Investigation of UK Supermarkets

Introduction A supermarket is a large self service retail outlet that deals with the sale of groceries. However, this definition is just a general overview. This is for the reason that modern supermarkets include a huge ultramodern building that provides packaging services to their shoppers. Currently, supermarkets are not only restricted to selling groceries. Many large supermarkets also sell other products, such as, electronics, clothing, and furniture. A more advanced version of supermarkets is the hypermarkets.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Investigation of UK Supermarkets specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More There are so many supermarkets in the United Kingdom today. Their emergence and rapid growth was experienced during the period between the First World War and the Second World War. There are many factors that influenced their growth in the United Kingdom’s supermarkets. These factors include the fa vourable legislature and a preference of consumers that acted in favour of their growth. The legislatures have passed through a series of adjustments to respond to the consumer needs. One of the main aims of these regulations was to support the growth of larger self-service retail outlets while at the same time ensuring that the small retail counter-service stores retain their role in the newly structured retail market. However, these legislatures have not been quite effective in some of their policies for the reason that despite their enforcement, the growth of large self-service retail stores has continued to strangle the smaller retail outlets from the retail market. T hus, Britain’s high streets have continued to be dominated with large faceless retail stores making the small retail stores to diminish in the market. It is quiet correct to say that the UK supermarkets have continued to dominate the grocery market and are very powerful in the way that they run their busines ses, and the number of local convenience stores has also continued to decline. The Retail Landscape Of 1955 The modern debates about the retail outlets are mainly influenced by the past retail landscape. The recent research done by the ‘Clone Town Britain Survey’ has been able to reveal that during the 1950s, the retail spaces were filled with a prosperous complex of independent small retail outlets such as butchers, food chains, greengrocers, stationery shops, and news paper agents. Currently, these spaces have been taken up by large supermarket retailers that are rapidly killing the small shops (Maxwell Slater 2004). In the late twentieth century there has been a rigorous retail change in British cities. This change includes the transformation from British high streets that had independent shops together with those shops owned by multiple co-operative retail organizations into the contemporary British high streets that have ultra modern superstores. It was during the late twentieth century that the counter-service groceries began to seriously compete with the modern self service retail outlets currently known as supermarkets.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More According to the available records, supermarkets were heralded by multiple chains owned by co-operative retail organizations. The economic implications of the co-operative retailing modelling were that it led to the growth of the business thereby causing its expansion in the retail landscape. In the period between the first and the second world wars, the companies that had multiple grocery shops experienced a booming business due to the increased purchasing power of the employed citizens. The increased presence of cheap food also contributed to the booming business experienced by the multiple chains during this period. One thing worth noting is that the small shops owned by independ ent retailers in the mid twentieth century were not necessarily synonymous with the size as described. This is because some of the retailers had large shops that would, sometimes, be the most significant store in a particular locality. The idea of the supermarkets experienced its rapid assimilation in the United States of America during the early twentieth century. However, when it was introduced in Britain, it came less rapidly with the first supermarket being operated by the co-operative movement as a self service food experiment. This was during the period when the Second World War was just ending (that was during the mid 1940s). Very few grocers emulated the trend thereby contributing to the slow process of the growth of self service outlets. It is therefore estimated that in the year 1947, there were a mere 10 supermarkets in the whole of the United Kingdom. There are many reasons why the growth of self service stores was slow in Britain. Notable among them was the amount of re sources needed to convert counter-service outlets into self-service retail outlets. A lot of building materials and human resource in the construction industry was required. It should be noted that both of these requirements were short in supply. For that reason, very few companies were able to afford to convert their stores. The second reason was because the shops were limited by their sizes. Some of the shops were so small thereby could not be converted into larger supermarkets. The only option the retail owners were left with was to begin building from the scratch. Otherwise, their conversion would only result into small scale self-service stores, not big enough to be called supermarkets. There were some large-scale multiple stores that had embraced this change but due to doubts, they did not expect successful results. Many studies had been done and the most notable conclusion of the analysis was that since the majority of Britons had been accustomed to small scale counter-servic e, it would not be feasible to imagine them wondering along the aisles of the self service stores in search for goods.