Inequality Gender Stereotyping In Hong Kong

Inequality Gender Stereotyping In Hong Kong According to the Womens Commission (Woc) Survey on Community Perception of Gender Issues (2009), it finds that gender stereotyping is still prevalent in Hong Kong and gender inequality still persists in society. Moreover, the Chairperson Ms Sophia Kao also said The survey findings reflect that the concept that women are to take care of the family while men are to work outside is still deep rooted in society, leading the majority of the respondents to believe that womens contribution was confined to the family setting and understate their contributions to society in other areas. This affects womens development opportunities in different aspects such as employment and community participation. And under the long-term influence of traditional values, women themselves might also endorse some of these gender stereotypes. Besides, the survey also found that the public generally consider that women should focus more on family than their careers, while taking care of the family is the most im portant among the contributions of women. More women than men consider that women play a more important role in the family than men do. And educating and taking care of children was perceived by most women as the most significant aspect that undermines the development of their potential to the full. Above this survey, the conscious of gender perception about the different aspect had seemed to increase than the before. But I find it very interest point that female seems trend to accept and identify the role which contribute the family work and child care work. These stereotyping limit the development of the female. So the survey reflects interviewed female recognize housework limit their development. I feel that the reason why the female accept these stereotyping is due to the long term socialization and culture construction. These guide and control the female how to do the right expectation in society under invisible. Chinese traditional culture and value how to construct inequality of female Before five thousands year age in China, the period of patriarchy had begun to budded, the status of females were decrease. Moreover, since slavery society prevailed, the females become no autonomy and status. They lost their freedom and controlled by male. They become slave for man property. They also accepted the system of polygyny. When feudal system was formed, more regulation oppressed to the female and advantages to male. Then, Confucian though become social mainstream for discipline people how to do the right things especially control female behavior. Such as female, some discourse is starve to dead is small things but virginity is very important( à ©Ã‚ ¤Ã¢â‚¬Å"à ¦Ã‚ ­Ã‚ »Ãƒ ¤Ã‚ ºÃ¢â‚¬ ¹Ãƒ ¥Ã‚ °Ã‚ , à ¨Ã‚ ²Ã… ¾Ãƒ §Ã‚ ¯Ã¢â€š ¬Ãƒ ¤Ã‚ ºÃ¢â‚¬ ¹Ãƒ ¥Ã‚ ¤Ã‚ §), it emphasize pure virginity is very important. If female can keep pure their virginity, they will be respected and appreciate. Besides, cripple feet (à §Ã‚ ºÃ‚ Ãƒ ¨Ã‚ ¶Ã‚ ³) was constructed a beautiful model and standard , it control female to go a step further. These regulation and discourse construct inequality but female are willing to follow because of moral standard. Chinese female tasted no end of bitterness in their short, mostly poverty ridden lives. In fact Chinese family life was marked by a shocking degree of brutality. The Confucian emphasis on filial piety and loyalty was a euphemistic prescription for absolute subordination of young to old and, more important for our purposes, female to male. Indeed, the structure of the Chinese family looks very different depending on which genders perspective you choose to view it from. The dominant male perspective conjures and unbroken lineage with power, property, and esteem passing in orderly and gradual fashion from generation to generation. From the female perspective, family life appears dramatically opposite. During her lifetime a Chinese female lived in two distinctly different families respectively her natal and marital homes. Instead of an unbroken lineage, the woman was never in her lifetime fully a member of any family. Her name was not even recorded in her fathers genealogy, and when she died only her family name surname was entered in the genealogy charts of her husbands fa mily. In this system and discourse characterized by filial piety, womans life was described by the three obedience(à ¤Ã‚ ¸Ã¢â‚¬ °Ãƒ ¥Ã‚ ¾Ã… ¾) respectively to her father during childhood, to her husband during marriage and to her son during widowhood. Above these traditional cultures, systems discourse, they construct people how to do the right things related the gender role. These constructions have oppression of the female. Some post-modernism scholars theory explain why people accept discourse and moral standard under invisible According to West and Zimmerman (1987), most