Fluency & Learning Essay

The purpose of this paper is to specify an interesting story and design reading activities around it to increase the reading fluency of students. The paper starts with a synopsis of The Cay, a tale of survival, in which a young boy is blinded by a severe blow on the back of his head while his ship which makes him entirely dependent on Timothy. The adventurous nature of this story makes it interesting for the students to read and carry out different activities on it, thus contributing to their reading fluency The Cay The book is written by Theodore Taylor. The story deals with a young boy’s misconceptions about race and a black sea man, Timothy, with whom he gets shipwrecked on a deserted island. The young boy, Philip, is blinded by a severe blow on the back of his head while his ship was destroyed by the enemy torpedo. This makes him entirely dependant on Timothy, at least initially through his stay at the island. As Philip explores the island and learns the art of survival and relies less on Timothy, their relationship and mutual respect grows for each other, when they learn to survive and live within the means available at the island. Their struggle to face the odds and survive on an isolated island with no food and water, indeed makes this an interesting tale of survival. (Polette, 1995) I’ll be employing following five different activities for the children to work with the story. Student-Adult Reading In student-adult reading, the class will be divided into small groups and each group will be assigned a chapter from the novel to read. The student will read out loud from the novel with me while the rest of the children listen. I will read the text first, which will actually give the student a model of fluent reading. This is followed by the student reading the same text, while I would assist and encourage him or her during the process. I would repeat this process with individual student until the subject gains fluency in reading the particular passage. (Fluency & Learning to Read – Reading Fluency) c In this activity the students will read a particular passage from the novel along with me as a group. To carry out this activity, each student will be provided his/her own copy of the novel. I would read a particular passage starting from the first chapter so that the children begin to comprehend the story ad they are familiarized with the words. After reading a particular passage I would re-read the passage aloud to model fluent reading but this time asking the students to join in and read the passage along with me. This would be repeated three to five times on selected days of the week. At the end of this routine students should be able to read the text independently. (Reading Fluency, 2002) Tape-assisted Reading This activity follows a different method. Students are supposed to read from their books while they hear and follow a fluent reader read the text from the book on an audiotape. For this activity to be a success the recorded voice should be reading the text at about 80-100 words per minutes. Each student must have his/her copy of the novel in front of him/her and the recorded voice should be loud and audible. To start with, student should point along the text with his finger while listening to the recorded voice. After this practice the student must read out the text aloud with the tape. Reading the text loud with the tape must continue until the student gains fluency and can read the material without the support of the recorded voice. Fluency is important in readind as it allows the particiants to groud words together and focus more on their meanning rather than decoding the text. On the other hand less fluet readers direct more attention towards word recognition than comprehension of the given text. The above mentioned exercise is therefore aimed at easing the hesitation in reading. (Fluency, 2001) Partner Reading Partner reading is an activity which involves a couple of students taking turns to read the text aloud to each other. This would turn out to be an effective reading practice in which fluent readers can be paired with less fluent ones. The less fluent reader will use the fluent reader’s style of expression as a model and learn quickly. The better skilled reader provides help to the weak reader with word recognition and assists him in the process. Another approach to partner reading is check list reading where both the partners are given checklists. After explaining the students how they can change the pitch of their voice to make it more realistic, each students is asked to read out the passage to their respective partners thrice following the above instructions. At the end each students submits a report regarding their partner’s fluency which can be improved upon in the next session. (Murray) Readers’ theatre Readers’ theatre involves students rehearsing and performing a play for their fellow students and friends. Characters from the novel can be assigned to different students who can then act out the play by reading from their individual scripts derived from the novel. ‘The Cay’ will be a suitable book for this practice as it is rich in dialogues. This kind of activity makes reading more appealing and enhances fluency by providing students with the opportunity to interact with their peers on a different level. References Fluency & Learning to Read – Reading Fluency. (n. d. ). Retrieved July 2008, from http://www. time4learning.com/readingpyramid/fluency. htm Fluency. (2001). Retrieved July 2008, from Reading Rockets: http://www. readingrockets. org/teaching/reading101/fluency Murray, D. B. (n. d. ). Developing Reading Fluency. Retrieved July 2008, from http://www. auburn. edu/%7Emurraba/ Polette, N. (1995). The Cay by Theodore Taylor. Retrieved July 2008, from http://www. nancypolette. com/LitGuides/cay. pdf Reading Fluency. (2002). Retrieved July 2008, from http://readingserver. edb. utexas. edu/downloads/primary/guides/Fluency_Presentation. PDF

Sample Test

Jill has called on Marcia's Cosmetics for several years. She has always been friendly to Marcia but treated the other staff with indifference. When Marcia retired, Jill lost the account for what key reason(s)? |   | a. | It was time for a new sales representative. | b. | No one knew her. | c. | No one was educated about her products. | d. | Jill's communication style was different from the new buyer's. | e. | Jill failed to develop good personal relationships with key people. | | 2. | Kenny works for a firm selling modern log homes and frequently conducts an open house at the site of a newly completed home.Kenny does this in order to:|   | a. | choose the right setting. | b. | save travel time. | c. | cover one idea. | d. | appeal to all senses. | e. | plan for the dynamic nature of selling. | | 3. | Most Yes responses come on the ________ closing attempts. |   | a. | 2nd or 3rd| b. | 8th or 9th| c. | 1st or 2nd| d. | 4th  Ã‚  or  Ã‚  5th| e. | 6th or 7th| | 4. | Which one of the following sources would be best if you were considering exporting to an international country and needed foreign country and market information? |   | a. | Canadian Trade Index| b. | Canadian Foreign Investment Guide| c. | Fraser's Canadian Trade Directory| d. Department of Industry, Trade, and Technology| e. | Export Development Corporation| | 5. | Ivana has been hired by the Zenith Company as a professional buyer because of her many negotiation tactics. When she says, â€Å"We like your proposal, but our budget is only $7 500,† this is an example of a:|   | a. | a challenge tactic. | b. | take it or leave it tactic. | c. | a direct tactic. | d. | budget limitation tactic. | e. | let's split the difference tactic. | | 6. | Tara is developing a presentation strategy. She includes establishing objectives for the sales presentation, providing outstanding customer service, and:|   | a. preplanning activities. | b. | overhead design procedures. | c. | developing the presale presentation plan. | d. | enquiring about referrals. | e. | developing a prospect base. | | 7. | If a salesperson were attempting to involve the customer in a presentation for a diamond ring, s/he might:|   | a. | ask if there are any more questions. | b. | encourage the customer to try it on. | c. | explain the store's installment plan of payment for the item. | d. | lay the ring on black velvet to enhance its brilliance. | e. | inform the customer of the gem's clarity. | | 8. Patrick Jones is a skilled networker because he meets as many people as he can, tells them what he does, and:|   | a. | likes to network. | b. | asks everyone he meets for a referral. | c. | does business while he networks. | d. | pays for all entertainment costs. | e. | does  not  do business while networking. | | 9. | The most widely used method for negotiating buyer concerns is the:|   | a. | indirect denial. | b. | direct denial. | c. | trial offer. | d. | spin method. | e. | superior be nefit. | | 10. | Miguel has had three estimates on a home alarm system and the prices are all very close.The last sales representative has indicated if Miguel purchases the alarm now he will receive a 10% discount. The type of close used is:|   | a. | a summary benefits close. | b. | a late close. | c. | an assumption close. | d. | a special concession close. | e. | a minor point close| | 11. | Thomas works in the area of customer service. His duties include:|   | a. | closing sales. | b. | to encourage customers to spend more money. | c. | to enhance the role of the product. | d. | to prevent customers from buying competitors' products. | e. | to work one on one with clients. | | 12. | Another name for full-line selling is:| a. | suggestion selling. | b. | partnering. | c. | cross-selling. | d. | upselling. | e. | value-added selling. | | 13. | Emma knows that a potential customer has four basic qualifications: 1) they need the product, 2) they are able to afford the purchase 3 ) they are willing to buy the product, and 4):| | a. | they will refer others to buy the product. | b. | they will use the product. | c. | they will return for other products. | d. | they are part of a buying centre. | e. | they are authorized to buy the product. | | 14. | Heather has improved her problem solving capabilities over her ten-year sales career.This capability translates into:|   | a. | lower closing rates. | b. | having more happy customers. | c. | selling more expensive products. | d. | longer sales cycles. | e. | more referrals. | | 15. | â€Å"How has the high turnover in your company affected the morale of your employees†, is an example of a:|   | a. | confirmation question. | b. | pleasure question. | c. | probing question. | d. | general survey question. | e. | specific survey question. | | 16. | The length of time devoted to the social contact depends on:|   | a. | whether or not you like the buyer. | b. whether  Ã‚  the buyer is serious about buyi ng. | c. | whether you are feeling sales call reluctance. | d. | whether conversion has happened. | e. | the type of product or service sold. | | 17. | Jason is a photocopier sales rep. He likes to compare the speed of the copier to a â€Å"Concord aircraft†. Jason's goal is to make the presentation more:|   | a. | interesting. | b. | witty. | c. | memorable. | d. | persuasive. | e. | informative| | 18. | The price-cost comparison is most appropriate for:| | a. | inexpensive purchases. | b. | inferior quality products. | c. | transactional buying situations. | d. products with short usage or service life. | e. | products with long usage or service life. | | 19. | Research studies indicate that the referral approach is effective because:|   | a. | customers know that the viewpoint of a third party is always accurate. | b. | customers seldom trust a salesperson, but do trust a third party. | c. | customers will be far more impressed with your good points if they are present ed by a third party rather than by you. | d. | customers always respect the opinions of a third party. | e. | customers don't want to take the time to really get to know sales reps. | | 20. Simon uses confirmation questions; questions used to determine if information is correctly understood:|   | a. | hardly ever. | b. | throughout a sales call. | c. | at the end of a sales call. | d. | at the beginning of a sales call. | e. | in the middle of a sales call. | | Test Name: T2 Example F2012  | 1. | e. Jill failed to develop good personal relationships with key people. | 2. | a. choose the right setting. | 3. | d. 4th  Ã‚  or  Ã‚  5th| 4. | e. Export Development Corporation| 5. | d. budget limitation tactic. | 6. | c. developing the presale presentation plan. | 7. | b. encourage the customer to try it on. 8. | e. does  not  do business while networking. | 9. | a. indirect denial. | 10. | d. a special concession close. | 11. | c. to enhance the role of the product. | 12. | a . suggestion selling. | 13. | e. they are authorized to buy the product. | 14. | e. more referrals. | 15. | c. probing question. | 16. | e. the type of product or service sold. | 17. | d. persuasive. | 18. | e. products with long usage or service life. | 19. | c. customers will be far more impressed with your good points if they are presented by a third party rather than by you. | 20. | b. throughout a sales call. |