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Investigation of UK Supermarkets specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It was until the mid twentieth century that the self-service stores gained momentum in growth. The main effects of this rapid growth were positively imparting. Many supermarkets developed as a result of these factors coupled with the government’s promotion of self-service retail stores. In addition, some elements of the retail grocery counter-service stores were also keen in developing self-service stores. As a result, Britain managed to open a total of fifty supermarkets by the year 1950. The trends continued and by the year 1961 the number of supermarkets had risen to 572. Reports indicate that in the year 1969, there were already 3,400 supermarkets in the whole of Britain. Legal Framework and Economic Structures That Have Enabled the Domination of Supermarkets in the United Kingdom The legal framework in the United Kingdom is one that allows free market capitalism. Thus, the U.K. supermarkets are free to follow the principles of supply and demand. This means that they do provide the goods that the customers want while at the same time free to set the prices of the same goods. This liberty is provided for by the UK’s legal framework and hence it is legitimate for them to lay down prices as per their requirements. Hence, they also have bargaining power whereby they can pay their suppliers according to what they want. The level playing field brought about by the legal framework of the United Kingdom also ensures that there is healthy competition. However, the discrepancies caused by this legal framework have not been supportive enough to the small businesses. Small retailers have therefore been squeezed by the larger self-service businesses thereby causing them to have less for them to buy since they have weaker purchasing power. This mechanism works in such a way that the supermarkets enter into a contract with major suppliers in which their agreements bind the suppliers not to supply anyone else with the goods. The effect of this legal framework also affects the small shops in such a way that the preference of most consumers in buying many goods under one roof reduces the viability of the small shops. The Role of Large Growing Supermarkets to Consumers Policy makers have been involved in enacting legislation that aim at tightening regulations of supermarket retailing. This has been capacitated through competition legislation coupled with town planning. The rapid growth of large supermarkets has been viewed in a different perception by the communities. There has been a lot of debate on the effects of the rapid growth of large supermarkets. Many people have perceived this growth as a factor that has led to the decay of major business stree ts in the cities. Many investigations have been launched to look into the issue of building large out-of-town supermarkets and their contribution to the decay of high streets. A good example of such investigations is the 2005 study done by the ‘Clone Town Britain Survey’ (Hamlett et al Not Dated).Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The report of this study criticized contemporary British retail industry on many issues. The bone of contention is that the modern UK retail outlets have dominated Britain’s high streets in many towns. The effect of the domination is that the faceless chains have led to the reduction in the amount of choices available to consumers. The effects of reduction in small retail shops and the increase in large supermarkets were also analyzed by ‘The High Street Britain 2015† report. The report that was done by the House of Commons Select Committee argued that the extinction of the small shops by the growth of large supermarket chains will adversely affect consumer choice. This will happen if the government doesn’t take necessary measures to avert the process. The act of enacting necessary legislature to regulate and bring a state of equilibrium between growing supermarket chains and diminishing small retail outlets is therefore left in the hands of policy makers. This situation holds because the retail business in Britain has passed through tremendous changes from counter service-shops to large retail outlets that allow for self service. It is worth noting that consumers in Britain have been rapidly embracing self service methods of shopping over the past 20 years. The issue of consumer choice also form the central pivot on which the contemporary debates hinge. Consumer choice is perceived as a moving force to a healthy competition and also it indicates the basic civil rights. It is thus perceived that the diminishing of the small retail outlets will have a catastrophic impact on the aspect of consumer choice in the future. A careful analysis indicates that the party that will be affected negatively is the consumer. To exemplify this, there will be limited brands to chose from, limited choice of available items, limited choice of places to shop, increased prices of available products and a reduction in the quality and availability of custome r care services. According to ‘The High Street Britain 2015’ survey, the consumers are unlikely to benefit from a competitive market in the future. This is because the current competition is not stable and therefore