people find it hard to believe that gender is constantly created and re-created out of human interaction, out of social life, and are the texture and order of that social life. Yet gender, like culture, is a human production that depends on everyone constantly doing gender. Based on these assumption, we also find more discourses are recognizing man has power of domination, female should believe in her role as the subordinated being in the process of socialization. Then, Horrocks (1997) states ideological and cannot be neutral as it claims. In other words, there is no objective truth since science is still constructed within political parameter. However, we still have not discussed why these discourses work so effectively that most of us do not attempt to challenge them. That would be answered by Michel Foucaults explanation about the reign of power. According to Madan Sarup (1993) quotes from Foucault that power produces reality, it produces domains of objects and rituals of truth, so it is not possible for power to be examined without knowledge, it is impossible for knowledge not to produce power because the exercise of power constructs the new object of knowledge too. Moreover, according to Foucault (à ¦Ã‚ ¥Ã…  Ãƒ ¥Ã‚ ¤Ã‚ §Ãƒ ¦Ã‹Å" ¥1995), power is not as centralized, authoritarian and organized as the sovereign one. However, it regulates the most intimate and minute element through multiple processes from different locations. It formulates the production of docile bodies through discipline which made possible the meticulous control of the operation of body including its movement, gesture and attitude. It also assumes the constant subjection of the force of the body and imposed upon them a relation of docility-utility. In addition, it produces subject and practiced bodies, docile bodies that may operate as one wishes with the techniques, the speed and the efficiency that one determined. The above disciplinary practice of power is epitomized in Foucaults description of an architectural device called the Panopticon by Jeremy Bentham. According Foucault In Discipline and Punish (Foucault, 1977), he makes the following explanation about Panopticon. Each Individual, in his place, is securely confined to a cell from which he is seen from the front by the supervisor; but the side walls prevent him from coming into contact will his companion. He is seen, but he does not see; he is the object of information, never a subject in communication. Thus, as Foucault (Foucault, 1977) remarks in detail, the whole design has the effect to induce innate state of consciousness and prevent visibility that assures the automatic functioning of power. The power is visible but unverifiable because the inmate will constantly have before his eyes the tall outline of the central tower from which he is spied upon. However, he/she never knows whether he/she is being looked at in any particular mo ment. From this one side effect, he/she must assume that he is always under surveillance. Thus, surveillance is everywhere wherever inside or outside the panopticon thereby homogenous effect is producing for innate to discipline them. Besides, a poststructuralist Judith Butler (Butler, 1990) applies Foucaults emphasis into the field of gender representations. She illustrates from Foucault that the juridical system produces the subject that are represented and constituted through discourses. As we have remarked that discourses are naturalized as a belief through the practice of power which cannot be challenged, it will be concretization as a foundational promise to exclude those who fail to conform within the normative requirements. Then, Butler (Butler, 1990) also argues that gender is a cultural means by which the biologically determined sex is produced and established as pre-discursive, prior to culture, a politically neutral surface on which the culturally constructed gender acts. Butler (Butler, 1990) also says in the later part of her book Gender Trouble that the notion of identity and coherence is not a logical and analytical feature, but rather it is socially instituted norm of intelligibility. Thus, we believe that our identity is a core that sustains through temporal change. Illusion of being and substance cultivated by that the grammatical formulation of subject and predicate reflects the prior ontological reality of substance and attribute. The metaphor of substance leads people to believe that one can be a sex or gender. Furthermore, Butler (Butler, 1990) explains that there is no gender identity that underlies the expressions of gender. The apparent identity is performativity constituted by the very expression that is said to be its result. Thus, Butler (Butler, 1990) said, there is no being behind doing, effecting, becoming; the doer is merely a fiction added to the deed the deed is everything. Hence, the idea of gender is relational and contextual