SEO Checklist How to Supercharge Your Blog Posts for Search Visibility

Do you ever wonder if you could get better Google rankings without spending most of your time building links? Did you know that Google uses numerous high-impact ranking signals based on your content? This SEO checklist will show you how to effortlessly optimize your blog posts for better search visibility.For the last couple of years, Google has been actively working on its RankBrain algorithm. Its quite literally a ranking brain. The algorithm takes into account signals such as user intent, time spent on a page, and whether your pages are loading quick enough. How to use this SEO checklist?This article will give you a clear understanding of how to write better blog posts. You dont need to commit to the entire checklist either. Look for areas that you might be lacking in, and apply the said tips appropriately. The results will speak for themselves!Lets get to it.Full SEO checklist in 2019Heres your full checklistâÅ"… 1. Perform meticulous keyword researchKeywords are the bread and butter for the entire SEO game. And rest assured, the traditional way of using keywords is no longer sufficient. Big keywords with an enormous monthly search volume have been oversaturated for years.But its not all bad.There are two new keyword branches you ought to use in your content:Long-tail. In-depth keywords which extend upon a singular idea. E.g. NFL Players (short-tail) vs NFL Players who live in California (long-tail).User intent. Why is a user searching for something? And how does your content answer their query?In case you are not sure what long-tail keywords are, here is a straightforward illustration to decipher the meaning:I liken it to answering basic questions.First and foremost, you have one big general topic. And afterward, you add different sub-branches that support the topic. Those branches, in this case, are long-tail keywords. And most keyword research tools tend to provide this functionality by default. As an added bonus, this can also help you with voice sea rch SEO.If you dont know where to start, look into Ubersuggest and Answer The Public. You can put in your primary keyword, and get an output of many different long-tail suggestions.The best part is that those suggestions are based on actual live traffic data.Last but not least, when it comes to working with this SEO checklist keywords will almost always dictate the depth and quality of your content.âÅ"… 2. Monitor your competitionTheres a saying among bloggers, If youre going to steal it, make sure you improve it.. In other words, theres nothing wrong with monitoring your competitors.Take any phrase or keyword youre trying to rank for. Now, run a simple Google search.See how the top results are.When analyzing the top results, ask yourself, What is this page doing differently compared to mine?. You can check for word length, heading allocation, and any other unique content elements.The goal is not to become an identical copy. Your goal is to create content thats simply better. Th eres a reason your competitors are ranking highly and youre not. Fix that.âÅ"… 3. Spend time creating engaging headlinesYour blog post title is arguably the most important SEO element. Its what prefaces your entire post, but its also what users look at before they click on your search result.If the content title is confusing, or god-forbid clickbaity, then you risk attracting the wrong audience.This is an example of an effective headline. It has both a keyword and an actionable phrase that tells you what the post is going to be about.Here is a checklist of things you will want to check before deciding on a final headline:Does it include modifiers: How to, Why does.., Tips, etc.Are you using a keyword inside the title?Does the title explain what the post is about clearly?Using a plugin like Yoast SEO for WordPress, you can effectively minimize the amount of time it takes for you to come up with good meta tags.Additionally, the Headline Analyzer from CoSchedule is another great too l to check the validity of your headlines.Likewise, whenever you analyze your content against this SEO checklist focus on making the headline as reflective of the content itself.For more tips, check out our posts on how to write headlines and how to create catchy blog post titles.âÅ"… 4. Maximize time-on-page with video, etc.Some SEOs call this dwell time. Basically, Google is expanding its ranking factors to include things like time spent on-page.For example, a user is searching for almond cake recipe, and sees that there are multiple results for the same recipe.Now, the user starts to click on search results to visit the listed site. At this point, Google is triggering its on-page algorithm to see whether the user stays on that page or leaves it immediately.Google uses dwell time — which we cant measure, but is proportional to user engagement metrics like bounce rate, time on site, and conversion rates — to validate click-through rates. These metrics help Google figure out whether users ultimately got what they were looking for. Larry KimIf the majority of users leave the page shortly after clicking on it (usually through the Back button), then its a clear indicator that the content does not live up to its expectations.Source: WordStreamSo, how to tackle this and encourage people to spend more time on your posts?Two things:Clearly defined and pleasant design.Additional multi-media: videos, images, infographics, etc.You can apply a simple color psychology principle to accentuate the most important content. But most importantly, use multi-media content to provide both value and retain users on the page.âÅ"… 5. Create content hubs to boost internal postsWhat are content hubs? Essentially, a content hub is where you house an organized library of your content.If youre a WordPress user, youll know that promoting your other blog posts isnt always easy.You can rely on internal linking, and related posts are also helpful. But more often than not, a lot of your posts never see the light of the day after the initial hype is over.Brian Dean from Backlinko is using Content Hubs to categorize his entire blog. This makes it easy for readers to find the exact content they need, whenever they need it.To create a Content Hub, you will need to create a new landing page on your site. Thankfully, the new WordPress block editor  makes this an extremely fast process.Next, you need to gather up all your blog posts on one specific topic. In the example shown above, the topic is SEO Fundamentals.You can introduce the topic, and then provide links to your outgoing blog posts. You can even create additional pages and branch out your content even more.The goal is to make it as accessible as possible for your readers. Afterward, you can link out to your Content Hub from any page or post. Including your sites navigation.