Polonium Facts - Element 84 or Po

Polonium Facts - Element 84 or Po Polonium (Po or Element 84) is one of the radioactive elements discovered by Marie and Pierre Curie. This rare element has no stable isotopes. Its found in uranium ores and cigarette smoke and also occurs as a decay product of heavier elements. Although there arent many applications for the element, it is used to generate heat from radioactive decay for space probes. The element is used as a neutron and alpha source and in anti-static devices. Polonium has also been used as a poison to commit assassinations. Although the position of element 84 on the periodic table would lead to categorization as a metalloid, its properties are those of a true metal. PoloniumBasic Facts Symbol: Po Atomic Number: 84 Discovery: Curie 1898 Atomic weight: [208.9824] Electron configuration: [Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2 6p4 Classification: semi-metal Ground level: 3P2 Polonium Physical Data Ionization potential: 8.414 ev Physical form: Silvery metal Melting point: 254Â °C Boiling point: 962Â °C Density: 9.20 g/cm3 Valence: 2, 4 References: Los Alamos National Laboratory (2001), Crescent Chemical Company (2001), Langes Handbook of Chemistry (1952), CRC (2006)

Hrm Case 3 Essays

Hrm Case 3 Essays Hrm Case 3 Essay Hrm Case 3 Essay HRM Incident 3: The Controversial Job David Rhine, compensation manager for Farrington Lingerie Company, was generally relaxed and good-natured. Although he was a no-nonsense, competent executive, David was one of the most popular managers in the company. This Friday morning, however, David was not his usual self. As chairperson of the company’s job evaluation committee, he had called a late morning meeting at which several jobs were to be considered for reevaluation. The jobs had already been rated and assigned to pay grade 3. But the office manager, Ben Butler, was upset that one was not rated higher. To press the issue, Ben had taken his case to two executives who were also members of the job evaluation committee. The two executives (production manager Bill Nelson and general marketing manager Betty Anderson) then requested that the job ratings be reviewed. Bill and Betty supported Ben’s side of the dispute, and David was not looking forward to the confrontation that was almost certain to occur. The controversial job was that of receptionist. Only one receptionist position existed in the company, and Marianne Sanders held it. Marianne had been with the firm 12 years- longer than any of the committee members. She was extremely efficient, and virtually all the executives in the company, including the president, had noticed and commented on her outstanding work. Bill Nelson and Betty Anderson were particularly pleased with Marianne because of the cordial manner in which she greeted and accommodated Farrington’s customers and vendors, who frequently visited the plant. They felt that Marianne projected a positive image of the company. When the meeting began, David said, â€Å"Good morning. I know that you’re busy, so let’s get the show on the road. We have several jobs to evaluate this morning and I suggest we begin Before he could finish his sentence, Bill interrupted, â€Å"I suggest we start with Marianne. † Betty nodded in agreement. When David regained his composure, he quietly but firmly asserted, â€Å"Bill, we are not here today to evaluate Marianne. Her supervisor does that at performance appraisal time. We’re meeting to evaluate jobs based on job content. In order to do this fairly, with regard to other jobs in the company, we must leave personalities out of our evaluation. † David then proceeded to pass out copies of the receptionist job description to Bill and Betty, who were obviously very irritated. See questions below. ob can be reclassified / re-evaluated if the duties or responsibilities of an employee have significantly changed or expanded over time, and the expanded duties have remained in place for at least six months. In these cases, the same review criteria are used as with new positions. Based on the rating system, the employee may be moved to a higher pay band, and may receive retroactive pay. QUESTIONS 1. Do you feel that David was justified in insisting that the job, not the person, be evaluated? Discuss. Job evaluation is a technique used to determine the value of each job in relation to all jobs within the organization. The job evaluation and the employee evaluation are based on two entirely different scales. The job evaluation clearly identifies and describes the task, creates the basis for the job description and relates to the tasks involved with the position itself The basic purpose of job evaluation is to eliminate pay inequities which may exist because of illogical pay structures, such as might develop over time if care is not taken in how compensation is determined. Job evaluation programs are generally administered by the human resource department and are usually conducted by a committee. The jobs people have are major determinants of the amount of financial compensation they will receive, and organizations pay for the value attached to certain duties, responsibilities, and other job-related factors, such as working conditions. The relative worth of jobs is usually determined through a combination of job analysis, job descriptions, and job evaluation. The employee evaluation measures the employees overall performance of their tasks as it relates to the overall success of the company. David was asked to evaluate the job for compensation purposes, which involves the job function, not the person who is performing the job. I do feel that David was justified in insisting that the job, not the person be evaluated. 2. Do you believe that there is a maximum rate of pay for every job in an organization, regardless of how well the job is being performed? Justify your position. Employers use pay scales to calculate salaries. The rate range for a job grade consists of a minimum, midpoint, and maximum rate of pay unrelatedly to how well a job is performed. Many employers use a system job evaluation tool to rank jobs based on skill, education, experience, and duties to assess the job description. There should be a maximum rate of pay, which should be based on the individual’s job performance. The starting rate and maximum rates should be the same for all employees in the same position but, their individual rates may be different depending on their performance. However, once an employee has reached the maximum rate of pay for the position the employee should not receive any more pay raises. A job should have its maximum pay rate depending on many factors. In most cases jobs that do not require high level of education are the jobs that do not lead to a life long career. In this case, there is a limit of value that a receptionist like Beth could bring to the company. It wouldn’t make much financial sense to pay a receptionist equal to an operations manager. Even in this example where the receptionist has elevated value due to her interpersonal skills, ultimately she does not provide attainable financial betterment to the company outside of her job description. Therefore, the employee should be paid based on their quantified value as an asset to the company; and a job should have a maximum rate of pay.

