Accountability and Assessment in Nursing Mentorship

Accountability and Assessment in Nursing Mentorship Introduction The Nursing Midwifery Council (NMC) (2008a, p.23) declares in its Standards to Support Learning and Assessment in Practice that a â€Å"mentor is a mandatory requirement for pre-registration nursing students†. This simply means that student nurses must be guided by nurse mentors. The Royal College of Nursing (2009, p.3) declares that the â€Å"significance of the role of a mentor and the quality of the mentorship offered in practice cannot be over-emphasised†. The NMC (2008a, p.23) defines a mentor as â€Å"a registrant who, following successful completion of an NMC approved mentor preparation programme or comparable preparation that has been accredited by an AEI (approved educational institution) as meeting the NMC mentor requirements has achieved the knowledge, skills and competence required to meet the defined outcomes†. The NMC (2008a, p.13) also provides for eight domains in the framework to support learning and assessment of students in practice. In essenc e, this means that in order to become an effective mentor, a nurse must be able to accomplish these eight domains. These domains are establishing effective working relationships, facilitation of learning, assessment and accountability, evaluation of learning, creating an environment for learning, context of practice, evidence-based practice and leadership (NMC 2008a, p.13). This essay will explore one of the eight domains, specifically the domain of accountability and assessment in mentorship. This will be done in relation to mentoring two first-year adult branch nursing students placed in the Dermatology Department. Before proceeding any further, it is imperative to relate that the NMC (2008b, p.3) declares the need to respect people’s right to confidentiality. In compliance with this, the real identities of the student-mentees will be kept anonymous. Main Body Accountability is essential in the professional practice of nursing (NMC 2010, n.p.). A literature review in defining professional nursing accountability conducted by Krautscheid (2012, p.45) revealed that accountability is usually linked with responsibility particularly the responsibility for one’s own actions and behaviours related to the practice of one’s profession. The professional accountability of a nurse is expressed by no less than the Nursing Midwifery Council in its Code for Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics. To be specific, the NMC (2008b, p.2) states that â€Å"as a professional, a nurse is personally accountable for actions and omissions done in practice and must always be able to justify one’s decisions†. The accountability of a nurse as a mentor is also grounded on the same NMC Code. The NMC (2008b, p.5) states that a nurse must facilitate students and others to develop their competence. This specific provision directly requires a nurse playing the role of a mentor to be accountable for the learning of students during practice placements. In the case of the two first year adult branch nursing students, it is safe to declare that a mentor is accountable for the total learning experience of the students while in the placement. To effectively mentor the two students, it is necessary to first establish a positive mentoring relationship with them. This is because a positive mentor-mentee relationship can help make the mentor and the mentee feel more comfortable with each other and this facilitates the smooth interaction and communication between them. Gopee (2011, p.28) supports this when he declared that a mentor and his or her mentee are initially strangers to each other and so they must develop rapport and cultivate a positive working relationship in order for the mentorship to really work. A practice placement is where students begin to apply their knowledge and practice skills in order to achieve the required competence for registration (RCN 2006, p.1). The need for a strong and positive mentoring relationship is crucial especially because clinical placements can be a daunting environment for the students. This is particularly true during the first few days of the placement. A clinical placement can pose a great challenge for students such as during a busy day and the ward or department is understaffed (Levett-Jones and Bourgeois 2011, p.227). It is therefore vital for the mentor to initiate a friendly but professional approach when interacting with the students in order to help them feel at ease in the clinical environment of the placement. One way by which this can be done is for the mentor to conduct an orientation wherein the students are made familiar with the different areas of the Dermatology Department and are introduced to the entire healthcare staff working there. Beskine (2009, cited in Walsh 2010, p.23) state that an â€Å"orientation is the gateway to a successful placement†. Walsh (2010, p.23) suggests that an initial orientation is a vital part of helping a student get off on the right foot and make the most of their placement. Walsh (2010, p.23) further relates that one strategy for the mentor to accomplish this is by sharing with the students information about one’s personal experiences as a student and one’s expectations as a mentor. This strategy can be made formal by providing an information or welcome pack. Typical contents for a welcome pack include a welcome letter encouraging the student to visit the placement prior to that start of the actual placement, the location of the placement, a list of learning opportunities and learning outcomes, the expected roles and responsibilities of the students, a dress code or guidelines on what to wear and the shift hours (Stuart 2013, p.157). It should contain a de scription of the various areas within the ward or department and a list of the names of personnel working within the placement (Bailey-McHale and Hart 2013, p.129). The importance of making the two students feel welcome in the placement is actually a simple but effective means of showing one’s accountability as the mentor for the students. This is because it is clear that a mentor is accountable for the total learning experience of his or her students and the first step to ensure the learning of students begins with making the students familiar and comfortable within the learning environment. This should then be followed by conducting an initial assessment of the learning needs of the students related to the area of the placement. A mentor is responsible for making initial interviews with students to assess their learning needs and to develop a plan on how to address these needs (RCN 2006, p.6). Naturally, the interview will be smooth sailing if the mentor is successful in building a positive mentoring relationship with the students. In interviewing the two students in the Dermatology Department, it is important to take into consideration the preferred learning styles of the students. In essence, this means that along with identifying the learning needs of the students, it is also vital to identify how they can learn best from the placement. The Royal College of Nursing (2006, p.6) states that a mentor’s responsibility includes being approachable, supportive and being aware of how students learn best. There are many theories and models that can be adopted to label the preferred learning styles of students. An example of this that