Palliative Care Nursing Reflection

Palliative Care Nursing Reflection INTRODUCTION The Healthcare Quality Strategy for NHS Scotland (Scottish Government 2010) was a further development from ‘Better Health, Better Care’ (Scottish Government 2007). In this reflective account I wish to concentrate on the peoples priorities for the people of Scotland outlined within this document, the ultimate aim is to provide the highest quality of care. It has as their objectives that care given should be consistent, person centered, clinically effective and safe and equitable with patients receiving clear communication with regards to conditions and treatment (Scottish Government 2010). Hubley and Copeman, (2008) state communication skills are paramount in healthcare to ensure that tailored advice is delivered effectively. This reflective account is based on an experience from my 3rd year management placement. Using Gibbs’s Reflective Model (1988) I aim to outline what occurred throughout the incident which involved providing clear communication and patient centered care and how this can be linked to the Quality Strategy in relation to the people’s priorities. This reflective model has been selected as it enables reflection on practice in a structured way allowing one to identify critical learning and development from their experience to enhance future practice (Bullman and Schutz, 2008). This scenario will consider how this incident will aid in my transition from student nurse to staff nurse. To comply with patients’ rights to confidentiality and in accordance with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), (2010) I will use the pseudonym Mrs Wade. DESCRIPTION This reflection involves a 78 year old lady Mrs Wade who was an inpatient on the ward for 10 days after being diagnosed as having a cerebral haemorrhage. This had left Mrs Wade with a left sided weakness and aphasic. It was during this time it was established that Mrs Wade was also suffering from a perforated bowel and after discussion with her family from the medical staff it was decided that Mrs Wade was for no further active care and was to remain in the wards single room for palliative care. Feelings During my three years as a student nurse I had been involved with the care or palliative patients. However, I felt I still lacked confidence in this situation in communicating with patients and families. I had been involved in Mrs Wades care from admission as I had been her admitting nurse and I felt I had established a good patient / nurse relationship which in accordance with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (2008) allows for patient centered care. This is a difficult time for the Wade family and as stated with in The Healthcare Quality Strategy for NHS Scotland (Scottish Government 2010, p6) I would strive to provide care that was both caring and compassionate. Evaluation The negative aspect of this situation was that I was dealing with a palliative care patient and that it was inevitable that my patient would die. The positive aspect that I could draw from this was I was being put in a situation as a 3rd year student on my final placement and this would give me an experience that I could learn from. Jones (2012) advocates that it is essential in nursing to have good communication skills. This is also advocated by Dougherty and Lister (2008) who states that communication is an integral part of maintaining a high quality of record keeping which is regarded as a vital standard of practice by the NMC (2008). Communication and written care records aid to establish a continuity of care. A holistic approach for continuity of care is exceptionally important when caring for palliative care patients as nurses have a crucial role in care provision (Hill, 2011). It is important to note that any information that is given to Mrs Wade and her family is given in an open and honest manner and to ensure that they understand and give opportunity to ask questions (NMC, 2008). As Mrs Wade was a palliative care patient it gave rise to effective teamwork within the multi-disciplinary team to ensure all Mrs Wades needs were met as well as her families to ensure continuity of care whilst showing clinica l excellence. Analysis The World Health Organisation (nd) describes palliative care as â€Å"an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problem associated with life-threatening illness, through the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification and impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, physical, psychosocial and spiritual.† A holistic approach was taken in planning Mrs Wade care incorporating physical, psychological, social, emotional and environmental needs. These needs are not only imperative to the patient but also had to include all Mrs Wades immediate family in who she had requested to be involved (Dougherty and Lister, 2008). Within the ward I worked active care plans and patient care plans are reviewed daily and updated accordingly to ensure the patient receives the best possible care (NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, 2014) Jones (2012) states that it is essential in nursing to have good communication skills. This is also reiterated by Dougherty and Lister (2008) who states that communication is an integral part of maintaining a high quality of record keeping which is regarded as a vital standard of practice by the NMC (2009). Communication and written care records aid to establish a continuity of care. Communication also incorporates the ability to listen and support and ensure understanding (NMC 2008). In addition to caring for Mrs Wade I was also given the opportunity to be involved in meeting with the multi-disciplinary team which in Mrs Wade’s case involved the palliative care team for the hospital. This again reiterated the importance of good communication skills and accurate record keeping to ensure that all participants in Mrs Wades care knew exactly what was happening (SIGN 20). In terms of communication I felt I was gaining confidence especially with the family members as I had built up a rapport which was both professional whilst being friendly and trusting (MacLeod et al 2010). Mrs Wade as well as any patient within our care should receive care outlined by the people’s priority. Patients receiving palliative care should be made comfortable and pain free and to be cared for in a safe and clean environment (Scottish Government, 2010 p6). Reflection from this incident has made me aware of the level of involvement each member of staff from health care assistants through to consultants play in the care of patients. This was shown through the numerous times I was involved in multi-disciplinary meets, re-assessment of care plans to ensure the highest standard of evidence based care was given to Mrs Wade (NMC 2009). CONCLUSION The