Help writing executive summary of advertising plan Assignment

Help writing executive summary of advertising plan - Assignment Example Similarly, Starbucks faces various threats that include stiff competition, increased prices for avocado and reduced sales in the US retail outlets. Starbucks market segmentation includes males and females between the ages of 25-40 years old as well as generous and charitable individuals and organisations. Notable events that Starbucks has sponsored include Special Olympics, hip Lilith Fair music festival, Chicago Jazz Festival, International Film Festival in Washington DC as well as Museum of Contemporary Art in LA. The new flavorful Avocado beverage target market includes Starbucks consumers as well as adults aged between 25 to 40 years. Besides, the high purchasing power and the demand for technology among the young adults are key aspects that make Starbucks company to use internet in its marketing strategies. This entails using of social sites including Facebook and Twitter. Likewise, the new product target kids and teen whose parents value avocado Frappuccino among other products . In order to effectively penetrate the market, Starbucks is aimed at emulating marketing mix that encompasses the 4Ps (product, promotion, price and place). For example, the new product which is of a high quality has been as a result of the innovation that the company has embarked on. In terms of pricing, the company will adopt a competitive pricing method. In this way, it will effectively face off its competitors including Dunkin Donuts that is renowned for using social mobile strategy and McDonalds famous for production of premium roast coffee. In its promotion techniques, Starbucks is focused at using word of mouth, free samples, newspapers, Sport TV in addition to discounts. The new flavorful Avocado will be distributed along with other Starbucks products in all its outlets worldwide. Main objectives of Starbucks in introducing the new product are to improve the sales, product