since it is a repeated stylization of the body, a set of repeated acts within a highly rigid regulatory frame that congeal over time to produce the appearance of substance, of a natural sort of being that the acts, gestures, enactments in gender performance are performativity in the sense that the essence or identity that they otherwise purport to express be fabrications manufactures and sustained. So, it becomes what one puts on his or her body, how one behaves and presents in front of people are only the gestures based upon the regulations under gender division in a particular cultural context with regardless to any ontological truth. From the Foucault theory, we know that the complex differential power relationships extend to every aspect of our social, cultural and political lives. In the analysis of gender identity of Butler, we also see that power also extends to the aspect about the construction of our gender identity. The whole process of power relationship involves the manner of subject-position, and securing our asset not only by the threat of punitive sanctions, but also persuading us to internalize the norms and values that prevail within the social, or in the theories of Butler, the patriarchal order. How to increase gender sensitivity of social work practitioners in Hong Kong Firstly, according to Foucault (1991), he said that Penopticon like as a metaphor for social control. Disciplines success is due to its simplicity, hierarchical observation, normalizing of judgments, and their combination such as prison, penitentiary, rehabilitation center, hospital, social worker, school, etc. It was combining punitive system with normalizing practices. It forces people fulfill the social expectation and make the right things through punishment, surveillance and reinforcement under invisible. So, we need to understand us may be one of the surveillance institutions causing this phenomenon. So, we need to aware of gender sensitivity of social work practitioners. As a gender sensitivity of social work practitioners, the worker need to become aware of and take an objective look at the belief system, reflect the gender biases and judgmental convictions. Moreover, the worker realizes how the culture has influenced the belief system and recognizes that gender and sexual de finition do not have to conform to societal norms. Besides, the worker facilitates self-actualizing behaviors for clients rather than socially prescribed conduct. In the counseling aspect, we need to be aware of the dangers inherent in conforming to social stereotypes and to recognize our own, possibly unhealthy, rigid, gender beliefs and behaviors. If gender biased by cultural definitions of male and female roles, counselors may facilitate social conformity, rather than individual growth and self-expression, with their clients. Moreover, Gender stereotyped intervention negatively impact clients. As a result, the counseling process may turn into oppression imposed on the actual client. Most unfortunately, those who deviate from the cultural norm tend to be denigrated and discriminated against. So the counselors may employ different clinical techniques and make disparate diagnoses and treatment plans based on assumptions about gender. The clients may disclose certain information based on the therapists gender. Counselors who also ascribe to rigid definitions of appropriate gender roles and sexual conduct may tend to help clients conform to cult urally acceptable behaviors and practices rather than helping them to define individually appropriate roles. Besides, the goal of gender-sensitive psychotherapy is helping clients to become aware of and confront limiting gender-role stereotypes and creating a more equalitarian and empathetic society by expanding choices for both sexes. In the advocacy, based on the Womens Commission (Woc) Survey on Community Perception of Gender Issues (2009), the stereotyping of gender is still serious. The social worker still educates public through community work for deconstruct the role of gender and spread both equality of gender. Moreover, the social worker also organizes some groups for man and women. They are educated to become leadership and increase their gender awareness. As a result, they similar the seeds continuous spread to others even though to participate social affairs about the both equality of gender. I believe that through the different aspect to increase people genders awareness, the both equality of gender will achieved in future. Conclusion Several thousand Chinese culture and system is the deeply socialization construct the gender role. It makes the inequality of gender till today. Although many research reflects the equality of man and women had improved. But the gender awareness is not still enough. If we are thoroughgoing to change this inequality, we will make more and more effort in gender affairs.