may be use in the two students is the Honey and Mumford learning styles model. The Honey and Mumford model identifies four types of learners namely activists, reflectors, theorists and pragmatists. An activist learner is a hands-on learner and prefers to learn by trial and error (Temple 2012, p.75). A reflector is someone who prefers to be thoroughly informed before acting on a situation (Temple 2012, p.75). A theorist is someone who utilises theories to make sure that a particular u ndertaking makes sense (Temple 2012, p.75). A pragmatist is someone who learns best by observing a demonstration from an expert (Temple 2012, p.75). In the case of the two students placed in the Dermatology Department, both have been identified to be pragmatists and so actual teaching of the skill of bandaging was done through demonstrations which the students carefully observed. A simulation strategy was also used wherein the two students were given the opportunity to practice their bandaging skills onto a mannequin before they were allowed to perform the skill onto real patients while under supervision. In using the demonstration and simulation strategies, it is crucial for a mentor to also take into consideration the internal and external factors that affect student learning. This can be further identified by using the SWOT (strength, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) Analysis. The SWOT Analysis is a useful tool to help mentors identify factors that can either improve or hinder their mentoring skills (Murray and Rosen 2010, p.103). The strengths and weaknesses are the internal factors that affect the efficiency of mentoring while the opportunities and threats are the external factors (Murray and Rosen 2010, p.103). In the case of the two students, one prevailing strength that has been identified is their genuine eagerness to really learn while in the placement. For the mentor, one strength is the mastery of the nursing skills that need to be taught to the students. One weakness of the students was their initial hesitation to interact with the mentor. One weakness of the mentor is the initial uncertainty on how to begin interaction with the students. One opportunity is the presence of diverse learning opportunities in the placement while one prevailing threat is the very hectic schedule of the department which causes frequent interruptions during actual teaching sessions. In teaching the two students about correct bandaging, it is also important to adopt the concept of andragogy. To simply put it, andragogy refers to adult learning which is in contrast to pedagogy which is all about child learning (Walsh 2010, p.82). The concept of andragogy implies that adults prefer to take an active role while children are passive learners and therefore leave everything to the discretion of the teacher or mentor (Kinnell and Hughes 2010, p.60). Base on these premises, teaching the two students who are adult learners will require the mentor to actively seek the students’ input. This means that the mentor should not on his/her own decide on what and how to teach the things which the students need to learn in the placement. The mentor should brainstorm with the students on how the students’ learning needs can be best met. This will allow the students to have a more active role in planning their own learning during placement. There is also the need to consider the current level of aptitude of the students in relation to the skills that will be taught to them. In this case, the Benner’s Skills Acquisition Model will be helpful. Stuart (2013, p.126) states that a student or even a newly qualified nurse will have to pass the five stages of nursing competence as identified in Benner’s Model. The model classifies learners into five stages namely novice, advanced beginner, competent, proficient and expert. It is safe to deduce that the two students being mentored are still under the novice stage; hence, it is vital for the mentor to create teaching strategies that would fit their current level of knowledge and skills. For instance, it would be unfair to teach the students advance skills on four layer compression bandaging without first teaching them the basic principles of bandaging. Blooms Taxonomy should also be adopted by a mentor to enhance teaching sessions. Cannon and Boswell (2012, p.140) state that Bloom’s Taxonomy is an important learning theory as it distinguishes learning into three domains: namely affective, cognitive and psychomotor. Teaching correct bandaging skills naturally involves the cognitive domain since it requires mastery of steps or procedures. It also involves the psychomotor domain because it entails using instruments and tools. It also incorporates the affective domain because it requires positive and encouraging feelings and emotions which help motivate a student to do the procedure correctly. It is also important for a mentor to make the learning objectives SMART. This means that the objectives are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time-bounded. In the case of the two students, this has been achieved since the objective involves making the student understand and perform the steps of bandaging. This makes the objective specific. This will be done under supervision with the policy on bandaging as the criteria. This makes it measurable and realistic. The said objective is to be accomplished at the end of the placement. This makes it time-bounded. A mentor’s accountability naturally includes assessing the students’ performance. Aston and Hallam (2011, p.60) relate that assessing students’ learning while they are under one’s mentorship is one of the important role of a nurse mentor. This is grounded on the Nursing Midwifery Council (2008a, p.16) declaring that students must be supported and assessed by mentors. Mentors are responsible for assessing the total performance of students including their knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours (NMC 2008a, p.23). It is vital to relate that there are basically two types of assessment namely formative and summative assessment. Formative assessment happens during the course of the placement wherein it is done on a continuous basis to gauge how much progress a student has reached without necessarily grading such progress (Kilgallon and Thompson 2012, p.153). It typically involves the giving of feedback in order for the student to further improve (Kilgallon and Thompson 2012, p.153). This kind of assessment is done in order to prepare the student for the final assessment which is the summative assessment. Summative assessment marks the end of the mentorship and involves the actual grading of the student’s final performance (Kilgallon and Thompson 2012, p.154). It is essential to point out that the giving of feedbacks is an important component of effective student assessment. Kinnell and Hughes (2010, p.96) relate that â€Å"feedback must be constructive and not destructive†. It must highlight the strengths as well as the weaknesses of the student (Kinnell and Hughes 2010, p.96). Kinnell and Hughes (2010, p.96) further relate that it must emphasise areas for improvements and incorporate praises appropriate for the student’s achievements. Constructive feedbacks given by mentors and the clinical staff can help the student grow and develop as a future professional (Levett-Jones and Bourgeois 2011, p.48). One strategy for the effective giving