€Å"on October 27, 2010 the Federal motor carrier Safety Administration enacted a ban that prohibits commercial vehicle drivers from texting while driving† (Injury Prevention & Control: Motor Vehicle Safety). With the help of these well known figures and the laws being put in place the hopes of decreasing distracted driving rates is slowing becoming a reality. It is seen in recent statistics that many people including average people and even ones in high federal government positions and also state governments are partaking in the challenge to help end distracted driving among all those around them. The public is beginning to be immersed in the education of distracted driving. They are being taught about all the dangers and hazards it can cause not only in one life but of all those it may affect. As of right now, nation wide there are thirty-nine states plus the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands and Guam which have all ban texting behind the wheel; Also ten of the thirty-nine states, the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands and Guam have even gone further by prohibiting all hand-held cell phone use while driving (Aldana). These new laws are in fact decreasing distracted driving rates, however, they are not working at their maximum potential. The new laws also need the support of the people to help enforce these laws on all those they have influence on. With the people of the world working with the newly enacted laws being put into place soon the fatality and injury rate due to distracted driving will surely decrease and no longer have to be such a stress on those who are on the road. Everyone in the world can save many lives just by simply waiting to do any one of the distracting actions at a time which it is appropriate and safe so no harm will come to the driver or anyone else on the road. Works Cited Aldana, Karen. â€Å"Blueprint for Ending Distracted Driving.† Distraction.gov. NHTSA, 07 2012. Web. 15 Oct 2012. . . â€Å"Distracted Driving 2009.† Traffic Safety Facts. Department of Transportation, n.d. Web. 15 Oct 2012. . . â€Å"Injury Prevention & Control: Motor Vehicle Safety.† CDC. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 09 2012. Web. 15 Oct 2012. . . â€Å"What is Distracted Driving?.† Distraction.gov. NHTSA, 05 2012. Web. 15 Oct 2012. . Zafar, Aylin. â€Å"Man Texts About Needing to Stop Texting, The Drives Off a cliff.† Time. Time, 05 2012. Web. 15 Oct 2012. .