The Host Chapter 48: Detained

The red and blue lights swirled in time with the siren's cry. Before the souls had come to this place, these lights and sounds had had only one meaning. The law, the keepers of the peace, the punishers of offenders. Now, again, the flashing colors and angry noise had only one meaning. A very similar meaning. Still the keepers of the peace. Still the punishers. Seekers. It wasn't as common a sight or sound as it had been before. The police force was only needed to help in cases of accidents or other emergencies, not to enforce laws. Most civil servants didn't have vehicles with sirens, unless the vehicle was an ambulance or a fire truck. This low, sleek car behind us was not for any accident. This was a vehicle made for pursuit. I'd never seen anything quite like it before, but I knew exactly what it meant. Jared was frozen, his foot still pushing down on the gas pedal. I could see that he was trying to find a solution, a way to outrun them in this decrepit van or a way to evade them-to hide our wide white profile in the low, gaunt brush of the desert-without leading them back to the rest. Without giving everyone away. We were so close to the others now. They slumbered, unaware†¦ When he gave up after two seconds of frantic thought, he exhaled. â€Å"I'm so sorry, Wanda,† he whispered. â€Å"I blew it.† â€Å"Jared?† He reached for my hand and eased up on the gas. The car started to slow. â€Å"Got your pill?† he choked. â€Å"Yes,† I whispered. â€Å"Can Mel hear me?† Yes. The thought was a sob. â€Å"Yes.† My voice only barely escaped being a sob, too. â€Å"I love you, Mel. Sorry.† â€Å"She loves you. More than anything.† A short, aching silence. â€Å"Wanda, I†¦ I care about you, too. You're a good person, Wanda. You deserve better than what I've given you. Better than this.† He had something small, much too small to be so deadly, between his fingers. â€Å"Wait,† I gasped. He could not die. â€Å"Wanda, we can't take the chance. We can't outrun them, not in this. If we try to run, a thousand of them will swarm after us. Think of Jamie.† The van was slowing, drifting to the shoulder. â€Å"Give me one try,† I begged. I fumbled quickly for the pill in my pocket. I pinched it between my thumb and forefinger and held it up. â€Å"Let me try to lie us out of this. I'll swallow it right away if anything goes wrong.† â€Å"You'll never lie your way past a Seeker!† â€Å"Let me try. Quick!† I pulled off my seat belt and crouched be-side him, unfastening his. â€Å"Switch with me. Fast, before they're close enough to see.† â€Å"Wanda -â€Å" â€Å"One try. Hurry!† He was the best at split-second decisions. Smooth and fast, he was out of the driver's seat and over my crouched body. I rolled up into his seat while he took mine. â€Å"Seat belt,† I ordered tersely. â€Å"Close your eyes. Turn your head away.† He did as I said. It was too dark to see it, but his new soft pink scar would be visible from this angle. I strapped my seat belt on and then leaned my head back. Lying with my body, that was the key. It was simply a matter of the right movements. Imitation. Like the actors on the TV program, only better. Like a human. â€Å"Help me, Mel,† I murmured. I can't help you be a better soul, Wanda. But you can do this. Save him. I know you can. A better soul. I only had to be myself. It was late. I was tired. I wouldn't have to act that part. I let my eyelids droop, let my body sag against the seat. Chagrin. I could do chagrin. I could feel it now. My mouth turned down into a sheepish grimace. The Seekers' car did not park behind us, the way I could feel Mel expected. It stopped across the road, on the shoulder, facing the wrong way for that lane's traffic flow. A dazzling light exploded through the window of the other car. I blinked into it, raising my hand to shade my face with deliberate slowness. Faintly, past the glare of the spotlight, I saw the gleam of my eyes bounce against the road as I looked down. A car door slammed. One set of footsteps made a pattern of low thuds as someone crossed the pavement. There was no sound of dirt or rocks, so the Seeker had emerged from the passenger side. Two of them, at least, but only one coming to interrogate me. This was a good sign, a sign of comfort and confidence. My glowing eyes were a talisman. A compass that could not fail-like the North Star, undoubtable. Lying with my body was not the key. Telling the truth with it was enough. I had something in common with the human baby in the park: nothing like me had ever existed before. The Seeker's body blocked the light, and I could see again. It was a man. Probably middle-aged-his features conflicted with one another, making it hard to tell; his hair was all white, but his face was smooth and unwrinkled. He wore a T-shirt and shorts, a blocky gun clearly visible on his hip. One hand rested on the butt of the weapon. In his other hand was a dark flashlight. He didn't turn it on. â€Å"Having a problem, miss?† he said when he was a few feet away. â€Å"You were going much too fast for safety.† His eyes were restless. They swiftly appraised my expression-which was, hopefully, sleepy-and then ran along the length of the van, darted into the darkness behind us, flashed forward to the stretch of highway ahead, lit by our headlights, and came back to my face. They repeated the course another time. He was anxious. This knowledge made my palms sweaty, but I tried to keep the panic from my voice. â€Å"I'm so sorry,† I apologized in a loud whisper. I glanced at Jared, as if checking to see whether our words had woken him. â€Å"I think†¦ well, I think I might have fallen asleep. I didn't realize I was so tired.† I tried to smile remorsefully. I could tell I sounded stiff, like the too-careful actors on the television. The Seeker's eyes traced their route again, this time lingering on Jared. My heart jumped painfully against the inside of my ribs. I pinched the pill tighter. â€Å"It was irresponsible for me to drive for so long without sleep,† I said quickly, trying again to smile a little. â€Å"I thought we could make it to Phoenix before I would need rest. I'm very sorry.† â€Å"What's your name, miss?† His voice was not harsh, but neither was it warm. He kept it low, though, following my cue. â€Å"Leaves Above,† I said, using the name from the last hotel. Would he want to check my story? I might need someplace to refer him to. â€Å"Upside-down Flower?† he guessed. His eyes flickered around their course. â€Å"Yes, I was.† â€Å"My partner, too. Were you on the island?† â€Å"No,† I said quickly. â€Å"The mainland. Between the great rivers.† He nodded, perhaps a little disappointed. â€Å"Should I go back to Tucson?† I asked. â€Å"I think I'm quite awake now. Or maybe I should take a nap right here first -â€Å" â€Å"No!† he interrupted me in a louder voice. I jumped, startled, and the little pill slipped from my fingers. It dropped to the metal floor with a faintly audible clink. I felt the blood drain from my face as though a plug had been pulled. â€Å"Didn't mean to startle you,† he apologized quickly, his eyes repeating their restless circle. â€Å"But you shouldn't linger here.† â€Å"Why?† I managed to whisper. My fingers twitched anxiously at the empty air. â€Å"There was a†¦ disappearance recently.† â€Å"I don't understand. A disappearance?† â€Å"It could have been an accident†¦ but there might be†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He hesitated, unwilling to say the word. â€Å"Humans may be in this area.† â€Å"Humans?† I squeaked, too loud. He heard the fear in my voice and interpreted it the only way he could. â€Å"There's no proof of that, Leaves Above. No sightings or anything. Don't be anxious. But you should proceed on to Phoenix without unnecessary delay.† â€Å"Of course. Or maybe Tucson? That would be closer.† â€Å"There's no danger. You can continue with your plans.† â€Å"If you're sure, Seeker†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"I'm quite sure. Just don't go wandering off into the desert, Flower.† He smiled. The expression warmed his face, making it kind. Just like all the other souls I'd dealt with. He wasn't anxious about me, but for me. He wasn't listening for lies. And he probably wouldn't recognize them if he was. Just another soul. â€Å"I wasn't planning on it.† I smiled back at him. â€Å"I'll be more careful. I know I couldn't fall asleep now.† I glanced at the desert out Jared's window with a wary expression, so the Seeker would think that fear was making me alert. My expression tensed into a taut mask as I caught sight of a pair of lights reflected in the side mirror. Jared's spine stiffened at the same time, but he held his pose. It looked too tight. My eyes darted back to the Seeker's face. â€Å"I can help with that,† he said, still smiling but looking down now as he fumbled to remove something from his pocket. He hadn't seen the change in my face. I tried to control the muscles in my cheeks, to make them relax, but I couldn't concentrate hard enough to make it happen. In the rearview mirror, the headlights got closer. â€Å"You should not use this often,† the Seeker went on, searching the other pocket now. â€Å"It's not harmful, of course, or the Healers wouldn't have us give it out. But if you use it frequently, it will alter your sleep cycles†¦ Ah, here it is. Awake.† The lights slowed as they approached. Just drive by, I begged in my head. Don't stop, don't stop, don't stop. Let it be Kyle at the wheel, Melanie added, thinking the words like a prayer. Don't stop. Just drive. Don't stop. Just drive. â€Å"Miss?† I blinked, trying to focus. â€Å"Um, Awake?† â€Å"Just inhale this, Leaves Above.† He had a thin white aerosol can in his hand. He sprayed a puff of mist into the air in front of my face. I leaned forward obediently and took a sniff, my eyes darting to the mirror at the same time. â€Å"It's grapefruit scented,† the Seeker said. â€Å"Nice, don't you think?† â€Å"Very nice.