of feedback is to use a strategy called feedback sandwich. This involves sandwiching a negative feedback between two positive feedbacks to avoid hurting the student’s feelings and self-esteem (Elcock and Sharples 2011, n.p.). There are several methods and strategies by which a mentor can effectively assess a student’s competence. The Royal College of Nursing (2009, p.8) states that assessment can be done through direct observation, simulation, objective structured clinical examinations or OSCE, testimony of others, student self-assessment, written portfolio evidence, active participation, interactive reflective discussion, learning contracts, guided study, interviews, patient comments, peer evaluation, collection of data, case studies and team mentorships. In the case of the two students, one was assessed through direct observation and questioning while the other was assessed through direct observation and through written reflection. This was in consideration of the fact that one student has a prior degree in English literature, while the other one was awaiting a dyslexia test; hence, it would be unfair for both of them to be assessed through written reflection. In assessing student performance, the mentor’s accountability includes making sure that all the possible opportunities for learning has been exhausted and that the students have been given ample time to master the skills that will be assessed from them. This is because it would be unfair for the students to be assessed for skills which were never taught to them or where they were never given a chance to improve on it. This points to the accountability of the mentor to the students he or she is mentoring. There is also the accountability of the mentor towards the general public. This accountability signifies that ultimately the mentor’s role in guiding students is to ensure that future generations of nurses are truly competent to serve the general healthcare consumers. This suggests that if after giving opportunities to improve, the student has failed to show competence, then the mentor must not hesitate to give a failing mark. On the other hand, a study conducted by Duf fy (2004, n.p.) revealed that failing students is a difficult thing to do for majority of mentors and this is because it raises emotional issues for the mentor. The emotional dilemma of failing a study is carried by mentors and sometimes this emotional stress overcomes the need to practice a fair and objective mentoring. It is logical to assume that sometimes the decision to either pass or fail students is influenced by the personal sentiments of the mentor towards the students. This is something that should be avoided because it threatens the very essence of why there is a need to assess students under mentorship. A good mentor is someone who knows when to empathise with students and when to detach themselves in order to objectively assess a student’s performance; therefore, it is important for a mentor to learn when to empathise and when to be objective. In essence, this means that in assessing the final performance of the two students in the Dermatology Department, it is i mportant for the mentor to be objective and set aside any personal friendly relations which he or she may have established during the course of the mentorship. Conclusion Accountability and assessment in mentorship in this case involves the responsibility of the mentor to ensure the learning of the two students in the Dermatology Department. Being accountable for their learning starts with establishing a positive mentoring relationship with them. This can be accomplished by using a friendly but professional approach. An orientation can help the mentor inform the students on what to expect from the placement. It is important to assess the students’ learning needs and learning styles by using different theories and models. This is important in order to maximise their learning in the placement. Using demonstration and simulation are only two of the many teaching strategies that may be used to effectively mentor students and the choice of strategy depends on the kind of learner a student is. Assessment is another important role of a mentor. This can either be formative or summative assessment. Assessment should be fair and objective. A mentorâ€⠄¢s personal friendship built during the course of the mentoring relationship should never hinder objective assessment of students’ performance. References Aston, L. and Hallam, P. (2011). Successful mentoring in nursing. Exeter: Learning Matters Ltd. Bailey-McHale, J. and Hart, D.M. (2013). Mastering mentorship: A practical guide for mentors of nursing, health and social care students. London: SAGE Publications Ltd. Cannon, S. and Boswell, C. (2012). Evidence-based teaching in nursing. London: Jones Bartlett Learning International. Duffy, K. (2003). Failing students: A qualitative study of factors that influence the decisions regarding assessment of students’ competence in practice. [online]. Available from: http://www.nmc-uk.org/documents/Archived%20Publications/1Research%20papers/Kathleen_Duffy_Failing_Students2003.pdf [Accessed on 12 October 2014]. Elcock, K. and Sharples, K. (2011). A nurse’s survival guide to mentoring. [online]. Available from: http://books.google.com.ph/books?id=t6na8wOS5X4Cpg=PT131dq=feedback+sandwich+mentoring+nursinghl=ensa=Xei=bjY6VPSCHs-ruQSjloH4Bwved=0CBwQ6AEwAA#v=onepageq=feedback%20sandwich%20mentoring%20nursingf=false [Accessed 12 October 2014]. Gopee, N. (2011). Mentoring and supervision in healthcare. 2nd ed. London: SAGE Publications Ltd. Kilgallon, K. and Thompson, J. (Eds.) (2012). Mentoring in nursing and healthcare: A practical approach. Chichester: John Wiley Sons, Ltd. Kinnell, D. and Hughes, P. (2010). Mentoring nursing and healthcare students. London: SAGE Publications Ltd. Krautscheid, L. (2012). Defining professional nursing accountability: A literature review. Journal of Professional Nursing. 30(1):43-47. Levett-Jones, T. and Bourgeois, S. (2011). The clinical placement: An essential guide for nursing students. 2nd ed. Chatswood: Elsevier Australia. Murray, C. and Rosen, L. (2010). Mentor updating: Other activities/sources of evidence. In: C. Murray, L. Rosen and K. Staniland (Eds.). The nurse mentor and reviewer update book. Maidenhead: Open University Press, pp.95-111. Nursing Midwifery Council (NMC) (2008a). Standards to support learning and assessment in practice. London: NMC. Nursing Midwifery Council (NMC) (2008b). The code: Standards of conduct, performance and ethics for nurses and midwives. [online]. Available from: http://www.nmc-uk.org/Documents/Standards/The-code-A4-20100406.pdf [Accessed on 10 October 2014]. Nursing Midwifery Council (NMC) (2010). Regulation in practice. [online]. Available from: http://www.nmc-uk.org/Nurses-and-midwives/Regulation-in-practice/ [Accessed on 10 October 2014]. Royal College of Nursing (RCN) (2009). Guidance for mentors of nursing students and midwives: An RCN toolkit. London: Royal College of Nursing. Royal College of Nursing (RCN) (2006). Helping students get the best from their practice placements. London: RCN. Stuart, C. (2013). Mentoring, learning and assessment in clinical practice: A guide for nurses. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone. Walsh, D. (2010). The nurse mentor’s handbook: Supporting students in clinical practice. Maidenhead: Open University Press.