may not be sustained in the long run. Similar researches have also highlighted the importance of consumption in relation to social aspects (Hamlett et al Not Dated). It is thus imperative for policy makers to consider exploring the benefit of the history of self-service retail stores to post war Britain. Benefits of Modern Technological Input in Supermarkets to Consumers Modern technologies have been employed in supermarkets to improve efficiency and quality of services. One of the most notable is a loyalty card. This is a card made of plastic or paper issued by particular organizations, be it business or social organizations or otherwise, to identify the holder as having a legitimacy of membership to a loyalty program. It is usually similar to a debit card or a credit card although this is only on the physical visualization. Its name varies from country to country. Loyalty cards are employed by consumers as a show of their identification (as loyal clients) in a given supermarket; this will assure the shopper of a discount on the existing purchase or an incentive of points that can be used to pay for goods in the future after accumulating to specified levels. The other benefit of loyalty cards is that it assures the customers that they will get great services of high quality. This is because the business organization knows that the loyal customers holding the loyalty cards will give them good business. Customers receive discounts from the products they purchase and can also purchase the goods by redeeming the points (Dahlen, Lange Smith 2010). Protection of Consumers by the Law The competitive free market allows for the consumer to respond to a disappointing purchase by switching to another supplier. In such an environment, the law do es not have a role to play. Currently, most contracts protect the consumer expectation arising through bargaining process (Howells and Weatherill 2005). The law gives a provision that acts to ensure that consumer preference is securely enforced. In the United Kingdom, the law that seeks to protect consumers usually operates beyond the realm of obligations agreed between the producer and consumer. The individual consumer’s legal rights offer a more first hand protection of their demands than the more indirect and greatly oblique sanction of commercial failure caused by withdrawal of custom. Failure to conform to the contract between the consumer and the retailer will result in legal liability. This protects the consumer and sharpens the message to the producer about the need to use resources in an efficient manner. In addition, there is also the private law that gives the consumer autonomy to act in the belief that they hold rights protected by law that can be asserted without the need to rely on an intermediary. The current market practice relies on the assumption that private economic relations involve the possibility of receiving some kind of support from the government. The support is believed to come in form of provision for enforcement of private law rights. It should be noted that the consumer/supplier relationship under the current private law assimilates more than a simple agreement. Both the courts and the parliament have extended the legal implications of the consumer/supplier relationships, and over the last twenty years this trend has been promoted and underpinned by legislative activity in the country (Howells and Weatherill 2005). Ways of Improving Competition between Supermarkets There are a number of ways that can be used to improve competition in the supermarket grocery stores. Many methods relate to the mechanics of inflow and outflow of products sold in these grocery stores. Among the methods includes the maintenance of optimal produc t availability. Recent studies have indicated that 8.2 percent of a grocery retailer’s items are out of stock on a typical afternoon. Frequent stock outs and restricted variety of products are among the major factors that cause consumer dissatisfaction among supermarket shoppers (Matsa 2009). Therefore, supermarkets should enhance product availability so that healthy competition is ensured. This will also enhance the consumer’s future shopping behaviour. The structure of retail competition is correlated with the quality of supermarkets. Stores that face healthy competition usually have higher rates of stock outs than other stores. It is worth noting that an increase in prices of commodity increases the quality and availability of products on supermarket shelves. This is because the increased prices act as an incentive to improve on the quality and quantity as well. Other methods of competition include developing new products, improving existing products, changing their prices, developing new packaging and design, improving customer service and building up a new reputation (Seliet 2000). Supermarkets ought to be responsive to personal needs, customer attitudes, tastes and preferences, economic conditions, the climate, supplier attitudes, the prevailing legislature, fashion and technology. These factors will aid in the development of new products thus bringing into the market an unrestricted variety of products. Thus, a healthy competition will be enhanced. Customer services should also be improved such that retail outlets ensure that the customer is satisfied with their products. Changing the prices of commodities can make a retail outlet win a massive share of the market by attracting more customers which results in making of more profits thereby competing with rival businesses (Seliet 2000). Conclusion In conclusion, supermarkets in the United Kingdom rapidly developed during the period between