âÅ"… 6. Optimize your site speedAre you curious as to why an SEO checklist would recommend site speed as a factor? The thi ng isGoogle loves site speed like bears love their sleep. The faster your website, the more consistently Google is going to reward your content.Out of the box, these are the things you ought to focus on the most:Image optimization.  Use a plugin such as Optimole to automatically resize and compress your images. You can get up to 70-80% reduction in file size without comprising photo quality.Resource management. Focus on fonts, scripts, and plugins that dont impose too many external requests. Whenever you can, focus on hosting things locally.Lightweight themes.  Dont let the fancy features fool you! Creative themes often use a ton of JavaScript, which is known to hinder site speed exponentially.If you want to learn more about site speed, check out  Colins article on website speed optimization for 2019.ConclusionIf there is one thing you need to remember from this SEO checklist, its this: Work hard on making your content as diverse as possible.Find out how you can add even more value to your content without having to write a new blog post.Dont underestimate the fruit of your labor either. Consistent effort always returns a favorable result.Here is a summary of what we learned:Long-tail keywords can be used to write content for a specific audience.Competitor analysis provides additional details on the types of content that ranks the best.Headlines are what lures readers in, make them count.Use design and multi-rich media to maximize time on-page.Categorize all your content using Content Hubs.Site speed leads to better rankings. Use this six-step #SEO checklist to help your website rank at the top of Google 🠥‡ Click To Tweet Do you have any questions about implementing these SEO principles on your website? Ask away in the comments!Free guide5 Essential Tips to Speed Up Your WordPress SiteReduce your loading time by even 50-80% just by following simple tips.

Battle of Balaclava in the Crimean War

Battle of Balaclava in the Crimean War The Battle of Balaclava was fought October 25, 1854, during the Crimean War (1853-1856) and was part of the larger Siege of Sevastopol. Having landed at Kalamita Bay in September, the Allied army had commenced a slow advance on Sevastopol. When the Allies elected to lay siege to the city rather than mount a direct assault, the British found themselves responsible for defending the eastern approaches to the area including the key port of Balaclava. Lacking sufficient men for this task, they soon came under attack from Prince Aleksandr Menshikovs forces. Advancing under the command of General Pavel Liprandi, the Russians were initially able to push back British and Ottoman forces near Balaclava. This advance was finally halted by a small infantry force and the Heavy Brigade of the Cavalry Division. The battle ended with the famed charge of the Light Brigade which came about due to a series of misinterpreted orders. Fast Facts: Battle of Balaclava Conflict: Crimean War (1853-1856)Dates: October 25, 1854Armies Commanders:AlliesLord Raglan20,000 British, 7,000 French, 1,000 OttomanRussiansGeneral Pavel Liprandi25,000 men78 gunsCasualties:Allies: 615 killed and woundedRussia: 627 killed and wounded Background On September 5, 1854, the combined British and French fleets departed the Ottoman port of Varna (in present-day Bulgaria) and moved towards the Crimean Peninsula. Nine days later, Allied forces began landing on the beaches of Kalamita Bay approximately 33 miles north of the port of Sevastopol. Over the next several days, 62,600 men and 137 guns came ashore. As this force commenced its march south,  Prince Aleksandr Menshikov sought to halt the enemy at the Alma River. Meeting  at the Battle of the Alma on September 20, the Allies won a victory over the Russians and continued their advance south towards Sevastopol. Field Marshal Fitzroy Somerset, 1st Baron Raglan. Library of Congress Though the British commander, Lord Raglan, favored a swift pursuit of the beaten enemy, his French counterpart, Marshal Jacques St. Arnaud, preferred a more sedate pace (Map). Slowly moving south, their tardy progress gave Menshikov time to prepare defenses and re-form his beaten army. Passing inland of Sevastopol, the Allies sought to approach the city from the south as naval intelligence suggested the defenses in this area were weaker than those in the north. This move was endorsed by noted engineer Lieutenant General John Fox Burgoyne, son of General John Burgoyne, who was serving as an advisor to Raglan. Enduring a difficult march, Raglan and St. Arnaud elected to lay siege rather than directly assault the city. Though unpopular with their subordinates, this decision saw work begin on siege lines. To support their operations, the French established a base on the west coast at Kamiesh, while the British took Balaclava in the south. The Allies Establish Themselves By occupying Balaclava, Raglan committed the British to defending the Allies right flank, a mission that he lacked the men to accomplish effectively. Located outside of the main Allied lines, work began on providing Balaclava with its own defensive network. To the north of the city were heights which descended into the South Valley. Along the northern edge of the valley were the Causeway Heights across which ran the Woronzoff Road which provided a vital link to the siege operations at Sevastopol. To protect the road, Turkish troops began building a series of redoubts beginning with Redoubt No. 1 in the east on Canroberts Hill. Above the heights was the North Valley which was bounded by the Fedioukine Hills to the north and the Sapounà © Heights to the west. To