Strategic Marketing Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Strategic Marketing Management - Essay Example Brief History Samsung electronics is one of the Asian technology firms which have been able to capture a good market in the global market. The firm is a part of the Samsung conglomerate that provides a number of services and products. The firm has been able to establish a large enough market niche, overcoming global giants such as Apple, BlackBerry and Nokia. In terms of its Smartphone sales, Samsung has been able to provide a strong competition in the global market, and this has enabled the firm to be able to increase its sales and revenues. However, although Samsung has been able to capture a big market share on the global market, the firm has not been able to capture the Canadian market where its main competitor, Blackberry, has a stronghold on the market. This is critical because the Canadian market is a particularly good one given the fact that the market is a high end market, with numerous potential customers. Goals To be the market leader Samsung intends to be the market leade r in consumer electronics. ... It also aspires to be able to deliver the best most innovative products especially in the smart phone industry. Increase a cream of the market customer base (price skimming) In the technology industry, price skimming is the best way for firms to get their research and development costs returned as soon as possible. Price skimming refers to the firm being able to sell of a new innovative product and a considerably high price to those people who are can to pay more to be the first to use the product (Baker and Hart 2008). Once this happens, the firm recovers its research and development costs which were incurred in developing that product. The firm can now sell the product to the lower market at a lower price. Since Samsung has a global market, the Canadian market could be the best market to act as its high profile market. Although the market for Samsung is a global one, it fails to have a market stronghold in market areas where the firm can use the market for price skimming. This is b ecause of a number o reasons. First one is the fact that the main markets where Samsung has a stronghold on the market cannot be used for effective price skimming. Black Berry has a stronghold in all the high profile markets, and this makes it possible for Black Berry to use price skimming. This ability also makes it possible for Black Berry to be able to invest properly without worrying about its research and development costs (Martin 2013). If Samsung is able to increase its market share in the Canadian market, it will also be able to do effective price scheming and thus positively affect its research and development process. Fig. 1.0 showing the market share of the main Smartphone brands. Note that Samsung is the only experiencing growth. Increase customer base Apart from having a

Of Mice and Men Essay Example for Free

Of Mice and Men Essay From reading Of Mice and Men sections one and two we know that George and Lennie’s relationship is a bit confusing as George mainly covers Lennie’s back. We also see that George can put Lennie down at times when George is annoyed at Lennie. Although from reading section three I can tell that their relationship is slowly becoming closer and a kinder one. Firstly, George is starting to make Lennie seem a little happier and to show him that he is not all bad at things. We can see this on page 43, line 4, ‘he’s sure of a good worker. Strong as a bull.’ This shows that George is at least trying to make Lennie feel good about himself. Another example of this can be seen again on page 43, line 11,’ he can do anything you tell him, said George. He’s a good skinner.’ This quote could mean that George really does deep down love Lennie as a friend. Secondly, the other hand George can be harsh to Lennie on the odd occasion where George is trying to be funny. A quote for this can be found on page 45, line 5,’ I wasn’t kicked in the head with no horse, was I, George? Be a darn good thing if you was, George said viciously. Save ever’ body or hell of a lot of trouble.’ We can tell from this that George tries to make himself laugh by saying bad things about Lennie. Thirdly, Lennie seems that he does not really seem to make a matter of that he is being treated badly by George sometimes. We can see this on page 43, line 7, ‘George scowled at him, and Lennie dropped his head in shame.’ This shows that he is upset by how he drops his head but doesn’t say anything back to try and defend himself. Shows that he is getting bullied by George a bit. Fourthly and finally another way their relationship builds up is how they always dream of the future and how they both want the best for each other also how they sort of know that it will be all good. I’m guessing that they will talk about the future a couple more times later on in the book. So from reading section 3 we can see that their relationship is very slowly getting better and their bond is getting tighter but George sometimes slows the relationship down, but can say good and positive things about Lennie on the odd occasion.