outcome was positive in the aspect that a holistic approach to Mrs Wade’s care was taken in accordance with The Scottish Government’s Initiative (2010) on patient centered care. I felt empowered by incorporating the use of the SBAR framework in effective collaboration with the multidisciplinary team aided clear communicating in accordance with The Scottish Government (2010). This resulted in a consistent continuity of care for Mrs Wade. ACTION PLAN A result of this significant event was that it gave me the experience of dealing with a delicate situation. As stated by Scheffer and Rubenfeld (2000) â€Å"Critical thinking in nursing is an essential component of professional accountability and quality nursing care. Critical thinkers in nursing exhibit these habits of the mind: confidence, contextual perspective, creativity, flexibility, inquisitiveness, intellectual integrity, intuition, open-mindedness, perseverance, and reflection. Critical thinkers in nursing practice the cognitive skills of analyzing, applying standards, discriminating, information seeking, logical reasoning, predicting, and transforming knowledge†. I was also given the opportunity afterwards to reflect on my role and the role each member of the team took in the care of a palliative care patient. I feel for future development I will take responsibility for my own learning in areas where I felt I lacked knowledge. In this situation I had assumed that Mrs Wade was recovering from her CVA, however I was unaware that the effect a CVA has on the brain can result in continence issues and result in bowel perforation. I believe that in the future and with more experience I will be aware of complication resulting from a CVA and although I would not expect to be an expert I would be better equipped to deal with similar situations in the future (RCN 2013). OVERALL CONCLUSION On reflection of my own experience and in using this to aid in my transition from student nurse to staff nurse I feel I have enhanced my own knowledge on palliative care (Dougherty and Lister, 2011) whilst reiterating the importance of good communication skills. It also highlighted the importance of having the confidence to acknowledge one’s own lack of knowledge and be able to admit to this and where to seek guidance to ensure that the correct protocol is followed to ensure patient safety at all times and to provide continuity of care. I feel that the care given to this patient is in line with the initiative of The Scottish Government’s Healthcare Quality Strategy for Scotland (2010). In relation to how this incident reflects on my transition it shows that on graduating as a staff nurse I will immediately assume the role which includes leadership, delegation and supervision. Once NMC registered, a host of expectations are placed upon you. The RCN (2010) reported that newly qualified staff nurses feel unprepared and overwhelmed by their new responsibilities, making the period of transition very stressful rather than exciting and truly enjoyable. However, I hope to overcome these feelings by immersing myself in the knowledge that I will adhere to all policies and guideline by The Scottish Government (2010) to ensure the best possible care and service to all. References McLeod Deborah L, Dianne M. Tapp Moules, N., Campbell M E Knowing the family: Interpretations of family nursing in oncology and palliative care European Journal of Oncology Nursing Volume 14 issue 2 April 2010 Page 93-10 http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1462388909001124 NHS GGC http://www.nhsggc.org.uk/content/default.asp?page=s1458

Medicine Sketch Essay

‘That service is the noblest which is rendered for its own sake’. — Mahatma Gandhi. Human’s existence on the earth is always full of great pleasures and sorrows, strengths and weaknesses and health and illnesses, like the day and the night these happenings are inherent in everyone’s life cycle. It is silver lining that there are noble people who work all their lives to mitigate the sufferings of the others. Among them, the profession of medicine is perhaps most respected for their service to society. My desire to become a doctor dates back to when I was in Preparatory School. Although as a young child, I did not quite understand what doctors essentially do. My desire heightened by the numerous amounts of sick people I came across. As I grew up, I steadily understood what it entailed being a doctor and that strengthened my desire even more. When I was nine years old, my grandfather suffered from Lung cancer. This resulted in my mother making endless t rips to the hospital to visit him. Occasionally, she would take me along, and the condition my grandfather was in, mortified me. He always seemed to be in too much pain and as I was young and eager to learn more, I asked a lot of questions as to uncover why my grandfather was undergoing so much pain. My mother always tried to encourage me, by telling me that the doctors will make sure that my grandfather pulls through his sickness. This gave me some sense of hope and made me believe that doctors always saved life. That is when my dream of becoming a doctor started as I was pestering my mother with many questions concerning being a doctor. I want to become a doctor to be able to help people who are less fortunate in society. This reason is inspired by the plight of people who live in Jamaica and are not able to afford the funds to seek quality medical care. In addition, Jamaica is usually susceptible to diseases. Those affected most are small children, and my love and compassion for them makes me want to become a doctor so that I might be able to help them. Many children in Jamaica need to undergo surgery but because their parents lack funds to support them, they spend the rest of their life suffering in pain. I believe in being courteous to fellow human beings, and since God wants us to love and care for one another, I want to become a doctor so that I can make people with such illness smile their brightest and warmest smile again. Upon completing 60hrs of community service at the Black River Hospital and 118.5 hrs at Thames Medical Center, the sight of the patients suffering has strengthened my hearts yearning to do my part in society to help individuals in great anguish. I would like to dedicate my life to the service of helping the sick and suffering, by becoming a doctor I would fulfill this unfathomable desire. I would like to help relieve the sufferings and pain of mankind not only as a healer, but also as a friend, supporting them in their toughest moments, and as a mentor, guiding them to live healthy lifestyles. Becoming a doctor would help me to strive to make the life of others better and healthier. Doctors are meant to be selfless, in a position to serve people without being greedy for money as it is a form of giving back to society.