Disadvantages of Using Cell Phone in School Essay

The initial intention (for giving the handphone) is to provide facilities for us to know where our kids are but we must think twice before doing so. I advice parents to know how to adopt the technology before giving a mobile phone to their child. For instance, you must know if the phone given to your child only has the basics or if it’s more than that. But I still oppose just giving a basic phone. For me, not giving a phone is the best solution. Having a phone opens up the opportunity for others to do bad things. We want to minimise the risk factors. Problems in school with not doing the homework because of the handphone. I believed that using cell phones during class will cause distraction. It doesn’t matter to students that they are not allowed to use their cell phones while they are in class, they do it anyway. They often send text messages to each other and this can distract them from their education, as well as distract the person they are texting, which is likely to be another student. Many people call this the new way of passing notes. Besides that, Another drawback of allowing cell phones is that they can be used to cheat during quizzes and exams. A student could receive silent text messages from a friend that has already taken a certain exam during a test. It is obviously that when students use their cell phones at school, it makes rumors spread faster. This is because, everyone has access to a cell phone and when somebody hears a rumor, they send a text message to their friend to tell them about it, and their friend sends a text message to another friend, and so on. Some also think that the fast spreading of rumors makes it more likely that the rumors will worsen as it is being spread, and that the quicker it spreads, the worse it gets. In some reasons, I felt that cell phones do not improve school safety. For example when there is an emergency, cell phone signals become jammed if everyone attempts to contact people at once. This can make it difficult for teachers to contact the authorities. If students do successfully contact their parents, parents may all rush to the scene, which can conflict with evacuations or other responses. If students contact their parents, parents will all rush to the scene, which brings conflict or other responses. We are more concerned about the bigger consequences of having a handphone like social problems such as bully and harrashment via mobile phones. Student tends to misused the mobile phone, by recording video of students bullying other students. If there are risks involved and you have calculated and you know that the risks won’t benefit you, why take the risk? Better not to have the risk at all by not giving them a handphone.

Final EXAM Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Final EXAM - Essay Example According to some individuals, the belief in the existence of human rights is just the same as believing in unicorns and witches. Despite some people questioning the existence of human rights, there is no doubt that human rights does indeed exist (Alexy 15). The answer to the burning issue of the existence of human rights is pegged on what human rights are, and as a way of definition, human rights are rights. What proves the existence of human rights is its universality? Ideally, every human being is eligible for human rights. In most cases, human right is used to put a claim on the right to life for every individual. Apart from this, this is used to denote the right for every individual to take part in the process of political-will formation, especially on the area of voting. While the right to life is universal, the political will formation is applied to only some parts since what might be acceptable in one location might not necessarily be acceptable in another place (Rivers 178). Ideally, human rights are as old as the existence of man and their value remains cornerstone to the human race. However, the usage of this term was heightened in the mid-20th century during the struggle for the recognition of civil rights for blacks led by Martin Luther king Jr. However, for many years, individuals in the United States have been fighting for their rights especially the rights of women and children. This means that the existence of human rights is something that has been around for a long time. In most cases, the question of law and order is used to define human rights. While some people claim that the society is only guided by morality, the truth is that the presumed moral standards are nothing but an observance of the rules set down so that human rights are not violated (Rivers 179). Human rights are theoretical rights, and as abstract rights, human rights in many ways clash with without countless other civil rights. In order to ensure

E-commerce Issues for Small Business Dissertation

E-commerce Issues for Small Business - Dissertation Example As the paper declares Business to Business, Electronic Commerce has brought about a sea change in the way transactions are carried out between different entities in business. B2B provides a way for manufacturers to develop products for clients, circumventing the traditional channels involved in doing business. The manufacturer, vendors and customers can directly communicate with each other rather than letting intermediaries mediate. In facilitating easy access, E Commerce provides a cost saving method for different parties to a business to develop maximum productivity. The geographical barriers to conducting trade or manufacturing no longer exist. A manufacturer can sell or market through the Internet on a ‘virtual’ platform but will make huge profits in the real world as he can now get through to a buyer or supplier any where in the world. According to the research findings specifically E Commerce integrates telecommunications, computers and stream lined work processes. Business to Customer e commerce enables customers to directly get in touch with manufacturers. B2B helps organizations communicate. In both forms of this system, parties to a transaction avoid the unnecessary overhead costs and the impact of the technology does more to expand the business than before. The digitized transaction will require taxation and customs regulations to be reviewed to adapt to this change. In many parts of the world, resources are inadequate or stretched to produce mediocre good, which do not find worldwide markets. Even those firms, which aspire to international reach for their products, are hampered by poor infrastructure and unnecessary problems on the way. Additionally there are government regulations, which have not reacted to changing technological environments as rapidly as they should. Partly this may be due to political co mpulsions especially in developing countries, which impede quick decisions and action. There are developing countries, which could be serious players in the B2B scenario but are not cost competitive enough. Supply Chain Management (SCM) has been an issue in developing countries where it is a relatively new tool for production enhancement. The SCM model is delivered through channels using information technology and information exchange. For example, instead of having to actually send along inventory, a manufacturer can rely on the vendor managed inventory software for B2B, which relies on a certain level of information substituting actual inventory. Manufacturers principally use B2B processes, to pass down to suppliers their requirements of their manufacturing program. A traditional supply management program would have involved intricate formalities to be fulfilled. Electronic trading improves productivity, greatly

Cooperation between Canada and China Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Cooperation between Canada and China - Essay Example After the completion of the railway, the majority of Chinese left Canada after the passing of The Chinese Immigration Act of 1885. The act was followed by other acts that were focused on increasing the fees that were levied on the Chinese residents found in Canada. The period between 1923 -1947 was referred to as exclusion era. This was the time during which China was restricted from visiting or residing in Canada (Canadian Census of population 46). However, after 1947, the two countries were engaged in business activities and economic development that resulted in a remarkable economic growth of the two countries. This paper seeks to discuss how globalization influences the patterns of development in Canadian and Chinese history. Since the 1940s, Canada and China have been involved in a number of partnerships that have been growing tremendously resulting in strong economic ties between the two countries. For example, leaders from the two countries have been meeting regularly to discu ss the rich oil fields in the two countries since oil has made both countries to have a stronger relationship. When the energy ministry is not conducting its mandate well, both countries have to raise the issue and make sure that the issue is finally settled. China and Canada have been signing agreements concerning energy distributions and this provides for the exchange of experience in economic matters. One of the agreements that they signed was that Canada had to supply carbon captures and storage projects since China didn’t have the technological know-how about carbon. This agreement gave china confidence and groundwork for further industrial cooperation between the two countries. Influence of globalization on the developments in Canadian and Chinese history China and Canada are two developed countries that have a significant impact on the global economy. The two countries have been involved in trading activities since 1945. Based on the tremendous economic growth of China in the last 50 years, the majority of countries have taken the initiative to form economic ties with China and Canada. Through recognizing its growth potential, the Canadian government has taken the initiative to widen its relationship with China. Precisely, the aim of the Canadian government is to ensure that China’s growth in economy benefits Canada. This is done by making China the most preferred destination for residents of Canada. Due to high influence and emergence of China as a major player in economic sector for the last two decades it has made more countries worldwide to seek the attention from China, and strong economic ties have been established so that they can trade with China and that why Canada was no exception but rather to carry on with trade (China Index of Economic Freedom 33).

Waiting for Macedonia by Ilka Thiessen Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Waiting for Macedonia by Ilka Thiessen - Essay Example The author largely presents a positive side of women in Mercedonia, as compared to the view of women in Bosnia, who are presented as peasantry and solely being in the context of marriage (Thiessen, 16). Thiessen tries to challenge the scholars and academicians who have carried out substantial research, yet have ignored the role of women as leaders in bringing about the required change in Macedonia. On the other hand, the film â€Å"Bosnia: we are all neighbors† is the manifestation of the breakdown of the neighborly relationships that existed in Bosnia between the Muslim majority and the Catholics, mostly the Croats. The film, therefore, addresses the mistrust and betrayal developing on religious grounds during the war in Bosnia, leading neighbors to rise against each other with the minority Bosnian Muslims being evicted by the Christians in this specific village. ( Bringa, 1995). The ethnically mixed village in central Bosnia was torn away by war in 1993, and the Muslims’ houses are portrayed to be desolate as a handful of the Muslims return after the effects of the war have subsided. Eventually, the film emerged from a critical research, where Bringa conducted 15 months of field research in the region in 1980s (Bringa, 1995). One aspect evident after the war period is the complete change of lives of the entire Bosnian population. A previously coexisting community of mixed cultures was torn in the middle by the war, where friends became enemies; the war divided even families (Bringa, 1995). It was difficult to go to work, and schools remained closed with children being sent away from homes to areas where parents felt they could be much safer than at home. The film presents total family breakups, as the reality of the war dawns on Bosnian people; the quiet village now has occasional bursts of bombs and gunshots. Men spend most of their time chopping wood, while many women are scared and just wait helplessly to the unfolding dramas. Surprisingly, the people in this region are eager and uncertain of the peace plans; they watch news eagerly and earnestly with growing hope of peace plans (Bringa, 1995). This means people are yearning for their once quiet life. Men cannot gather more than three at any public pl ace; the former members of the Yugoslavian reserves have guns. The previously united and integrated Bosnia is now torn apart, and life is uncertain for as the reality of the war sinks deep. One aspect that contributes to formation of a unified Bosnian state made of different religious practices is the ideology of ‘brotherhood and unity’ and the ‘economic democracy myth’ (Admason and Jovic, 298). The intervention of the United Nations in managing the translation period in the Yugoslav states ensured majority inhabitants and authorities did not victimize the minorities, with all displaced persons being encouraged to return to their previous homes. Bringa (1995) illustrates the returning of the displaced people to be amidst heavy tensions where people were desperately trying to hold on the possibility of coexisting together despite the disturbing tensions and hatred that brewed during the war (Bringa, 1995).