† My brain was suddenly sharp, focused. The big moving truck slowed and then idled on the road be-hind us. No! Mel and I shouted together. I searched the dark floor for one half second, hoping against hope that the little pill would be visible. I couldn't even make out my feet. The Seeker glanced absently at the truck and then waved it forward. I looked back at the truck, too, a forced smile on my face. I couldn't see who was driving. My eyes reflected the headlights, shot out faint beams of their own. The truck hesitated. The Seeker waved again, more broadly this time. â€Å"Go ahead,† he muttered to himself. Drive! Drive! Drive! Beside me, Jared's hand was clenched in a fist. Slowly, the big truck shuddered into first gear and then inched forward through the space between the Seeker's vehicle and ours. The Seeker's spotlight outlined two silhouettes, two black profiles, both facing straight forward. The one in the driver's seat had a crooked nose. Mel and I both exhaled in relief. â€Å"How do you feel?† â€Å"Alert,† I told the Seeker. â€Å"It will wear off in about four hours.† â€Å"Thank you.† The Seeker chuckled. â€Å"Thank you, Leaves Above. When we saw you racing down the road, we thought we might have humans on our hands. I was sweating, but not from the heat!† I shuddered. â€Å"Don't worry. You'll be perfectly fine. If you'd like, we can follow you to Phoenix.† â€Å"I'm just fine. You don't need to trouble yourself.† â€Å"It was nice to meet you. I'll be pleased when my shift is over, so that I can go home and tell my partner I met another green-first Flower. She'll be so excited.† â€Å"Um†¦ tell her, Brightest sun, longest day' for me,† I said, giving him the Earthly translation of the common greeting and farewell on the Flower Planet. â€Å"Certainly. Have a pleasant journey.† â€Å"And you have a pleasant night.† He stepped back, and the spotlight hit my eyes again. I blinked furiously. â€Å"Cut it, Hank,† the Seeker said, shading his eyes as he turned to walk toward the car. The night turned black again, and I forced another smile toward the invisible Seeker named Hank. I started the engine with shaking hands. The Seekers were faster. The little black car with the incongruous light bar atop it purred to life. It executed a sharp U-turn, and then the taillights were all I could see. They disappeared quickly into the night. I pulled back onto the road. My heart pumped the blood through my veins in hard little bursts. I could feel the fierce pulse throbbing through to my fingertips. â€Å"They're gone,† I whispered through my suddenly chattering teeth. I heard Jared swallow. â€Å"That was†¦ close,† he said. â€Å"I thought Kyle was going to stop.† â€Å"Me, too.† Neither of us could speak above a whisper. â€Å"The Seeker bought it.† His teeth were still clenched in anxiety. â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"I wouldn't have. Your acting hasn't improved much.† I shrugged. My body was so rigid, it all moved together. â€Å"They can't not believe me. What I am†¦ well, it's something impossible. Something that shouldn't exist.† â€Å"Something unbelievable,† he agreed. â€Å"Something wonderful.† His praise thawed some of the ice in my stomach, in my veins. â€Å"Seekers aren't all that different from the rest of them,† I murmured to myself. â€Å"Nothing to be especially afraid of.† He shook his head back and forth slowly. â€Å"There really isn't anything you can't do, is there?† I wasn't sure how to respond to that. â€Å"Having you with us is going to change everything,† he continued under his breath, talking to himself now. I could feel how his words made Melanie sad, but she was not angry this time. She was resigned. You can help them. You can protect them better than I could. She sighed. The slow-moving taillights did not frighten me when they appeared on the road ahead. They were familiar, a relief. I sped up-just a little, still a few miles below the limit-to pass them. Jared pulled a flashlight out of the glove compartment. I understood what he was doing: reassurance. He held the light to his own eyes as we passed the cab of the truck. I looked past him, through the other window. Kyle nodded once at Jared and took a deep breath. Ian was leaning anxiously around him, his eyes focused on me. I waved once, and he grimaced. We were getting close to our hidden exit. â€Å"Should I go all the way to Phoenix?† Jared thought about it. â€Å"No. They might see us on the way back and stop us again. I don't think they're following. They're focused on the road.† â€Å"No, they won't follow.† I was sure of this. â€Å"Let's go home, then.† â€Å"Home,† I agreed wholeheartedly. We killed the lights, and so did Kyle behind us. We would take both vehicles right to the caves and unload quickly so they could be hidden before morning. The little overhang by the entrance would not hide them from view. I rolled my eyes as I thought of the way into and out of the caves. The big mystery I hadn't been able to solve for myself. Jeb was so tricky. Tricky-just like the directions he'd given Mel, the lines he'd carved onto the back of her photo album. They didn't lead to his cave hideout at all. No, instead they made the person following them parade back and forth in front of his secret place, giving him ample opportunity to decide whether or not to extend an invitation inside. â€Å"What do you think happened?† Jared asked, interrupting my thoughts. â€Å"What do you mean?† â€Å"The recent disappearance the Seeker mentioned.† I stared ahead blankly. â€Å"Wouldn't that be me?† â€Å"I don't think you would count as recent, Wanda. Besides, they weren't watching the freeway before we left. That's new. They're looking for us. Here.† His eyes narrowed, while mine widened. â€Å"What have they been doing?† Jared suddenly exploded, slapping his hand loudly against the dashboard. I jumped. â€Å"You think Jeb and the others did something?† He didn't answer me; he just stared out across the star-bright desert with furious eyes. I didn't understand. Why would the Seekers be looking for humans just because someone had disappeared in the desert? Accidents did happen. Why would they jump to that particular conclusion? And why was Jared angry? Our family in the caves wouldn't do anything to draw attention to themselves. They knew better than that. They wouldn't go outside unless there was an emergency of some kind. Or something they felt was urgent. Necessary. Had Doc and Jeb been taking advantage of my absence? Jeb had only agreed to stop slaughtering people and souls while I was under the same roof. Was this their compromise? â€Å"You okay?† Jared asked. My throat was too thick to answer. I shook my head. Tears streamed down my cheeks and fell from my chin to my lap. â€Å"Maybe I'd better drive.† I shook my head again. I could see well enough. He didn't argue with me. I was still crying silently when we got to the little mountain that hid our vast cave system. It was actually just a hill-an insignificant outcropping of volcanic rock, like so many others, sparsely decorated with spindly creosote and flat-bladed prickly pears. The thousands of tiny vents were invisible, lost in the jumble of loose purple rocks. Somewhere, smoke would be rising, black on black. I got out of the van and leaned against the door, wiping my eyes. Jared came to stand beside me. He hesitated, then put a hand on my shoulder. â€Å"Sorry. I didn't know they were planning this. I had no idea. They shouldn't have†¦Ã¢â‚¬  But he only thought that because they'd somehow gotten caught. The moving truck rumbled to a stop behind us. Two doors slammed shut, and then feet were running toward us. â€Å"What happened?† Kyle demanded, there first. Ian was right behind him. He took one look at my expression, at the tears still running down my cheeks, at Jared's hand on my shoulder, and then rushed forward and threw his arms around me. He pulled me into his chest. I didn't know why this made me cry harder. I clung to him while my tears leaked onto his shirt. â€Å"It's okay. You did great. It's over.† â€Å"Seeker's not the problem, Ian,† Jared said, voice strained, his hand still touching me, though he had to lean forward to preserve that point of contact. â€Å"Huh?† â€Å"They were watching the road for a reason. Sounds like Doc's been†¦ working in our absence.† I shuddered, and for a moment, it seemed like I could taste silver blood in the back of my throat. â€Å"Why, those -!† Ian's fury robbed him of speech. He couldn't finish his sentence. â€Å"Nice,† Kyle said in a disgusted tone. â€Å"Idiots. We're gone for a few weeks, and they've got the Seekers on patrol. They could have just asked us to -â€Å" â€Å"Shut up, Kyle,† Jared said harshly. â€Å"That's neither here nor there at the moment. We've got to get this all unloaded fast. Who knows how many are watching for us? Let's grab a load and then get some more hands.† I shook Ian off so that I could help. The tears did not stop running. Ian stayed close to my side, taking the heavy flat of canned soup I picked up and replacing it with a big but light box of pasta. We started down the steep pathway in, Jared leading. The utter blackness did not bother me. I still didn't know this path well, but it wasn't difficult. Straight down, then straight up. We were halfway there when a familiar voice called out from a distance. It echoed down the tunnel, fracturing. â€Å"They're back†¦ ack†¦ back!† Jamie was shouting. I tried to dry my tears on my shoulder, but I couldn't get them all. A blue light approached, bouncing as the carrier ran. Then Jamie bounded into view. His face threw me. I was trying to compose myself to greet him, assuming he would be joyful and not wanting to upset him. But Jamie was already upset. His face was white and tense, his eyes rimmed in red. His dirty cheeks had rivulets through the dust there, tracks made by tears. â€Å"Jamie?† Jared and I said together, dropping our boxes to the floor. Jamie ran straight for me and threw his arms around my waist. â€Å"Oh, Wanda! Oh, Jared!† he sobbed. â€Å"Wes is dead! He's dead! The Seeker killed him!†

Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal Chapter 25

Chapter 25 Philip, who was called the new guy, asked that we go to Cana by way of Bethany, as he had a friend there that he wanted to recruit to follow along with us. â€Å"I tried to get him to join with John the Baptist,† Philip said, â€Å"but he wouldn't stand for the eating-locusts, living-in-pits thing. Anyway, he's from Cana, I'm sure he'd love to have a visit home.† As we came into the square of Bethany, Philip called out to a blond kid who was sitting under a fig tree. He was the same yellow-haired kid that Joshua and I had seen when we first passed through Bethany over a year ago. â€Å"Hey, Nathaniel,† Philip called. â€Å"Come join me and my friends on the way to Cana. They're from Nazareth. Joshua here might be the Messiah.† â€Å"Might be?† I said. Nathaniel walked out into the street to look at us, shading his eyes against the sun. He couldn't have been more than sixteen or seventeen. He barely had the fuzz of a beard on his chin. â€Å"Can anything good come out of Nazareth?† he said. â€Å"Joshua, Biff, Bartholomew,† Philip said, â€Å"this is my friend Nathaniel.† â€Å"I know you,† Joshua said. â€Å"I saw you when we last passed through here.† Then, inexplicably, Nathaniel fell to his knees in front of Joshua's camel and said, â€Å"You are truly the Messiah and the Son of God.† Joshua looked at me, then at Philip, then at the kid, prostrating himself on camel's feet. â€Å"Because I've seen you before you believe that I'm the Messiah, even though a minute ago nothing good could come out of Nazareth?† â€Å"Sure, why not?† said Nathaniel. And Josh looked at me again, as if I could explain it. Meanwhile Bartholomew, who was on foot along with his pack of doggie followers (whom he had disturbingly begun to refer to as his â€Å"disciples†), went over to Nathaniel and helped the boy to his feet. â€Å"Stand up, if you're coming with us.† Nathaniel prostrated himself before Bartholomew now. â€Å"You are truly the Messiah and the Son of God.† â€Å"No, I'm not,† Bart said, lifting the kid to his feet. â€Å"He is.† Bart pointed to Joshua. Nathaniel looked to me, for some reason, for confirmation. â€Å"You are truly a babe in the woods,† I said to Nathaniel. â€Å"You don't gamble, do you?† â€Å"Biff!† Joshua said. He shook his head and I shrugged. To Nathaniel he said, â€Å"You're welcome to join us. We share the camels, our food, and what little money we have.† Here Joshua nodded toward Philip, who had been nominated to carry the communal purse because he was good at math. â€Å"Thanks,† said Nathaniel, and he fell in behind us. And thus we became five. â€Å"Josh,† I said in a harsh whisper, â€Å"that kid is as dumb as a stick.† â€Å"He's not dumb, Biff, he just has a talent for belief.† â€Å"Fine,† I said, turning to Philip. â€Å"Don't let the kid anywhere near the money.† As we headed out of the square toward the Mount of Olives, Abel and Crustus, the two old blind guys who'd helped me over Maggie's wall, called out from the gutter. (I'd learned their names after correcting their little gender mistake.) â€Å"Oh son of David, have mercy on us!† Joshua pulled up on the reins of his camel. â€Å"What makes you call me that?† â€Å"You are Joshua of Nazareth, the young preacher who was studying under John?† â€Å"Yes, I am Joshua.† â€Å"We heard the Lord say that you were his son with whom he was well pleased.† â€Å"You heard that?† â€Å"Yes. About five or six weeks ago. Right out of the sky.† â€Å"Dammit, did everyone hear but me?† â€Å"Have mercy on us, Joshua,† said one blind guy. â€Å"Yeah, mercy,† said the other. Then Joshua climbed down from his camel, laid his hands upon the old men's eyes, and said, â€Å"You have faith in the Lord, and you have heard, as evidently everyone in Judea has, that I am his son with whom he is well pleased.† Then he pulled his hands from their faces and the old men looked around. â€Å"Tell me what you see,† Joshua said. The old guys sort of looked around, saying nothing. â€Å"So, tell me what you see.† The blind men looked at each other. â€Å"Something wrong?† Joshua asked. â€Å"You can see, can't you?† â€Å"Well, yeah,† said Abel, â€Å"but I thought there'd be more color.† â€Å"Yeah,† said Crustus, â€Å"it's kind of dull.† I stepped up. â€Å"You're on the edge of the Judean desert, one of the most lifeless, desolate, hostile places on earth, what did you expect?† â€Å"I don't know.† Crustus shrugged. â€Å"More.† â€Å"Yeah, more,† said Abel. â€Å"What color is that?† â€Å"That's brown.† â€Å"How about that one?† â€Å"That would be brown as well.† â€Å"That color over there? Right there?† â€Å"Brown.† â€Å"You're sure that's not mauve.† â€Å"Nope, brown.† â€Å"And – â€Å" â€Å"Brown,† I said. The two former blind guys shrugged and walked off mumbling to each other. â€Å"Excellent healing,† said Nathaniel. â€Å"I for one have never seen a better healing,† said Philip, â€Å"but then, I'm new.† Joshua rode off shaking his head. When we came into Cana we were broke and hungry and more than ready for a feast, at least most of us were. Joshua didn't know about the feast. The wedding was being held in the courtyard of a very large house. We could hear the drums and singers and smell spiced meat cooking as we approached the gates. It was a large wedding and a couple of kids were waiting outside to tend to our camels. They were curly haired, wiry little guys about ten years old; they reminded me of evil versions of Josh and me at that age. â€Å"Sounds like a wedding going on,† Joshua said. â€Å"Park your camel, sir?† said the camel-parking kid. â€Å"It is a wedding,† said Bart. â€Å"I thought we were here to help Maggie.† â€Å"Park your camel, sir?† said the other kid, pulling on the reins of my camel. Joshua looked at me. â€Å"Where is Maggie? You said she was sick?† â€Å"She's in the wedding,† I said, pulling the reins back from the kid. â€Å"You said she was dying.† â€Å"Well, we all are, aren't we? I mean, if you think about it.† I grinned. â€Å"You can't park that camel here, sir.† â€Å"Look, kid, I don't have any money to tip you. Go away.† I hate handing my camel over to the camel-parking kids. It unnerves me. I'm always sure that I'm never going to see it again, or it's going to come back with a tooth missing or an eye poked out. â€Å"So Maggie isn't really dying?† â€Å"Hey, guys,† Maggie said, stepping out of the gate. â€Å"Maggie,† Joshua said, throwing his arms up in surprise. Problem was, he was so intent on looking at her that he forgot to grab on again, and off the camel he went. He hit the ground facedown with a thump and a wheeze. I jumped down from my camel, Bart's dogs barked, Maggie ran to Josh, rolled him over, and cradled his head in her lap while he tried to get his breath back. Philip and Nathaniel waved to people from the wedding who were peeping through the gate to see what all the commotion was about. Before I had a chance to turn, the two kids had leapt up onto our camels and were galloping around the corner off to Nod, or South Dakota, or some other place I didn't know the location of. â€Å"Maggie,† Joshua said. â€Å"You're not sick.† â€Å"That depends,† she said, â€Å"if there's any chance of a laying on of hands.† Joshua smiled and blushed. â€Å"I missed you.† â€Å"Me too,† Maggie said. She kissed Joshua on the lips and held him there until I started to squirm and the other disciples started to clear their throats and bark â€Å"get a room† under their breaths. Maggie stood up and helped Joshua to his feet. â€Å"Come on in, guys,† she said. â€Å"No dogs,† she said to Bart, and the hulking Cynic shrugged and sat down in the street amid his canine disciples. I was craning my neck to see if I could see where our camels had been taken. â€Å"They're going to run those camels into the ground, and I know they won't feed or water them.† â€Å"Who?† asked Maggie. â€Å"Those camel-parking boys.† â€Å"Biff, this is my youngest brother's wedding. He couldn't even afford wine. He didn't hire any camel-parking boys.† Bartholomew stood and rallied his troops. â€Å"I'll find them.† He lumbered off. Inside we feasted on beef and mutton, all manner of fruits and vegetables, bean and nut pastes, cheese and first-pressed olive oil with bread. There was singing and dancing and if it hadn't been for a few old guys in the corner looking very cranky, you'd never have known that there wasn't any wine at the party. When our people danced, they danced in large groups, lines and circles, not couples. There were men's dances and women's dances and very few dances where both could participate, which is why people were staring at Joshua and Maggie as they danced. They were definitely dancing together. I retreated to a corner where I saw Maggie's sister Martha watching as she nibbled at some bread with goat cheese. She was twenty-five, a shorter, sturdier version of Maggie, with the same auburn hair and blue eyes, but with less tendency to laugh. Her husband had divorced her for â€Å"grievous skankage† and now she lived with her older brother Simon in Bethany. I'd gotten to know her when we were little and she took messages to Maggie for me. She offered me a bite of her bread and cheese and I took it. â€Å"She's going to get herself stoned,† Martha said in a slightly bitter, moderately jealous, younger sister tone. â€Å"Jakan is a member of the Sanhedrin.† â€Å"Is he still a bully?† â€Å"Worse, now he's a bully with power. He'd have her stoned, just to prove that he could do it.† â€Å"For dancing? Not even the Pharisees – â€Å" â€Å"If anyone saw her kiss Joshua, then†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"So how are you?† I said, changing the subject. â€Å"I'm living with my brother Simon now.† â€Å"I heard.† â€Å"He's a leper.† â€Å"Look, there's Joshua's mother. I have to go say hello.† â€Å"There's no wine at this wedding,† Mary said. â€Å"I know. Strange, isn't it?† James stood by scowling as I hugged his mother. â€Å"Joshua is here too?† â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"Oh good, I was afraid that you two might have been arrested along with John.† â€Å"Pardon me?† I stepped back and looked to James for explanation. He seemed the more appropriate bearer of bad news. â€Å"You hadn't heard? Herod has thrown John in prison for inciting people to revolt. That's the excuse anyway. It's Herod's wife who wanted John silenced. She was tired of having John's followers refer to her as ‘the slut.'† I patted Mary's shoulder as I stepped away. â€Å"I'll tell Joshua that you're here.† I found Joshua sitting in a far corner of the courtyard playing with some children. One little girl had brought her pet rabbit to the wedding and Joshua was holding it in his lap, petting its ears. â€Å"Biff, come feel how soft this bunny is.† â€Å"Joshua, John has been arrested.† Josh slowly handed the bunny back to the little girl and stood. â€Å"When?† â€Å"I'm not sure. Shortly after we left, I guess.† â€Å"I shouldn't have left him. I didn't even tell him we were leaving.† â€Å"It was bound to happen, Joshua. I told him to lay off Herod, but he wouldn't listen. You couldn't have done anything.† â€Å"I'm the Son of God, I could have done something.† â€Å"Yeah, you could have gone to prison with him. Your mother is here. Go talk to her. She's the one that told me.† As Joshua embraced Mary, she said, â€Å"You've got to do something about this wine situation. Where's the wine?† James tapped Joshua on the shoulder. â€Å"Didn't bring any wine with you from the lush vineyards of Jericho?† (I didn't like hearing sarcasm being used by James against Joshua. I had always thought of my invention as being used for good, or at least against people I didn't like.) Joshua gently pushed his mother away. â€Å"You shall have wine,† he said, then he went off to the side of the house where drinking water was stored in large stone jars. In a few minutes he returned with a pitcher of wine and cups for all of us. A shout went through the party and suddenly everything seemed to step up a level. Pitchers and cups were filled and drained and filled again, and those who had been near the wine jars started declaring a miracle had been performed, that Joshua of Nazareth had turned water into wine. I looked for him, but he was nowhere to be found. Having been free of sin all of his life, Joshua wasn't very good at dealing with guilt, so he had gone off by himself to try to numb the guilt he felt over John's arrest. After a few hours of subterfuge and guile, I was able to get Maggie to sneak out the back gate with me. â€Å"Maggie, come with us. You talked to Joshua. You saw the wine. He's the one.† â€Å"I've always known he was the one, but I can't come with you. I'm married.† â€Å"I thought you were going to be a fisherman.† â€Å"And I thought you were going to be a village idiot.† â€Å"I'm still looking for a village. Look, get Jakan to divorce you.† â€Å"Anything he can divorce me for he can also kill me for. I've seen him pass judgment on people, Biff. I've seen him lead the mobs to the stonings. I'm afraid of him.† â€Å"I learned to make poisons in the East.† I raised my eyebrows and grinned. â€Å"Huh?† â€Å"I'm not going to poison my husband.† I sighed, an exasperated sigh that I'd learned from my mother. â€Å"Then leave him and come away with us, far from Jerusalem where he can't reach you. He'll have to divorce you to save face.† â€Å"Why should I leave, Biff? So I can follow around a man who doesn't want me and wouldn't take me if he did?† I didn't know what to say, I felt like knives were twisting in fresh wounds in my chest. I looked at my sandals and pretended to have something caught in my throat. Maggie stepped up, put her arms around me, and laid her head against my chest. â€Å"I'm sorry,† she said. â€Å"I know.† â€Å"I missed both of you, but I missed just you too.† â€Å"I know.† â€Å"I'm not going to sleep with you.† â€Å"I know.† â€Å"Then please stop rubbing that against me.† â€Å"Sure,† I said. Just then Joshua stumbled through the gate and crashed into us. We were able to catch ourselves and him before anyone fell. The Messiah was holding the little girl's pet bunny, hugging it to his cheek with the big back feet swinging free. He was gloriously drunk. â€Å"Know what?† Josh said. â€Å"I love bunnies. They toil not, neither do they bark. Henceforth and from now on, I decree that whenever something bad happens to me, there shall be bunnies around. So it shall be written. Go ahead Biff, write it down.† He waved to me under the bunny, then turned and started back through the gate. â€Å"Where's the friggin' wine? I got a dry bunny over here!† â€Å"See,† I said to Maggie, â€Å"you don't want to miss out on that. Bunnies!† She laughed. My favorite music. â€Å"I'll get word to you,† she said. â€Å"Where will you be?† â€Å"I have no idea.† â€Å"I'll get word to you.† It was midnight. The party had wound down and the disciples and I were sitting in the street outside of the house. Joshua had passed out and Bartholomew had put a small dog under his head for a pillow. Before he had left, James had made it abundantly clear that we weren't welcome in Nazareth. â€Å"Well?† said Philip. â€Å"I guess we can't go back to John.† â€Å"I'm sorry I didn't find the camels,† Bartholomew said. â€Å"People teased me about my yellow hair,† said Nathaniel. â€Å"I thought you were from Cana,† I said. â€Å"Don't you have family we can stay with?† â€Å"Plague,† said Nathaniel. â€Å"Plague,† we all said, nodding. It happens. â€Å"You'll probably be needing these,† came a voice out of the darkness. We all looked up to see a short but powerfully built man walking out of the darkness, leading our camels. â€Å"The camels,† said Nathaniel. â€Å"My apologies,† said the man, â€Å"my brother's sons brought them home to us in Capernaum. I'm sorry it's taken so long to get them back to you.† I stood and he handed the camel's reins to me. â€Å"They've been fed and watered.† He pointed to Joshua, who was snoring away on his terrier. â€Å"Does he always drink like that?† â€Å"Only when a major prophet has been imprisoned.† The man nodded. â€Å"I heard what he did with the wine. They say he also healed a lame man in Cana this afternoon. Is that true?† We all nodded. â€Å"If you have no place to stay, you can come home with me to Capernaum for a day or two. We owe you at least that for taking your camels.† â€Å"We don't have any money,† I said. â€Å"Then you'll feel right at home,† said the man. â€Å"My name is Andrew.† And so we became six.