Failure Analysis of Blister Packaging Camshaft - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 8 Words: 2447 Downloads: 5 Date added: 2019/03/18 Category Analytics Essay Level High school Tags: Failure Essay Did you like this example? Project Relevance: Packaging is one of the largest industry sectors in the world, worth $280 billion. Consumer healthcare packaging represents 4% ($11.2 billion) of the packaging industry. As drug manufacturers approach the 21st century, they face a number of challenges that packaging can help them meet. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Failure Analysis of Blister Packaging Camshaft" essay for you Create order In this work camshaft under consideration operates forming die of a blister forming station at 45 cycles per minute. When forming die is in closed condition, operating load of the assembly is maximum i.e.19828N, and in open condition it takes only dead load i.e. 266N in opposite direction. Thus, camshaft is subjected to alternate tension and compression due to bending loads. The shaft fails after few cycles wherein PLC screen shows the number of cycles completed till failure. The aim of this project is to modify the shaft to withstand such an operational alternating loads which intern provides a high service warranty to the customer. This modification of the shaft done on relaxing the fillet radius. The shaft can be modified with help of changing its filet radius. For that as per reference paper shaft 30 mm diameter and 45 mm diameter with its filet radius is 0.5 mm and 4.5 mm respectively. FEA of that two diameters with changing filet radius . From this comparison best result diamet er shaft manufactured and take experimental test. Before experimental, we analysis a various filet radius with 45 mm diameter for FEA is done. Literature Review: J. D. Chougule1, R. G. Todkar,[1] showed the influence of a cam shaft in the transmission system of a blister packaging machine used for packaging of tablets. It is observed that the cam shaft fails due fatigue loading into two pieces during operation. To find out cause of failure, a finite element analysis was carried out. Results of stress analysis reveal that the highest stressed area coincides with the fractured regions of the failure of the shaft. The theoretical stress fairly matches with the sub-model stress values. The failure analysis shows that the fatigue failure of the shaft is due to weak section at the step provided for cam shaft mount. To enhance service durability of the transmission system of Blister Packing Machine, stress concentration at cam step was modified and material with high service durability, mechanical characteristics such as fatigue strength, ultimate tensile strength, and fracture toughness was selected. The possible reasons concept of the automobile diesel engine crankshaft failure i.e. operating sources, repairing sources and mechanical sources has been presented in detail by F. S. Silva [2] and observed that the crankshaft failure occurs due to small cracks which are developed as an effect of thermal fatigue loading substantial overheating during shaft grinding process. Stuart H. Loewenthal [3] has studied the method of power shaft design which accounts for a variable amplitude loading histories and their effects on limited life design requirements considering the effects of combined bending and torsion loading and a number of service factors. S. Abdullah et al. [4] discussed the technique of analysis is explain to assess a fatigue life of a shell structure under the variable loadings using finite element analysis technique for a simulation works and it is observed that constant amplitude predict a life larger as long as one predicted by variable amplitude tests. To enhance service durability of the transmission system of Blister Packing Machine, stress concentration at cam step was modified and material with high service durability, mechanical characteristics such as fatigue strength, ultimate tensile strength, and fracture toughness was selected. Norman E. Dowling [5] has done comparison of the material test data with various approaches to estimating the effect of mean stress on stress life and strain life behavior is explained and seen that the walkers mean stress equation gives superior results. M. Omid et al. [6] has performed fatigue analysis of the connecting rod to evaluate a critical point calculated stresses and displacements under maximum compression and tension loadings. The caustic method is very powerful method to detect the stress distribution for complicated mechanical elements such as connecting rod. By drilling several distributed small holes on the connecting rod, the caustic method can predict accurately the stress value at each hole position. G. Wang [7] has introduced a crack modeling approach for the prediction of fatigue failure of the camshaft and which allows the calculation of an equivalent stress intensity factor enabling standard fracture mechanics methodology. H. Bayrakceken [8] investigated the reason of failure analysis of a camshaft of an automobile engine is carried out by using scanning electron microscopy and chemical analysis of fractured camshaft material to assess the reasonableness of fracture M. Shabanet. al.,M.I.Mohamed, A.E.Abuelezz, T Khalifa,(2013)[9], studied the stress pattern of crane hook in its loaded condition, a solid model of crane hook is prepared with the help of ABAQUS software. Real time pattern of stress concentration in 3D model of crane hook is obtained. The stress distribution pattern is verified for its correctness on an acrylic model of crane hook using shadow optical method (Caustic method) set up. By predicting the stress concentration area, the shape of the crane is modified to increase its working life and reduce the failure rates. The complete study is an initiative to establish a FEA procedure, by validating the results, for the measurement of stresses. For reducing the failures of hooks the estimation of stresses, their magnitudes and possible locations are very important. From the stress analysis, they have observed the cross section of max stress area. If the area on the inner side of the hook at the portion of max stress is widened then the stresses will get reduced. The caustic method is very powerful method to detect the stress distribution for complicated mechanical elements such as hooks. By drilling several distributed small holes on the hook, the caustic method can predict accurately the stress value at each hole position. Om Parkash et. al. [10] had studied the Optimizing the Design of Connecting Rod under Static and Fatigue Loading. The main objective of their work was to re-optimize the existing design of connecting rod of universal tractor (U650) by changing some of the design variables. In their work, the model was developed, analyzed and designed using CATIA 19, PRO-E and ANSYS workbench v12. Optimization of connecting rod was done under same boundary and loading conditions for variation in the few stress and fatigue parameters i.e. stresses, weight, life, damage, bi-axiality indication and safety factor. Stress concentration coefficient was varied to obtain the maximum cycles condition. The critical regions under both static and fatigue analysis were identified and improved. The connecting rod was modeled and optimized for the reduced weight, improved life and manufacturability. The results obtained from performed analysis could be used to modify the design of existing connecting rod, so that be tter performance i.e. reduced inertia, fatigue life and manufacturability could be obtained under varying static and fatigue conditions. A. A. Pandharabale, Asst. Prof. A. J. Rajguru,[11] The main objective of their paper was to design a model of dual worm system for optimal load lifting capacity, optimal factor of safety and optimal efficiency for reduced power consumption. They have derived the optimal power for individual motor and select the motor for the application so as to make the device compact. The experimental validation part of the lifting force developed by the dual worm system is validated using test-rig. Various characteristics graph were plotted like Torque Vs. Speed, Power Vs. speed, Power consumption of motor under rated load, Efficiency of system Vs. speed. They concluded that the torque increases with the decrease in the output speed, Graph of power output indicates a rising trend up to certain output speed and then slightly drops indicating that indicating that the device will slow down slightly if the load is increased. A.S.Dhavale , V.R.Muttagi,[12] In four strokes engine one of the most important component is camshaft, such a important part and that over the years subject of extensive research. In this study, causes of fracture of camshaft are discuses. By using scanning electron microscopy and finite element analysis methods are used for fracture analysis of camshaft. It is seen that, The analyzed camshaft is fractured after a very short period of usage of the car. The failure is occurred as a sudden fracture at very close to journal location, where there is a stress concentration. The main reason of the fracture is determined as a casting defect. As the failure was related to a material production problem it is likely to affect more than one vehicle. So, the camshaft of vehicles manufactured from that particular series of camshaft should be replaced. Also, the non destructive testing procedures of the component supplier should also be improved as the defect can easily be detectable by standard n on destructive techniques. Zhiwei Yu, Xiaolei Xu,[13], A failure investigation has been conducted on a diesel-engine crankshaft used in a truck, which is made from 42CrMo forging steel. The crankshaft was nitrided. The fracture occurred in the web between the 2nd journal and 2nd crankpin. The depth of the nitrided layer in various regions of the crankshaft particularly in the fillet region close to the fracture was determined by SEM observation and micro-hardness (HV0.1) measurement, combined with nitrogen content analysis by EDAX. The mechanical properties of the crankshaft including tensile properties, marohardness (HB) and surface hardness (HV1) were evaluated. Fractographic studies indicate that fatigue is the dominant mechanism of failure of the crankshaft. The partial absence of the nitrided layer in the fillet region close to the fracture makes fatigue strength decrease to lead to fatigue initiation and propagation in the weaker region and premature fracture. The partial absence of the nitrided layer ma y result from over-grinding after nitriding. In order to prevent fatigue initiation in the fillet the final grinding has to be done carefully and the grinding amount controlled to avoid grinding down the nitrided layer. Aim of Project: The aim of this project is to modify the shaft to withstand such an operational alternating loads which intern provides a high service warranty to the customer. This modification of the shaft done on relaxing the fillet radius Objectives of Dissertation: To modify the shaft to withstand such an operational alternating loads which intern provides a high service warranty to the customer. For validation with finite element analysis (FEA) it is found that the stress is higher at the step, where failure was found in field. To overcome problem of sub-modelling technique, in CREO-PARAMETRIC 2.0 is used. Sub-modeling is the technique of studying a local part of a model with a refined mesh, based on interpolation of the solution from an initial, global model onto appropriate parts of the boundary of the sub-model. The method is most useful when it is necessary To obtain an accurate, detailed solution in the local region and the detailed modelling of that local region has negligible effect on the overall solution. Research Methodology: Literature Review Study of Blister machine and its techniques. Modeling of Camshaft FEA of selected materials cross-sections for particular load Selection of best material cross-section from FEA results Manufacturing of camshaft from FEA result Experimental testing Comparison of experimental result with FEA results for given load Conclusions Experimental Setup: Fig. 1: Experimental testing of camshaft on UTM Results: FEA results Results can be obtained by FEA as well as Experiment. Table 1 : Results of FEA Diameter 30 mm 45 mm Fillet Radius 0.5 mm 4.5 mm Von-mises stress 120.27 Mpa 100.23 Mpa Deformation 0.0070434 0.005869 After that, by FEA best result obtained, by taking fillet radius 4.5 mm. As the comparison of above result von-mises stresses is high at 30 mm diameter as compared to 45 mm diameter. This is also same as deformation, that means deformation is less at 45 mm diameter and it is more 30 mm diameter. Next step we want to check at 45 mm diameter, changing fillet radius and check out the results. And then this result compare to above table. Before that best result obtained at 45 mm diameter , so taking the dimensions and shaft is made on workshop. After the manufacturing of shaft experimental analysis is done on UTM. By using the strain gauge strain also calculated. In experimental analysis we can get the values of von-mises stress and deformation. After th values whuch are coming from the experiment , FEA is done . but in fea total load applied on shaft is 10 % reduced, because in real there is no possible to applied a load. So external weight is applied. Then the result comparison of expe rimental and