defend this area, Raglan had only Lord Lucans Cavalry Division, which was camped at the western end of the valleys, the 93rd Highlanders, and a contingent of Royal Marines. In the weeks since Alma, Russian reserves had reached the Crimea and Menshikov began planning a strike against the Allies. The Russians Rebound Having evacuated his army east as the Allies approached, Menshikov entrusted the defense of Sevastopol to Admirals Vladimir Kornilov and Pavel Nakhimov. A savvy move, this allowed the Russian general to continue maneuvering against the enemy while also receiving reinforcements. Gathering around 25,000 men, Menshikov instructed General Pavel Liprandi to move to strike Balaclava from the east. Capturing the village of Chorgun on October 18, Liprandi was able to reconnoiter the Balaclava defenses. Developing his plan of attack, the Russian commander intended for a column to take Kamara in the east, while another attacked the eastern end of Causeway Heights and nearby Canroberts Hill. These assaults were to be supported by Lieutenant General Ivan Ryzhovs cavalry while a column under Major General Zhabokritsky moved onto the Fedioukine Heights. Commencing his attack early on October 25, Liprandis forces were able to take Kamara and overwhelmed the defenders of Redoubt No. 1 on Canroberts Hill. Pressing forward, they succeeded in taking Redoubts Nos. 2, 3, and 4, while inflicting heavy losses on their Turkish defenders. Witnessing the battle from his headquarters on the Sapounà © Heights, Raglan ordered the 1st and 4th Divisions to leave the lines at Sevastopol to aid the 4,500 defenders at Balaclava. General Franà §ois Canrobert, commanding the French army, also sent reinforcements including the Chasseurs dAfrique. Clash of the Cavalry Seeking to exploit his success, Liprandi ordered forward Ryzhovs cavalry. Advancing across the North Valley with between 2,000 to 3,000 men, Ryzhov crested the Causeway Heights before spotting Brigadier General James Scarletts Heavy (Cavalry) Brigade moving across his front. He also saw the Allied infantry position, consisting of the 93rd Highlands and the remnants of the Turkish units, in front of the village of Kadikoi. Detaching 400 men of the Ingermanland Hussars, Ryzhov ordered them to clear the infantry. The Thin Red Line, oil on canvas, by Robert Gibb, 1881. National War Museum of Scotland Riding down, the hussars were met with a furious defense by the Thin Red Line of the 93rd. Turning the enemy back after a few volleys, the Highlanders held their ground. Scarlett, spotting Ryzhovs main force on his left, wheeled his horsemen and attacked. Halting his troops, Ryzhov met the British charge and worked to envelop them with his larger numbers. In a furious fight, Scarletts men were able to drive back the Russians, forcing them to retreat back over the heights and up the North Valley (Map). Charge of the Heavy Cavalry Brigade at Balaclava. Library of Congress Confusion Retreating across the front of the Light Brigade, its commander, Lord Cardigan, did not attack as he believed his orders from Lucan required him to hold his position. As a result, a golden opportunity was missed. Ryzhovs men halted at the east end of the valley and reformed behind a battery of eight guns. Though his cavalry had been repulsed, Liprandi had infantry and artillery on the eastern part of the Causeway Heights as well as Zhabokritskys men and guns on the Fedioukine Hills. Desiring to retake the initiative, Raglan issued Lucan a confusing order to attack on two fronts with infantry support. As the infantry had not arrived, Raglan did not advance but did deploy the Light Brigade to cover the North Valley, while the Heavy Brigade protected the South Valley. Increasingly impatient at Lucans lack of activity, Raglan dictated another vague order instructing the cavalry to attack around 10:45 AM. Delivered by hot-headed Captain Louis Nolan, Lucan was confused by Raglans order. Growing angry, Nolan insolently stated that Raglan desired an attack and began indiscriminately pointing up the North Valley towards Ryzhovs guns rather than to the Causeway Heights. Angered by Nolans behavior, Lucan sent him away rather than question him further. Charge of the Light Brigade Riding to Cardigan, Lucan indicated that Raglan desired him to attack up the valley. Cardigan questioned the order as there were artillery and enemy forces on three sides of the line of advance. To this Lucan replied, But Lord Raglan will have it. We have no choice but to obey. Mounting up, the Light Brigade moved off down the valley as Raglan, able to see the Russian positions, watched in horror. Charging forward, the Light Brigade was hammered by the Russian artillery losing nearly half its strength before it reached Ryzhovs guns. Charge of the Light Cavalry Brigade at Balaclava. Public Domain Following to their left, the Chasseurs dAfrique swept along Fedioukine Hills driving off the Russians, while the Heavy Brigade moved in their wake until Lucan halted them to avoid taking more losses. Battling around the guns, the Light Brigade drove off some of the Russian cavalry, but was compelled to retreat when they realized that no support was forthcoming. Nearly surrounded, the survivors fought their back up the valley while under fire from the heights. The losses incurred in the charge prevented any additional action by the Allies for the rest of the day. Aftermath The Battle of Balaclava saw the Allies suffer 615 killed, wounded, and captured, while the Russians lost 627. Prior to the charge, the Light Brigade possessed a mounted strength of 673 men. This was reduced to 195 after the battle, with 247 killed and wounded and the loss of 475 horses. Short on men, Raglan could not risk further assaults on the heights and they remained in Russian hands. Though not the complete victory that Liprandi had hoped for, the battle severely restricted Allied movement to and from Sevastopol. The fighting also saw the Russians assume a position closer to the Allied lines. In November, Prince Menshikov would use this advanced location to launch another attack that resulted in the Battle of Inkerman. This saw the Allies win a key victory that effectively broke the fighting spirit of the Russian army and put 24 of the 50 battalions engaged out of action.