The Effect of Television on Humans Essay -- TV Media Papers

The Effect of Television on Humans "98% of all homes in the U.K. have at least one television in them"Throughout our planet we are surrounded by media, through magazines, newspaper, internet, radio and, the most influential, television we are educated the news of the world. Just over 96 years ago the first working mechanical TV system was built, by a man name Boris Rosing, and it’s now, in the 21st century the considered the most popular form of entertainment. It is adored by all ages and has become an essential part of the lives of millions of viewers. Television, as many researchers and scientists have said, influences the thoughts of its audience in good and, unfortunately bad ways, with TV broadcasters doing whatever necessary to profit from their shows. Television has a big impact on the youth of today, is the fact that our children are able to view scenes of sex, violence and excess bad language at such an early age have an affect on their future’s? DOES TELEVISION INFLUENCE OUR BEHAVIOUR AND CAUSE US TO BE MORE VIOLENT? The programs watched on TV obviously depend on the preferences of the viewer(s), but the majority of people will watch films quite frequently. ‘Action movies’ have forever been the most popular genre due to the extreme amounts of violence throughout the film. The characters in these films are made to look ‘cool’ when fighting or shooting one another. Teenagers take great pleasure in idolizing these heroes and imagine themselves reacting similarly in such scenarios. It has been found that youngsters who continually watch these ‘action movies’ are more likely to solve problems with violence a... ...nding us. As you can see there are advantages and disadvantages to the television, there is no doubt television influences our attitudes, behaviors and beliefs. Reality shows, Talk Shows, and Soap Operas all contribute to us being prevented from seeing the real truth in our society and what is considered important or not. On the other hand TV is extremely educational and is probably the greatest form of media. I believe that TV should not be an essential part of our daily lives, moderate amounts of it is certainly harmless, if not advantageous. By the time a child becomes an adult, he has witnessed over 12,000 acts of violence on a television screen per year. That equals 144,000 acts of violence between the ages of 5 and 18. The child has witnessed over 8,000 murders before finishing elementary school (APA 1997).

Behavioral Risk Factors and Oral Health

It has been found that as socioeconomic status increases, the incidence of disease, illness, and their impacts decrease (Reisine, 1009).   Specifically, large disparities exist for differences in oral health.   Socioeconomic status is usually measured by â€Å"income, education, or occupational prestige that offer advantages to individuals and families† (Reisine, 1009).   Some base it on the neighborhood that one lives.The frequency of tooth-brushing, dental check-ups, and the consumption of sweets and soft drinks affect dental health ( Ylà ¶stalo, 195).   It is recommended by dentists to brush teeth with a toothpaste containing fluoride daily to prevent tooth decay.   Dental check-ups are encouraged every six months.   In some households, baking soda is used for tooth-brushing.   Although it is inexpensive, it does not contain fluoride.Oral infections and cardiovascular diseases have common biological and behavioral risk factors such as poor diet, smoking, and excessive alcohol use.   The health of one’s mouth affects the health of the rest of the body. The process of digestion begins in the mouth.â€Å"Psychosocial determinants could act as a link between general health behavior and dental health behavior† (Ylà ¶stalo, 194).   Consistency, control, self-worth, life satisfaction, and optimism have been linked to several health outcomes (Ylà ¶stalo, 194).   For example, people that are optimistic tend to recover better from illnesses.In conclusion, the connections between oral and general diseases are because of unhealthy habits; they can result from a person’s socioeconomic status and lifestyle.   These unhealthy behaviors are risk factors for overall health.ReferencesReinsine, Susan T. and Walter Psoter. (2001, October).   Socioeconomic Status and Selected   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Behavioral Determinants as Risk actors for Dental Caries. Journal of Dental Education, 1009-1015.Ylà ¶stalo. P .V., Ek, E., Laitinen, J., and M.L. Knuuttila. (2003). Optimism and Life Satisfaction as Determinants for Dental and General Health Behavior-Oral Health Habits Linked to Cardiovascular Risk Factors. Journal of Dental Research, 82(3): 194-199.