Lebanese Americans

The present paper is designed to show the adaptation of immigrants in the United States. We will include Alison Lambert, who is the representative of the Lebanese nation, was born in Lebanon and moved to the United States country for permanent residence two years ago. The principal issue to clarify in this essay will be whether it was difficult for Mrs. Lambert to assimilate with US culture and people, what differences she has found between two cultures and how different cultural norms influence her living in the new for her country on the daily basis.Immigrants in AmericaA lot of people from different countries come to the United States in search for their good future. There exists a myth that living in the United States is like a paradise, but it is not always so. The presidents of the United States together with other senators promote legislation to confer some kind of guest worker. Many people think that all those bills should not be accepted, because they are immoral. When they invite people from other countries to the United States they show them that they fit only for obsequious jobs that the Americans do not want to do. They think that they are too good for it. When foreigners start working in the United States at first they get miserable payment for the work they do.There is no expectation that you will rise up the economic and social ladder. There are a lot of bills all over the country which regulate rights of the guest worker. There are points when the foreigner can be expelled from the work and deported back to his country where he will continue his life in poverty. The bottom line in all of them is almost the same. It says that the Americans are not equal in their rights with other people who came from other countries to earn money. The plot is hidden but still it exists.America is a country that invites immigrants who arrived there legally and who comply with their laws and Constitution, who understand and can freely speak their language. Such pe ople begin their career with low-paid jobs. But such people have a chance to rise into a middle class and realize their dream. Such countries as Germany and France showed their folly of a guest worker economy. Immigrants do low-paid jobs. But now there are a lot of people in these countries who don’t absorb. People do not agree with the social welfare system. Let’s find out more about the adaptation of the people from Arabic countries in the United States by telling a story about one of the immigrants from Lebanon, Mrs. Lambert.Mrs. Lambert considers family and close people to be the most important in her life.The principal difference in the family values between Lebanese and American culture is that when one is young, one never looks into the future considering oneself outside family. Family appears to be the core of everything they plan to accomplish in life. American society is more independent in relation to family as a notion. Lebanese people share everything they have with their families, and they grow surrounded by their family members. Their cousins, sisters, brothers, with whom they grow, often appear to be their best friends.Each of them knows that he or she is the most important person in his or her life, and she was used to grow in such surrounding. What she has noticed in the United States of America and what is absolutely absent in the Lebanese families, and in Lebanon in particular, is the disease which she would call ‘family’ disease. This is the disease which is very popular among American children. In her society family is something which will never let her and her countrymen down. She was very much assisted by her family members when she has first entered the United States. Now she is not only in constant touch with all her relatives, but all members of her family help each other on the daily basis to the maximal extent.Mrs. Lambert is a teacher; she feels at present that her cultural difference does not prevent he r from effective working with the students and effectively performing in her daily life. Her first and probably, the biggest difficulty was the language. She had basic knowledge of the language, but it was not enough to teach students; and in order to acquire good position she had to learn it very fast. On the other hand, the accent is still very visible when she speaks and some students ask her about her origin. She was lucky not to see any discrimination in relation to her Lebanese identity on the side of her students. However, there are many Lebanese immigrants who also came to the United States to work and suffered from discrimination there.Most of native citizens are surprised on the fact of Lebanese very close family ties. When Mrs. Lambert tells the stories of her life, some of them cannot clearly understand the idea of family being the core of their lives, as well as that one can be so much connected with the family through all his or her life. Her assumption of the family n orms influences her behavior on the daily basis, and it is doubtless; it becomes even more vivid in the light of the norms according to which one lives.When people immigrate they face different difficulties and challenges. The principal challenge for Mrs. Lambert is the difference itself, the difference in cultural norms. She doesn’t think there are disadvantages in her culture. She thinks that every culture has its own advantages and disadvantages. Still, when one comes to another country he or she is a foreigner. The language is the biggest challenge between any two different cultural identities. Mrs. Lambert was faced this challenge and almost coped with it. Yet, she clearly understands that many other cultural challenges are ahead of her.Mrs. Lambert thinks that it is important to assimilate with the culture of the country one now is living in.She supposes that this assimilation is inevitable; however, the extent to which this assimilation should take place with every new comer should be reasonable. Mrs. Lambert’s family was afraid of her losing her identity on entering another country for the permanent residence; and it was probably one of her most important cultural challenges – to adjust to the new cultural surrounding without losing too much of her own cultural traditions. Assimilation with the cultural traditions of the other country often becomes the means of getting stable position and solid basis for human relations.When immigrants come to another country it is significant and highly important to have a source of strength and support there. It is necessary to have something which unite foreigners and help them feel a little bit be home.It may sound surprising, but yet family remains the principal source of support for her in the U.S. This is the peculiarity of her culture – not only is the family the stem of Lebanese identity, but it is also not influenced by the distance. She also gets a lot of support from the local Leb anese community. They have regular meetings during which they discuss urgent problems and issues, and try to find solutions beneficial for everyone. It is very often, that the members of the community ask for assistance in solving cultural problems, not only related to the language, but to the misunderstanding of the people they are surrounded by of their cultural preferences.Cultural identity at times becomes the matter of difficulty in getting assimilated to the new surrounding. Lebanese culture is not very well supported and popularized there, and it is often that