American History Timeline 1675-1700

American History Timeline 1675-1700 Between 1675 and 1700, the British colonies on the eastern coast of the North American continent to evolve. Plymouth became part of Massachusetts, Pennsylvania changed from being a proprietary colony to a royal one and then back to a proprietary colony, and North Carolina was designated. Here are the key events that occurred between these years.   1675 June 20: King Philips War begins when King Philip (1638–1676, and also known as Metacomet) leads a coalition of his Wampanoag Indians with their allies the Pocumtuc and Narragansett on a raid against the colonial settlement of Swansea. September 9: The New England Confederation declares war on King Philip and each colony is required to provide men for a combined force. September 12: King Philip achieves a decisive victory against the forces of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and their Nipmuc allies at Bloody Brook. 1676 February: The Mohawk launch a surprise assault against Metacomet, a turning point in King Philips War. March: King Philips War continues as Metacoms forces attack Plymouth, Massachusetts, and Providence, Rhode Island. June: Nathaniel Bacon assembles a group of 500 men leading them to Jamestown in what comes to be known as Bacons Rebellion.  Virginia planters agree to support Nathaniel Bacon. June 12: The colonists with the Mohegan Indians defeat King Philips men at Hadley. July: Nathaniel Bacon, the instigator of Bacons Rebellion or the Virginia Rebellion (1674–1676), is declared a traitor and arrested but quickly freed by his men. He is later pardoned after he admits his guilt. July 30: Bacon writes the Declaration of the People of Virginia, criticizing the governors administration of levying unfair taxes, appointing friends to high places, and failing to protect settlers from attack. August 22: King Philips War ends in the English colonies when the Indians surrender and leaders Metacomet and Anawan are killed. Conflict continues in the northern theater (Maine and Acadia) September 19: Bacons forces capture and then burn Jamestown to the ground. October 18: Nathaniel Bacon dies of a fever. The rebel army surrenders when promised amnesty. 1677 January: Virginia Governor Berkeley executes 23 of the rebels from Bacons Rebellion in direct defiance of the crown. He is later replaced by Colonel Jeffreys as the head of Virginia. September 14: Increase Mather publishes The Troubles That Have Happened in New England. 1678 April 12: With the Treaty of Casco, King Philips War is formally brought to an end. Winter: The French (Rene Robert Cavalier, Sieur de la Salle, and Father Louis Hennepin) visit Niagara Falls while exploring Canada. The falls were first reported by a westerner (Samuel de Champlain) in 1604. 1679 The Province of New Hampshire is created out of the Massachusetts Bay Colony by royal degree of British King Charles II. 1680 January: John Cutt takes office as the president of New Hampshire and ending Massachusetts governance. 1681 March 4: William Penn receives a royal charter from Charles II to set up Pennsylvania, to pay off debts owed to Penns father. 1682 April: Frenchman Sieur de la Salle claims the land at the mouth of the Mississippi for France and calls the territory La Louisiane (Louisiana) in honor of his king Louis XIV. May 5: William Penn publishes Frame of Government of Pennsylvania that provides for a precursor of a bicameral government. August 24: The Duke of York awards William Penn a deed to the lands that make up Delaware. 1684 October: Frustrated by the unwillingness of the Massachusetts Bay Colony to revise its charter to weaken the power of the church, Charles II revokes its royal charter. During the Second Anglo-Dutch War, Charles II gives the Province of New Netherland to his brother, the Duke of York. 1685 February: Charles II dies and his brother the Duke of York becomes King James II. March: Increase Mather is named Acting President of Harvard College. 23 April: James II renames New Netherland to New York and makes it a royal province. 22 October: King Louis XIV revokes the Edict of Nantes that gave the Huguenots to practice their religion, and afterward, the number of French Huguenot settlers in America increases. 1686 King James II creates the Dominion of New England, a mega-colony covering all of New England and combining the colonies of Massachusetts Bay, Plymouth Colony, Connecticut Colony, the Province of New Hampshire and the Colony of Rhode Island and Plymouth Plantations- New Jersey and New York would be added in 1688. James names Sir Edmund Andros as governor general. 1687 William Penn publishes The Excellent Privilege of Liberty and Property. 1688 The extremely unpopular Governor of the Dominion of New England, Edmund Andros, places the militia of New England under his direct control. April: Governor Andros plunders the home and village of Jean-Vincent dAbbadie de Saint-Castine (1652–1707), a French military officer and Abenaki chief, considered the start of King Williams War, an outgrowth of Europes Nine Years War between the English and French. April 18: The earliest known antislavery tract Petition Against Slavery is released in the colonies by the Quakers at Germantown, Pennsylvania. November: The Glorious Revolution occurs in which King James II (Catholic) flees to France and is replaced by William and Mary of Orange (Protestant). 1689 February: The English Parliament presents the English Bill of Rights to William and Mary. April 11: William and Mary of Orange are officially named King and Queen of England. April 18: A popular rising of a well-organized mob of provincial militia and citizens forms in the town of Boston and arrest dominion officials in the Boston Revolt. April 18: Governor Andros surrenders to colonial rebels and is put in jail. New England colonies begin re-instituting their own governments after Governor Andros is removed from power. May 24: The Toleration Act of 1688 is passed by Parliament which gives limited Freedom of Religion to all British citizens. December 16: The English Bill of Rights receives the royal assent by William and Mary and goes into law. It limits monarch powers and sets out the right of Parliament, and the rights of individuals. 1690 King Williams War continues in North America when the combined forces of the French and the Indians attack towns in New York, Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. 