Reasons for Suffering Essay

The great philosopher C. S. Lewis once wrote: â€Å"They say of some temporal suffering, ‘No future bliss can make up for it,’ not knowing that Heaven, once attained, will work backwards and turn even that agony into glory† (Keller 34). How can agony and suffering be turned into glory? Suffering is a term that is closely related to the concepts of evil and pain. The verb, suffer, means to undergo or endure. Suffering is linked with the experience of anguish or misery in which humans are aware of the hardships of their intent or function. Suffering, with its biological and psychological matters, may be the result of moral evil where human sin leads to affliction (injustice, greed, war, rape, exploitation) or of natural evil (droughts, floods, earthquakes, accident, illness). Suffering, as a state of mind, may also relate to circumstances of places, possessions and people rather than evil (Atkinson 823). Suffering may be due to unrelieved pain, not all pain, as a physical state, necessarily means suffering. God allows us to suffer upon earth. He does not, however, make us suffer. It is our own faults, because of sin, which we suffer. Suffering is caused by sin, which is the rebellion of creation that God had made for us. Sin and suffering are related to each other and also go together. Sin produces suffering, which we can then assume that all suffering, somewhere and somehow, is caused by sin (Henry 651). The Book of Job says important things about suffering. Almost everyone at some point in life asks, â€Å"Why do bad things happen to good people? The Book of Job does not really answer the question, â€Å"Why is there suffering? † But it does show right and wrong ideas and feelings about suffering and the meaning of life (online). Job is a man who is wise, rich, and good. Then suddenly terrible things happen to him. His ten children are killed. He loses all his wealth. And he becomes ill with a painful skin disease. Three friends come to visit him, and they try to explain to Job why these bad things have happened. They tell job that sin caused his suffering and God was punishing him. Job insists it is not true, but no one believes him. Job becomes very discouraged and angry but he still believes God cares about him, although he may not understand why he must suffer so. In the end, God answers Job in a hirlwind, reminding him that humans can never understand how great God is. After Job hears God speak, he says, â€Å"I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear, but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. (Job 42:5-6 KJV). â€Å" Job realized that his trust in God should not depend on what happens to him. God says that Job’s friends did not know what they were talking about. Finally, God restores Job’s health, makes him twice as rich as he had been before, and gives him ten more children. This book tells us that God is in control of everything that happens to us. Satan can only do what God allows him to do, within reason of God letting him do it. And when God allows suffering He has ways of making everything turn out okay in the end. Romans 8:28 says to us, â€Å"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. † Our part is to trust God and ask him for strength and comfort, in whatever we go though. God has said in His Word that He will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). The question in Job is how to read his suffering back to his sin, his suffering as against the apparently easygoing life of his friends. The book of Job does not give any specific answer except to calm the opinions of his friends and it opens possibilities in the greatness of God. Better things are at stake and better things will happen to Job and his friends (Henry 651). Another example of suffering in the bible is the story of Joseph. Joseph was the favored child of Jacob, who was the grandson of Abraham. Joseph had a bunch of brothers who hated him, since their father gave Joseph attention and gifts that he did not give to the other brothers. Joseph’s brothers then got jealous of him and sold him into slavery. Joseph became the head of the household of a rich man, Potiphar. However, due to false accusations, Joseph was thrown into prison for several years. He was eventually let out because of his ability to interpret other people’s dreams. He became a major authority of Egypt and gathered food for the country since he knew through dreams that famine would come to the land. When famine did come, people from the surrounding lands came to Egypt for food. Joseph’s brothers showed up in Egypt to get food and after playing some games with them, Joseph forgave his brothers and took care of his family in Egypt (Genesis 37-50). Though he experienced years of bondage and misery, Joseph’s character was refined and strengthened by his trials and sufferings. If God had not allowed Joseph’s years of suffering, he never would have been such a powerful agent for social justice and spiritual healing (Keller 24). Many people have to admit that most of what they need for success in life came to them through their most difficulties and painful experiences in life. Some look back on things like a major illness or other hardship and recognize that it was a hard time and they found personal and spiritual growth for them. One man lost the sight in his eyes and he said that it humbled him. â€Å"As my physical eyes were closed but my spiritual eyes were opened. I was a terrible price to pay yet I must say it was worth it. † Though people are not grateful for the tragedies that happened to them, they would not trade the wisdom, character, and strength they had gotten from their experiences (Keller 25). Psalm 119:71 says: â€Å"My suffering was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees. The New Testament shows us two ways of understanding. The first is that there is a mass suffering which must be paid for by sinful humanity. The price will be paid by humanity in human history and paid in full. The second answer is Jesus. Jesus, who took sin upon himself to cover the sins of the universe for us. Jesus did three things to solve the problem of suffering. First, he came. He suffered with us. Second, in becoming man he changed the meaning of our suffering: it is now part of his work of redemption. Third, he died and rose. Dying, he paid the price for sin and opened heaven to us; rising, he transformed death from a hole into a door, from an end into a beginning (Kreeft, online). The cross reveals that suffering may be made into something redemptive. If a disciple of Christ accepts suffering upon him in God’s wisdom and love, and also takes upon him the cross, knowing that final answers rest with God in another world. A theologia crucis means the theology of the cross. This term determines God hidden in suffering and humiliation of the cross of Christ. Luther used the phrase Deus crucifixus, which means â€Å"a crucified God,† as he speaks of the manner in which God shares in the sufferings of Christ. It was the late twentieth century that it was the â€Å"new orthodoxy† to speak of a suffering God. Traditional theology declared that Jesus Christ was indeed God incarnate. Therefore it seems to follow that God suffered in Christ. Christ suffered in his human nature, not divine. Thus God did not experience human suffering and remained unaffected by the aspect of the world (McGrath 221). God came to earth to put himself on the hook of human suffering. God experienced the greatest depths of pain. On the cross he went beyond even the worst human suffering and experienced cosmic rejection and pain that exceeds ours as infinitely as his knowledge and power exceeds ours (Keller 30). The Bible says that Jesus had to pay for our sins so that someday he can end evil and suffering without having to end us. The twentieth century faced a lot of suffering during their time. Two world wars broke out, increasing weapons and natural disasters. It is the impossible sufferings of the Holocaust that has raise the most questions about human evil and a God of love. Kenneth Surin, in light of the horrors of Auschwitz, declares a ‘rupture’ of language and need for unbelief as well as belief in relation to God’s apparent inaction (Atkinson 825). So then why does God allow suffering to continue on? Honestly we don’t know the answer that question. The answer is not that God does not love us. He is not indifferent or detached from our condition. God takes our misery and suffering so seriously that he was willing to take it on himself (Keller 31). Jonathan Edwards concludes: â€Å"The suffering which Christ endured in his body on the cross were yet the least part of his last sufferings. If it had been only the sufferings which he endured in his body, we cannot conceive that the mere anticipation of them would have been such an effect on Christ. † James 1:2-4 says â€Å"When troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. † How are you supposed to consider things joy that make you suffer? You are not supposed to consider it joy that you are going through the suffering but what you get out of and learn from the suffering afterwards is supposed to be joyful. You can use your story of suffering to help someone else that is going through the same thing. It is always a blessing to know someone who has gone through the same troubles that you are going through, because they usually have some helpful words of comfort and wisdom in helping you as well. Corinthians 1:4 tells to us â€Å"he comforts us in our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. † God lets you go through these trials and suffering to see whether your faith in Him is real and if you rely on him to help you through it. Sometimes God sees the need to put us through things to make us stronger. Paul tells us in II Timothy 2:3 â€Å"Endure suffering along with me as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. † Although there might not seem to be any logical reason to us for the troubles and sufferings that we often face, but God always has a reason. Sometimes He’s just trying to make us tougher. According to Galatians 5:22, a Spirit-filled Christian is supposed to be longsuffering. Sometimes God lets us suffer o teach us patience. Romans 5:3 says â€Å"We can rejoice when we run into problems and trials for we know that they teach us to develop endurance. There are many reasons why God lets us suffer. He knows what is best for us, and he does not make mistakes. Romans 8:28 says God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