the two wars. This is because the idea of large sel f-service retail stores developed less rapidly in the United Kingdom than in the United States. It was only until the 1950s that the smaller counter service stores found themselves competing with the larger self service stores. The government of Britain recognized the importance of supermarkets in economic development and thus, began to enact legislature in support of their growth. Although these laws have been moderated in favour of the consumers, the self-service retail outlets and the small scale retail services, the small scale retail outlets have continued to diminish from the British markets especially along Britain’s high streets. Reference List Dahlen, M., Lange, F., Smith, T., 2010. Marketing Communications: A Brand Narrative Approach. West Sussex, John Wiley Sons Ltd. Hamlett, J. et al., Not Dated. Regulating UK Supermarkets: An Oral-History Perspective. [Online] Available at:  http://www.historyandpolicy.org/policy-papers/papers/regulating-uk-supermarkets-an-or al-history-perspective . Howells, G., Weatherill, S., 2005. Consumer Protection Law. Ed. 2. Burlington, USA, Ashgate Publishing Company. Matsa, D., 2009. Competition and Product Quality in the Supermarket Industry. Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management. Maxwell, S., Slater, R., 2004. Food Policy: Old and New. Oxford United Kingdom, Blackwell Publishing. Seliet, H., 2000. Foundation Business. Oxford, Heinemann Education Publishers. This report on Investigation of UK Supermarkets was written and submitted by user Maxton Alexander to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Egyptian Architecture essays

Egyptian Architecture essays My project is on Acient Egytian Pyramids. Pyramids were meant to be monuments to the pharaoh's greatness.The ancient Egyptians built pyramids as tombs for the pharaohs and their queens .The pharaohs were buried in pyramids of many different shapes and sizes from before the beginning of the old kingdom to the end of the middle kingdom. Pyramids did not stand alone but were part of a group of buildings which included temples, chapels, other tombs, and massive walls.There are about eighty pyramids known today from ancient Egypt. The three largest and best preserved of these were built at the beginning of the Old Kingdom. Architecture of the First Dynasty evolved from simple structures of wood, reeds and mud, to larger, more complicated buildings of brick and later of stone. During the First Dynasty, the traditions of wood structures had a strong influence on the later buildings constructed of brick and stone. Mat and reed textures are imitated on many stone walls giving a distinctly Egyptian character to the architecture. The earliest form of pyramids are the step pyramids. Step pyramids are several mastabas stacked on top of one another. Mastabas are are flat tombs that had a hidden tomb deep inside. The first step pyramid was bulit for King Djoser in Saggara. The most well known pyramids was built for the pharaoh Khufu. It is known as the 'Great Pyramid'. The Great Pyramid took 20 years to make and is one the greater wonders of the world. Some people think this pyramid wasnt made for a tomb but as a absorvatory. The second largest known pyramid in Egypt is The pyramid of Khafre. Its 10 feet shorter than the Great Pyramid. You can still see parts of its original casing at the top of the structure. After the completion of the building of the Great Pyramid, King Khafre had to make somthing to live up to his fathers Great Pyramid. Khafre wanted to build his pyramid on higher ground giving the illusion ...

Monetary Policy in 2007 Recession Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Monetary Policy in 2007 Recession - Essay Example Notably, the monetary policy influenced the cost of credit and circulation of money. The heightened control of the availability of money promoted a healthy economy amidst the terrible crisis that threatened to reverse the gains the United States had achieved. The Federal Reserve Bank employed vibrant measures of boosting the economy by lowering the interest rates and skillfully controlling the amount of the bank reserves and offsetting the monetary shocks including the financial panic (Blinder & Zandi, 2010). In this respect, the monetary policy averted the economic collapse in the United States amidst panics over the solvency of numerous financial institutions. The Federal Bank adopted a comprehensive action plan that encompassed the lowering of the interest rates. The zero-rating of the interest coupled the decrease in the rates. The bank bought the Treasury bonds, as well as other securities in order to cut the long-term interest rates. In concerted efforts with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation that increased the deposit insurance limits, the Federal Bank spearheaded the actions of putting downward pressure on the long-term interest rates (Blinder & Zandi, 2010). The action was instrumental in facilitating the households and businesses to borrow funds. In this respect, the Federal Bank made the money available for the citizens and businesses to acquire during the severe 2007 economic downturn. In essence, the adoption of the monetary policy spurred aggregate demand and the revitalized real economic activities. Arguably, the policy cushioned the US economy from plunging into unprecedented inflation. The significant tightening of t he monetary policy by the Federal Reserve influenced faster economic recovery during the 2007 financial crisis (Carvalho, Eusepi, & Grisse, 2012). The policy shaped the aggregate demand in the United States.     