FEA are given below, Table 2 :Results of FEA Optimised FEA Diameter 45 45 Filet radius 4.5 4.5 Von-mises stress 103.87 100.23 Deformation 00020 000569 So, we take as 45 mm diameter and fillet radius takes 3 mm , 3.5 mm and 4 mm. and that obtained result by FEA is below table. Table 3 : Results of FEA (with different filet radius) Diameter 45 mm 45 mm 45 mm Fillet Radius 3 mm 3.5 mm 4 mm Von-mises stress 112.07 Mpa 107.52 Mpa 104.78 Mpa Deformation 0.00656 0.006296 0.006136 After studying of all result, best result given by 45 mm diameter and its fillet radius 4.5 mm, so using this dimension camshaft is made. And this shaft using UTM stresses and deformation is calculated. After that calculating the life cycle for 45 mm diameter and its different filet radius. Also comparing all result diameter 45 mm and its filet radius 4.5 mm gives good result as compare to all. Table 4 : Results of FEA life cycle (with different filet radius) Diameter 45 mm 45 mm 45 mm 45 mm Fillet Radius 3 mm 3.5 mm 4 mm 4.5 mm Life cycle 2.106e5 2.802e5 3.2499e5 4.1978e5 As the above result shows the, number of cycles increases, with decreasing the stress. Conclusion: This chapter consist the concluding remarks on current research work. The experimentation performed on Universal testing machine. The analysis result was also done in previous chapter result and discussion. The concluding remarks on experimentation and its results are covered and also necessary outcomes are represented in this chapter. The future scope for this project is also stated at the end of this chapter. The outcomes from the current research work are as follows; From results of finite element analysis it is observed that the maximum stress value is within the safety limit. There is a great potential to optimize, this safety limit which can be done by removing material from low stressed region thus optimizing its weight without affecting its structural behavior. The maximum displacement value is also very less. So, the material from low stressed region is can be removed without affecting its strength and is within the yield strength. Von-mises stress found on existing (120.27 MPa) and optimized (100.23 MPa) components are within the material yield strength. Deflection measured and found on existing (0.0070434mm) and optimized (0.00569mm) model is very less. Project Expenditure: Sr. No. Name of Equipment Qty. Approx. Cost (INR) Material for Specimen 01 2000 = 00 Raw Material Cutting and machining 01 5800 = 00 Bracket Joining 04 1000 = 00 Experimentation and Lab charges - 8000 = 00 Miscellaneous Expenses 4000 = 00 Total Expenditure: Rs. 20800 = 00

Politics Dissertations - Leninsim Affect Russia - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 13 Words: 3912 Downloads: 3 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Statistics Essay Did you like this example? There are various reasons and factors that can be used to explain the affect that Marxism / Leninism had upon Russia and why it was to achieve that affect. Some of these explanations are based around the actions of the Bolshevik Party that seized power in October 1917 and did not formally relinquish that power until the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. Other reasons are based around factors that were not directly caused by the Bolshevik Party yet it was able to use them to its own advantage to affect Russia. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Politics Dissertations Leninsim Affect Russia" essay for you Create order Marxism / Leninism would become the official ideology of the Soviet Union which was basically Tzarist Russia shorn of Finland, Poland and for a time the Baltic States. Yet history and politics could have been completely different without the combination that enabled Marxism / Leninism to affect Russia with some spectacular and arguably some disastrous results. At the end there will be a discussion of the books used as references for this work and their respective value and merit. Lenin had pledged that he would bring about the first Marxist State at the funeral of Karl Marxs daughter and son in law in 1911. Few took him seriously although events would vindicate his confidence (Wheen, 1999, p. 386). To start with the Bolshevik Party was a Marxist party that few outside the Tzarist secret police took seriously or knew that they existed. They were a splinter from the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party that seemed to spend more time arguing with the other half of that defunct party, the Mensheviks rather than destroying the imperial government through a successful socialist revolution (Longley 1980 p.8). Karl Marx and Frederick Engels had predicted that socialist revolutions would only occur in advanced capitalist countries such as Britain, Germany and the US not in backward Tzarist Russia. Russian industry had started to develop yet had not produced enough proletariat workers for most Marxists to expect a communist revolution. Lenin however believed that revolution in Russia was possible so long as the Bolshevik party could not gain support from the proletariat but the peasants that constituted the vast majority of the population as well. Although Marx had preached that time was on the side of the workers and that history would witness their final triumph over capitalism, Lenin was of the opinion that history needed to be made rather than just waited for. Marxism/Leninism was based on the promise that the Bolshevik party had to become the vanguard of the proletariat and achieve power in its name via revolutionary struggle. Lenin was the driving force behind the Bolshevik party he guided its strategy, ideology and was its undisputed leader. Without Lenin there would have been no Leninism and probably no Marxism in Russia. However, Lenin was only able to take power due to some opportunities that unexpectedly came along and gave the Bolshevik party its chance to enforce Marxism/Leninism on Russia. Russia had seemed to overcoming the threat of a successful revolution, as the internal political and security situation seemed to have settled down after the 1905 revolution. That revolution had been a sign of things to come as it was set off as a result of defeat against Japan during the war of 1904-05. Instead of a straightforward victory, the Russian army was heavily defeated in Korea and Manchuria whilst the once proud Russian navy was virtually destroyed. Even such a short war had put a strain on the Russian economy and shown it to be militarily ineffective despite the size of its army. The Tzar did nothing to rectify the shortcomings of the Russian army to the countrys detriment yet to the advantage of revolutionary organisations (Roberts, 1996 p. 428). The economic reforms of Stolypin