Brand House Services Company Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

Brand House Services Company - Assignment Example On the basis of the discussion, relevant conclusions about the subject of concern will be drawn. Recommendations will be also provided on the basis of the findings. The second section of the study will encompass discussion about the research topic chosen during the first assignment of this study. Hence the topic of discussion will be how does Brand House manage constant change within its organization? This research question or the research topic will be addressed through the help of qualitative research methods. It should important to note that each of the sections in the study will cover the six learning goals mentioned initially during the beginning of learning framework. However, to cover these sections, assistance and theories of some of the notable and eminent scholars such as Schon’s (1983), Kolb’s (1984) and Belbin (2010) will be taken. In addition, some of the common frameworks and models such as AREA model and ITAC model will be used for the purpose of accompli shing the objectives of the study. The application of these theories and frameworks will certainly increase the credibility of the study. The study will also attempt to validate the use of these theories and models in the context of this study and alongside its relevance in this field will also be established. It should be also noted that this study will make use of a number of academic resources so as to shed light on the knowledge driven learning goals in a more comprehensive way. However, the most important and significant part of the study is to carry out a critical reflection of the learning experience at the CPO through the work based learning (WBL) framework and theories. This will also help in justifying the lessons learned by me during my tenure with the Brand House Advertising Services Company. Table of Contents Table of Contents 3 Introduction 4 Section 1- My Workplace Experience 6 Section 2 – Discipline Topic 17 References 23 Introduction Various definitions about ‘reflective learning’ can be found in the books and academic journals stated by eminent authors of the world. Apart from mere definition, much has been written about it and is often dubbed as a critical subject of assessment (Brooksbank, 1994). Reflection or reflective learning is generally described as the ability to look back at the previous experiences and segregate it into relevant aspects such as the factors directly impacting the success and failure (Enwistle, 2001; Ferdinand, 2004; Forbes, 2012). In addition, some of the experts have stated that it is a means of learning by making a link between the learned theory and practice (Botan & Hazleton, 2006; Breslin, 2008). In the similar manner, reflective learning is also highlighted as a way of improving the performance, by making use of the learning and improvising on the future practices. Hence, it is obvious that a number of definitions and meaning of self learning exists. As a result of that reflective learning is also mentioned as a way of transforming surface learning into deep learning (Beaulieu, 2009; Blanchard & Waghorn, 1997). (Source: Gans, King, Stonecash & Mankiw, 2008) Reflective learning greatly helps an individual to develop self-awareness, critical thinking and analytical skills (Duff, 2000; Elving, 2005). This is important for both students as well as for the professionals. Till now it is believed that the reader has understood the core theme of this piece of work, which is reflective learning. This piece of work is the last installment of the assignment and hence it will be somewhat inferential in nature. Thus, making the readers aware about the background of

Facility Hazard Analysis Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Facility Hazard Analysis - Assignment Example As a hygienist I would recommend Acme International to improve their level of ventilation to avoid slow interference with the health of its workers and at the same time employ other forms of securing the health of their workers using various techniques (OBrien, 2011). The work area should be thoroughly ventilated with enough funds that pump out the chemical odor from the room, this is because these chemical odor when inhaled by the workers in the room they slowly react with oxygen hence after oxidation it becomes more hazardous and may lead to reduced breathing problems. That may later on reduce the work output since workers can never work correctly when their health is in bad condition. The same time the use of acetone on rags should also be avoided while cleaning the surfaces of the working bays. Acetone, when gets in contact with the skin, may lead mild irritation when it is inhaled it may lead to irritation of the throat and the nose and when is highly concentrated it may harm the nervous system. It also has a chronic effect since it can lead to the development of dermatitis a condition in which the skin cracks. The effects of Acetone can be controlled by properly storing, storage cupboard and shelves should be constructed which is out of rea ch of any child, the chemical in a cool and dry place away from any source of heat such as sunlight and electricity. During handling of this chemical, the employers should use the safety clothes such as veil and overall, which Acme International should provide for them to avoid contact with the skin, the containers containing this chemical should not be exposed to welding, not until all the traces of the products have been removed from the tanks, in the same areas where Acetone is found, smoking should not take place, hence posters containing warnings against smoking should be

Marketing in a regulated market Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

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Strategic Writing Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Strategic Writing - Research Paper Example It is a vital part of the overall corporate strategy because it conveys what the firm is all about. In other words, a good business letter written very well and formal in tone sets the groundwork for future success, because it gives a strong first impression, similar to a firm handshake. This is why most successful firms give a strong importance to their written business communications, be it in the form of a letter, a memorandum, a fax, or an e-mail message, because everything that is important hinges on the success of how that written message will be received by all the intended recipients, who can either ignore it altogether if written badly, or respond to it in a very positive manner and generate sales for the letter writer and the company he is writing for. The written message must be strong and impressive; and it further cements the purpose of that message by sending it across in a way that is clearly understood. Exceptional writing forms part of the communications skills of a competent person, and it is a vital or critical job skill because it is a good way to influence other people, to help them make up their minds about you, your company, your products or your services. Despite all the advances in communications media today, starting from the pre-historic smoke signals, to the clay tablets, to papyrus, to the handwritten message to the quill pen to the typewriter, a constant which had remained the same is a need to deliver a message concisely and precisely (Lindsell-Roberts 3), and this is where strategic writing comes in, wherein anything written in the form of a letter, a memo, a fax, or an e-mail forms part of the corporate strategy. Strategic writing should integrate well into a firm’s marketing, advertising, sales, public relations, and even crisis management functions of top-level management (Marsh, Guth, and Short 5). Sample of effective and strategic e-mail message to be sent to the present supplier: To: sharpe@young_oswald.com, greene@y oung_oswald.com, barnes@young_oswald.com Copy: craft@young_oswald.com Subject: Letter to inform current supplier of defective tool kits that they will be replaced FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 12, 2013 As you know, Cross Electric, Inc. is one of our major clients. It is the wholesale supplier of the popular â€Å"Virtu-Fix† line of tool kits to most of the retail hardware stores within the area. This tool kit is used for the maintenance and repair of PC and Mac computers. However, as recent events indicated, its main supplier of the said imported tool kits did not properly check these tool kits such that there are defective tools within the kits, resulting in many customer complaints. Cross Electric, Inc. now wants our help in informing its main supplier to terminate the supply contract, and for the said supplier to be replaced with an Indonesian supplier instead. It seems this Indonesian supplier did a better job at quality control. In this regard, please forward to me through e-mail your ideas on how to say it best to the present supplier its contract will soon be terminated by Cross Electric, Inc. due to its quality concerns without possibly raising any legal issues or complications. This means it has