Comparing and contrasting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

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Sign Language for Babies Essay Example for Free

Sign Language for Babies Essay Babies being unable to communicate with their care givers has taken a toll on the babies and the care giver both. When babies cannot communicate with their care giver they cry. Crying and being fussy is a babies way of getting attention and trying to get them what they want. As well as teaching babies to sign at a young age, teachers have started using sign language in the classroom. Teachers have said that the sign language in the class rooms have made their children more active in the class room and want to participate in class (Kilburn). Babies can understand words long before they can speak. Their motor skills develop much more rapid than their vocal skills. They may not have fine motor skills but it does not take fine motor skills to sign. Babies have the ability to learn sign language just as soon as they start to be able to wave hello or goodbye. People state the argument that babies are not smart enough, but that is not true. Babies are very intelligent and don’t just copy the signs, they actually understand the signs. At around 5 months babies start to be able to wave hello and goodbye. That is the moment when you know that they are ready to start their signing. You shouldn’t push all the signs on to a baby at one moment but slowly introduce new signs. It will also be easier if you do signs that don’t require a lot of fine motor skills. Milk would be a good example of a sign that does not take fine motor skills. The sign for milk is taking your hand and squeezing it together just like you were milking a cow. When you introduce the sign to the baby you need to say it, do the sign, and then give it a meaning by possibly giving the baby some milk. Another good example of a non fine motor skill would be eat. The sign for eat is bringing your four fingers to your thumb and hen taking your hand to your mouth. Some people argue that a baby is not smart enough to learn the signs. That  the baby is only doing the motions to get what they want. And maybe that is what they are doing in the beginning, but after doing it so many times the baby starts to comprehend what they are doing and why they are doing it. It is just like learning any new language no matter what age. This new finding may be related to other fads, such as letting your babies listen to classical music, or watching waves to keep them calm. Unlike the fads that I just mentioned, sign language has been scientifically proven to work. Other than teaching it to babies, sign language can also help elementary and higher students in school. Studies show that teachers who use sign language in their classroom, students tend to have a more advanced vocabulary. The students do not just use the words because they have to, but they also comprehend the words better. Sign language can be a help tool when learning the new vocabulary words. When saying the word, spelling it, and giving it a motion; such as finger spelling, the word tends to stick with the student better, faster, and longer. Besides the fact that it can help children with their vocabulary, it can also help children who don’t like school become more involved. The children will want to become more involved because it can add a little bit of fun in the class room. It adds fun in the class room by allowing kids to show what they know and move around a little bit while they do it. Kids always hate just sitting in those uncomfortable chairs for hours on ends, but even if it is just their hands, they are still moving. Another way to use the sign language in the class room is for when children have to use the restroom. When a child raises their hand and asks to use the bathroom and the teacher responds with a yes, all other students see the opportunity and also want to try to get out of class to â€Å"use† the restroom. Instead of having students asking out loud for permission to go to the restroom, you have the child come up to you and do the sign for restroom (White). The sign for restroom is very simple, take your index finger and cross it with your middle finger and give your hand a little shake. Besides  the fact that it keeps all the children to ask to the restroom at once, it also keep the whole bathroom thing a little more private like it is supposed to be. As you can see, there are very many benefits to teaching babies as well as young kids sign language. It can do many things to help the child and the people around the child. It isn’t a hard thing to teach the child as long as you are diligent with what you do. That means you need to introduce the rights amount words at the right time, you cant just pile a whole bunch of words onto a new child and expect them to pick it up and know it all at once. Works Cited Barnes, Susan K. Sign Language With Babies: What Difference Does It Make? Dimensions of Early Childhood. Vol. 38. N.p.: n.p., n.d. 21-30. Print. Kilburn, Mrs. Using Sign Language in the Classroom. Web log post. Mrs Kilburns Kiddos. N.p., 17 Aug. 2009. Web. 29 Nov. 2012. http://mrskilburnkiddos.w ordpress.com/2009/08/17/using-sign-language-in-the-classroom/. Kirk, Arie. The Herald Journal. HJNews.com. N.p., 16 Mar. 2010. Web. 29 Nov. 2012. . Savory, Eve. CBC News. Sign Language for Babies. Prod. Corrine Seminoff. CBC. 10 Mar. 2004. CBCnews. CBC/Radio Canada, 10 Mar. 2004. Web. 29 Nov. 2012. . Transcript. White, K. R., and J. Grewe. Evidence for Website Claims about the Benefits of Teaching Sign Language to Infants and Toddlers with Normal Hearing. Infant Child Development. By L. H. Nelson. 5th ed. Vol. 21. N.p.: n.p., 2012. 474-502. Print.