1691 William Penn makes Delaware a separate government from Pennsylvania. Maryland is declared a royal province, removing Lord Baltimore from political power. October 7: William III and Mary II establish the Province of Massachusetts Bay, including all Massachusetts Bay Colony, all of Plymouth Colony and part of the Province of New York. 1692 William III suspends William Penns proprietary charter for Pennsylvania, making it a royal province. February: Salem Witchcraft trials begin with the trial and conviction of a slave woman named Tituba: 20 persons will be executed before the trials end. Increase Mather is named President of Harvard. 1693 February 8: William III and Mary II of England sign a charter creating the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. The Carolinas win the right to initiate legislation in the British House of Commons. Twenty Cherokee chiefs visit Charles Town in Carolina, with an offer of friendship and help with their troubles with other tribes who had carried off some of their kinsmen. Governor Philip Ludwell agreed to help but said the kidnapped Cherokees were already in Spanish hands. 1694 August 15: Colonists from Connecticut, Massachusetts Bay, New Jersey, and New York sign a peace treaty with the Iroquois to keep them from allying with the French in the future. Pennsylvania is once again named a Proprietary Colony when William Penn gets his charter back. 28 December: After Mary dies, William III takes sole rule over England. 1696 The Navigation Acts of 1696 are passed by Parliament that limits all colonial trade to English-built vessels, among other things. 1697 September 20: The Treaty of Ryswick ends King  Williams War and restores all colonial possessions to pre-war ownership. 1699 July: Pirate Captain Kidd is captured and sent to England eight months later, where he will be executed in 1701. The Wool Act, one of the Acts of Trade and Navigation, is passed by Parliament to protect the British wool industry. It forbids the export of wool from the American colonies. 1700 Massachusetts, who had banned Catholic priests first in 1647, passed another law requiring all Roman Catholic priests to leave the colony within three months or be arrested. Boston is the largest city in the American colonies and the overall population of the colonies numbers around 275,000. Sources and Further Reading Schlesinger, Jr., Arthur M., ed. The Almanac of American History. Greenwich CT: Barnes Nobles Books, 1993.Shi, David E., and George Brown Tindall. America: A Narrative History, Tenth Edition. New York: W. W. Norton, 2016.Turner, Frederic Jackson, and Allan G. Bogue. The Frontier in American History. Mineola, NY: Dover Publications, Inc., 2010 (originally published 1920)

Two legal codes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Two legal codes - Essay Example The law code which was improved to benefit the Roman subjects a few years later came to be known as the Lex Romana Burgundinum. This paper will analyze the two law codes and will focus on their similarities and differences. The Hammurabi law code was based on the presumption of innocence and gives both the accuser and the accused to provide evidence. This is evident in several parts of the code. For example, the third law states, â€Å"If any one bring an accusation of any crime before the elders, and does not prove what he has charged, he shall, if it be a capital offense charged, be put to death† (fordham.edu par. 65). Another example of the code’s presumption of innocence is in the eleventh law that states, â€Å"If the owner do not bring witnesses to identify the lost article, he is an evil-doer, he has traduced, and shall be put to death† (fordham.edu par. 65). Apart from the presumption of innocence, the Hammurabi law code had strength in that it considered evidence an important part of judgment. This is evident in many of the laws one of which is the tenth law that states, If the purchaser does not bring the merchant and the witnesses before whom he bought the article, but its owner bring witnesses who identify it, then the buyer is the thief and shall be put to death, and the owner receives the lost article. (fordham.edu par. 65). The Hammurabi law code characteristically is associated with harsh punishments for those found at fault. In many cases, the death penalty is applied for crimes that would otherwise be punished through less punitive measures. For example, the 11th law dictates that failure to bring a witness when one is claiming for an article is punishable by death. To a great extent, the code was based on the notion of an eye for an eye. In several instants, the law demands payments or retribution in compensation for actions committed by a person against another. One example of this is the 200th law that states, â€Å"If a

Ethiopia and Eritrea Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

Ethiopia and Eritrea - Research Paper Example After about four decades of enjoyment of its sovereign right, Ethiopia is once more on the verge of permanently becoming a landlocked country. The present governing body of Ethiopia has approved and signed the Algiers Agreement that might make their nation landlocked (Healy & Plaut, 2007). If the opposition, triumphs in the next election or any election afterward, it might officially condemn the Algiers Agreement and insist on a new arrangement that identifies the right of accessing the sea. It is deemed accessing the sea is one of the burning topics that contributed to the achievement of the opposition and the decreasing support of the government in the last election. In this thesis, this paper will argue that Ethiopia has a legal right of accessing the sea as accepted by the regulations of the UN General Assembly of 1950, which was executed accordingly by merging Eritrea to Ethiopia. This paper recognizes the right of self-government along with the independence of the Eritrean citizens. Even though, it recognizes the independence of Eritrea, it also recognizes the sovereign right of accessing the sea by Ethiopia. The legal system that governs the territorial disagreements between Eritrea and Ethiopia is the treaty between UN and Ethiopia. The treaty was also referred to as the agreement between Ethiopia and the Victorious Four Powers of World War II in line with Eritrea, which was merged to Ethiopia, in 1952. The citizens of Eritrea fought for their fate and have become sovereign. Their desires have been accomplished by the blood that they paid during the fight for their independence (Healy & Plaut, 2007). The treaty of the Four Powers and Ethiopia is about the deliberation of the security of East Africa and the rightful need of Ethiopia to access the sea. In reality, the main purpose and objective of the treaty is the right of Ethiopia to access the sea. However, the people who appear to benefit mainly from the treaty are the Eritreans. The basis of any agreement that is meant to resolve the territorial disagreements between Eritrea and Ethiopia should adapt the recommendation of the United Nations General Assembly of 1950, as well as the international law, which gives Ethiopia the right to access the sea. Background The Horn of Africa, which comprises of Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti and Somalia, is approximately three-quarters of a million square miles in the northeast of Africa (Interna tional Group Crisis, 2003). The region borders hundreds of kilometers of the Arabian Sea. It also lies along the southern border of the Gulf of Aden. Ethiopia stands at the center of the Horn of Africa. The country is bordered by Eritrea 912 km, Djibouti 349 km, Somalia 1600 km and Kenya 861 km, as well as Sudan 1606 km. The country shares diverse cultural groups with its neighbors (International Group Crisis, 2003). There is a wide range of ethnic groups living in Ethiopia, Kenya and Sudan. The