Airport screening Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Airport screening - Essay Example In his book, Airport and Aviation Security Elias2 (21) states that mandatory screening in airports is among the strategies that the DHS is employing to prevent terrorists from gaining entry into the country. According to the policy, all passengers from abroad are subjected to thorough screening at the airports to prevent entry of explosives and illegal arms or illicit drugs into the country. The screening policy at the airport was expanded recently following an Ebola scare. This follows a growing concern among Americans of the possible spread of the Ebola into the United States. In the news article â€Å"Ebola Airport Screenings May Seem Intrusive, But They’re Legal, Experts Say†, Tucker (6) notes that Ebola, a disease that was first reported in West Africa, has already claimed the lives of close to 2,000 people. Among the West African countries where deaths have been reported include Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone. Ebola has also been reported in Spain and the U.S., where the disease recently claimed the life of a patient who had been transferred from West Africa for treatment. The Ebola scare has caused a scare to Americans to the extent that the government has been forced to put stringent measures to prevent the spread of Ebola into the U.S. According to the new policy, passengers arriving from West African countries, such as Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone are required to be subjected to thorough screening for Ebola virus. A news article published by Eye Witness News stated that the screening involves checking the passengers temperatures using non-touch thermometers and other screening techniques (5). The main aim of Ebola screening at the airport is to help identify sick passengers from Ebola affected countries so that appropriate measures are taken to prevent the passengers from mixing with the rest of the American population. Any passengers found showing symptoms of Ebola are quarantined immediately in the isolation facilities

Incorporation is Effective and Allows the Business to Raise Revenue Essay

Incorporation is Effective and Allows the Business to Raise Revenue - Essay Example A LLC protects a person from getting their personal assets taken away, his assets of the company will be in danger. The court will first investigate the matter, and then the matter of meditations and negotiations takes place. The court may close the LLC for a fee and analyze the allocation of assets that the plaintiff deserves. aâ‚ ¬? Susan, Dave, and Marvin are society hair stylists, who make a very good living. Because they are all in so much demand, they decide to open a business together. They form a Limited Liability Company, through which they operate a hair salon called Fabulous Hair, LLC. Each contributes $10,000 to the business. One day Marvin calls in sick, and Susan and Dave work double duty trying to keep up with Marvinaâ‚ ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s appointments and their own appointments. Dave forgets about one of Marvinaâ‚ ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s clients and leaves chemicals on her hair too long, which causes serious chemical burns. The client sues for damages and recovers a judgment in the amount of $75,000 against Fabulous. Discuss the extent to which each member of the LLC may be held responsible for the clientaâ‚ ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s damages. Support your conclusions with facts and information from the text. Be sure to cite to your sources. Since the company is LLC, everyone is accounted for the share that they put up in the corporation. Susan, and Marvin will have liability of $10000, but since Dave left the chemicals, he will personally liable more than his partners since it was his fault. Susan and Marvin are not responsible for Dave’s work and hence should file a motion to dismiss the notion. A LLC protects the assets of another employees even if the another employee does... The paper shows that since the company is LLC, everyone is accounted for the share that they put up in the corporation. Susan and Marvin will have the liability of $10000, but since Dave left the chemicals, he will personally liable more than his partners since it was his fault. Susan and Marvin are not responsible for Dave’s work and hence should file a motion to dismiss the notion. An LLC protects the assets of another employee even if the another employee does something wrong. In essence, Susan and Marvin's won't have to worry about their personal assets. Paul and Rachel Anderson love to eat at Burgerville, a nationwide chain of fast-food restaurants. They love it so much that they purchase a Burgerville franchise from Burgerville, Inc., and are successful right away. One day, supermodel Olga X enters the restaurant with her children. Olga slips on Super Secret Sauce, a Burgerville treats that someone spilled on the floor. Olga slides across the floor and hits her face on the jukebox, which causes permanent injury to her famous face. Her attorney filed suit against Paul, Rachel, and Burgerville, Inc. List the rights and obligations arising from the business relationship between the Andersons and Burgerville, Inc. Will Olga recover a judgment against all the parties she has sued? Explain the legal and factual reasons for your answer. Paul and Rachel since are the owners, will have to pay for certain injuries, but they will be limited. Buying a franchise, in essence, means to buy a security.

Preventing of Gouty Arthritis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Preventing of Gouty Arthritis - Essay Example This directed the need to study prophylaxis with colchicines for different durations. This article reviews the trial conducted to study different duration of colchicines for preventing recurrence of Gouty arthritis and critique the methodologies used and recommends areas of future research. Colchicine is used for prophylaxis treatment against recurrent attacks of gout. But the most suitable duration of its administration for gouty arthritis needs to be assessed. The researchers in this study have hypothesized three regimens of dosage that can be beneficial to the patients without causing any harm. All patients were treated with allopurinol to lower the level of uric acid stored in the joints and randomly divided into three groups, the dosage of drug was kept constant (1mg/day) in all the groups but the period of treatment differed in every group ranging from 3-6 months (group 1), 7-9 months (group 2),10-12 months (group 3). The study did not include a placebo group. All the groups under study belong to the same age group of people all were in their 50's also since statistics have confirmed for every 7-9 male affected there will be 1 female affected that accounts to be 3% of women, hence few women are included in the study just about 3 % in all groups. The normal upper limit of serum uric acid is 7mg/dl in men and 6 mg/dl in women. A change in uric acid level is one of the predisposing factors for recurrence of acute gouty arthritis hence all the patients selected for the study have a mean uric acid level of 8.5 (mg/dl). For detecting similarity between patients of each group they were divided to two subgroups; with recurrence of arthritis or without any episode of arthritis, and mean level of serum uric acid and age were compared using T-test the difference was insignificant. Thus the researchers have taken care of carefully dividing the groups and the groups are

Persuasive Essay Essay Example for Free

Persuasive Essay Essay At least 11% of women smoke during pregnancy. Many of these women smoke without knowing the significant negative effects smoking has on their babies before, during, and after the pregnancy. When a woman smokes during pregnancy, she exposes her baby to dangerous chemicals such as tar, carbon monoxide, nicotine, and other poisonous chemicals that travels through the bloodstream and goes directly to the baby. Nicotine restricts the oxygen through the blood vessels throughout the body, including those leading to the umbilical cord. There are more than 4,000 chemicals in cigarettes. Among these chemicals, there are life-threatening issues that can happen while smoking during a woman’s pregnancy and after the babies are born. Smoking while pregnant has many lasting effects on the mother as well as the child? On average, a smoker who smokes a pack a day will reduce about half a pound of baby weight. Stunning a baby’s growth while in the womb can have negative consequences that last a lifetime. With a baby being underweight at the time of birth could mean the baby’s lungs have not fully developed which would lead to their first few days or weeks of life on a respirator to help the baby breath. However, after the baby has the ability to breathe their still susceptible to asthma. The combined effect of premature delivery and low birth rate has shown ten percent of these babies suffer from Infant Respiratory Distress Syndrome. Infant Respiratory Distress Syndrome is when their lungs have not developed a normal surface tact coating and the air sacs collapse. One of the most serious effects and risks of smoking while pregnant is ectopic pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy is an abnormal pregnancy that occurs outside of the uterus. In all cases the baby will not live if this occurs there are not enough nutrients for a fetus to survive anywhere besides the womb. When the detection of an ectopic pregnancy is confirmed, it is treated through medication and surgery. In both cases it is termination of the baby to prevent possible death of both the baby and mother. Placental abruption is another occurrence that happens from smoking during pregnancy. It is the separation of the placenta from the wall of the uterus. The baby is deprived of oxygen and nutrients when a placental abruption is detected. The mother can also experience life-threatening bleeding. A stillbirth is the death of a fetus that occurs after 20 weeks of pregnancy. It is also an occurrence that can happen from smoking during pregnancy. Stillbirth can be very painful emotionally because the baby still has to be delivered. After the pregnancy is over, and the baby has been delivered, the smoking may have still caused damage to the baby. Smoking during a pregnancy can have an effect on the baby’s brain. Children of mothers who smoked during pregnancy are likely to have learning disorders, behavioral problems and relatively low IQ’s. Children of smokers also have less muscle mass and fatter than a child of a non- smoker. Cleft is a gap in the body structure that results from incomplete closing of a specific structure during development. Clefts that occur from smoking during pregnancy usually occur orally. Cleft lip is a complete opening at the lip extending into the bottom of the nose. Cleft palate is an opening at the front roof of the mouth extending to the back of the mouth. Smoking during pregnancy can also cause babies to be born prematurely. Premature birth is a serious health problem. Long-lasting disabilities such as breathing problems, mental retardation, cerebral palsy, lung problems, hearing, and vision loss are health problems that can occur from premature birth. Mothers who smoke during and after pregnancy are more likely of losing their babies to SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). SIDS is the sudden unexplained death of an infant younger than one year of age. Occurring without warning, SIDS can happen to babies who seem perfectly normal. In conclusion, once a baby is born with damages caused by smoking, it is too late. There is a lifetime of regret on the mother and the suffering of the child can be tremendous. Women should quit smoking before their baby is conceived. The sooner a woman quits smoking, the better her chances are of having a healthier pregnancy for herself and the baby. To quit smoking is a hard task to do, but the awareness of the effects of smoking during a pregnancy should persuade a woman to quit smoking before, during and after the pregnancy.