Homelessness: What We Can Do About It

â€Å"Being homeless is often defined as sleeping on the streets. Although this is the most visible and severe form of homelessness, there are many other types of acute housing need. These include living in temporary accommodation, poor or overcrowded conditions, or being in mortgage arrears and under threat of re-possession. † (Hope, 27) It is a symptom of many complex problems: mental illness, emotional instability, illiteracy, chronic substance abuse, unemployment, and, most basic of all, the breakdown of city planning. Anyone can become homeless and the reasons that force people into homelessness are many and varied. The leading cause, however, of homelessness in the United States is the inability of poor people to afford housing. â€Å"Housing costs have risen significantly over the last decade, while the incomes of poor and middle-class Americans have stagnated. † (Erickson, 169) The millions of Americans who are unemployed or work in low-paying jobs are among the most vulnerable to becoming homeless. Therefore, homelessness, housing, and income are inextricably linked. Low-income people are frequently unable to pay for housing, food, child-care, health care, and education. Difficult choices must be made when limited resources cover only some of these necessities. Often it is housing, which takes a high proportion of income that must be dropped. Two major sources of income are from employment and public assistance. A decrease in either one of them would certainly put poor people at risk of homelessness. Additionally, minimum wage earnings no longer lift families above the poverty line. More than 3 million poor Americans spend more than half of their total income on housing, yet the Department of Housing and Urban Development estimates families should spend no more than 30%. † (Gilbert, 84) Although many homeless adults are employed, they work in day-labor jobs that do not meet basic needs, while technological acceleration excludes others from a competitive job market. Many factors have contributed to declining work opportunities for large segments of the workforce, including the loss of well-paying manufacturing jobs. The decline in relatively secure and well-paying jobs in manufacturing, which have been replaced by less secure and poorly-paid jobs in the service sector, has greatly limited the opportunities for poorly-educated and low-skilled segments of the population. This transformation has led to an unprecedented incidence of chronic unemployment and underemployment. (Hardin, 379) â€Å"Underemployment is an especially useful measure of the decline in secure jobs since, unlike the unemployment rate, measures of underemployment reflect not only individuals who are unemployed, but also involuntary part-timers and those who have given up seeking work. (Hardin, 263) In addition to increasing underemployment, an estimated 29. 4% of the workforce are employed in nonstandard work arrangements, for example, independent contracting, working for a temporary help agency, day labor, and regular part-time employment. These kinds of work arrangements typically offer lower wages, fewer benefits, and less job security. â€Å"As recently as 1967, a year-round worker earning the minimum wage was paid enough to raise a family of three above the poverty line† (Sklar, 103). From 1981-1990, however, â€Å"the minimum wage was frozen at $3. 5 an hour, while the cost of living increased 48% over the same period. Congress raised the minimum wage to $5. 15 per hour in 1996. This increase made up only slightly more than half of the ground lost to inflation in the 1980s† (Hardin, 191). Thus, full-time year-round minimum-wage earnings currently not equal to the estimated poverty line for a family of three. Unsurprisingly, the decline in the value of the minimum wage has been accompanied by an increase in the number of people earning poverty-level wages and the declining wages have put housing out of reach for many workers, in every state. Slashed public assistance has also left many people homeless or at risk of homelessness. Replacement of the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) entitlement program, a program that was already inadequate in meeting the needs of families, with the non-entitlement block grant program would significantly increase the risk of homelessness for many Americans. Furthermore, earned income and asset limitations