Portfolios To Assess Professional Competence And Development Nursing Essay

Portfolios To Assess Professional Competence And Development Nursing Essay Portfolios have been recommended for the assessment of professional development. To stimulate engagement and assess professional development during laboratory training, portfolio assessment was proposed for the final year BMLS and DMLT programmes in Kampala International University. Work Done The students undergoing clinical laboratory training in teaching hospitals, and engaged in routine laboratory services under supervision of qualified Medical Laboratory Scientists, composed a portfolio detailing their daily experiences, work done, and lessons learned. Their supervisors and facilitators provided daily feedback and endorsed their entries. The portfolios were examined at the end of training by faculty staff and external examiner through oral presentation and interviews. Rating rubric considered quality of presentation, portfolio content, demonstration of progressive development, and ability to make professional judgment. Students and assessors acceptance of this instrument was determined with questionnaire. Results 72 % of the students and assessors accepted the method. Many students reported that it improved commitment to training, encouraged reflection, and allowed for frequent feedback. Many believed that it was a rational assessment, but it was time consuming. 88 % of the participants would welcome it as a supplement to the standard tests. Conclusions The portfolio assessment was well accepted, rational, and provided a valid assessment of student engagement and progression during professional training. Take Home Message The inclusion of portfolio assessment in Medical Laboratory Sciences Education provided valid assessment of students engagement in training and professional development over time. Introduction The use of portfolios in health professions education has increased dramatically over the years. The enthusiastic acceptance of this principle is in part born out of the ever growing interest in outcomes based education in all divisions of health science.1 The curricula of most health sciences schools now emphasize authentic experiences, promote self direction and reflection in learning, and outcomes based assessment. Portfolios not only stimulate professional development and reflective learning, they also provide opportunity for self direction, and avenues for feedback from faculty.2, 3 Portfolios have been recommended for the assessment of professional development in medical education,4 and several reports document their successful use in assessment of competence at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.5,6 To stimulate engagement and to assess professional development during clinical laboratory training, portfolio development and assessment was proposed for the final year Bac helor of Medical Laboratory Sciences and the Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology students of the Kampala International University, Uganda in 2008. This article reports the experience of the use of portfolios to assess professional development in these programmes. Methods Institutional approval for the study was obtained from the IREC. Eighteen final year students who were undergoing clinical laboratory training in the teaching hospitals at the Kampala International University Teaching Hospital Ishaka and the Mulago Hospital in Kampala and participating in routine daily laboratory work were requested to compose and maintain a portfolio comprising details of their daily experiences, work done and lessons learnt during their training. Their supervisors and programme facilitators provided daily feedback on their work and endorsed all entries. At the end of their clinical laboratory training, the portfolios were examined by the four faculty staff and an external examiner. The students were also required to make a 15 minutes presentation based on the portfolio content, and take interview on lessons learned and overall impact of the training on their development. A rating rubric used for the assessment considered the quality of students presentation, portfo lio content, demonstration of students progressive development over time, and their ability to make professional judgment. Questionnaires were used to determine the students and raters views on the acceptability, convenience, and usefulness of this method of assessment. The data were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. Table 1: Rubric for the assessment of the students portfolios Standard met Standard not met 1 Presentation was complete in 15 minutes 2 Quality of presentation 3 Student showed progressive development over time 4 Student reflected on experiences and could make good professional judgment 5 Portfolio content was adequate 6 Overall assessment Pass Fail General comments: Results The result showed that seventy two per cent (72 %) of the students and assessors accepted the method as a valid and effective means of assessing professional competence. Many students (15 of the 18) reported that it improved their commitment to the laboratory training, and encouraged them to reflect on their daily experiences. Both faculty and students reported that it allowed for frequent feedback and more engagement in the programme. Many believed that it was a rational assessment as it captured development over time, but it was time consuming and quite tasking on both students and staff. Eighty eight per cent (88 %) were of the view that it should be a supplement and not a substitute for the standard written and practical tests. Discussion The evolution of portfolio as a tool for the assessment of professional competence and development offers several advantages over the traditional standard tests which to a large extent are reductionist and do not capture progression over time. Application of portfolio assessment in Medical Laboratory Sciences