seemed to restore stability and enhance industrial development although he advised the Tzar to avoid further wars. One consequence of the 1905 revolution had been the creation of Russias first parliament, the Duma that in reality took no power from the Tzarist autocracy. Only the collapse of that power would make way for successful revolution (Hobsbawm, 1994 p.58). The immaturity of Russian political parties in the democratic process, the limited franchise and power of the Duma would assist the affect that Marxism / Leninism had on Russia. That is because the opponents of the Bolsheviks could not offer a strong alternative of a constitutional monarchy or liberal republic. The Communist Party also had party members that were given jobs to get the civil service, the police and the army functioning again after the disruption caused by war and revolution. Hobsbawm mentions that the experience of underground activity against the Tzarist and Provisional governments had made the Communists more determined and effective than their opponents (Hobsbawm, 1994 p.58). The great catalyst for revolutionary change and a strong factor in Marxism / Leninism having the profound affect on Russia that it did was the First World War which wrought havoc on the old order of Europe. Despite the embarrassing defeat of 1904-05, Russia remained on paper as much as in reality a great power that could have altered the balance of power in Europe. If the war had been short and victorious than perhaps things would have been different and the monarchy could have survived and successfully avoided revolution. The outbreak of war as in much of Europe was greeted with popular enthusiasm and support for the imperial regime (Hobsbawm, 1994 p.58). Russia was allied to France and its old rival Britain and also considered itself the protector of the Slavic peoples of Central and Eastern Europe, especially Serbia (Marix Evans, 2002, p. 12). Germany had feared the sheer size of the Russian army rather than its quality. That fear led to the creation of the S P that came very close to quickly knocking France out of the war and thus allowing the Germans to concentrate on defeating Russia. The Russians had high expectations of success in August 1914 when they attempted to invade Germany. However these hopes were dashed when they were routed at Tannenberg. After that the Russian army never regained the initiative. Even with only 20 % of the German army being available on the Eastern Front the Russians were completely outclassed (Colvin, 2003 p.238). Russian loses were staggering at least 130,000 casualties with the additional loss of between 180-500 heavy guns. Worse still was the fact that Russia could not replace the loss of its finest men and equipment as it lacked the ability to adequately train replacements and the industrial capacity to replace lost equipment (Colvin, 2003, p. 244). Nicholas II staked the future of the Romanov dynasty upon the successful outcome of the First World War. Given the weaknesses of the Russian economy, its backward industries and its chronically under equipped and led army that was a recipe for disaster. To make things worse Nicholas II compounded that error by making himself commander in chief of the army and thus directly to blame for its failures. Being away from Petrograd much of the time meant he was not fully aware of events and unable to change policies to avert trouble. As Nicholas II was ultimately responsible for Russian policy he could have stayed out of the First World War and done much to prevent revolution and civil war. Castleden was not the first and will not be the last to suggest that the incompetence of the Tzarist government allowed Marxism / Leninism to affect Russia (Castleden, 2005 p.216). Support for the government crumbled away as the war went from bad to worse meaning more extreme ideas such as Marxism / Leni nism were seen as alternatives to the Tzarist regime. War time conditions meant civilians had to survive on lower rations. Radical groups and parties such as the Bolsheviks offered the hope of food and promised to end the war attracting support from workers, peasants and workers. Both agricultural and industrial output declined as men left for the army and were not replaced. Weapons shortages at the front when combined with food and fuel shortages brought Russia to the brink of revolution (Hobsbawm, 1994 p.58). The entry of Turkey into the First World War had prevented the British and French supplying the Russian war effort, making it harder for the regime to stay in the war and survive its intense hardships. The failure of the Gallipoli offensive to knock Turkey out of the war meant that the Russians were in serious risk of losing the war. Marix Evans mentions that Turkey got in the way of the British and French keeping the Russians in the war as well as threatening their oil supplies (Marix Evans, 2002 p.111). The severity of the 1916 winter brought things to a head contributing to the strikes in Petrograd that escalated into the February Revolution and the replacement of the autocracy by the Provisional Government. The Provisional Government played into the hands of the Bolsheviks with the decision to continue fighting in the war. That error allowed Lenin and the Bolsheviks to make their propaganda more effective whilst planning a coup or revolution at the earliest opportune moment. Once Lenin returned from exile via Germany he and Leon Trotsky started the process of preparing their revolution by taking over workers, peasants and soldiers soviets, pledging bread, peace and land to maximise their support. Marxism / Leninism was able to affect Russia due to the astuteness that Lenin and Trotsky displayed during 1917 on the way towards, during and after the October Revolution (Lindley, 1980 p.7). Marxism / Leninism had an affect on Russia as the Bolsheviks were able to take over the Russian state following the October Revolution and tightened that control during the Russian Civil War. Lenin authorised the use of secret police, executions and war communism during the civil war; the ruthlessness of the new regime allowed it to survive. Trotsky formed the Red Army that won the civil war, which was then used to control the Soviet Union in the name of the Communist Party. The Communists promoted Marxism / Leninism in schools farms, in factories and in the Red Army. The people of the Soviet Union were indoctrinated with Marxism / Leninism and faced repressive measures if they acted against Marxism / Leninism and the first state too openly proclaim it. During Stalins period of office as General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, Marxism / Leninism provided the ideological context for brutally imposed collectivisation and