discourage individuals and families from breaking the cycle of homelessness and extreme poverty. Several states have terminated or reduced public assistance and food stamps for individuals, while Social Security Income (SSI) is inadequate, and sometimes impossible to obtain, for disabled individuals. As a result, the number of poor Americans is growing and the poor are getting poorer. Across America, there has been a substantial decline in the number of housing units that low-income people and those in need of shelter assistance can afford. Those losses have resulted primarily from downtown urban renewal, gentrification, abandonment, and suburban land use controls. The elimination and reduction of federal low income housing programs has also dramatically reduced the supply of affordable shelter. Moreover, construction of low income and assisted housing has essentially stopped. Due to the increased demand and diminished supply of housing or shelter, the problem of homelessness is further deteriorated. The amount of housing available in the private sector rental stock is diminishing rapidly. As more and more landlords abandon apartment buildings and houses rather than repair them, the housing supply for the poor has declined at an accelerating pace in some cities in the nation. The growth of service-sector employment in central business districts has attracted white-collar professionals, many of whom prefer to live in accessible central city neighborhoods, where they compete with poor, indigenous residents for private market housing (Noyelle, 210). The result is frequently gentrification of inner city housing which traditionally has been the major source of low- income housing. At the same time, downtown service sector expansion has created jobs for many low-waged workers, which increases the demand for low cost shelter readily accessible to the downtown. It makes the homeless in downtown even harder to rent a place to live. Downtown development also diminishes the supply of low-income housing for poor people. As the City raises more new office towers, the vacancy for housing is getting less. In Seattle, for instance, office space in downtown grew from 13 million square feet in 1981 to about 24 million square feet in 1990. On the other hand, the downtown low-income housing stock declined from about 11,000 units in 1980 to less than 6,000 units in 1987. With the passage of new housing levies, cities will try to regain some low income units, but today s low-income units vanish faster than they can be built and there is still a shortage in housing supply in downtown areas. Besides, the qualities of temporary shelters for homeless people are terrible that they think staying on streets is a better choice. Not only have the lost bed-spaces not been made up, but the new hostels are not as readily accessible to the homeless coming directly off the street. They tend to cater to special-needs groups and access tends to be through referral. Planners can play an important role in the search for solutions to homelessness. And homelessness is an extensive, complex process. Different kinds of intervention are needed to deal with the problem. But the most widely accepted approach is a three-tier system, beginning with emergency shelters and moving through transitional accommodations to long-term housing. Rehabilitation of old buildings by minimal funding are common projects to provide shelters for the homeless people. However, some observers suggests that making the renovation of buildings for low-income housing profitable, for developers or investors, can be the solution to the homeless problem. Our examination makes it clear that piecemeal intervention can alleviate emergency shelter crises, but such action will not resolve the long-term problem of finding permanent shelter for the homeless and returning them to the mainstream of society wherever possible, which we regard as the ultimate goal of intervention. Equally obvious is that while long-term intervention strategies are vital, they do not address the problems of survival for those presently without shelter and support. We conclude that both long-term and short-term measures are necessary, but that all the solutions should be based on integrated, comprehensive understanding of the homelessness problem. Only such a comprehensive approach will allow planners to develop workable strategies with any chance for success.