Creating a Domain Model Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Creating a Domain Model - Essay Example This analogy decodes the computer hostnames as understood through human language; converting them into IP addresses. For example, with the case of the URL, www.suchas.com, it may be converted into 192.0.32.18. The Domain name system is also understood to be a distributed database which maps the IP addresses to the Host names. Utilizing the DNS it is probable to allot domain names to groups of Internet users in a significant way, independent of the actual physical location of each user. Since this is attainable, the hyperlinks of the World Wide Web (WWW) and the contact information provided by the internet will remain unbroken and dependable even though the prevailing Internet routing measures are changed or altered or a mobile device is used by the participant. It is easier to remember the Internet domain names as opposed to IP addresses; for example, in the case of IPv6, 2001:db8::1f70:6e8 or IPv4, 209.75.188.166. People capitalize on this advantage whenever they talk about expressive e-mail addresses and URLs without requiring to comprehend how the computer will essentially locate them. The Domain Name System allots the responsibility of allocating domain names and mapping the domain names to IP addresses through the designation of authoritative name servers for every domain. These authoritative name servers are supposed to be in control of their specific domains, acting in turn to allot other authoritative name servers to their sub-domains. This approach has made the domain name system fault tolerant and distributed and has aided in avoiding the demand for one central register to be continually used. With the presented case, Company Alpha has a prevailing DNS namespace. Diverse locations or establishments may be named with distinct subdomains such as firstname.corp. institu.com or secondname.corp.institu.com to simplify administration. I would consider an immediate action of making the Active directory child

LLB Law of Contract Written Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

LLB Law of Contract Written Assignment - Essay Example The seller (Fred) offered to sell the coffee table to his friend Gary for 450 pounds. This differs by 50 pounds as to the original offer of 500 pounds in the newspaper advertisement. Gary accepted the offer. However, Fred did not know of it as he always forgot to check his email everyday. To assure that Fred will know of his acceptance, Gary sent him a letter by post but Fred did not receive it on time. To analyze the circumstance, there could have been a valid contract if Fred only knew of Gary’s acceptance and confirmed it. It could also be stated that it was Fred’s fault why he was not informed of the buyer’s acceptance. With due praise to Gary, he even instituted another way just for Fred to be aware of his willingness to buy the table. As provided under article 2.205, paragraph 1 of The Principles of European Contract Law, a contract is concluded if the offeree’s acceptance of the offer reaches the offeror. This means that knowledge of the acceptance is a necessary requirement for an agreement to be legally binding. In the instant situation, Fred did not know of Gary’s acceptance. Thus, no contract has been formed. Fred could have checked his email for Gary’s reply as he used it in making the offer. In other words, he could have been logical in forming the contract with the buyer. Clearly, the buyer is of no fault. Nevertheless, Gary is not left without hope. He can still buy the table under the provision on late acceptance. In such section of the law, Gary needs to have Fred’s acknowledgement that he lately received the offer and that he still desires or intends to confirm it. As contained in Article 2.207, late acceptance is to be considered effective if the offeror or the seller informs the offeree (the buyer) that he or she deems it as such (â€Å"The Principles†). Moreover, it must be shown by Gary that he has sent his acceptance in such a way that if it was transmitted normally, the seller could have received it in due time (â€Å"The Principles†). He actually tried to send Fred a letter of his acceptance by post. However, due to a mistake at the post office sorting area, his letter was to arrive only after two weeks. Gary should emphasize this event to Fred. If that happens, a late acceptance will accrue. Fred should not worry of his transaction with Gary. There was no legally binding contract formed. The ultimate decision still depends on him. Second Scene In the second scenario, a buyer who has read the seller’s advertisement offered to buy the table but only for 470 pounds. Fred replied with a condition. He also promised the buyer (Harriet) that he will not be selling the table to anyone as soon as she could raise the desired amount. In doing this, Fred presumed that Gary was not interested to buy the table. Luckily, the buyer was able to raise the money and left a message on Fred’s answer machine. Fred did not hear the phone. Thus, he never bother ed to operate the machine. As a result, he was not aware of Harriet’s compliance of the condition. With regard to this instance, an agreement could have been made if Fred knew of Harriet’s compliance of the condition and acknowledged it. It can be contended that the reason of such failure was not due to Fred’s fault. He inadvertently did not hear the phone while he was in the garden. Also, Fred doesn’t actually know how to operate the answer machine. Article 2.201 of the law states that a proposal shall result to an offer if (1) it is purposefully made to amount to a

Gasb and Fasb Essay Example for Free

Gasb and Fasb Essay Board is to establish and improve standards of state and local governmental accounting and financial reporting that will result in useful information for users of financial reports and guide and educate the public, including issuers, auditors, and users of those financial reports. source: http://www. gasb. org/ FASB: The mission of the Financial Accounting Standards Board is to establish and improve standards of financial accounting and reporting for the guidance and education of the public, including issuers, auditors, and users of financial information. ource: http://www. fasb. org/ Similarities Differences: Both boards share the following objectives: 1. To be objective in its decision making and to ensure, insofar as possible, the neutrality of information resulting from its standards. 2. To weigh carefully the views of its constituents in developing concepts and standards. 3. To promulgate standards only when the expected benefits exceed the perceived costs. 4. To bring about needed changes in ways that minimize disruption to the continuity of reporting practice. . To review the effects of past decisions and interpret, amend or replace standards in a timely fashion when such action is indicated. The main difference between the two is that the GASB is specific to individual state legislatures and the FASB is on a federal level, so their scope is much broader. Compare and contrast GASB and FASB. Explain objectives and how they are similar and different. Describe how the modified accrual basis of accounting differs from full accrua l accounting. The Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) and the Financial Accounting Standards Board were created to establish accounting and financial reporting standards for governmental and not-for-profit organizations. The GASB for governments and the FASB for not-for-profit organizations. Governmental and not-for-profit organization financial statements serve the purpose and needs of their users. These users include governing boards, investors and creditors, taxpayers and citizens, and organizational members, donors and grantors, regulatory and oversight agencies, and employees and other constituents. Users of these statements should be able to assess an organization financial condition, compare an organization’s actual performance with the budget, determine compliance with appropriate laws, regulations and restrictions on the use of funds and evaluate efficiency and effectiveness. (Granof, 2007, pg. 13) The GASB places importance on accountability and feels that the government should be accountable to citizens. In achieving this goal the objectives of the GASB is that organizations are accountable to the citizens. This accountability insists that financial reporting information that will reveal whether current-year revenues are enough to pay current-year expenses; demonstrate whether budgets were adhered to; and mission The objective for the GASB is to set standard in accounting and financial reporting for state and local governments. These standards are to provide useful information for the users of financial reports. In achieving this goal the objectives of the GASB is that organizations are accountable to the citizens. This accountability insists that financial reporting information that will reveal whether current-year revenues are enough to pay current-year expenses; demonstrate whether budgets were adhered to; and assist users in assessing cost and accomplishments of the government organization. According to the GASB users should be able to determine the operating results of the entity for the year with the use of its financial reporting by providing information about sources and uses of financial resources, how the entity financed its activities and meet its cash requirements, and whether the organization financial position improved or eteriorated due to operations. Ensuring that financial reports allow users to determine what level and if the government entity will be able to meet its obligations by providing information on the financial condition and position, about its physical and nonfinancial resources and disclousrue of legal or contractual restrictions on resources and their risks. The F ASB’s mandate is to set accounting and financial reporting for not-for-profit organizations. The FASB determined that financial reporting should provide information that help users make decisions about the allocation of resources, assess services and the ability to continue to provide service, assess how managers discharge their stewardship responsibilities and their performance. In addition, the FASB requires that information is provided about economic resoreces, obligations and net resources of an organization, periodic performance of the organization, how cash and liquid assets are spent and its borrowing and repayment and explainations and interpretations to understand financial information. Differences between GASB and FASB is that the GASB sets standards for state and local governments while the FASB set standards for the federal government. Another difference is that GASB feels that government organizations should adhere to budget compliancy while the FASB does not place specific emphais on budgets but on managers and their manangement . The modified accrual basis is a form of accounting where expenditures are recognized on a accrual basis and cash basis. When using the modified accrual basis revenues are recognized in the period they become available and measureable. On the other hand the full accrual basis of accounting calls for the recognition of revenues and expenses when they are incurred no matter when the monetary transaction takes place.