Lebanese newcomers appear in cultural vacuum. Thus, this community and regular meetings become the means of supporting those who need this support. Very often people face personal misunderstanding with the native population, and they try to find the way out of the conflict.In the light of all above said, and taking into account the theories of cultural identity, it is possible to note the following. Cultural identity co nflicts are usually called intractable, and thus, they are not possible to be resolved through the traditional approaches. The frames of the individual identity are extremely influenced by the cultural identity and cultural surrounding. The differences in culture often become the ground for the cultural conflict, as the difference in cultural ideas and preferences may be taken by the other side as not simply an outrageous idea, but ridiculous and unreal understanding of the world.For the better cultural communication it may be suggested, that the attitudes towards other cultures should be more tolerate. The cultural ideas and beliefs expressed by the representatives of the other culture should not be taken as unreal or unacceptable. Differences in culture between people will always exist, and thus for the more effective communication it is important to understand and accept the significance of the traditions, which are valued by the other culture, as well as try to better explain th e traditions into which the newcomer would wish to assimilate. However, and what is more important, it is not allowed to break the cultural identity of the person; the difference in cultural views does not mean they are wrong.ConclusionThe issue of cultural identity was always urgent, and with the growing opportunities for migration, this issue will not soon lose the necessity of being discussed. However, it is important to understand one thing in relation to cultural conflicts: the differences between cultures should not and won’t be erased; they should be treated with tolerance. In conclusion It is important to say that it is up to everyone to decide whether to lead a life of immigrant or not. There are a lot of possibilities to have a nice life in one’s own country where one will be respected. Nobody will look at him or her as if he or she is an alien. One’s country is one’s home one must be proud of it. Everyone must do everything possible to make one ’s own country be respected. Escaping from problems at home and going abroad in search for good life and a great number of possibilities to realize oneself is not a way out.Works citedCarrithers, M. Why humans have cultures. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 1992 LeBaron, Michelle. Bridging cultural Conflicts: New Approaches for a Changing World. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers. 2003 Mathews, G. Global culture/ Individual identity: Searching for home in the cultural supermarket. London: Routledge. 2000 Stone, Douglas F., Patton, Bruce, and Heen, Sheila. Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most New York: Penguin Press. 2000

Get the Scoop on John Hopkins College Essay Samples Before Youre Too Late

Get the Scoop on John Hopkins College Essay Samples Before You're Too Late Our customer support will gladly tell you whether there are any special offers at the present time, and make sure you are getting the very best service our company may deliver. You're able to access a whole international marketplace online. When you locate a service you enjoy, don't neglect to look at my review of it. Use the assistance of true academic experts and receive the service you have earned! The Appeal of John Hopkins College Essay Samples The committee is likely to present their approval on Tuesday. You should take a look at the rankings of the school in different categories together with its general ranking. Since thousands of students apply to Johns Hopkins, you have to figure out ways to stick out from the remainder of the pack. The character of my occupation is very diverse and I was astonished by the simple fact that there's a program provided by John Hopkins University that is likely to make my professional life more meaningful and productive. Bridget's essay is quite strong, but there continue to be a couple little things that could be made better. If you wish to join the band of Blue Jays, you will need to be a stellar studentand you'll have to compose a killer Johns Hopkins essay. And, due to this, Levi Strauss and his blue jeans continue to be around today. Just pick 1 thing to work on, and begin. The essay is a significant area of the application. Besides having an exceptional SAT score, you would have to think of the ideal college essay. In spite of exceptional grades, a poorly written essay gives you a poor name. These seven sample essays respond to a wide variety of thought-provoking questions. Here are twenty-two of the greatest hooks Stanford applicants have to give. Chemistry is a subject which, basically, supplies you with useful information concerning the different substances or kinds of materials that compose the physical world around us an d the way in which they behave or react with one another. This expert guide to college applications will offer you all of the strategies and data you should create a really spectacular application! On-line programs are also offered. Another part of my goal in helping people is that I would like to assist with the research in locating the cure for cancer. They came from all over the world to stake their claim and find their fortune. Well, at least the manner that most folks approach it. Thus, get to understand what well being is, and learn how to love it. Choosing Good John Hopkins College Essay Samples Another useful strategy is to ask your family members or friends for their opinions as it's natural to seek out advice on such an important essay. He laughed and said that it turned out to be a wonderful change a seventeen-year-old knew so specifically what she wished to do. On-line application is advisable. If that is your very first time thinking of employing a writing se rvice, you are certain to have questions. The most frequently encountered paper writing service that the majority of our clients require is essay writing. Employing a writing service is the perfect approach to have a well-written essay to use as a guideline to make sure the essays you write are hitting each of the critical points and are at the appropriate depth necessary for your academic grade. Question marks go outside the finished quotation mark in the event the full sentence asks the question. A quick sentence is utilized to produce the emotional resolution of the admission essay. When you're deciding on a school, there are a number of things that may be more important than whether the school you attend is among the top ranked nursing schools. The norm nowadays is that almost everyone is so out of balance they need some level of health intervention. There are a lot of advantages of studying at one of the top rated American medical schools. Apart from college loans, th ere's the stress of keeping up a GPA to put in the university that you dream about. Any accredited nursing program will probably teach you the skills you want to understand. Every student demands help with homework from time to time. Medical schools would like to know that you've got the qualities and characteristics they're seeking. Other nursing schools are also good and give a high excellent education also.