Why Purse a Master’s Degree Essay Example for Free

Why Purse a Master’s Degree Essay Due to the competitive marketing many are pursuing a higher education beyond their bachelor’s degree. My decision to purse a master’s degree has always been a personal goal, but with the change in the market I realized my bachelor’s degree would no longer be sufficient or marketable in a couple of years. Many would say that obtaining a master’s degree is only as valuable as how your current or future employer measures advanced education. There are many rewarding benefits of pursing a master’s whether for a personal goal, career change, or salary increase these are all convincing motives. This paper will explore the various motivations that resulted in my decision to purse a master’s degree. Initially a master’s degree will give me the added credentials needed to pursue a promotion or career change that I would not have been considered for with my current education level. The norm was that a company required you to have a bachelor’s degree to be considered as a candidate in the corporate world. This is no longer the case as employers are demanding candidates attain the life experience in conjunction with a master’s degree. Stronger economy and more company demands for management degrees have positively shifted the local and international market for candidates whom hold a MBA (Rebecca Kaplan (2008). â€Å"Demand for MBA on the Rise). This evidence confirms having a master’s degree significantly increases my marketability. Since only a small percentage of people in the United States have a master’s degree, holding one can put me ahead of the pack when competing for a job (â€Å"Jane Porter, (2006). â€Å"Forecast: MBA Hiring Up Again). Employers are leaning toward hiring more MBA candidates because they are looking for people with managerial and team experience (â€Å"Jane Porter, (2006). â€Å"Forecast: MBA Hiring Up Again). These facts indicates that companies value a higher education and are willing to provide more opportunities, greater compensation packages and greater chances for promotion. In 2007 Radford proclaimed an advanced degree will provide hopeful with a better professional network and insights into the working practitioners. Holding a master’s degree will also expand my knowledge in a specialized area and improve performance in many areas of my work and personal life. Following this path will allow me to utilize my bachelor’s degree foundation to gain a greater understanding and appreciation for my field of study. As a person high in conscientiousness, people may perceive me to contribute to a higher level of job performance. This personality trait is a strong focus behind my plans for a master’s degree. If I am going to be portrayed as person whom exerts greater levels of effort on the job, then I should have the knowledge and the degree to back my training and experience. Based on Jungian’s Personality Assessment, I am well suited for a management position. I am viewed as a person well organized who is open to learn new skills and updating current skills, which is a key area of interest for employers. A Master of Business Administration translates into salary increase, as with most fields. PayScale. com calculated the median salary by years of experience for a Bachelor of Business Administration and Master’s of Business Administration in the United States As noted in the below tables master’s degree holders makes an estimated 20k more in salary then a bachelor degree holder with the same years of experience. Median Salary by Years Experience Degree: Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) (United States) Median Salary by Years Experience Degree: Master of Business Administration (MBA) (United States) An earnings increase is only part of the benefits. A college education enriches your life in ways that cannot be measured by dollars. Education is power, Frederick Douglass. Personally, earning a master has always been a goal. I first considered earning my master’s degree recently after I received my bachelor’s, but felt I need to take a brain break and experience the corporate world. After gaining eight years of work experiences I felt it was time to give it a try. Learning of my employee’s tuition reimbursement policy for the master’s program I soon realized it was a win-win for me and the company. If the company is willing to invest in my education, I believe the company is quietly endorsing that a master’s degree is valued and expected for high-level professional. Consequently, the benefits I will receive from this degree will give me self-assurance to know that I have the collective resources of knowledge, effective decision-making and skill sets needed to be successful in my personal and professional life, (Gary Radford, (2005). Having a master’s will give me a sense of future employment security and will allow me to gain qualifications that I may have missed in my earlier education. The school of choice also heavily weighed on my decision. I debate for several months whether online or classroom format would be suitable for me. After speaking with the University of Phoenix enrollment counselor I was excited about the learning environment. I understood that taking courses online allowed the flexibility I needed to sustain a work-life balance. There was also the fact that I would be communicating with different individual who I could openly share experiences and gain valuable knowledge that can not always be taught from a book or a classroom setting. A master’s degree is a good investment the evidence is clear. Yes, it will take time, dedication, and money to complete my degree, but the return on my investment is all worth the effort. In addition, the increased sense of achievement, career opportunities, new circles of friends and networks along with the new ranges of skills I will gain are some of the major reasons that confirmed my decision. Whether personal or practical, a master’s degree can be both life affirming and career enhancing. As stated by Dr Bruce Lewis, an education beyond a bachelor’s will put you in a better position to help your family, your community and give you the kind of life you dream of having. The more education you pursue, the better career options you will have. Ask yourself the following questions: 1) Do I want more career marketability? 2) Do I want to earn a higher income? 3) Do I want to increase myself assurance and workplace confidence? 4) Do I want to enhance my current skilled set? If you answered ‘yes’ to any of the above of, then you too need to purse your master’s degree. Reference: Kaplan, Rebecca. (2008). Demand for MBA on the Rise. Receive May 7 from www. thedailypennsylvanian. com Lewis, Bruce. (2002). Received May 9, 2008, from http://teach. fhu. edu Porter, Jane. (2006). Forecast: MBA Hiring Up Again. Received May 8, 2008 from BusinessWeek. com O. P John, â€Å"The ‘Big Five’ Factor Taxonomy: Dimensions of Personality in the Natural Language and in Questionnaires,† in L. A. Pervin (ed. ). Handbook of Personality Theory and Research(New York: Guilford Press, 1990) pp. 66-110; and D. L. Formy-Duval, J. E Williams, D. J. Patterson, and E. E Fogle, â€Å"A ‘Big Five’ Scoring System for the Item Pool of the Adjective Check List,† Journal Of Personality Assessment, Vol. 65. 1995, pp. 59-76. Radford, Gary. (2007). Received May 7, 2007 from www. fdu. edu Median Salary by Years Experience Degree: Master of Business Administration (MBA) (United States) table. Retrieved May 7, 2008, from PayScale. com.