Independent Practice Issues And Independent Midwifery Nursing Essay

Independent Practice Issues And Independent Midwifery Nursing Essay The founder of modern nursing has rightly quoted that nursing is the care which puts the person in the best possible condition for nature to either restore or preserve health or to prevent or cure injury. Nursing has its own entity and ethics which makes it a profession. In response to the rising health needs, the need for independent nursing is the demand of the hour. This concept is readily formulated and implemented in developed countries. This has helped in meeting the consumers demand for health benefits. During the twentieth century, the nursing profession has undergone immense change. Nursing has progressed from an occupation to a fully licensed profession, with members that provide a broad range of services independently, and in a variety of professional relationships with other providers. This evolution has changed how nurses are educated, clinically prepared, and how they perceive their role. Starting with turn-of-the-century debates concerning the appropriateness of professional nursing practice, registered nurses began assessing not only their licensure status, but their roles related to other professionals. In the early years of the nursing profession, it was generally believed that nurses served and cared for their patients by assisting physicians. However, the perception of nursing often varied dramatically from its practiceThe role of the public health nurse, as it developed earlier in this century, was often independent, with nurses working with families of patients with tuberculosis or other highly contagious diseases and providing a broad range of interventions, both health- and socially-focused. Definition of independent nurse practitioner Wikipedia Definition, An independent Nurse Practitioner(INP) is a registered nurse who has completed specific advanced nursing education (generally a masters degree) and training in the diagnosis and management of common as well as complex medical conditions to provide a broad range of health care services. American Academy of Nurse Practitioners: An Independent Nurse Practitioner is referred as advanced practice nurse has a masters degree in nursing in the specialized area of her/his interest and licensed to practice in her/his state. The International Council of Nurses defines INP: A registered nurse who has acquired the expert knowledge base, complex decision-making skills and clinical competencies for expanded practice. PHILOSOPHY OF INP The core philosophy of INP is to provide individuals care to patients of all ages. Its care focuses on patients conditions as well as the effects of illness on the lives of the patients and their families. INPs make prevention, wellness and patient education priorities. This means fewer prescriptions and less expensive treatment. Informing patients of their health care and encouraging them to participate in decisions central to the care In addition to care, INPs conduct research and are often active in patient advocacy activities. Standards required for practice of midwifery Midwifery care is provided by qualified practitioner, who is registered Midwifery care occurs in a safe environment with in context of family, community and system of health care. Midwifery care supports individual rights and self determination with in boundaries of safety. Midwifery care comprises of knowledge, skills and judgment that foster the delivery of safe, satisfying and culturally competent care. Midwifery care based up to knowledge, skills and judgment which are reflected in written practice guidelines. Midwifery care is documented in format that assessable and component. Midwifery care is evaluated acc. to an established prog. For quality management that include a plan to identify and resolves problem. Midwifery practices may be extended beyond the set competences to incorporate new procedures, that improves care for women and their family. HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF INP Nurse practitioners have provided a healthy partnership with their patients for more than 40 years. INP role originated as one strategy to increase access to primary care. The following are brief historical background of INP. The nurse practitioner role had its inception in the mid-1960s in response to a shortage of physicians. The first NP Program was developed as a masters degree curriculum at the University of Colorados School of Nursing in 1965, founded by Loretta C. Ford, a nursing faculty member and Dr. Henry K. Silver, a pediatrician. Programs were developed across the country to provide additional education for experienced nurses to enable them to provide primary health care services to large underserved populations. The first programs were in pediatrics and they soon spread to many other health care specialties. During 1970-1971 Federal Legislation recommended Certificate Programme for nurses to deliver primary health care. Gradually certificate programme shifted to masters degree In response to health care reform in 1990s 3 INPs programmes were developed to meet the demand of primary care services. By 1994, 248 programme centres were developed for INP in US. In 1995, 49000 nurses were employed as INPs. American Academy of Nurse Practitioner in 1993 developed standard and guidelines for practice of INPs which are still followed. Today 200 universities and colleges are offering INP programme all over the world. 70,000 nurses are working as INP in US. Development of Independent nurse practitioner (Independent Nurse Midwifery Practitioner) development in India The Indian Nursing Council (INC), the parent body of the nursing councils in the country, has rolled out an initiative, which is in the early implementation stage, and has been forwarded for approval to the Union Health ministry. Independent nurse practitioners trained in midwifery has been introduced to bring down the high Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) and Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) in rural areas. The National Population policy 2000 includes reduction of maternal and infant mortality as one of the socio-demographic goals to be achieved by 2010. The single most important way to reduce maternal death in India would be to ensure that a skilledhealth professional is present at every birth. Skilled care during childbirth is important because millions of women and newborns develop serious and hard to predict complications during or immediately after delivery. Skilled health professions such as doctors or nurses who have midwifery skills can recognize these complications and either treat them or refer women to health centers or hospitals immediately if more skilled care is needed. So, in order to ease the impact of the shortage of gynaecologists in community health centres, INC performed a pilot study for the Independent Nurse Practitioner Project in West Bengal at SSKM Hospitals female medical and surgical wards. The project provides an 18 months training in midwifery, besides an additional training in emergency obstetric care to candidates who have completed their BSc in nursing and have two to three years of clinical experience in ob-gyn wards to take care of ANMS in rural sector. These nurses are called independent nurse practitioners as they are trained to prescribe medicines following approved protocols and take decisions independently in absence of gynaecologists. 2 of the 4 trainees have been assigned to a CHC to manage obstetric cases. The results of the pilot study has been submitted to health ministry and the government of India is currently examining the proposal to extend this project all over India. INC is finalising a curriculum with senior obstetrics and gynaecologists for the training of independent nurse practitioner module. Explains T Dileep Kumar, president, INC, In rural areas, though a community health centre should be manned by physician, surgeon, paediatrician and gynaecologist, the community health centre is usually found facing a shortage of gynaecologists. Its in such a scenario, that the role of independent nurse practitioner gains importance, here, Auxiliary midwives are trained. Independent nurse practitioners should be regarded as a part of solution for improving quality, access and cost of care and continuing education. BASIC requirements of Independent nurse midwifery practitioner Becoming Independent nurse midwifery practitioner is one of the important challenges as it needs specialized qualification. The basic requirements are mentioned below: Basic nursing education Registered nurse Advance Nursing Certification (Master Degree in Obstetics and gynaecology nursing) Collaboration with any hospital/agencies for referral and reimbursement Areas of practice Independent nurse midwifery practitioners work in a variety of settings, including: Community Clinics and Health Centres Nurse managed centres private practices (either by themselves or together with a physician), hospitals, nursing homes, birthing centers. Womens Health Clinics Home health care agencies/Home Nursing Schools or colleges based health clinics They often provide care to underserved populations in rural areas or inner-city settings. What Independent nurse midwifery practitioner can do? Midwifery nurse practitioner is a registered professional nurse, with a current license to practice, who is prepared for advanced nursing practice by virtue of knowledge and skills obtained through a post-basic or advanced education program of study acceptable to the State Board of Nurse Examiners. She is prepared to practice in an expanded role to provide primary care to women, to well-woman related to reproductive health, conduct annual gynecological exams, provide education regarding family planning, and provide menopausal care. She provides care in a variety of settings including, but not limited to homes, hospitals, institutions, community agencies, public and private clinics, and private practice. She acts independently and/or in collaboration with other health care professionals to deliver health care services. She conducts comprehensive health assessments aimed at health promotion and disease prevention. She is capable of solo practice with clinically competent skills and are legally approved to provide a defined set of services without assistance or supervision of another professional. Midwifery practitioners are specialists in low-risk pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum. They generally strive to help women to have a healthy pregnancy and natural birth experience. They are trained to recognize and deal with deviations from the normal. Midwifery nurse practitioners are uniquely qualified to resolve unmet needs in primary health care by serving as an individuals point of first contact with the health care system. This contact provides a personalized, client-oriented, comprehensive continuum of care and integrates all other aspects of health care over a period of time. Their focus of care is on health surveillance (promotion and maintenance of wellness), but it also provides for management of complications in order to maintain continuity. Midwifery practitioners refer women to general practitioners or obstetricians when a pregnant woman requires care beyond the their area of expertise. They are trained to handle certain more difficult deliveries, including breech births, twin births and births where the baby is in a posterior position, using non-invasive techniques. Nurse-midwives work together with OB/GYN doctors. They either consult with or refer to other health care providers in cases that are outside of their experience (for example, high-risk pregnancies and pregnant women who also have a chronic disease). Many studies over the past 20 30 years have shown that nurse-midwives can manage most perinatal (including prenatal, delivery, and postpartum) care, and most of the family planning and gynecological needs of women of all ages. Nurse-midwifery practitioners have improved primary health care services for women in rural and inner-city areas. SCENARIO OF MIDWIFERY IN USA INDEPENDENT MIDWIFERY PRACTICE It is the position of the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) that midwifery practice is the independent management of womens health care, focusing particularly on common primary care issues, family planning and gynecologic needs of women, pregnancy, childbirth, the postpartum period and care of the newborn. The practice occurs within a health care system that provides for consultation, collaborative management or referral as indicated by the health status of the client. Independent midwifery enables certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) and certified midwives (CMs) to utilize knowledge, skills, judgment, and authority in the provision of primary womens health services while maintaining accountability for the management of patient care in accordance with ACNM Standards for the Practice of Midwifery. Independent practice is not defined by the place of employment, the employee-employer relationship, requirements for physician co-signature, or the method of reimbursement for services. Nor should independent be interpreted to mean alone, as there are clinical situations when any prudent practitioner would seek the assistance of another qualified practitioner. Collaboration is the process whereby health care professionals jointly manage care. The goal of collaboration is to share authority while providing quality care within each individuals professional scope of practice. Successful collaboration is a way of thinking and relating that requires knowledge, open communication, mutual respect, a commitment to providing quality care, trust and the ability to share responsibility. SCENARIO OF MIDWIFERY IN UNITED KINGDOM Independent Midwives UK represent the majority of independent midwives in the UK. The organisation is committed to improving maternity provision for all women in the UK and is working with other support, service and professional groups, including the Government, to achieve that objective. Independent Midwives UK also provides professional advice and mutual support for independent midwives. The former Independent Midwives Assosiation has recently become Independent Midwives UK, an Industrial and Provident Society. The new organisation is a Social Enterprise and with Government support, Independent Midwives UK is working towards making Independent Midwifery available to all women who are entitled to NHS maternity care. Independent Midwife Independent Midwives are fully qualified midwives who have chosen to work outside the NHS in a self employed capacity. Independent midwives fully support the principals of the NHS and are currently working to ensure that all women can access gold standard of care in the future ( LINK). The role of the midwife encompasses the care of women and babies during pregnancy, birth and the early weeks of motherhood. Qualification and regulation of midwives Midwifery is the most securely regulated profession in the UK. All practising midwives must adhere to the Midwives Rules which are enshrined in the 1902 Midwives Act of Parliament and subsequent amendments. All independent midwives have undertaken full midwifery training and are subject to annual supervisory visits and equipment checks. In line with the requirements of our regulatory body, the Nursing and Midwifery Council, we are required to ensure that our clinical practice is up to date and that our actions are within