Is Survivor All Fun And Games - 1725 Words

Is competing on a reality television show like Survivor all fun and games? The contestants on Survivor all have to endure the many stresses that come with the competition. â€Å"Stress is a common experience that has negative effects on individuals such as diminished physical and mental health†. (Lewandowski, Maddingly, and Pedreiro). Contestants are constantly having to deal with the social stresses of the situations they find themselves in. Survivor is a game of developing social bonds with the people competing against one another and then breaking them when the time is right; whether the situation is establishing dominance in the social hierarchy or forming an alliance, both can be equally stressful. Secondly, they must endure countless physical stresses. Survivor contestants are constantly dealing with things like extreme hunger, dehydration, heat exhaustion, extreme weather, or just not having the simple comforts of life we all take for granted like blankets and pillows. Lastly, Survivor contestants are constantly having to deal with the psychological stresses of the competition as well. The contestants are constantly dealing with things like Competitive Anxiety, Competitive Arousal, or just knowing that all the surrounding people are against them and will most likely stab them in the back at some point in the next forty days. Survivor may be a game show, but it is far from a fun game to play; the causes of stress from being a competitor on a reality television show likeShow MoreRelatedOverview of The Cardiovascular System1676 Words   |  7 Pagescapillaries and back to the heart. Systemic division- blood flows from heart to every capillary â€Å"except alveolar† and back to heart. The cardiovascular system has 3 main functions †¢ Transportation- The cardiovascular system transports blood to almost all of the body’s tissues. †¢ Protection- The cardiovascular system protects the body through its white blood cells. 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ALCOHOL PRESENTATION - 2791 Words

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Business Communication Skills Free Essays

Faculty of Business, Computing Information Management Business Communication Skills Coursework- Critical review Personal Development Review Module Coordinator: Mr. Phil Vellender Module Code: BBS-6-BCS Course: MBA (FT) By Mahalakshmi Table of Contents Critical Review Do shareholders own the company? 1. 1 Introduction This is a critical review of an article published on the website of The Financial Times on 20 April 2012. We will write a custom essay sample on Business Communication Skills or any similar topic only for you Order Now This article was published in The Financial Times newspaper on 21 April 2012. The title of the article is ‘Shareholders lose patience on banker’s pay’ by Dan McCrum and Kate Burgess from New York and London respectively. The purpose of choosing this article is of my personal interest on banking industry, for its interesting information about shareholders, significance and ornate style of writing. This review begins with an analysis on the reading and writing context of the article, followed by a brief summary of key points, a critical evaluation of language used, content analysis and a conclusion. References and the article itself are also included at the end of the review. . 2 Context As mentioned before, this article has been taken from the newspaper publication ‘The Financial Times’, which is one of the largest business news and information company in the world. It offers vast news, comments, data and analysis to business community globally. It is known worldwide for its reliability, authority and accuracy(http://www. ft. co m/home/uk). The article relates to current affairs on the importance of investors’ vote on the company’s pay. The writers of this article discuss the same on different banks in United Kingdom and United States. Moreover, it brings different predictions based on the impact of the investor’s vote on pay package. 1. 3 Summary First, the writers of the article begin with the information on how the chief executive of Citigroup suffered a loss because of lack of its shareholders’ support on their â€Å"pay package†. Furthermore, they also discuss that the board of directors look back to their pay levels questioning themselves on what makes the investors lose their temper and found that poor returns of the bank’s investment to be the reason for losing shareholders’ patience. Second, the authors stress on the point that it is shareholders’ responsibility to query the company board of directors about their financial position, performance and their management strategy. They also state that due to the governance pressure on investors, it is mandatory to hold an advisory â€Å"say on pay† vote for all US registered companies. They also show evidence on how company’s pay changes depending on the investors support by giving the statistical data on two companies like Jacobs Engineering Group and Beazer Homes. Third, the authors compare the US listed companies votes with that of UK registered companies votes. They have chosen Barclays bank in London as an example. According to the article, the investors have decided to vote for Barclays for its plan but still many are threatened to vote no. Even though, Mr Diamond is ready to give away half of his bonus and share higher profits to shareholders, still some of the investors does not agree to provide â€Å"say on pay† vote. Finally, the writers conclude that the executives who fail to respond their shareholders will have to face its consequences and pay a bulky price. 1. 4 Language Analysis The language of the article fluctuates between idiomatic language and editorial style. An example of editorial style can be found in the beginning of fourth paragraph:† Boards looking at their own pay scales†¦.. confined to the banks† and also in the fifth paragraph:† Investors are have been fraying for some time†. The writers uses certain spoken style and furthermore raises direct questions like for example,† Is it enough? † thereby attracts the reader’s attention. Moreover, evidence of academic style usage can be noticed in few paragraphs. For instance, idioms like † came out of the blue† and â€Å" rubbed salt into their wounds† arouses the reader’s sympathy on the chief executive. Paragraph length is not too long with clear and appropriate separation of ideas thereby making this article easy to read and understand. Sentences vary from short to medium or rather not too long but there is a combination of simple and complex in their structure. No subheadings have been used in this article. The title â€Å"Shareholders lose patience on bankers’ pay† raises an issue and grabs the attention of the readers. Consequently, this will also boost the audience to continue reading because they will want to know what the subject is about and the reason for the problem. The writers provides visual of Vikram Pandit, chief executive of Citigroup, who is shocked and looks very perplexed, thinking on why shareholders denied to accept on his pay package. However, the vocabulary range is reasonably wide and standard with a little informal and business language. For example, â€Å"aberration†(meaning abnormal), â€Å"assertive† (meaning confidant), both in the 4th paragraph and â€Å"abstentions†(meaning the act of self-denial) in the 18th paragraph shows the evidence of use of formal words. The writers also use some oral vocabulary like â€Å"said† and â€Å"says†. Business vocabulary crops up throughout the text for example â€Å"shareholders†(line 1), â€Å"pay package†(line 8),†say on pay†() or â€Å"profits†. The text type of this article seems to be argumentative as the writers raise an query to the readers on whether the shareholders has the right to play role on deciding the pay package for the executives of the company and take initiative on accepting or avoiding the remuneration committee. In addition, this article was also informative as it provides details on how the shareholders are affected by different banker’s pay package and their bonus without attaining actual success. . 