industrialisation even if it did not excuse his bloody purges, mass deportations and murders (Castleden, 2005 p. 245). Marxism / Leninism in theory had extolled the virtues of the differing nationalities within the Soviet Union in an effort to keep control over the different parts of the Russian empire that sought independence after the collapse of the monarchy. The Red Army had ended the Ukraines brief independence, been unable to regain Finland and the Baltic States whilst suffering defeat against Poland. Although Stalin was a Georgian himself brutally suppressed nationalism in the Soviet republics outside of Russia itself. This would prove especially the case in his native Georgia and the second largest republic within the Soviet Union, the Ukraine. Therefore Marxism / Leninism affected Russia by keeping the majority of the old Tzarist Empire intact in a different form until the final collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Instead of the monarchy binding the empire together the official ideology of Marxism / Leninism bound the Soviet Union together. Stalin was responsible for the executions, deport ations or simply leaving millions of non-Russian nationalists to starve to death. He was more of a Russian imperialist than any Tzar had ever been with the facility to use as much state controlled terror as he considered apt to keep the Soviet Union under his control (Bullock, 1991, pp 30-01). Stalin arguably took the Soviet Union in a different direction than Lenin had intended to, or so those that wish to clear Lenin of any blame for the excesses of the Stalin regime would claim. Lenins premature death meant that different factions within the Communist Party would claim to be acting in his name with their own version of Marxism / Leninism. Even before the outcomes of those power struggles was decided Lenin was made the focal point of the Soviet states propaganda and education. Thus Marxism / Leninism had an impact on Russia due to the cult of personality the Communist Party developed around Lenin after his death. In the Soviet Union, Lenins name and image were everywhere. All his successors claimed that everything they did was done in his name and that is how he would have done things when he was living (Lindley, 1980 p.7). The cult of Lenin began in earnest after his funeral and with Stalin later carrying out all his policies in the name of Marxism / Leninism. It was St alin that made Marxism / Leninism affects upon Russia and the rest of the Soviet Union more deeply than may otherwise have been the case (Bullock, 1991 pp.148-49). Trotsky had seemed the most likely to succeed Lenin although he died without nominating his own successor, yet Trotsky would lose that power struggle with Stalin. Stalin had longer to make Marxism / Leninism than any other Communist leader especially with the dire consequences of some of his policies such as collectivisation. Stalin made the position of General Secretary of the Communist Party the most powerful position in the Soviet Union. Stalin completely outmanoeuvred his rivals to gain total control of party and state. Stalin would promote many of his loyalists followers within both party and state. The Stalinist era increased the link between party membership and being successful at work, within the civil service and the armed forces providing individuals could avoid becoming victims of the purges (Pereira, 1992 p. 16). Stalin would change the ethnic make up of the Soviet Union by deporting over a million Tartars and Chechens amongst other ethnic groups to the gulags. In the na me of Marxism / Leninism Stalin tried to ethnically cleanse the Soviet Union to ensure loyalty to his regime. Stalin therefore affected Russia and the other former Soviet republics by laying the foundations for future ethnic disputes such as the Chechen campaigns for independence (Castleden, 2005 p.247). Marxism / Leninism was a term originally used by Stalin in order if not to explain his policies to at least justify their consequences. Humanity was controlled by uncontrollable social forces that still needed to be enacted by leaders with the rare qualities of Lenin and his only viable successor Stalin. Stalin could explain his U-turns in domestic and foreign policy by keeping true to the essence of Marxism / Leninism. Such U-turns included initially supporting the New Economic Policy and then adopting collectivisation and industrialisation after defeating his rivals or Stalins unsuccessful attempts to counter the fascist powers in the 1930s prior to signing the Nazi-Soviet Pact in 1939. Stalin was not a man troubled by contradictions or paradox. The strength of the regime and his grip on power came ahead of any ideological consideration (Eatwell Wright, 2003 p. 118). All of Stalins successors until Gorbachev stressed their devotion to Marxism / Leninism as the guiding ideology of the Soviet Union and the centrality of the Communist Party to the Soviet state. Gorbachev tried to reform the Soviet economy and open up its society. Yet by removing the control of the Communist Party he only succeeded in accelerating the collapse of the Soviet Union. Gorbachev proved Lenin and Stalin to be correct, the Soviet Union could not Marxism / Leninism to bind it together (Hobsbawm, 1994 p.498). The Soviet era had left behind a bloody legacy, an estimated 20 million deaths that resulted from Stalins excesses on top of the estimated 8.8 million deaths from the Russian Civil War (Castleden, 2005 p.9). Soviet losses in the Second World War were horrendous at around 20 million due to Hitlers genocidal policies though the Stalinist regime survived much greater damages than the Imperial regime did not (Bullock, 1991 p. 1086). Therefore Marxism / Leninism affected Russia because it was enforced upon the majority of the population following the Bolsheviks seizure of power in October 1917 and the consolidation of that power following their victory in the Russian Civil War. The Bolsheviks had originally been able to take power in Russia due not only to their strengths and strategy but also the weaknesses and mistakes of their immediate predecessors the autocracy of Nicholas II and short-lived Provisional Government. Perhaps the main reasons that Marxism / Leninism had an affect on Russia were the disastrous consequences of the First World War upon the Imperial regime. Defeat in the war with Japan had brought about the 1905 Revolution yet the government had done very little to modernise the army or improve the quality of its men and officers bearing in mind that the highly effective German army was it most likely adversary. Defeat at Tannenberg got the Russians off to a disastrous start to the war made worse when their allies were unable to succeed at Gallipoli