our sphere of competence. Role in emergency conditions There are very few genuine emergencies during childbirth; this is why research has shown that for most women homebirth is at least as safe if not safer than hospital birth. As the experts in childbirth, midwives are trained to recognise any early warning signs that things may not be progressing normally and to take appropriate action. If the unexpected should happen, all midwives are trained in emergency resuscitation of both mothers and babies Independent Midwives carry all the necessary emergency drugs and equipment and these are checked on a yearly basis by a supervisor of midwives. Emergency equipments Independent Midwives carry all the necessary emergency equipment to ensure that if a baby is born needing resuscitation, this can be performed. For example: oxygen, suction, bag and mask. All midwives are trained in emergency resuscitation. Independent Midwives also carry emergency drugs in case a woman is bleeding heavily. They update ourselves on a yearly basis in emergency neonatal resuscitation and many of us have attended emergency skills workshops tailored for independent midwives attending homebirths. It is a requirement that our equipment is checked on a yearly basis by a supervisor of midwives. As Independent Midwives, often working alone and mainly facilitating homebirth, we are very conscious that we need to be completely up to date with all the necessary skills should an emergency occur. Charges for services As Independent Midwives are all self-employed they are all able to choose what they charge. Independent Midwives have to cover all their own costs such as training, equipment and travel. Rates may vary in different areas of the UK; currently a complete package of care will cost you between  £2000 and  £4500 (approx). Most Iindependent Midwives will want to receive payment in full by the time you are 36 weeks pregnant but if you have genuine difficulties in paying please discuss it with your Independent Midwife as most can offer flexible payment plans. Credentials to become a midwife Becoming an independent midwife can seem a daunting challenge but many midwives have taken the leap and few regret doing so. Once a midwife has completed an approved programme of education and is registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council, (NMC) she/he may practice where ever she/he chooses to in accordance with NMC rules. In the UK that could be in the NHS, the private sector, with an agency  or as an independent self employed midwife. If a midwife chooses to be self employed she is regulated by the NMC midwives rules and standards, and must adhere to the same statutory obligations as an employed midwife. SCENARIO OF MIDWIFERY IN AUSTRALIA Midwives in Private Practice (MIPP) For centuries midwives have worked among their communities providing care to women. Historically midwives have held a philosophy of care based on the belief that pregnancy is, basically, a healthy process and a normal part of life, growth and development. It is this belief that guides the way in which midwives in private practice work. Midwives choosing to work privately, rather than being employed by hospitals and other institutions, do so because it allows them to be flexible about the care they provide. That is, the care offered will be in partnership, directed primarily by the wishes of the women and their families. The private practitioner midwife is able to provide continuity of care to the families who have chosen to use her services. During the pregnancy, the woman and her family develop a friendly supportive relationship with their midwife (in some cases eg homebirth, the care is shared by two midwives). On the day the baby is born the midwife remains with the woman throughout the entire labour. There are no shift changes that require the midwife to leave. During the first week of the babys life the same midwife visits each day until the baby has settled into a feeding pattern and the parents feel confident in caring for their new baby. Some midwives in private practice choose to work in specific areas. For example, some may offer postnatal care, or advice with difficult breastfeeding problems (Lactation Consultants) or Maternal and Child Health (MCHN). In addition, some midwives are skilled and have qualifications in complementary areas such as acupuncture, counselling, naturopathy, chiropractic, massage or homeopathy. The range of services provided: Pre-pregnancy advice Advice about birth options Childbirth education classes Sibling preparation classes Continuous midwifery care during pregnancy Preparation for and attendance at births in an appropriate environment of the parents choice Postnatal care following birth at home, birth centre or hospital Separate postnatal care for women who want private midwifery care for this period only or who are discharged home early from hospital Lactation consultancy Acupuncture and Chiropractic Referral to and advice about other health professionals such as medical and natural health practitioners, eg obstetricians, paediatricians, GPs, chiropractors, osteopaths, naturopaths, homeopaths Some midwives have a special interest and expertise in supporting women in special areas such as vaginal birth after caesarean section (VBAC), breech births, water births and postnatal depression. SCENARIO OF MIDWIFERY IN INDIA Prof. Uma Handa (ex Consultant Midwife, UNICEF) has a BS and an MSc in Nursing with specialization in obstetrics and gynecology. She has worked in the field of nursing since 1974, in nursing educational institutions in both the conventional and distance system, as well as in national and international health agencies. Countries in which she has worked include Sri Lanka, UK, Bangladesh and South Africa (University of Namibia-UNAM). She has received many special awards throughout her career. Umas present goal is to promote independent midwifery practice in India to encourage mothers to go through natural childbirth and so that unnecessary medical and surgical interventions can be prevented. Organizations she is member of: Nursing Research Society of India (Founder), Trained Nurses Association of India (TNAI), White Ribbon Alliance India (WRAI), Society of Midwives, and Executive Committee member Birth India. Issues in independent nurse practice Nursing has been thought to be a part of the medical team where all professionals provide input to build the best care of the patient but now times have changed nurses have developed themselves as independent professionals with a unique body of knowledge. The nurses could not document that they hold a patients medications based on nursing judgment. Such an instance might be when a patient had hypotension from pain medication and thus the morning anti-hypertensive is held. Instead, they need an order from a physician to hold such medication. Further, something like Tylenol on a patients medication record ordered for fever could not be administered by the nurse for a headache if the patient requested it because that would be practicing medicine without a license.   A nurse cannot order a social services consult, flush a urinary catheter should it become clogged, refer a patient for diabetes education, etc., etc., without an order from the supervising physician. Although they were trained to recognize these things, they carried an independent license, sat for an examination to obtain that license, and had years of education. Perhaps nurses really could not do any of these things without a supervising physician to tell them? Physicians, are critical components of the health care team there is no doubt, but why send a nurse to school and give him/her an independent license, scope of practice, and make them answerable to a board of nursing but then limit their usefulness. In the early years of the nursing profession, it was generally believed that nurses served and cared for their patients by assisting physicians. However, the perception of nursing often varied dramatically from its practice. During wars and times of crises, nurses worked with and beside physicians conducting surgical procedures, diagnosing care, and prescribing treatments and drugs. The role of the public health nurse, as it developed earlier in this century, was often independent, with nurses working with families of patients with tuberculosis or other highly contagious diseases and providing a broad range of interventions, both health- and socially-focused. During the twentieth century, the nursing profession has undergone immense change. Nurses have developed themselves as independent professionals with a unique body of knowledge. Nursing has progressed from an occupation to a fully licensed profession, with members that provide a broad range of services independently, and in a variety of professional relationships with other providers. This evolution has changed how nurses are educated, clinically prepared, and how they perceive their role. But, there are certain issues in independent practice: Curriculum for independent nurse practitioner development: Early nurse practitioner training involved nondegree, certificate programs of one year or less. Today the nursing community strongly supports masters degree preparation for entry-level practice. Although the level of education is higher, the focus has remained the same: Nurse practitioner programs emphasize primary care, preventive medicine and patient education. However, physicians offer a different service to patients. With five years of medical education and three years of residency training, their depth of understanding of complex medical problems cannot be equaled by lesser-trained professionals. Prescriptive authority. Nurse practitioners have the authority to prescribe and can write prescriptions (including ones for controlled substances) without any physician involvement. However, some believe that there should be collaborative prescribing agreement between nurse practitioners and physicians. Public view of nursing: Many articles in nursing as early as 1928, speak to the concerns about nurses. Nice girls, dont do nursing!. If you have a strong back and weak mind, be a nurse The publics images of nurses has not essentially changed since nursings inception. In public opinion, nurses are identified as a means for decreasing the cost of health care. She is considered as a highly trained professional who is providing an alternative to the expensive primary care physician. They wonder that can she do anything that a primary care physician can do. They are reluctant to recognize nurse practitioners as primary care providers. Areas of practice: Nonphysician providers have historically thrived in settings where physicians were unavailable places they were unable or unwilling to go, It remains to be seen if independent nurse practitioners will be economically viable in areas of physician oversupply. Quality of care: Many studies show that patients have a high or very high level of satisfaction with NP Services. Regarding measurement of diagnosis, treatment, and patient outcomes, several studies indicate that the quality of care provided by NPs is equal to that of physicians. Cost effective care: Nurse practitioners provide a cost effective care. One study compared the costs of care for two primary care problems and found that the cost of care given by NPs was 20% less than the cost of care given by physicians. At the same time, some argue that, without ready access to supervising physicians, nurse practitioners are likely to order more tests and consultations and be quicker to admit patients to the hospital, thereby driving up health care costs. Insufficient evidence-based practice and nursing research There is a need of promotion of evidence-based practice and nursing research so that with a sound knowledge base, the nurses will be able to function more independently. Establishment of policies on the use of evidence in practice is required. Nurses with a Masters degree should be encouraged to provide evidence, read nursing research and use evidence to improve or change nursing practices. An academic atmosphere should be created in the workplace. An information system and library should be provided. Multidisciplinary research should be encouraged. At the hospital, there should be a person who is responsible for nursing research activity including fund seeking for research and building of research network. Nurse educators should develop a short-course training on evidence-base and research or to supervise research activity. Resources such as journals and books can be shared. Joint research between nurse educators and clinical staff should be encouraged to strengthen the capacity of both groups and improve education and practice. The INC can be a part of nursing research development. The INC should set nursing research priorities in collaboration with nursing and non-nursing organizations to provide research funds and promote nursing activities for policy formulation. Establishment of a nursing research information system is encouraged to monitor research work, areas of research and researchers. Dissemination of nursing research and models for best practices should be established. Need for establishment of a continuing nursing education system Continuing education is an informal study or activity to gain knowledge and learn about new technology. Lifelong education is essential for self-development, knowledge-building and learning. Continuing education stimulates nurses to keep up with new knowledge and technology, to increase their skills and competency, and to be able to contribute to the health care team. The existing continuing nursing education programmes should be strengthened or new units established. The appointment of responsible persons for continuing education activity is needed. Continuing education programmes should get approval from the INC so that nurses can develop increased competency to work independently. Need to establish a quality assurance system for the nursing service A quality assurance system comprises vision, mission, objectives, strategic and operational plans, nursing service activity, nursing manpower management, roles and responsibilities, nursing standards, nursing indicators, nursing research, nursing administration and management, resource allocation and financial support. The objective of this system will be to ensure quality care and nursing outcomes as expected by clients (less suffering, shorter duration of hospital stay, and reduction of health care costs, infection, complications and mortality), and according to professional standards. It also indicates the commitment of the care provider towards providing the best care to consumers. Successful development and implementation of the system depends on the commitment of nursing leaders, hospital administrators, mutual goal-setting, participation of all personnel in the process, continuous quality improvement and good communication. The role of the INC in regulating nursing practice should be strengthened by amending the Nursing Act to include maintaining of registration of qualified nurses, renewal of licence, and setting up a nursing service and nursing education accrediting system. If possible, a hospital QA system should have nursing as an integral part and involves nurses in a surveyor team. Thus, this will help ensure the quality of services provided by independent practitioners Lack of involvement of nurses in health and nursing policy formulation and planning There is insufficient involvement of nurses in healt