5 Content Analysis The content of the article is well-organised and simple to understand for readers who are more interested in financials due to its business language and strong points. As a student who is interested in finance, this article seems to be interesting and informative one as it provides the current news on s hareholders role on a company (here is the case of banks) and discusses the consequences of losing company’s shareholders’ support and their advisory on ‘say on pay’ vote at annual meetings. This article partially carries new knowledge for frequent readers of this magazine about the significance of the company’s shareholders support. On the other hand, this article conveys a series of interesting awareness and hypothesis where he falls back with valid proof. As an American and British, the authors show an evidence of good knowledge on the financial performance and series of events of different firms that take place in every company annual meeting. The way the writers build up the controversy is simple to follow and understand. The authors have explained from their point of view on shareholders setting up remuneration committees and re-elections in the UK and US economy. No alternative point of view is displayed. Some of the statistical data from the article are assumed to make it believable but perhaps it is major claim to integrity for me is that I completely agree with the author’s point of view. 1. 6 Conclusion In conclusion, the article presents an interesting viewpoint on shareholders responsibilities and right to take the leading role in terms of reimbursement. With clear examples, the article demonstrates the effects on investors’ vote on banker’s pay. The authors conclude by stating that the decision made on Barclay will come to know only after the meeting. The language range is typical of the publication, widespread, normal and with ample of business terms. In my opinion, the article is a good choice for finance and marketing students in comprehending more about the investor’s role. Overall, it provides a clear perspective on an emerging marketing trend in the world today. 2. Personal Development Plan Review 2. 1 Introduction Any individual will want to establish their personal goals and make them practicable within a specific period of time. In order to achieve this, it is necessary to prepare a ‘Personal Development Plan’(PDP). According to the guidelines for HE progress files, PDP is defined as â€Å"a structured and supported process undertaken by an individual to reflect upon their own learning, performance and/or achievement and to plan for their personal, educational and career development†. Being one of the modules in my course, I have been asked to prepare my personal development plan for communication skills. In this review, it starts with the four step model used for my PDP and ends with a conclusion. 2. 2 Four-step Model In order to set up my personal development plan, I have used a simple model, as recommended in our business communication skills module guide. This model consists of four steps which are as follows: 1. Identify what you need to develop/ improve * Enhance my academic writing skills * Develop my speaking style, improve on my vocabulary, tone and pace while giving an oral presentation * Learn how to do speed reading * learn how to make proper notes- note taking 2. Identify how you can achieve your aims To improve my academic writing skills, I will practise writing essays, read books about academic writing and pay attention to the lectures on the same. * Listen to news and radio, communicate with my classmates and show active participation in group discussion in order to build up my style of speaking * Will make a list of new words, linkers, learn synonyms and practise some academic vocabulary exercises * Pay attention to my colleagues’ way of performing their oral presentations, make a note of their strengths and weakness, thereby improving my oral presentation skills i. . tone and pace * Will read lot of books as possible, journal papers to develop speed reading * Will use the concept mind mapping whenever I take notes 3. Identify when you will do the activities described in 2. above * Week 2-9: * Answering discussion questions in managerial economics and follow-ups for the same * Week 2-8: * Review my colleague’s oral presentation and practise my presentation in front of mirror * Week 8-9 and during Easter holidays: Practise taking notes using mind mapping while reading core text books * Read and practise exercise from the following books: Bailey, S. (2011) Academic Writing for International Students of Business, Routledge Bennie, M. (1998)(4th ed) Mastering Business English –how to improve your Business Communication skills, O xford 4. Check yourself- how will you recognize you have accomplished your aims? My main assessment strategy will be by observing my marks and feedback I get for my assignments and oral presentation. With the help of mind mapping, I was able to complete some of my coursework one week earlier than the actual deadline. The marks and feedback for the same are due in the next few weeks. Alternatively, I will also be monitoring myself on specific areas like speed reading. My marks have been very satisfactory till now. 2. 3 Conclusion Overall, I could make out that the decent marks and encouraging feedback has given me confidence about my knowledge of English language has improved. I feel that my speed reading and speaking style also has improved. I am very sure that these progresses will support in the coursework ahead and my final dissertation. I will also make sure that I will continue to develop these qualities in near future too. 3. References * Guidelines for HE progress file [Online] Available from: http://www. qaa. ac. uk/Publications/InformationAndGuidance/Documents/progfile2001. pdf [Accessed 1 May 2012] * Financial Times : http://www. ft. com/home/uk * Thesaurus : http://thesaurus. com/ * Word Hipo : http://www. wordhippo. com/ How to cite Business Communication Skills, Essay examples

Marketing Case Studies And SWOT Analysis of Fast Fry USA