Creating a Strong and Unified America :: Exploratory Essays Research Papers

Creating a Strong and Unified America Motoring down the roadway, I take in blurs of red, white, and blue, whizzing past my scope of vision. I am referring to, of course, the vast number of American flags attached to the cars of local residents and residents throughout the nation. This sudden splurge of patriotism can be attributed to the war, but that is not to say that patriotism has not existed before this war—it has also existed during the course of every American war, along with the cries of anti-war protestors. But does patriotism stand as strong during times of peace? One of the many duties of citizens is to love the nation they are born into because a nation depends on individuals who understand what it means to be a citizen. To begin understanding citizenship, we must first have an idea of America’s past. In David McCullough’s essay â€Å"Why History?† he writes, â€Å"The Department of Education reported that more than half of all high school seniors hadn’t even the slightest basic understanding of American History†(88). We must know our history to know where we came from, and according to a speech by Alan Kors, professor of history at the University of Pennsylvania, it is important for us to understand mistakes made by our nation in the past so as to not â€Å"†¦lose sight of human moral weakness†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (9). The moral weaknesses Kors references are anti-Semitism, racial discrimination, corruption of power, and, of course, slavery. Kors explains that we should not look down at our nation for the existence of these flaws, but rather look at how they have been for the most part abolished. America welcomes Jews; racial injustices were addre ssed in the 14th and 15th Amendments. Slavery, which is â€Å"the most universal of all human institutions,†(Kors 9) was dubbed as an immoral practice by American â€Å"†¦values and agency†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (Kors 9) and was abolished. A nation cannot exist without citizens who understand the morals and values by which it was established and also what responsibilities they must live up to. In an essay by Peter Gomes, he quotes the American judge at the Nuremberg Trials as saying, â€Å"†¦it is the function of the citizen to keep the government from falling into error†(Jackson qtd.

Dignity in Care Essay

Definition of dignity; the quality or state of being worthy of esteem or respect.(the free dictionary 2011).This definition seems short, however the concept of dignity is more profound, the nurse should use her inner tool thus being feelings , empathy, compassion and use these productively.(Haddock 1996). The reasonable expectation that an older person , may have of dignified, nursing ,care in clean surroundings in hospital is not being fulfilled in some cases This essay will discuss the concepts of dignity, and discuss the importance of dignity in nursing care. Illustrating the significance in protocols, and furthermore, giving the patient the best possible outcome. We shall examine the guidelines set by the Nursing and midwifery council (NMC) and how important it is for nurses to uphold these standards, when delivering care to the patient. We shall also look at the aging process, and how illnesses cannot simply be put down to ‘age’, discussing how medication can affect the elderly and also how it can help. Highlighting the need for nurses not to become robotic at tasks as delicate as the one giving throughout this essay , the need to empathise and give the patient as much dignity as possible. Also looking at infection control, and how critical it is in the clinical setting for the health care team, and also for the patient’s health. Following guidelines from National institute for health and clinical excellence (NICE), the Department of Health (DH) and several studies with regards to infection control , and health matters such as health promotion and how it can empower the patient which can help in their dignity. Looking at how the muti-disciplinary team help with the overall care and how important to work as a team to gain the best outcome. Reviewing my own personal journey as I have done research into dignity and reflect upon my own practice, and how it may change or enhance my future nursing care. Len Chambers is an elderly gentleman in your care. He is not confused or disorientated but is anxious, hard of hearing and physically frail, needing assistance to walk. The doctor has just finished the consultation and tells  you that â€Å"Mr. Chambers needs to go to the toilet†. There is a smell of faeces, Mr. Chamber’s trousers and shoes are wet with urine, and he appears agitated and upset. With reference to the NMC Professional Code of Conduct (2008) describes the actions that you will take to promote and maintain this client’s dignity. MAINBODY The concept of dignity is an individual right, everyone has equal worth has human beings. To treat someone with dignity, is by giving that person worth in a way that values them as an individual, as suggested by Milburn patients like to be recognized and treated with respect (Milburn et al 1995), and with this