Artemesia Gentileschi Essay -- Biography History Painter Artist Essays

Artemesia Gentileschi Artemesia Gentileschi was very different from other artisis of her time. Being a woman painter was all but unheard of during the High Renaissance. She had the style of Caravaggio, while at the same time bringing in women's characters who were in the position of power. Throughout art history, an idea that women are present solely for men to look at has been shown. This could be because men have generally been the target audience, and naked women the subject. In her paintings, Gentileschi shifted the focus to women and showed them as real people. She was both praised and scorned by the critics of her time. She was thought a genious, yet terrible because she was a woman in what was thought to be a man's area of expertise. Like many other women artists of her time who were banned from apprenticeship with successful artists, Gentileschi was the daughter of a painter. She was born in Rome on July 8, 1593, the daughter of Orazio and Prudentia Monotone Gentileschi. Her mother died when Artemesia was only twelve. Her father trained her as an artist and introduced her to some of the artists of Rome, including Michaelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, whose chiaroscuro style (contrast of light and shadow) greatly influenced Artemesia Gentileschi's work. Other than artistic training, she had little or no schooling. She did not learn to read or write until she was an adult. However, by the time she was seventeen, she had produced one of the works for ...

All about star wars :: essays research papers

Star Wars, by George Lucas, is an excellent movie. This movie is filled with archetypal and mythic patterns , and the ideas represented in the film are essential ingredients to human emotion . The most obvious idea represented by the movie is religion. Good versus Evil, Light versus Dark, and the Rebels versus the Empire -- these are all spiritual overtones in the elaborate story line. The religious connections become apparent when aspects of the movie are analyzed. Star Wars opens with a deserted desert planet where the viewer is introduced to the main character, Luke Skywalker, and his aunt and uncle. Luke is a young kid who yearns for adventure, he is gifted with a strong grasp of "The Force", a mystical ability to manipulate the environment with one’s mind. At first, Luke is unaware of his gift, and unsure of his beliefs. He is guided by a old wise man named Obi-Wan Kenobi, A once Jedi Knight. Jedi Knights were once the protectors of the galaxy but are all but extinct. Obi-Wan provides guidance for the young Skywalker, teaching him how to use his gift for good. Once Luke lets go of his mental block, and is able to feel the force, Obi-Wan tells him "You've taken your first step into a larger world." The force is a religion that is not only an idea, but seems to have physical properties to it. It's all powerful, like a God, but yet the Jedi have found a way to interact with it. The force is balanced between good and evil, providing room in the galaxy for both. Obi-wan describes the force as "†¦what gives the Jedi his power... It's an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us, it penetrates us, and binds the galaxy together.† Also on the good side of The Force, there are the Rebels, and Princess Leia. It is interesting to note that all of the foot soldiers of the Rebel Alliance wear helmets which are open faced, so that the viewer can see the face of the rebel, and humanize them. Princess Leia represents the damsel in distress that is held captive by the evil lord, Darth Vader. The Princess is dressed in a white gown to show innocence, purity, and truth. There are also characters in Star Wars that are somewhat neutral when it comes to The Force.

The Lord Of The Flies :: essays research papers

'Lord of the Flies Creative Essay';   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are many lessons of human nature to be learned from the novel Lord of the Flies; the book explores many aspects of human nature and society as a whole. We know this is evident because the book stirs a variety of human emotions for the reader. The implications of Lord of the Flies go far beyond these few small children being abandoned on a dessert island, it discovers the defects of the mind and our human nature in order to explain our actions in society. Human fear stems from the unknown, which leads to terror and often irrational behavior; just as the children on the island experienced fear, the island became an evil place as if 'a beast ' had been unleashed. We later learn that the fear of the unknown causes humans to release their own devils from within. In effect, their world isn't so different from the one we live in now.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I find it ironic that the very person who interrupted the children's sick man-hunt of Ralph, will take the children to his ship, which will then hunt the enemy in the very same fashion. Society is no better than the children who are stuck on the island and showing their violent attributes. However, these children were saved, only to be exposed to the exact same situation on a greater level. The entire time the boys were stuck on that terrifying island they were wishing for an adult to come and release them from it. Who then will rescue this individual and save him from the terrors of the world?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There is also a political system on the island just as there is in our society. Ralph is the children's elected representative. He appoints hunters (or an army in our case) and a leader to this group on the island. He also appoints people to look after the fire, people to get water, to get food and make shelters (political heads). They also have an age of importance on the island, they can distinguish a minor from their form of an adult just like us. In this way the island is run in an orderly fashion. However, as in most political systems there are people who will oppose the decisions made by their representative. Jack is this leader of anarchy on the island. He drives this toward Ralph like people in society would protest or go on strike.

Drug Abuse in Adolescents

Adolescence is a critical stage of change and confusion, full of promises and challenges for youngsters and parents alike. They undergo significant changes in biology, cognitive capacity and self-image. When they exhibit complex problems such as abuse of alcohol and other drug substance, delinquent behavior, serious depression or symptoms of psychosis would definitely need family support and guidance more than ever (Snyder, 1998).The causes of drug abuse and addiction were sought in qualities of the individual and historically have included such things as moral failure, psychological distress, and genetic disposition. Methamphetamine, for example, can cause psychotic delusions including homicidal or suicidal thoughts. Long-term use of the drug can lead to brain damage, similar with Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, or epilepsy.Cocaine, on the other hand, could cause complications to heart, lungs, gastrointestinal and nervous system. This would further lead to delinquent behaviors, school dropouts and engagement to premarital sex that would affect not just the teen him/herself but his family, friends and the society as well.Excessive family conflicts, marital discord, verbal, physical and sexual abuse, early insecure attachment, poor parent/child relationships, lack of parental bonding, poor family management, lack of parenting skills and dysfunctional care giving put stress on teens which makes them vulnerable that could lead to drug abuse.The media, internets, peer pressure are also significant factors that could influence teens getting involve in drug abuse (Ashery, et al, 2000).Family-Centered treatment is offered in many outpatient settings in drug abuse treatment fields. These include public-private partnership with private programs delivering services under grants or contracts with Federal, State, or local governments. In these outpatient settings, families are often included in educational programs and individual and multifamily group therapy.In inpati ent settings, adolescents have historically been isolated from their families, often only being allowed to see them during brief visiting hours. Once the adolescent is admitted to an inpatient facility, the family is involved in many treatment activities such as educational presentation and individual and multifamily group therapy.Other settings are day treatment or partial hospitalization programs and variety of community-based self-help groups that target the families of troubled adolescents (Snyder, 1998).Drug abuse of adolescents can be prevented through strong economic base, achievement orientation, role adoptability, spirituality, extended family bonds, racial pride, respect and love, resourcefulness, community involvement and family unity (Ashery, et al, 2000).Reference:Rebecca S. Ashery, Elizabeth B. Robertson, Karol L. Kumpfer (2000). Drug Abuse Prevention Through Interventions. DIANE PublishingSnyder, Wendy (1998). Empowering Families, Helping Adolescents: Family-Centered Treatment of Adolescents with Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Problems  DIANE Publishing