The Supermarket Essay -- Observation Essays, Descriptive Essays

The Supermarket The other day I walked into the supermarket to buy a box of Kleenex. I was faced with a variety of colors, textures, box designs, and even the option of aloe. All these features designed for a product to blow my nose into! Selection wasn't limited to the Kleenex section, either†¦I found abundance in every aisle. We seem to always want more - more choices, more variety, more time. In fact, even the word "supermarket" implies a desire for more than just a simple market. No longer just a place to buy food, the supermarket has become a place to cash a check, buy a birthday card, or pick up some tulip bulbs. These new extras are all centered on the idea of convenience. We all hope to find a few extra moments in our days, so supermarkets offer us a way to save time. I'll be the first to admit that buying three things at the same store is nicer than driving across town. Saving time can definitely be a good thing. Variety is another "more" I found on my trip to the supermarket. In the refrigerator case alone I found over thirty kinds of cheese. ...

Commentary on Act 1 of the book Translations by Brian Friel :: English Literature

Commentary on Act 1 of the book Translations by Brian Friel The opening paragraph of the play Translations tells us in great detail about where the play is set. It is set in a hedge-school, which was a disused barn or hay-shed. The opening of the play makes us see that there are two means of isolation. The language binds together the community and in this play we will see how differences in language split society. Manus is teaching Sarah to speak as the play begins. He is being very patient with her and he thinks that it is important to teach her to articulate, 'Come on, Sarah. This is our secret'. When you see how Sarah is finding it hard to speak English it makes you feel that she is the symbol for Ireland's backward position. Jimmy on the other hand represents the educated civilised tradition of old Ireland. He is a scholar, however Sarah is the opposite. She is a contemporary Ireland, as she has no voice to speak out. She has no capacity for taking part in the modern world. Sarah just wants to become part of the society. The way Manus is pushing Sarah to speak, for example, 'Raise your head. Shout it out. Nobody's listening'. You feel that Manus does not want Sarah to be a nobody in the community, so he is helping her. The way that Sarah acts around Manus makes you feel that she fancies him, 'Manus hugs Sarah. She smiles in shy, embarrassed pleasure'. Jimmy is reading The Odyssey. As he is a scholar he can read books in Greek. He sees himself as a person in the story, 'Sure look at what the same turf-smoke has done to myself!' This is not very scholarship like of Jimmy as he relates the text in a very un-scholar like way to himself. He also says things that are very sexually orientated, 'if you had a woman like that about the house, it's not stripping a turf-bank you'd be thinking about-eh?' and 'she can't get her fill of men'. Jimmy asks Manus whom he would pick out of Athena, Artemis and Helen. All of these people are characters from the book Jimmy is reading. This shows that Jimmy has a very limited view and conception of what he is reading. Manus asks Sarah whom he should pick; this shows that he considers her view to be important. The way Jimmy acts in this part of the play makes you feel that he is very intellectual but he is living his life in a book, he feels he is almost a Commentary on Act 1 of the book Translations by Brian Friel :: English Literature Commentary on Act 1 of the book Translations by Brian Friel The opening paragraph of the play Translations tells us in great detail about where the play is set. It is set in a hedge-school, which was a disused barn or hay-shed. The opening of the play makes us see that there are two means of isolation. The language binds together the community and in this play we will see how differences in language split society. Manus is teaching Sarah to speak as the play begins. He is being very patient with her and he thinks that it is important to teach her to articulate, 'Come on, Sarah. This is our secret'. When you see how Sarah is finding it hard to speak English it makes you feel that she is the symbol for Ireland's backward position. Jimmy on the other hand represents the educated civilised tradition of old Ireland. He is a scholar, however Sarah is the opposite. She is a contemporary Ireland, as she has no voice to speak out. She has no capacity for taking part in the modern world. Sarah just wants to become part of the society. The way Manus is pushing Sarah to speak, for example, 'Raise your head. Shout it out. Nobody's listening'. You feel that Manus does not want Sarah to be a nobody in the community, so he is helping her. The way that Sarah acts around Manus makes you feel that she fancies him, 'Manus hugs Sarah. She smiles in shy, embarrassed pleasure'. Jimmy is reading The Odyssey. As he is a scholar he can read books in Greek. He sees himself as a person in the story, 'Sure look at what the same turf-smoke has done to myself!' This is not very scholarship like of Jimmy as he relates the text in a very un-scholar like way to himself. He also says things that are very sexually orientated, 'if you had a woman like that about the house, it's not stripping a turf-bank you'd be thinking about-eh?' and 'she can't get her fill of men'. Jimmy asks Manus whom he would pick out of Athena, Artemis and Helen. All of these people are characters from the book Jimmy is reading. This shows that Jimmy has a very limited view and conception of what he is reading. Manus asks Sarah whom he should pick; this shows that he considers her view to be important. The way Jimmy acts in this part of the play makes you feel that he is very intellectual but he is living his life in a book, he feels he is almost a