being their birthright, it must also continue after death. Dignity should be applied equally to people who have the capacity or not, whether that is of a physical or mental state, what must be paramount is the individuals self value and worth. In care circumstances, the concept of dignity can be encouraged or weakened depending on factors such as environment and attitude of healthcare staff. By giving the patient dignity, this then empowers them to make choices, which then gives them confidence to make decisions on their care. (NMC 2008). The code of professional conduct (NMC 2008) will guide my actions, in giving the care for Mr Chambers. The code of conduct states to treat the patient as an individual, and respect their dignity. Approaching Mr Chambers, I would introduce myself and ask him how he would like to be addressed; the rationale for this is to let Mr Chambers know who he is talking to and also gives him the respect of name choice, thus keeping in with the guidelines of the code and promotes autonomy. However reflecting back on my own practice and some male patients can be uncomfortable with a female nurse, I would ask him if he preferred a male nurse to assist him, and taking into account Mr Chambers body language, and the tone of his reply, and also being aware of my own aura at such a sensitive time. Mr Chambers has become incontinent of faeces and urine, an assessment of incontinence would need to be carried out by a specialist nurse, to establish if he is incontinent. Urinary incontinence is a common and distressing problem, taking into account Mr Chambers is anxious, coming from a generation which can be proud in nature,  so it is completely understandable why the need for sensitivity is required. Making sure this is fully explained (after nursing care as been given) to Mr Chambers, and gaining his full consent for a referral to the correct health professional, but before doing so a routine urinalysis test should be carried out, to rule out any infection present, firstly by doing a dipstick test and any signs of infection can then be sent to the correct department for further tests. The fact that Mr Chambers has difficulty walking maybe the only reason he was incontinent, simply because he didn’t make it to the toilet, however in most cases an underlying medical problem maybe present, and referring him to the correct department will be able to rule this out. Age is also a factor according to research , as we age we are more likely to need medication, for blood pressure for instance , and these medications can have an effect on the bladder (Avom.J et al 2003) so maybe a review of his medication can help. The frail elderly (age 65+) are likely to be more intolerant of drugs than their fit age group (Cussack.B.J 1989), and are particularly at risk from, adverse reactions (Williamson .J, Chopin J. 1989) These are the predictable, dose-dependent and common manifestations of toxicity that cause considerable morbidity in the frail population (Thompson JW, Rawlins MD) Mr Chambers has difficulty hearing and this could affect his communication, which could lead to anxiety. By providing the right environment, making time so that the patient does not feel rushed, and Provide some privacy when talking about sensitive and important issues, ensuring the patient has any communication aids that they need e.g. hearing aid, when you are talking to them. (Leveson.R 2007).This upholds the confidentiality, privacy and dignity of Mr Chamber; this is working within the code of practice, of confidentiality and consent. Has Noted Mr Chambers is a frail gentleman who will require assistance with his activities of daily living, and may need to be referred to the continuing health care team to place a package of care for him, also the physiotherapy team to help with his mobility. After gaining consent, and reassuring Mr Chambers we shall work together, offering him the choice of either attending the bathroom, or wishing to stay in the bay area. This is adhering to the code of collaborating with the ones  in your care (NMC 2008). Mr Chambers appears agitated and upset, whilst faecal/urine incontinence can have a psychological affect on him. Studies have shown this can be; tearfulness stress, distress, anxiety, exhaustion, feeling dirty, anger, humiliation, depression, isolation, secrecy, frustration and embarrassment (Chelvanayagam S, Norton C 2000.) To avoid any further humiliation, and suggesting to Mr Chambers a shower would be appropriate, however before doing so, assist him to undress and wash in the bay area first, to avoid walking down the ward in his current circumstances. The rationale for doing this is to keep Mr Chambers dignity, thus avoiding more distress. Gathering the equipment required to carry out this task and following guidelines/polices o f infection control. Infection Control; It is estimated that health care infection (HCAI) affects one in 10 national health service (NHS) patients each year, and costs the NHS one billion per year. (DH 2003) The hands of healthcare workers can be one of the main sources of transmitting infection, therefore it is vital hands are washed at every patient contact, and any connection with contaminated equipment (DH 2001).However studies have been shown that the technique of hand washing is generally not carried out properly (creedon 2005). A selection of protective equipment should be based on an assessment of the risk of transmission of bacteria to the patient, and the risk of contamination of the healthcare practitioner’s clothing and skin by patients body fluids, secretions or excretions.