Human Experience: Miracles Essay

In our society today, through medical and scientific breakthroughs, to extensive and higher levels of knowledge, the idea of miracles becomes overshadowed by explanations. There are many people who could be described as â€Å"doubting Thomas'† because to believe, they feel that they â€Å"need to see†. Almost anything can be explained if one tries hard enough. Most of the cure miracles in Luke’s Gospel can be shown to have happened to people with diseases, traced back to mental and nervous disorders. However, it is still evident that lots of people across the word still believe in miracles, as over 200 million people visit Lourdes each year. All of the Miracles found in Luke’s Gospel, are signs of the Kingdom of God as it is obvious that the divinity of God is present, when the lame can walk, and the blind can now see. These miracles give hope to those who are themselves, in need of healing, as they show that Jesus will help them in their time of need, it also helps to strengthen their faith. Through the study of these miracles, it is easy to see that universalism is a main characteristic of Luke’s gospel, as in every miracle, it is the outcast, the marginalised, who is healed. Jesus often paired the healing with forgiveness of sins. There are many Holy sites throughout the world, that are renowned for the miracles that have taken place there, such as Lourdes, Fatima, and Knock. Lourdes is probably the most visited of these sites, garnering over 200 million pilgrims every year. Over 7000 cures have taken place in Lourdes, but only 67 have been recognised as â€Å"miraculous† by the Catholic Church. The latest recognised miracle was that of Anna Santaniello, who on a visit to the Baths of Lourdes was healed of her acute heart condition on the 19th of August, 1952. She was brought to the baths on a stretcher, and left walking by herself. â€Å"In front of the Grotto, I prayed to the Blessed Virgin Mary that she would restore this young man to full health so that he could at least continue to work.† Anna was a kind, selfless woman, who then went on to help unfortunate children find families and homes. Often, those healed went on to help others who were in need, following on in the example of Bernadette Soubirous, who joined the Sisters of Charity of Nevers convent, as an assistant infirmary and then a sacristan. It is clear that the numerous charities in action today, who are responding to those in need, are following in the example that Jesus set. Charities such as Trà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½caire, and Children in Crossfire, are constantly trying to help children and families in under developed countries. An example of the kind of people that Trocaire helps every day, is that of Juan Francisco Trujillo, aged 16, from a remote village called Caserà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½o Chilama in El Salvador. His family live on the opposite side of the river to the rest of the village. Flooding cuts his family off from their village. When this happens, Juan Francisco cannot go to school. ‘There is a large boulder in the middle of the river. If the water is over this boulder, I know it is too dangerous to cross’, says Juan. Another example of someone helped through the work of Trocaire, is Mary Akai, who suffers from Aids who is a member of the HIV/AIDS support group at Love and Hope Centre, three of her children died of AIDS. She calls the founder of the centre, Sister Patricia Speight, her new mother. â€Å"I thought I was dying,† she said. â€Å"I owe my recovery to Sister Patricia. She fed me from a spoon when I was too low.† Many of those in need, visit â€Å"faith healers† and though some genuinely believe that they can cure people of disease, many are con-artists who steal innocent people’s money, or some actually try to â€Å"heal† or get rid of â€Å"demons† from children. ‘Ndoki’ was said to target children particularly either when still in the womb or in early childhood through a piece of food infected with the evil spirit, said Dr Hoskins who has made an extensive study of traditional religions in Africa. â€Å"We know that ndoki does exist. Back home and everywhere else too there are people who are used by the devil to bring a curse or bad luck to other people’s lives, even to kill them,† says Pastor Modeste Muyulu. Dr Hoskins, is a consultant to the Metropolitan Police on religiously-motivated ‘ndoki exorcisms’, agrees instances of extreme violence are rare. â€Å"My experience of Africa and the Congo where I’ve lived for years and travelled a lot is that Congolese people love their kids,† he said. He also believes that some of the churches and charities set up by Congolese people in the UK were simply â€Å"money-making schemes†. Antoine Lokongo, the editor of a Congolese newsletter, Congo Panorama, believes the growing violence in exorcisms is due to western influence. Two women and a man from England were arrested for the abuse of an eight year old girl who they suspected of having ‘ndoki’. The girl testified that the adults slapped, punched and kicked her repeatedly. One pushed a kitchen knife into her chest until it drew blood. She told police, â€Å"It’s because my auntie says I have witchcraft. She dances and laughs when she hits me.† AB was beaten with belt buckles and a high-heeled shoe. She was only fed tea and bread. The adults seemed particularly concerned that the girl would practice her evil powers at night time. So they woke her up twice and rubbed chilli-peppers into her eyes. They forced her into a large plastic bag, allegedly to â€Å"throw her away for good† by drowning her in a nearby river. But they changed their mind at the last moment. In conclusion, miracles will always be relevant to today, as at some point in our lives, we are all in need of some miracle, whether it is the strength to make it through another day, or the forgiveness of sins to heal our conscience. Although some may find it hard to believe, almost anything can be changed into something cruel and evil, in comparison to what it was before, even the miracles in the bible. But Pastor Modeste Muyulu says â€Å"But disciples should only do what the master did, I never read in the bible about Jesus Christ being violent with anybody to cast out any spirit.† Therefore we should always try to be like disciples of Jesus and help those who are in need, and never intentionally hurt another human being, as we know that Jesus himself would never do something like this.

Ambush Marketing- Is It Ethical

Ambush Marketing- Is It ethical? While a lot of discussion has been going on for quite some time on â€Å"Marketing ethics† including almost every aspect of marketing be it market research, market audience, pricing or marketing strategy. But none of these issues seem to be even close to the issues raised by the ethics of advertising and promotion and specifically â€Å"ambush marketing† in particular. Hence in this article we will take a quick look at the ever-increasing practice of ambush marketing, its origin, examples and its ethical concerns. Background: The term â€Å"ambush† in literal terms means â€Å"an attack from a hidden position†, this in fact, is the founding stone of the term â€Å"ambush marketing†. â€Å"Ambush Marketing† was coined in the 1980’s by Jerry Welsh, the renowned marketing strategist, while he was working as a manager for global marketing efforts for American Express. When he coined the term, he referred it as a creative and legitimate marketing strategy which could provide a level playing ground to the competitors of a thematic sponsor. Today, however, the term is associated with a negative connotation. According to Wikipedia â€Å"ambush marketing refers to a company's attempt to capitalize on the goodwill, reputation, and popularity of a particular event by creating an association with it, without the authorization or consent of the necessary parties. † It is an attempt of the ambusher to associate itself with an event without paying the fee and get some rub-off effects from it. When implemented effectively, it diminishes the value of the actual sponsors of the event by confusing the customers Fig:Typical example of ambush marketing Fig1. :Jet airlines putting a billboard â€Å"we’ve changed† Fig1. 2:Kingfisher took the responsibility of making them change Fig1. 3:Go Air cashed in on the success of the two billboards There is a thin line between Ambush marketing and effective marketing practice. All the marketing strategies adopted by a rival company in the midst of an event cannot be called as ambush marketing. An activity is termed as ambushing only if the m arketer is trying to endorse a specific product/event and by doing that the revenues of the main event are getting damaged. For example f spice jet shows its commercials in between a motor sports event, it will not be guilty of ambushing. But if Pepsi is launching a new ad campaign in between cricket world cup whose official sponsor is coke and it affects the sales of coke, it will be termed as an instance of ambushing. Fig:Pepsi ad during 1996 WC Strategies for ambush marketing can be broadly classified into two groups: Forging: In this form, a company misleads the people that the ambusher is one of the sponsors of the event by using a similar name or logo associated with the event while it is not. For example, in 2002 Sydney Olympics, Quantas airlines changed its slogan to â€Å"The spirit of Australia† which was very close to the games slogan â€Å"Share the Spirit†. This was a classic case of ambush marketing as the official airline partner of the event was Ansett Air but the slogan of Quantas airlines suggested otherwise. Fig:Quantas airlines Intrusion: Here the ambusher tries to give its own name or trade mark through the medium of publicity of the event without seeking the permission of the organiser. This strategy uses the attention created by the event to promote the ambusher’s product. This strategy is more popular with the ambushers now-a-days as forging can lead to legal actions and this is comparatively a risk-free strategy. A notable example of this strategy was in 2002 Boston Marathon, whose official sponsor was Adidas but Nike provided the runners with spray painted â€Å"swooshes† which suggested that the event was sponsored by Nike. Fig:2002 Boston Marathon In 2006 Bavaria Brewery gave away orange overalls called Leeuwenhosen to some of the fans to support the Netherlands football team with the brewery’s logo on them. The FIFA officials asked the fans to remove the orange overalls as Budweiser was the official sponsor. Fig: Supporters wearing Leeuwenhosen By this time you all must have guessed the issues with ambushing, but then too let us reiterate some of the important ones. The first and the biggest of them is that it reduces the effectiveness of the advertisements of the original sponsors of the event and decreases their revenues. It can also lead to withdrawal of some of the sponsors from the event such as IBM and Mars from the Olympic TOP programme. The sponsorships for these events are costly and by ambushing, these companies are deprived of their right to increase their visibility and thereby their customer base. Remedies for Ambushing: Ambushing has been gaining popularity ever since it came into existence which is causing a lot of concerns for the official sponsors of the event. Hence for better protection of the interests of the company certain strategies have evolved which could help the victim company to counter ambushing. The major ones are Learn How to Ambush: This measure is based on the premise that if the knows how to ambush then it will also know the vulnerable points on which it could be ambushed and then it can try to plug those gaps through stringent contracts. Leveraging: These are supplementary measures such as ads aimed at increasing public awareness about the official sponsors of the event. Limit a non-sponsors capacity to advertise: By limiting the non-sponsors ability to advertise in the proximity of the event reduces the probability of ambushing through physical stalls, outlets etc. This strategy is also known as â€Å"clean stadium† policy. Establish more control over advertising: This is one of the most important and one of the most difficult measures to exercise. Since reach of media to the viewers of an event is much more than the people actually coming and watching those events, it is very important for firms to try and limit the advertisements by non-sponsors. Educate Consumers: One of the most safest and effective measure is making the customers known about the official sponsors so that the ambushers cannot mislead the public. Legal Restrictions: Stringent legal measures can act as deterrents to the practice of unethical ambushing. Is it ethical? Ambush marketing has changed its shape and form from 1980’s till today. But what is constant is the debate on whether it is ethical or not. The answer is very subjective. If you are asking this question to the sponsor of the event he might say that it is synonymous with crime and to an ambusher it might seem to be an intelligent marketing strategy. The viewpoints become completely reversed if the ambusher is made the sponsor and vice-versa. My opinion about ambushing is same as the ambushers. Marketing as a field of study has always been associated with creativity and ambushing gives them a perfect platform for the same. In today’s world, where there is cut throat competition between corporates due to increasing competition and reducing margins, companies have to come up with such kind of measures to counter other. During the times of recession, when all the major economies of the world go to a standstill, it serves as a cost effective method of advertising. For me it is not breaking the law or doing illegal, it is an intelligent use of the loopholes in the marketing practices of the other firm. If my rival is not aware of its shortcomings, I should use it to my advantage. Also, competition is not a game with set rules; if I am refraining from using ambush marketing today does not mean that my rival facing the same condition would not use ambush against me. In my viewpoint, it is one of the best methods of marketing involving minimum capital and maximum gains. What you think of ambushing is up to you to decide.