Communication Skills in Assessment of Service User

Communication Skills in Assessment of Service User An Evaluation of the communication skills demonstrated in the assessment of a service user This assignment will analyse the communication skills of a physical skill that has been observed by a member of staff whilst in practice. Furthermore relevant literature will be explored to interpret if the communication skills that were used were the most effective including that of both verbal and non-verbal communication skills. All names have been changed for patient confidentiality in accordance with the NMC guidelines (NMC, 2008). The name will be changed to Mr. Smith. Any form of interaction is done through communication as a skill. To human interaction it is pivotal. Communication is a process which enables people to relate with those around them and to make concerns and needs know very well indeed. Communication can be verbal and non- verbal.Peate (2005) states that non- verbal communication reinforces a verbally communicated message. Non-judgemental interactions are focused on therapeutic communication, helps settle emotional conflicts and supports heart to heart talks allowing a patient to feel safe and free to share their true feelings, fears, values, hopes and ideas. This assignment is going to be discussed about a physical observed assessment which was observed during practice at placement. Mr. Smith was a gentleman who admitted to the ward with a viral infection. This infection caused his stomach and his intestines to become inflamed. At the same time Mr. Smith suffers learning disability were he could brutally impairs both verbal communication and cognition. Due to Mr. .Smith’s condition he lives in a care home .he had lived at this care home for ten years. Mr. Smith had been eating pureed diet food and his drinks used to be thickened however he begun to vomit. The patient’s bloods were done and showed that his renal function was becoming severely damaged followed by dehydration. Therefore Mr. Smith immediately required a cannula to administer IV fluids intravenously. My mentor went to cannulate Mr. Smith. My mentor was instructed of Mr. Smith’s fragile and was also informed that his level of thoughtful was impaired and he would not be capable of verbal consent due to his condition. My mentor went to Mr. Smith’s bed side as he was in a bay not in side room. She drew the curtains first for the dignity of the patient. She explained to him as to what she was going to do, she took his left arm which was closer to her and began to look for a clear vein, she could see so that she will be able to administer the cannula. The patient became distressed and started to shout and shows that he was in pain. After the cannula was in position my mentor left the bay and informed the person who was in charge that Mr. Smith can now have IV access and IV fluids could now be started. My mentor who cannulated Mr. Smith failed to introduce herself which is important when conducting nursing skills. First impressions last, by identifying yourself as well as your role provides patients with the feeling that you are genuine and that they are being respected (Henderson, 2004). Kate Granger, a medical registrar who is terminally ill found that many staff failed to introduce themselves during her stay in hospital. This revelation brought in the â€Å"hello my name is† campaign in order to prompt staff to introduce themselves to all patients (NHS England, 2014). However (Parahoo 2006) stated that â€Å"The process of agreeing to take part in a study based on access to all relevant and easily digestible information about what participation means, in particular, in terms of harms and benefits†. Although Mr. Smith suffered with severe learning difficulties he still should have been addressed the same as any other patient on the ward. Nurses should always maintain a therapeutic nurse-client relationship by establishing and maintaining nursing knowledge and skills as well as applying caring attitudes and behaviors (Forchuk etal, 2000). Therapeutic nursing services based on trust, respect, empathy and professional intimacy contribute highly to the patients’ health and wellbeing (Hupcey etal, 2001). Mr Smith was given a verbal informative account of the cannulation process and the reason for doing this by the mentor. Verbal language is one of the principal ways in which we communicate and is a successful method in both gathering and informing patients of their condition (Berry, 2007). It is usually a two way process where a message is sent, understood and feedback is given (Apker, 2001). It also successful for a patient to describe their level of pain (Stevenson, 2004). Ensuring a patient has understood what has been said is vital (Grover, 2005). This process normally involves both open and closed questions and often have the ability to ascertain a vast amount of factual information. The nurse who cannulated Mr. Smith did verbally tell Mr. Smith what she was going to do however this method alone failed to ensure that Mr. Smith had understood what was happening to him. She was aware of his condition but failed to ensure that he understood the process. There are grouped together into two categories which is Open questions and closed questions. Open questions are used when you want to help someone to ‘open up’ about themselves, or to give you some insights into how they feeling or to explore a situation in more depth. Open questions do not allow a straightforward ‘yes’ or ‘no’ response, but it will invite the patients to talk about the topic like what Mr. Smith did to my mentor. Not everyone will feel able to open up’ easily and share their deep thoughts and feelings. Some people needs to go step by step and to be led by interviewer until they gain confidence to go deeper. This is why closed questions also have an important role to play. Closed questions invite a straightforward ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer, they are necessary in gathering factual information in as straightforward a way as possible. Poor listening skills and conducting skills without the patient fully understanding can affect the therapeutic relationship and often form a barrier to communication (Andrews Smith, 2001). Environmental barriers such as a busy ward or a stressed nurse can often reduce the level of empathy and influence effective communication (Endacott Cooper, 2009). However nurses should always remain compassionate towards patients regardless of stress levels and workload (Von Dietze Orb, 2000). My mentor’s technique did not comply with the NMC guidelines in regards to consent as she failed to inform the patient of the process therefore Mr. Smith would not have known what he was consenting too. Consent in respect of people with learning disabilities is compound and can carry a step of risk for both patients and healthcare professionals. In this situation Mr. Smith was unable to provide consent and the cannula that he acquired was in his best interest. However, nevertheless of the patients understanding the offer of consent should still be attempted (Green, 1999). Timby, (2005) stresses that a patient’s right to autonomy should be upheld and respected regardless of gender, race, religion, culture and disability. Communication is vital in all aspects of nursing. However well practiced communication techniques are ineffectual if the central notion of the interpersonal connection goes unacknowledged (Arnold Boggs, 2007). Charlton etal (2008) argue that there are two different communication styles, biomedical and biopsychosocial. The biomedical style concentrates on specific information concerning the patient’s condition that is information focused. The biopsychosocial style is a patient centered approach which is conducted by determining patients’ needs to provide the most effective communication method. My mentor ideally should have formed an action plan to determine the most effective way of communicating with Mr. Smith in order to carry out the cannulation process. As every patient is different their needs must be assessed prior to carrying out any invasive procedures. A patient centered approach is said to have a more positive impact on patient outcomes. However there is little research that discusses interpersonal skills in contrast to a vast amount of rich research that discusses basic communication skills despite evidence suggesting that patient centered care is the most effective method (Jones, 2007). Patients with learning difficulties who have difficulties with both verbalising and thoughtful often have barriers in relation to communication. This leads to a breakdown in communication and in turn can lead to their health needs not being met (Turnbull Chapman, 2010). Kacperek, (1997) defines nonverbal communication as the term used to use to describe all forms of communication not controlled by speech. Argyle, (1988) suggests that the nonverbal component of communication is five times more influential than the verbal aspect. When Mr. Smith was cannulated my mentor lacked the use of nonverbal communication. Studies have often indicated that language has no real occurrence when communicating with patients (Foley, 2010). Nonverbal action such as body language, touch, posture, facial expressions and eye contact show many emotions without having to verbalise (Foley, 2010). Furthermore Crawford et al (2006) states that sometimes patients just need you to be there, quiet and listening and this can also be achieved using the acronym SOLER. Consequently, a good listener will always pay attention to non-verbal cues too and this encourages the patients to open up giving more information and expressing their concerns. (Albert’s et al 2012) suggest that from this it can be deducted that respect is given to a patient’s contribution best when they are listened too. The Soler acronym is also an aid to identify and remember the behaviors that should be implemented in order to achieve effective communication (Burnard, 1992). This tool comprises of position of seat, open posture, leaning towards the patient, eye contact and relaxation. If these techniques of non-verbal communication were used Mr. Smith may have felt less anxious and more reassured (Mason, 2010). Dougherty Lister, (2008) is in agreement with this theory as he argues that remaining eye contact, lowering stance to the patient’s level and gently touching the patients hand whilst verbally communicating has a great effect at reducing symptoms of anxiety. Although touch is seen to be an effective form of nonverbal communication which can help put a patient at ease if they are feeling anxious or upset. It is important to note that this technique is not appropriate for all patients as not all patients will feel comfortable with closeness can interpret this as invasion of personal space (Heidt, 1981). Cooperating with people with learning disabilities appears to contemporary difficulties for health care providers (Thornton, 1999). According to Angermeyer, (2005) a significant stigma exists in regards to learning disability patients as it tends to carry the label of â€Å"different† (Angermeyer, 2005). Schafer etal, (2011) says that this negative stigma is due to a range of factors such as ignorance and misinformation stemming from lack of knowledge. However, the NMC, (2015) competency standard instill that all nurses are to deliver high quality compassionate care encompassing ethical and cultural issues as well as disability. Jormfeldt, (2010) has shown that a high level of nursing education in both theoretical and practical settings can positively influence attitudes of nurse’s perceptions towards learning disability. In addition, reflection is seen as a vital component of coping in these environments as it offers a process where student nurses can challenge, compare and critique their value systems and embrace the process of change to a positive attitude towards patients with disabilities. Dodd Brunker, (1999) argue that by forming collaborative partnerships with both carer’s and professionals who are involved in the patients care can enable you to assess the patient’s communication skills and their preferred method of communication. Furthermore, in accordance with the NMC (2015) guidelines it is essential that all nurses must treat all patients with respect and dignity and not discriminate in any way regardless of their age, gender, race and or disability. To improve the situation the nurse who cannulated Mr. Smith could have liaised with the nursing home where Mr. Smith resided. This could have given the nurse vital information regarding Mr. Smiths likes and dislikes and could have provided her with the most effective way to carry out the procedure. Carers or family members could have been asked to accompany the nurse which could have put Mr. Smith at ease. Passports are becoming increasing popular which accompany patients who suffer with learning disabilities into the hospital environment. These documents are customised to each individual and summarise the patient and can often aid in providing the best patient centered care. Health care professionals are legally able to access essential information which carers possess in relation to communication with an individual with special needs or challenging behavior (Michael, 2008). Nurses should always put patients individual needs first and understand what is best for the patient ethically rather than that of a professional opinion alone (Mencap, 2007). In conclusion, this assignment has explored the communication skills that were observed during the cannulation process. It is evident that communication is important in nursing care and that assessments of patients are paramount in providing patient centered care. However, communication is certainly a principle commanding for the real caring. Performance and communication of caring and capability at this time have a main effect on the ability of patients and relations to adjust the update, reflect choices, and adjust to anything deceptions forward. Lack of awareness in regards to the best way of communicating with patients can pose a high risk to patients as many people working within the healthcare sector may not have a clear understanding of learning disabilities unless they are specialised. Further training may be needed to ensure that all health care workers are able to provide compassionate care to patients with learning disabilities. Individuals with learning disabilities have the right to be treated the same way as others, regardless of the severity of their disability as all patients should be entitled to a professional and effective service during their experience within the healthcare environment. REFERENCES Andrews, C., Smith, J. (2001). Medical nursing. London, United Kingdom: Harcourt publishers. Angermeyer, M.H. (2005). Labeling, Stereotyping Discrimination. Psychiatric Epidemiology, 40(5), 391-395. Apker, J. (2001). Role development in the managed care era: A case of hospital-based nursing. Journal of Applied Communication Research, 29(2), 117-136. Argyle, M. (1988). Bodily Communication. London, United Kingdom: Methuen. Arnold, E., Boggs, K. U. (2007). Interpersonal Relationships: Professional communication skills for nurses. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders. Berry, D. (2007). Basic forms of communication. Health communication theory and practice. England, United Kingdom: Open University Press. Burnard, P. (1992). A communication skills guide for hospital care workers. London, United Kingdom: Elsevier. Charlton, C. R., Dearing, K. S., Berry, J. A., Johnson, M. J. (2008). Nurse practitioners 10 communication styles and their impact on patient outcomes: an integrated literature review. Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, 20, 382–8. Dougherty, L., Lister, S. (2008). The royal marsden hospital manual of clinical nursing procedures. Italy: Wiley Blackwell. Dodd, K., Brunker, J. (1999). Feeling poorly: report of a pilot study aimed to increase the ability of people with learning disabilities to understand and communicate about physical illness. British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 27, 10–15. Endacott, R., Cooper, S. (2009). Nursing skills core and advanced. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. Foley, G.N. (2010). Non-verbal communication in psychotherapy. Edgemont. 7(6), 38-44 Forchuk, C., Westwell, J., Martin, M., Bamber- Azzapardi, W., Kosterewa-Tolman, D., Hux, M. (2000). The developing nurse-client relationship: Nurses’ perspectives, 6(1), 3-10. Green, C. (1999). Nurses and the law of consent. Nursing Times, 95(5), 44–45. Grover, S.M. (2005). Shaping effective communication skills and therapeutic relationships at work. Aaohan Journal. 53(4), 177-182. Heidt, P. (1981). 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Mencap: London, United Kingdom. Michael, J. (2008). Healthcare for All: A report of the Independent Inquiry into access to healthcare for people with learning disabilities. HMSO: London, United Kingdom. NHS England. (2014). Retrieved from: http://www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/forward-view/sop/. Nursing Midwifery Council. (2008). The Code: Standards of conduct, performance and ethics for nurses and midwives: NMC. London, United Kingdom. Stevenson, C. (2004). Patient and person. Empowering interpersonal relationships in nursing. Elsevier Limited: London, United Kingdom. Thornton, C. (1999). Effective health care for people with learning disabilities: A formal carers’ perspective. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing; 6, 383–390. Timby, B.K. (2005). Fundamental nursing skills and concepts. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Publishing. Turnbull, J., Chapman, S. (2010). Supporting choice in health care for people with learning disabilities. Nursing Standard. 24(22), 50-55. Von Dietze, E., Orb, A. (2000). Compassionate care: a moral dimension of nursing. Nursing Inquiry, 7(3), 166-174.