education is not widespread and only few reports are available in literature.7 This study demonstrated that portfolio development and assessment is well accepted by both staff and students in the medical laboratory sciences programme of the Kampala International University. An important aspect of medical education is the matching of assessment methods with learning mode, as assessment drives learning. Portfolio assessment aligns well with competency based education whose tenets include learner centeredness, formative feedback, developmental process, reflection, and multiple types and sources of assessment.3 This study demonstrated this clearly as it promoted student /staff engag ement in the clinical laboratory training programme, students ownership of their training, and reflective learning which are some of the advantages highlighted by similar previous reports of the use of portfolio in other programmes.8, 9 The study also showed that many of the study participants would not welcome this form of assessment as the only mode of student assessment. Rather it would be a valuable addition to the traditional methods of assessment of competence. The limitations of this study include the small sample size used for the study. It is recommended that a larger sample of students be included in a more elaborate study possibly over a longer study period. To ease the burden of assessment, using structured interview to assess the portfolio as recommended by Burch and Seggie 10 could be helpful. Conclusion: The use of portfolios to assess students progress and professional competence in Medical Laboratory Sciences is a welcome proposition. It should be used to supplement the standard written and practical tests. Its advantages include stimulation of student engagement, self direction, reflective learning, and monitoring of progress over time. It is however seen to be time consuming for the students. Its introduction extends the methods of assessment in Medical Laboratory Sciences.

Leadership and Management in Nursing Essay

Nursing is a very demanding and dedicated profession and the current shortage is a serious problem at all levels of nursing and is the dearth of leaders among nurses. Leadership and management are essential skills for all qualified healthcare professionals and have a pivotal role in ensuring a delivery of high standards of care. Developing future nurse leaders is one of the greatest challenges faced by the nursing profession, (Mahoney, 2001). The author is currently working as a midwife in one of the big hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The average deliveries per month are 500-600. There are 22 midwives in this unit and there are eight vacant posts for midwives . Due to the shortage of midwives, these professional staffs are subjected to personal and work related stress. Preston et, al. (1981) defined stress as an adaptive response, mediated by individual characteristics or psychological processes. The negative effects of stress could be evident in staff absenteeism, hostility, and aggression. This will impair the provision of quality care and the effective functioning of the organization. (Healy & McKay, 1999). The adverse effect of workload and stress in the author’s placement has lead to an alarming high staff turnover. Apparently, the increased workload has affected the staff performances and the quality of nursing care. When the staff feel that they are not cared for, then they find it difficult to care for patients ( Atwater & Bass 1994, Lancaster 1999). In this assignment, the author will explore the various leadership styles and their theories and also distinguish the functions between leadership and management. The author will also critically explore the manager’s leadership practice in labor and delivery suite, thus creating a culture of reducing stress. The link of leadership style from the aspect of work, environment, communication, empowerment, delegation, implications, conclusion and recommendations will be discussed further. Leaders are not someone who holds top position but also able to give assistance to others, (Mahoney, 2001). Whereas in my placement, the head nurse, who is the leader, never gives a helping hand during the deliveries. She anticipates the midwives to conduct and manage the deliveries, even though there’s shortage of staff. The nurse manager has to prepare the correct number of staff on each shift with the credentials to do the job and must be aware of the policies regarding overtime, floating from one unit to another. She must form a competent team and manage them to carry out the plan for reaching the goal of excellent patient care. Effective leaders are not merely someone who is skillful but they must acquire good attitudes, (Cook, 2001). The nurse manager must understand the factors surrounding the current situation in the unit and have the knowledge of various approaches to leadership that will help to understand and determine the best leadership approach to create a positive work environment to reduce stress. Leadership is defined as the ability to influence, inspire and motivate a group of people towards the achievement of its goal, (Yuki, 2002). Management is a process of getting things done effectively through planning and organization of services which is one of the basic function of management whereas the leader is an intermediary between work group and the top management, (Marquis and Huston, 2006). The manager uses a formal and rational method whilst the leader uses passions and stirs emotions. Without enabling and empowering nursing leadership, efforts to improve the quality and safety of healthcare will be limited and short-lived, as said by Kelly (2008). For a leader to achieve the goal, she must have the three essential things which are power, authority and influence to act in a way that will stimulate a positive respond from the staff (Tomey, 2009). Leaders will emerge when nurses feel valued and inspired to strive for excellence. They aim to improve patient care via a cohesive work force by focusing on interpersonal relationships between leaders and subordinates, (Malby 1997). A nursing leader should have a distinctive set of personal qualities, integrity, courage, initiative, ability to handle stress, think critically, able to resolve problems without conflicts, skillful communication and must be empathetic. They are not those who control others but they act as visionaries who help staff to plan, lead, control and organize their activities, (Jooste,2004). There are many types of leadership. Autocratic type of leaders are those who make all decisions and expect others to follow without questioning and never seek advice from others, (Sullivan & Decker 2005). This situation had made