in opening supply routes to reinforce the Russian army and its over-stretched industry. Worsening wartime conditions led to the collapse of the Tzarist regime in February 1917 yet staying in the war hampered the chances of the Provisional Government surviving. Lenin and Trotsky planned the successful October Revolution that brought the Communists to power yet had to rebuild the Tzarist state to win the Russian Civil War and secure its own future. Marxism / Leninism as such was the concept of Joseph Stalin who used it to justify the bloody consequences of collectivisation, industrialisation and his purges. Stalin made sure Marxism / Leninism affected the entire Soviet Union and not just Russia. In a sense industrialisation saved Russia following the German invasion of 1941. It survived dire loses and to turn the tide with victories at Stalingrad a nd Kursk. Above all the concepts of Marxism / Leninism affected Russia as it bound it to the other republics of the Soviet Union and delayed the break up of the Russian Empire for 75 years. Bibliography Bullock A (1991) Hitler and Stalin Parallel Lives, Harper Collins, London Castleden R (2005) The Worlds Most Evil People, Time Warner Books, London and New York Colvin J (2003) Decisive Battles Over 20 key naval and military encounters from 480 BC to 1943, Headline Book Publishing, London Eatwell, R. Wright, A (2003) Contemporary Political Ideologies 2nd Edition, Continuum, London Hobsbawm, E (1994) Age of Extremes, the Short Twentieth Century 1914-1991, Michael Joseph, London Longley J D Makers of the Twentieth Century: Lenin, History Today, Volume 30, Issue 4, April 1980 Marix Evans M (2002) Over the Top Great Battles of the First World War Pereira N Stalin and the Communist Party in the 1920s, History Today Roberts J M (1995) A History of Europe, Penguin Books, London Wheen F (1999) Karl Marx, Fourth Estate Publications, London Acknowledgement of Sources Bullocks book Hitler and Stalin Parallel Lives is a joint biography of the two men that shaped the world more than anybody else is during the 20th century. As such it is an excellent study of the lives, careers and ideas of both men. Bullock provides a sound analysis of the Communist Partys rise to power and the subsequent emergence of Stalin as the murderous leader of the Soviet Union. Chose to use a biography of Stalin as he is arguably the man most responsible for Marxism / Leninism affecting Russia in the forms that it did. Personal copy of the book obtained a couple years ago at a charity shop. Castledens The Worlds Most Evil People contained three relevant chapters on Nicholas II, Lenin and Stalin. These were the men that deliberately and accidentally allowed Marxism to affect Russia and the other parts of the Soviet Union. Aptly enough Nicholas II is in the section describing evil by incompetence whilst Lenin and Stalin are included in the section on evil tyrants. Over all it is a book that could be used for varied pieces of academic work due to the range of people included in it. It is good for brief overviews of people although access to more detailed sources would be recommended. Personal copy obtained from a discount bookshop. Colvins book was used to explain the Russian defeat at Tannenberg in August 1914 as the central theme of the work was that the First World War was the main cause of Marxism / Leninism being able to affect Russia. Colvins book has the merit of describing all the battles discussed in a concise and succinct manner. The dismal performance of the Russian army at Tannenberg could be compared to the Red Armys hard fought victory at Kursk. Personal copy of the book that was a birthday present. Joseph Femias chapter on Marxism and Communism in Eatwell and Wrights Contemporary Political Ideologies proved to be a useful point of reference for the completion of this piece of work. Femia clearly examines how Lenin and Stalin developed their ideas from Marxism and also where they differed from Marx. Eatwell Wright remains a useful book overall as it other highly relevant chapters on the other main political ideologies such as liberalism and fascism. Have a personal copy of this book, as it has not always been easy to borrow a copy from the university and public libraries. Eric Hobsbawms Age of Extremes, the Short Twentieth Century 1914-1991 is a very useful book to have available as a reference as it explores the economic, political and historical contexts of the period 1914 to 1991 which roughly equates to the period that Marxism / Leninism had its affects on Russia. Age of Extremes is the last of the four book series that started with Age of Revolution in the early 1960s. It also yet again demonstrates Hobsbawms skills as a writer, analyst and historian. Have personal copies of all four books in the series. Longleys Makers of the Twentieth Century: Lenin was taken from History Today in April 1980. This is an article that focuses on Lenins role in promoting the October Revolution and his problems with maintaining control of the Bolshevik Party whilst in exile. The article also describes the cult of Lenin as it was in the Soviet Union in 1980. The article was down loaded from the Historytoday.com website. Marix Evans Over the Top Great Battles of the First World War was consulted to help explain the effect that Russian defeat in the First World War had upon the chances of Marxism / Leninism affecting Russia. The most relevant parts of the book were about why Russia joined the war and the consequences of Turkey joining the war on the side of the Central powers. If interested in military history this is an excellent book, book obtained from the public library. Pereiras Stalin and the Communist Party in the 1920s is a History Today article from 1992. This article describes the ways in which Stalin took over both the Communist Party and the Soviet Union and the ways in which he developed Marxism / Leninism to gain total control of party and state. The article was down loaded from the Historytoday.com website. Roberts A History of Europe was mainly used as reference for the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05 and its influence on the 1905 Revolution. Roberts is a very readable history of Europe from the Greeks and Romans to 1995. Chose to use other sources for main part of the work although Roberts would have proved more than adequate. Obtained copy from university library. Wheens Karl Marx is an inspired and enlightening biography of the man responsible for developing the basic concepts of communism. Only chose to use the part about Lenin speaking at the funeral of Marxs daughter, as there was only passing references to Lenin, Stalin and Russia in the rest of the book. Personal copy of the book brought from a charity shop.