Reflection InformationExperience
This week’s readings contained a great deal of information on financial and budgeting principles. Some of you may have had some familiarity with the concepts and maybe even experience in working with them. However, there is always something new to learn. Describe your prior experiences with financial and budgeting principles, whether personally or professionally. Include your current involvement in budgeting at your institution.ReflectionWhat pre-conceived notions related to healthcare financial and budgeting principles did you hold before this week that you understand better now or for which you have a different perspective? Reflect on at least two specific concepts. How have these new revelations influenced your thinking related to access, availability, and quality of healthcare?Implications for the FutureHow has your enhanced knowing affected the way you view your proposed project?What areas of additional financial or budgeting data gathering have you identified as a need for your plan?
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Understanding Financial and Budgeting Principles in Healthcare
Prior Experiences and Current Involvement
In the realm of financial and budgeting principles, my prior experiences have been a mix of personal and professional encounters. On a personal level, I have always been mindful of budgeting and saving, ensuring that my expenses align with my income to maintain financial stability. This experience has made me appreciate the importance of creating a budget, tracking expenses, and setting financial goals.
Professionally, I have been involved in budget planning and financial analysis within my organization. This has exposed me to the complexities of managing finances on a larger scale, considering factors such as revenue streams, expenses, and forecasting. Working with budgets at an institutional level has provided me with valuable insights into the significance of strategic financial planning and the impact it has on the overall operations and success of an organization.
Currently, my involvement in budgeting at my institution revolves around collaborating with various departments to create comprehensive budgets that align with organizational goals and priorities. This requires a meticulous approach to financial planning, considering different variables and ensuring financial resources are allocated efficiently to support key initiatives.
Evolution of Perspectives on Healthcare Financial Principles
Before delving into this week’s readings on healthcare financial and budgeting principles, I held certain pre-conceived notions that have since evolved. One of the key notions I had was that healthcare budgets primarily focus on cost-cutting measures to improve efficiency. However, through my learning this week, I now understand that effective healthcare budgeting goes beyond just cutting costs; it involves strategic allocation of resources to enhance quality of care and patient outcomes.
Another notion I had was that healthcare financial principles were solely focused on revenue generation. However, I now realize that a comprehensive understanding of healthcare finance encompasses not only revenue generation but also cost management, risk assessment, compliance with regulations, and investments in technology and infrastructure.
These new perspectives have significantly influenced my thinking related to access, availability, and quality of healthcare. I now see how strategic financial planning plays a crucial role in ensuring equitable access to healthcare services, maintaining the availability of essential resources, and improving the quality of care delivered to patients.
Implications for the Future and Additional Data Gathering Needs
The enhanced understanding of financial and budgeting principles in healthcare has reshaped the way I view my proposed project. I now recognize the importance of integrating robust financial planning into the project framework to ensure its sustainability and effectiveness in achieving its objectives. This involves conducting thorough financial analysis, identifying potential sources of funding, and developing a realistic budget that aligns with the project’s goals.
As I move forward with my project, I have identified areas of additional financial and budgeting data gathering that are essential for its success. These include conducting a detailed cost-benefit analysis to assess the financial viability of the project, exploring potential funding sources such as grants or partnerships, and continuously monitoring and evaluating the financial performance to make informed decisions for ongoing improvements.
In conclusion, the knowledge gained from exploring financial and budgeting principles in healthcare has not only broadened my perspective but has also equipped me with valuable insights to enhance my project planning and implementation. By integrating sound financial practices into my project strategy, I am confident in achieving sustainable outcomes that positively impact healthcare delivery and patient care.