some of the midwives to leave for greener pastures. The current health system has advanced in technology and improved in care giving services (Cook, 2001). The author feels that this leadership style is no longer tenable and fits into the contemporary nursing practice and a consumer responsive culture. Democratic leaders encourage the participant of staff and use a consensus for decision making, (Sullivan & Decker 2005) whereas bureaucratic leadership occurs when a leader rigidly adheres to rules, regulations and policies of the organization, (Jenkins and Henderson, 1984). Instead of providing sufficient support and consideration, my nurse manager demonstrates these leadership qualities because she uses rules and policies thus expecting strict compliance from the midwives. . By following the organizational hierarchy’s influence, she puts herself in a high position but never use her power constructively (Masquis & Huston, 2006). Due to top management instructions, she adheres to the current policies, making no changes in them but gives verbal instruction and changing policies to her likes and dislikes. This swifts away trust and open communications between the manager and the midwives. Due to unvented stress and high expectations from the nurse manager, the midwives burnout level have been exacerbated . Burnout is a syndrome of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and lack of personal accomplishment, as said by Maslach &Jackson (1981). Reports have proved that in this kind of environment, patient’s safety is at risk (Institute of Medicine, 2004). Participative leadership allows staff to participate in decision making and actively seek out the participation of those involved. This type of leadership allows staff to feel more committed to the goals they were involved (Faugier & Woolnough, 2002). The author feels that the head nurse should have these qualities so that the unit will run smoothly, and the staff will be appreciated and acknowledged so that good nursing care can be rendered. Transformational leadership is especially well suited for today’s fast changing healthcare environment where adaptation is extremely important (Welford,2002). It starts with the development of a vision that will excite and convert potential followers, (Outhwaite, 2003). To achieve organizational success, this style advocates for strong leadership qualities and these leaders use motivation in their approach than use rewards and punishment as said by Kouzes & Posner (2002). In the author’s point of view, this leadership is proposed as empowering leadership style which well suits in my unit and to be recognized by the nurse manager. According to Bowles & Bowels (2002), transformational leaders create a leadership culture for all team members nurturing empowerment, increase their autonomy and open communication for inclusive decision making. The nurse manager takes responsibilities for discussing care related matters with the midwives which makes them to be motivated and work more effectively to contribute to the development and provision of the unit, (Murphy. 2005). The ability of the leader to articulate a shared vision is an important aspect of transformational leadership (Faugier & Woolnough, 2002). Another leadership style is transactional leadership which focuses on providing day to day care between leaders and their employee. It aims to maintain equilibrium and harmony by using incentives to enhance staff loyalty and performance (Bass and Riggio, 2006). Laissez faire leadership is another style that leaves the staff alone to work with no directions or facilitations and is a highly risky form of leadership, (Sullivan & Decker 2005). Since the author’s placement is labor and delivery, it’s not advisable to have this kind of leader in this unit as it will increase the mortality rate. The high level of burnout and increased workload due to shortage of midwives and less rest days has resulted them to leave. This disequilibrium may trigger the risk of physical and mental health of these midwives. The manager has depleted the nurses basic psychological needs which are rest and sleep and at the same time reducing their self- esteem, as said in Maslow’s theory of human motivation. The leader should explore barriers and identify conflicts when they arise and collaborate with the team and be able to understand the employee’s perspective (Outhwaite,2003). A more effective form of leadership maybe situational leadership where the leader switches the style depending upon the situation at hand and upon the competence of the staff, (Faugier & Woolnough, 2002). The nurse manager must be good clinician and have judgment skills to handle any problem that cannot be handled by the staff. By doing so, the staff will listen to her as she guides them. Communication also plays a vital role as this can prevent conflict and smoothes the progress of team building in the unit Calpin-Davies, (2000). A good communicator gives the staff detailed instructions to perform tasks that are necessary to reach the goal. The nurse manager uses a communication book to provide important information to all the staff in the unit, as supported by Sullivan & Decker (2005). By reading and acknowledging with a signature, she assures the message has been reached effectively. As a leader, the nurse manager has to be a good listener. It provides the opportunity to receive valuable feedback that is used to avert some problems and resolve others and also giving greater understanding of the issues being discussed. When there are incidences in the unit, the nurse manager gives a listening ear to the staff and tries to solve the problems. She puts aside preconceived ideas or prejudices when listening to staff. Being a leader, the nurse manager delegates some of the tasks to the staff to focus on more complex aspects of running the unit. She delegates the right task to the right person, for example sending and collecting of narcotics by the midwife as these drugs used are cautioned in Saudi Arabia. A good leader fosters a congenial work environment by coaching, praising and training the staff to perform an excellent job and also by conducting continuous nursing education. Supervision goes in the observation of staff and to evaluate in the yearly performance appraisal. The author would recommend that the nurse manager in this unit has to change her leadership style to She should resources for proper quality care Conclusion Today, healthcare environment requires leaders to be skillful and knowledgeable and have strong inspirational leadership qualities across the health care organization. In this millennium, nursing must make a dedicated effort to nurture its young nurses to grow into effective and motivating leaders.