Therapeutic Communication Essays

Therapeutic Communication Essays Therapeutic Communication Essay Therapeutic Communication Essay Therapeutic communication is the face to face interaction who objective is to advance both physical and emotional condition of the patient. Therapeutic techniques are used by nurses to ensure that they have communicated well with their patients towards providing them with support and all the required communication. This report is aimed at providing the various techniques that were used during the week in ensuring that all the nursing goals have been achieved towards communication with the patient. Therapeutic communications techniques Asking relevant questions. I used this technique in order to seek all the information that I needed for decision making. The questions were asked one after another systematically and each question aimed at exploring all information about the patient. The open ended questions that I used allowed me to take a conversational lead towards introducing relevant information. Examples are What problems are majorly affecting you right now? or How has your pain impacted your daily life? Summarizing. This technique is aimed at pulling all the information about the client into one documentation. Importance of summarizing is that it provides the confidence that the nurse understand what the patient is suffering (Wachtel, 2011). . This is an exact review of what transpired during the time of interaction with the client. Example I have come to find out that you have improved and your pain level has dropped to one. This is because of the Vicodin you took in the morning. I think you should be taking the painkillers just before the doctors comes for the physical therapy as it has helped you to do the required rehabilitation process. Client response was Yes, taking the medicine just before the physical therapy has been successful due to the drop in pain in both my leg and arm. Communication blocks Reassuring clichs. These are techniques that are used by nurses often when communicating with clients. What the nurses are saying is automatically what is expected to communicate to their patients. Theses reassurance clichs are at times are not true, but it the only way the nurse can communicate to the patients. Example Everything will be all right, You are doing well and fine. The use of clichs is a block since as a nurse saying all is fine to the patient resulted from my sincere desire to see the patient have confidence that actually the pain is reducing. The use of clichs at times contradict what the patients are feeling. Telling a patient suffering from pain that all is will be alright might make the feel that the nurse is not intended in solving their problems. Disagreeing with the patients. These are statements that are made by nurses to their patients regarding what they feel. Disagreement come up when the nurse put off what the patient is saying. Example You are wrong No, that is not true Such statements contradict what the patients and nurses have indicated to them. These are blocks to communications as patients would feel threatened and therefore stop expressing themselves accordingly. The patient can even stop from talking about what they feel for fear of being disapproved. Alternative therapeutic communications techniques for the blocks to communicate. Clarifying. This is a technique that the nurses should use to try in understanding the patients for what they find not to be clear. The nurses ought to seek immediate clarification. The advantages of seeking immediate clarifications on what the patient has said will immediately stop any misunderstanding therefore resulting to smooth communication. Showing an interest on the patient automatically motivates the patients to full communicate their problems. Meaningful communication between the patients will only be achieved through effective understanding between the two parties. Example Could you please tell me more aboutbecause I am not sure if I am getting the clear meaning. Exploring. This technique is used to help the nurses to explore further into the reality of the subject they are discussing with the patients. A good nurse is expected to recognize and ensure that they have refrained from probing their clients. In case the patient makes a decision not to explore more about their problems, then the nurse should not probe the patient. The nurse is expected to respect the clients wishes. Example what kind of home are you living in? Tell me about it Swanson caring process Swansons theory of caring maintains that nursing care is a make of how a nurse can understand the patient is to ask every detail information about the current event for instance how the physical therapy has been impacting their health improvements. Being with the client emotionally and sharing their feelings provide them with ease and therefore they will not feel burden with the health situation at hand. Doing for means that the nurse is required to do to their clients what they would love to be done to. Example is comforting the patient when they feel pain. Maintaining belief is to sustain faith that the client will get through with the event. The nurse is supposed to maintain hope attitude and offer the client with realistic hopes. References Wachtel, P. L. (2011). Therapeutic communication: Knowing what to say when. Guilford Press. Swanson, K. M. (1993). Nursing as informed caring for the wellbeing of others. Image: The Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 25(4), 352-357.