A Reflection in Learning Essay

Introduction I am a registered nurse of twenty years of experience. After graduated from my three-year training in a nursing school, I had been worked in an intensive care unit (ICU) and a pulmonary unit of a public hospital. Now I am working in a non-government organization serving the mentally disabled. No matter which specialty I am working in or how senior I am, I found learning being crucial for professional competence, job satisfaction and personal growth. In this paper, I would like to reflect critically on my experience of learning in nursing with reference to relevant learning theories. Learning in workplace At the time when I started to work as a registered nurse in a new workplace after graduation from nursing school there was no structured orientation program like nowadays. As an enthusiastic beginner with an imminent need, my motivation to learn was very high. I clutched every opportunity to observe how other colleagues perform, to ask questions proactively and to study references from ward manuals and books by myself. In addition, the colleagues were willing to teach and finally I was able to meet the requirement of my new role quickly and smoothly. Formal learning With about a year of experience, I started attending formal in-service training courses. I was assigned to attend trainings of the specialty I was working with and some core management skills. Nevertheless, I got little satisfaction but I did not know the reasons at that time until I was studying my bachelor’s degree program and was promoted to Nursing Officer later on. As a new Nursing Officer I had to deal with a lot of problems which I had not come across before but some issues were the topics that I was studying at that time. I then tried to apply the knowledge and theories into practice. Not only could the knowledge solve my problems, but also the application of theories had enhanced my learning. I realized that putting theories into practice make the learning and working effective and interesting and vice versa. I felt the sense of satisfaction of learning by then. Advanced academic learning I started to pursue a master’s degree program last September. My motivation for advanced academic learning is both extrinsic and intrinsic. The academic requirement for professional nurse is increasing now and I need to upgrade myself so as to be synchronized with the pace of professional development. Academic study has made me more knowledgeable, more critical and more assertive. Moreover, the qualification enhanced my self-confidence directly. The program is actually imposing great pressure on me that I need to struggle for a balanced life between work, family and study. In order to up keep my motivation in learning, I tried hard to make the study more interesting and pragmatic by integrating theories into practice, sharing and discussing with colleagues as much as possible. Social learning My learning experience in the workplace when I was newly qualified was a kind of social learning which Atkinson, Atkinson, Smith, Bern, and Hilgard (1990) described as learning by watching the behaviors and the consequences of others. Social learning is a human instinct and we learn by it consciously or unconsciously. When I was a newly qualified nurse, the need to learn was immediate. I consciously went into the learning process of attention, retention, reproduction, and also motivation. If the displayed behavior was perceived favorable to me, my motivation was particularly high. It was because of my active participation and my self-directed learning, I had a good learning outcome at that stage. Quinn (2001) believed that the quality of the model influence the result of learning. I am always aware of my behavior when I become a senior nurse, need to act as a preceptor or a mentor and especially when I have become the ward-in-charge which Fretwell and Melia (as cited in Hand, 2006) f ound to have an exceptional strong influence on colleagues in their studies. The reinforcement of the displayed behaviors has influence on individual’s motivation to reproduce the behavior. To ensure a favorable learning outcome, I intentionally give positive reinforcement for favorable behavior and negative reinforcement for unfavorable behavior. I value social learning because it is much safer than trial and error in clinical practice and it is a natural way to learn. Reflection and critical reflection From time to time, malpractices happen in every workplace. It is important for persistent reflections to improve nursing qualities. Reflection being described by Raelin (2002) is the practice of standing back to examine the meanings of things happen around us. Reflection helps to identify malpractice and makes improvement accordingly. By reflection, nurses identify areas for improvement and improve their â€Å"quality† as models. Besides, reflection makes us more receptive to the alternatives of reasoning and behaving (Raelin,2001). There is critical reflection which is a deeper and broader type of reflection and is a collective action to enhance organizational learning and change (Gray, 2007). Furthermore, it encourages learning at a more profound and transformative level (Mezirow, 1990). Now I have established the habit of periodical reflection and I am striving to achieve appropriate critical reflection. Critical reflection involves questioning long-established believes and attitudes but may lead to resentment of the staffs. It has to be carried out skillfully at appropriate time. I discovered that the practice of critical reflection would be more receptive if it is done immediately after a critical incidence. Andragogy A part of my learning journey had contradicted to andragogy. Knowles (1990) recognized that adults learn best when they are self-directed and assume responsibility for their learning. He also expounded the following six assumptions of andragogy: 1. Adults need to know the reason to learn. 2. Adults have a self-concept of being responsible for their own decisions and need to have a self-directed learning. 3. Adults come to learn with rich experiences which are the foundation and resources for learning. 4. Adults are more ready to learn if there is a need to learn. 5. Adults’ orientation to learn is problem-centered. 6. Adults are responsive to external motivators and respond better to internal motivators. When going to formal professional trainings, I was assigned to attend some management workshops and lectures when I had only two or three years of experience. At that stage my job duty and responsibility did not include management and I was not interested in it either. So I did not know why I had to learn management. The knowledge I had learnt could not be applied into practice. Actually I was not ready to learn management at that time. It was not self-directed. I am sure that these learning would have been more fruitful if they were arranged when I needed to assist in ward management or if I had at that time a long term perspective of seeing the need to take up a management role one day. Then when I attended the ICU courses, many of the course contents could not be practiced in my hospital which was a rehabilitation hospital that the ICU was small and did not provide care as â€Å"intensive† as other large acute hospitals. A point I had to admit is that my attitude of learning at that time was passive and dependent. After attending a course or a lecture, I could actually discuss with the ward in-charge and give new ideas but I had not done so. My learning at that stage had several points contradicted to andragogy and was the reason why I did not feel satisfied with all that learning. Having got such experience, now when I do training and development plan for my staffs, I usually discuss with them about their needs and preferences. If they need to take some mandatory sessions as required by the hospital, I must make sure they know the reasons. When I coach or mentor new staffs or clinical placement students in my workplace, I would emphasis why they need to learn those things I showed to them. After my colleagues attending a course or a lecture, I usually ask them what they have learnt and encourage them to put theory into practice. Learning style Honey and Mumford (as cited in Penger and Tekavcic, 2009) categorized learning styles into four types as pragmatist, activist, reflector and theorist. My learning style can be described as pragmatist or activist. I enjoy trying new ways and test their practicability in work. I appreciate knowledge and theories that can be put into practice and solve problems. I understand that the characteristics of a reflector being favorable to listen, think and evaluate thoroughly and the characteristics of a theorist loves to see things globally are as valuable as other styles. Now I am trying to further develop my learning style because as remarked by Astin, Closs and Hughes (2006), no one learning style is regarded as the best and it is beneficial to use all four learning styles. From my point of view, different learning style is advantageous to different focus or context of learning. If the focus of learning is to acquire a hands-on skill, activist and pragmatist are more advantageous. If the focus of learning is to understand a phenomenon or a theory, reflector and theorist are more advantageous. Therefore, developing learning styles beyond our dominant types can strengthen our ability to learn. Conclusions This article reviews my learning experience in nursing. Starting with informal learning in workplace, then proceeding to formal in-service education and academic learning, I was being highly pragmatic and my orientation to learn can be explained by andragogy. I value social learning, reflection and critical reflection. My experience has impacted on my style of mentoring and coaching in clinical practice. I am striving to further develop myself to think more proactively and globally which is essential for on-going learning. References Astin, F., Closs, S.J. & Hughes, N. (2006). The self-reported learning style preferences of female Macmillan clinical nurse specialists. Nurse Education Today, 26, 475-483. Atkinson, R., Atkinson, C., Smith E., Bern D., & Hilgard, E. (1990). Introduction to psychology (10th ed.). San Diego, California: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. Gray, D. E. (2007). Facilitating management learning: Developing critical reflection through reflective tools. Management Learning, 38 (5), 495-517. Hand, H. (2006). Promoting effective teaching and learning in the clinical setting. Nursing Standard, 20 (39), 55-63. Knowles, M.S. (1990). The adult learner: A neglected species (4th ed.). Houston, Texas: Gulf Publishing. Mezirow, J.(1990). How critical reflection triggers transformative learning. In J. Mezirow (Ed.), Fostering critical reflection in adulthood: A guide to transformative and emancipatory learning (pp.1-20). San Francisco, California: Jossey-Bass. Penger, S. & Tekavcic, M. (2009). Testing Dunn & Dunn’s and Honey & Mumford’s learning style: The case of the Slovenian higher education system. Journal of Contemporary Management Issues, 4 (2), 1-20. Quinn, F.M. (2001). Principles and practice of nurse education (4th ed.). Cheltenham: Nelson Thornes. Raelin, J.A. (2001). Public reflection as the basis of learning. Management Learning, 32 (1): 11-30. Raelin, J.A. (2002). â€Å"I don’t have time to think† versus the art of reflective practice. Reflections, 4 (1): 66-75.