(NICE 2003) The rationale for following the protocols of infection control is to minimise /eradicate the risk of transmissions of infections, and reflecting back on my own practice ,this assures the patient that you are clean, and also prompts/promotes them to wash their hands which will reduce any infection. In the NMC code of conduct 2008 states to ‘make the care of people your first concern, treating them as individuals and respecting their dignity’ (NMC 2008). Keeping Mr Chambers dignity in thought, and maintaining health promotion, I assist him to undress and wash, asking his preferences and how he normally carries out this task, encouraging him when needed, this helps promote confidence in his own abilities. Gaining his consent, with regard to assisting him in bathroom to shower, and if he would like hospital garments if he has no clean garments, as he can be anxious about his soiled clothing. Assisting , Mr Chambers to wash hard to reach areas ,however also to give him independence  when necessary, having the patience and time to listen to his needs, and actively listening how he may have done things in his own environment, can help with dignity. Patient-centred nursing is a style of practice that demonstrates a respect for the patient as a person. Through ‘being with’ rather than merely ‘doing to’ the patient and offering personal support and practical expertise(Nursing Times 2005) Has Mr Chamber needs assistance when mobile, a referral to the physiotherapist will be required. Furthermore, to Use this opportunity to assess how Mr Chambers copes with his Activities of daily living (ADL). The rationale is to see how much assistance Mr Chambers requires, and to inform the correct health care professional of any progress, in addition to this making sure the correct data (e.g. Risk assessments, personal preferences), is transferred to his file and to avoid any inconsistencies, also to elude any awkward situations in his future nursing care. Reflecting on Mr. Chambers and the care provided how difficult it must be for an elderly to be independent all their lives then having a younger person to take over their care. This generation seems notoriously proud, and keeping within policies of care, and trying to give him his dignity, is quite hard to balance, an example of this would be infection control, having to wear gowns and gloves because of protocols, however this must be degrading in some respects for Mr Chambers. These procedures can have an effect on him psychologically, conversely he may understand if I explained to him why these measures are in place. Seeing Mr Chambers upset can be daunting at first, but to realise why he his upset is the key to a happy outcome. So communication is very important in this situation, and to actively listen to his concerns will also be very beneficial to me as a nurse. For instance he may state how he keeps soiling himself, would suggest he has incontinence problems rather, other than he just couldn’t make it to the bathroom. Mr. Chambers mobility was an issue, and again this must be difficult to express to younger active person, it would most probably also be embarrassing, as they were young once, and after all it is the body that ages. My concern would be to try and empathise with him, and keep the communication open using methods such as eye contact and body language to help me, and maybe use an experience of my own, such as family members, which may help him relax some more, and hope that this helps my future practice . When you feel dignified, you have the sense of self  Ã¢â‚¬â€œworth, confident, happy , it also builds a trust with the person who is nursing you , without it you can feel devalued, no confidence, low self –esteem thus leading to patients unable to carry out tasks such as (ADLs) where they maybe of been capable of doing so before. I aim to enhance my Nursing care and hope that I learn something new in every given situation, to help build on my knowledge which in turn will give excellent care to the most important person the patient, and also to share my knowledge within the team of healthcare professionals, and in turn learn from others experience and value each patient like you would your own family regardless of their condition, mood ,ethnicity, religion we are all equals and sometimes this can be lost in organizations. Nursing is lifelong learning matter, and patients can be unpredictable everyday is new, challenges will arise from patients, demands will have to be met, stressful situations will be dealt with, but this is the profession I choose to be in, and my future Nursing will always be to remain professional, Contrary to this what should be predictable, or should be practiced throughout the healthcare settings is the concept of dignity. 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