6 Strategies to Develop Your Critical Reading Skills

6 Strategies to Develop Your Critical Reading Skills To those in professions that involve using your mind as a tool, keeping skills like critical reading and critical thinking sharp is an absolute must. Most of us have been required to read critically during our education, but, strangely enough, the skill remains untapped or undeveloped by most adults. Critical reading, by and large, concerns not discerning what the text says, but why it says what it says and a sharp critical reader will separate three functions that a text performs: what it says, what it does and what the congruity of those two is supposed to mean. In other words, to read critically is to think not about what the text says about one topic or another, but what the text attempts to accomplish by stating what its stating in terms of facts and arguments presented. Here are some strategies that will help you become a better critical reader: 1. Develop Critical Reading Along With Critical Thinking At least once a day, resolve to read something that attempts to argue for or against a cause. Then, spend some time to answer basic questions: what is the issue and why is it being discussed? What is this author advocating for? How do they justify their stance on this topic? Are these good reasons? Why or why not? For reading material, try the New York Times Opinion Pages. 2. Lay Your Thoughts Out Some prefer using a pen and paper, but the easier way is saying what youre thinking out loud, allowing your thoughts to go from something wishy-washy and unsound to concrete, composed statements. It might seem silly, but even advanced students of logical theory have to do this, and its definitely a practical skill worth developing. When youre ruminating on a topic, your mind can go from one thought to the next, barely registering that something was there after your thought switches to something else. Verbalizing those thoughts allows them to bear weight and be recorded. 3. Read Up on Logical Theory Learn what an argument is and the difference between deductive and inductive arguments. Finally, learn about what makes an argument valid, what makes an argument sound and how those two things differ from each other. Theres lots more to learn, but these are the basics that will serve you well when dissecting someones arguments. 4. Remember to Think Actively Active thinking means asking questions when presented with statements, its opposition being passive thinking, which is based on relying on assumption, taking things at face value, and prejudice. 5. Be a Skeptic, Not a Cynic Critical thinkers are naturally skeptical and suspicious, though in some, this can cross into cynicism. The rule of thumb for distinguishing between the two is that cynics will assume that something is malicious or untrue, while skeptics do not assume anything. Of course, were all just human and sometimes cant help but fall victim to our emotions, however, try and remember that critical thinking involves thinking actively, and cynicism is purely passive emotional impulse. 6. Above All Else, Be Open to New Ideas To a non-critical thinker, the world is only their perspective of it and what doesnt fall into their view is dismissed simply because its different. A critical thinker, and, by extension, a critical reader judges ideas based on merit alone, accepting views that differ from their own and in fact readily exposing themselves to opposing views. Using these guidelines will help you stay sharp and think on your feet when presented with someones opinions. Resolving to read critically is something everyone should do. Its not in everyones character to read everything critically, nor is it possible to think critically and remain skeptical at all times, but in this world where your news come pre-chewed youll need the right tools to combat spin and misinformation.

Strategic Management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

Strategic Management - Assignment Example king from both internal and external influences, explains strategies used by Davies in launching this new line, and proposes recommendations about whether this new launch can provide a return on the investment. The PEST Analysis, as part of environmental scanning, provides an opportunity to witness the different external conditions that influence decision-making. This model recognises political, economic, social and technological forces that will determine a firm’s adaptability to external trends. From the political view, Davies’ new business intends to launch 25 stores. Success domestically will determine whether to take this brand international and strategy could be impacted by different taxation or tariffs on imported products, cutting into the profit margin. Depending on the country where Davies might export his goods, political forces can determine speed of new market entry or regulate volume being delivered. The economic environment plays a considerable role in how a business develops strategy. Where this new line will be introduced, the UK, there is a current recession that impacts consumers at all different levels and market segments. In response to consumers slowing their purchases, especially in retail, high-end companies like Versace have stopped production on five different product lines in lower-priced ranges since they were not showing signs of profitability (Choi, 2009). Further, Tiffany closed its business focusing on Iridesse pearl jewelry to focus on diamonds due to sales slumps (Choi). This illustrates how the economic environment drives companies to streamline their product lines or enhance their sales focus on higher-profiting products. Spending patterns in consumer groups can strongly impact strategic direction, especially at the operational level like at Versace. Social trends, also external, impact how a company conducts business in a certain environment. A recent survey of citizens in Asia identified that Asians tend to worry about

Fat and Happy All at the Same Time Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Fat and Happy All at the Same Time - Essay Example She vividly discussed the convention activities and provided a touching and moving realization on what she referred to as overcoming her old assumptions. The second article Fat and Happy was written by Hillel Schwartz, presented two selections entitled Vindication of Fat and The Fat Society: A Utopia. Schwartz openly discussed in the first selection the prejudice and biases experienced by fat people which can range from childhood to adulthood. On the second selection regarding the Fat Society, Schwartz wittingly discussed the utopian spectacle of a Fat society, where size of your waists or hips does not matter in attaining social freedom or personal happiness. In Mary Ray Worley's Fat and Happy, the author's main argument was there are a "growing number of people who believe that it is possible to be happy with your body even if it happens to be fat." Worley successfully argued the aforementioned premises by sharing her own experiences and the realization of being fat and happy all at the same time. According to her, she was able to realize her full potential when she joined the NAFAA Convention.1 She was able to fully utilize and interpret the information she has gathered.