Question: Give a report on the swot analysis? Answer: Introduction: The fast food restaurants form the essential portion of the American Culture and have gained momentum in the recent years. It is by virtue of the fast food industry that has eased out the lives of the American as they are able to have meals at cheap rates. USA is considered to be the fattest country where a section of the residents blame the heavy advertisements and unhealthy and over sized sale of food that initiated the problem of obesity. However the other part derives positive externality from the fast food industry and states that obesity is a matter of personal responsibility and choices (Libcom.org, 2015). In this report, a popular restaurant in Texas called Fast Fry will be analyzed using SWOT analysis and discuss them along with the aspect of organizational culture of the company. Company overview: Fast Fry is a popular fast food restaurant chain around 1000 branches which serves 70 million people within the country every day. The restaurants sell fast food around the world through private ownership and independent franchisees. The Fast Fry offers a wide range of hamburgers, chicken and French fries, breakfast meals, soft drinks and desserts which is the typical meal pattern of USA. The Fast Fry has several outlets within the country which is preferred by individuals of every age group but despite the success of the Fast Fry, there are numerous strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to the organization. Swot analysis: The SWOT Analysis is commenced as below: (Ahmad, 2013) Strengths Weaknesses High Quality and unadulterated food with natural processing. Brand recognition is worth $20 billion. Food menus are locally popular. Targeting the children and Teenagers Partners are reputed brands. More than 75% of the restaurants are independently owned by franchisers. Controversies related to unhealthy food options. Low advertising budget. High unskilled workers. Absence of variation in season good products. Training cost of unskilled workers are high. Opportunities Threats Expanding the chain through joint ventures with different retailers. Adoption of more healthier options by being reactive towards the social changes Increasing the advertising of the company. Being more environmentally responsible. Introduce allergen free food products. Expanding the beverage choices. Targeting children causes a concern of obesity in the country. The addictive additives in the food have driven lawsuits. Threat of Competition. Consumers becoming ethically conscious. (Harvard Business Review, 2015) Consumers preferences turning towards healthy food choices. Economic downturn affecting the sale of the company. Report on the swot analysis: Strengths- the company engages in healthy food options by processing the food naturally and unadulterated. The recognition of brand of Fast Fry is worth $20 million which is a huge amount. The food items of the Fast Fry are prepared based on the local demand and food preferences. The target customers of the company are the children and teenagers who are more inclined towards the fast food choices. Through advertising and offers of meals, the children and the teenagers are influenced to consume the fast food. The company has established partnership with the reputed brands so that the well being of the company is maintained. The expansion of the company through franchise ownership has helped them to increase the sale and revenue which in turn increased the profit of the company. Weaknesses- Fast Fry is subjected to several controversies related to the unhealthy food options like unhealthy sourcing of meat, addition of allergens and other additive which are harmful for the children. The controversies have impacted the sale of the company. In this regard the consumers are also becoming ethically conscious about the food they have and the method by which the company processes the food. This has created problem for the company as they have to be more careful now. The low budget in advertisement has hindered the potential sale of the food products. The advertisement is a way to reach out to the potential customers who could have increased the sale of the products. (Jugenheimer Kelley, 2009) Fast Fry has appointed huge number of unskilled staffs in order to cut down cost, but it has only decreased the marginal productivity and profit. Moreover training cost for these staffs have incurred high cost for the company, again lowering their profit. Opportunities- the Fast Fry must expand the restaurant chains through joint ventures that would increase the sale and fetch enough recognition and reputation of the company (nibusinessinfo.co.uk, 2015). Fast Fry can incorporate environment friendly campaigns like using paper bags, paper plates for serving meals. The companys sales can also be increased by expansion of the beverage options. Food products must be allergen free. Threats- the rise of the fast food restaurants in the US is occurring at an alarmingly rate which has posed competition for Fast Fry. The problem of obesity was initiated by the fast food industry hence the Fast Fry can face a legislation that might limit the scope of the company. Another threat can be the consumers are becoming health conscious changing their food habits towards fruits and vegetables, this will drive down the sales of the company. (Fine, 2009) Opportuities for changes: Fast Fry must change the advertising budget and expanding the opportunities by engaging in joint venture. The employee number of the company must be cut down to increase the sale and reducing the cost of the company. The company must utilize the opportunities to hire skilled employees and eliminate the cost of training. This would increase the profit of the company. Lastly, the company must be careful to ethically source, ethically produce and ethically distribute the product. (Tech Times, 2015) Conclusion on organizational culture: Fast Fry has a strong organizational culture which motivates the employees to work efficiently. The company supports the concept of youth employment that will contribute to the economic growth of the country. Fast Fry also associates with the communities through campaigns and initiatives. The company offers several employees benefits in the form of flexible shift timings, free meal incentive for the employees and provides a healthcare programs to maintain the health status of the employees. The strengths of the organizational culture is in the frequent promotional schemes and the opportunities of increment in salary. Thus, based on the SWOT analysis of Fast Fry it can be said that there is a potential scope for the company to capture the relevant opportunities and drive away the threats and weaknesses of the company to initiate growth. (Warsi Nisa, n.d.) Reference: Ahmad, M. (2013).Marketing Case Studies and Swot Analysis. Saarbrucken: LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing. Fine, L. (2009).The SWOT analysis. [S.l.]: Kick It. Harvard Business Review,. (2015).Ethical Consumerism Isnt Dead, It Just Needs Better Marketing. Retrieved 14 May 2015, from https://hbr.org/2015/01/ethical-consumerism-isnt-dead-it-just-needs-better-marketing Jugenheimer, D., Kelley, L. (2009).Advertising management. Armonk, N.Y.: M.E. Sharpe. Libcom.org,. (2015).The fast food industry and how it was built. Retrieved 14 May 2015, from https://libcom.org/history/fast-food-industry-how-it-was-built nibusinessinfo.co.uk,. (2015).Joint venture - benefits and risks. Retrieved 14 May 2015, from https://www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk/content/joint-venture-benefits-and-risks Tech Times,. (2015).Fast Food Still as Unhealthy as Ever. Retrieved 14 May 2015, from https://www.techtimes.com/articles/24368/20150102/fast-food-still-as-unhealthy-as-ever.htm Warsi, K., Nisa, S. Food Retailing: Fast Food Industry.SSRN Journal. doi:10.2139/ssrn.664962