A Commentary on the Geranium by Theodore Roethke Essay

The poem â€Å"The Geranium† by Theodore Roethke tells the story of a bachelor, formerly a party animal, now a lonely, aging man, through a sustained metaphor which uses the speaker’s geranium as a symbol for the disregard of his own health. The plant is never well, nor is he, due to the speaker being as inconsiderate to the geranium as he is to himself. With imagery, alliteration, and symbolism, much is learned about the speaker through a simple geranium to which he is intrinsically intertwined. We can see right from the beginning with lines such as â€Å"limp and bedraggled . . . / . . . like a sick poodle / Or a wizened aster in late September,† (2-4) that our speaker does not think very highly of himself nor his geranium. The descriptors give a pathetic, aging feel; the comparison to a â€Å"wizened aster† is particularly potent. It suggest that like the flower, the speaker is no longer â€Å"in bloom†, so-to-speak. That his colour has faded, and he is past his prime. The themes of aging and entering a new life stage come up again in line 6: â€Å"For a new routine –†. The caesura brings the reader to a halt; its sudden and final nature is reminiscent of an ending. The words in the line itself indicate a new beginning, which creates an interesting effect. This line could be representative of the end of the speaker’s youth and bachelorhood, as well as the beginning of a new point in his life. The act of taking the geranium out to the trash could also be symbolic of changing life stages; placing it by the trash could be representative of the end of one cycle, and bringing it back could represent starting anew. In following with the idea of starting anew, our speaker shows plans of lifestyle change; he plans to change for the better and agrees that â€Å"Sustenance seemed sensible† (8) The alliteration here evokes a childlike, somewhat self-deprecating feel, as though the speaker is chiding himself for not remembering something that seemed so simple. The fact that the speaker managed to forget this in the first place could also indicate that he has let his health go in the past, which is further evidenced near the end of the stanza, where the speaker talks about living â€Å". . . on gin, bobbie pins, half-smoked cigars, dead beer† (10) as well as the consequences of such irresponsible actions; he talks of being â€Å"shriveled† and â€Å"dried out†. It’s clear both the speaker and his plant have suffered from such a way of living. It also seems to reveal the careless and somewhat incompetent nature of the speaker. After all, if you can’t even take care of a plant, how can you take care of yourself? In the next stanza we get another glance into our speaker’s former life. He talks of â€Å" . . .dumb dames shrieking half the night† (16) as well as more mention of alcohol. The pieces of the speaker’s past we have received thus far can be put together to form the image of a reckless bachelor who gives no thought of tomorrow. With the current events of the poem, we can see how this lifestyle doesn’t do much for our speaker now that tomorrow is here. In this stanza we also get to hear the narrator describe himself directly for the first time, but he still ties himself to the plant, showcasing how heavily interconnected he and the geranium are. The speaker says that they are both â€Å"seedy†, which is a rather interesting play on words due to the fact that it means sordid or shabby, or could be used in the context of plant seeds. The term acknowledges both the similarities and differences between the speaker and the geranium. In the third stanza and final two lines, the speaker’s maid tosses the geranium in the trash which angers him so much he fires her. The actions of the maid would obviously hurt our speaker, seeing as the miserable, wilted geranium was his only friend. There is also the possibility that it was the cause of the actions of the maid that really wounded the narrator; that is was the fact that the maid saw something so analogous to himself as useless trash that drove him into enough of a rage to sack his maid. Thus the poem ends with the speaker no better off than he was in the beginning; perhaps even worse, now that the maid has brought to light how worthless the speaker’s life really is. Even though plants and people are seen as self-sufficient organisms, â€Å"The Geranium† highlights that in order to truly blossom, care, compassion and companionship from another are required. Theodore Roethke’s use of dreary, aged language and bland settings create a desolate atmosphere which provides the framework for the tale of a man who seems to have disregarded this until it was too late.

Nursing and Health Care Essay

1. In 1200 B.C., the ill were treated with a mixture of physical, prayer, and magic spells. Temples were health centers. From the 1st-10th century initial care was at the local bishop’s house. They had deacons and deaconesses. In the 19th century, nurses cared for patients while at the risk of exposure to disease. Nursing in hospitals expanded in the 19th century, but nursing the communities did not increase significantly until 1893 when the Henry Street Settlement opened and focused on the health needs of poor people who lived in tenements in New York City. 2. 3. Nursing is the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities; prevention of illness and injury; alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response; and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, communities, and populations. 4. She saw the role of nursing as having â€Å"charge of somebody’s health† based on the knowledge of â€Å"how to put the body in such a state to be free of disease or to recover from disease.† She was the first nurse epidemiologist who connected poor sanitation with cholera and dysentery. 5. There were no standards to help control disease. Nursing was not a distinct profession. 6. Florence Nightingale-implemented methods to improve battlefield sanitation, which ultimately reduced illness, infection, and mortality. Clara Barton- 1st woman to gain employment in the federal government and is the founder of the American Red Cross and tended to soldiers on the battlefield, cleansing their wounds, meeting their basic needs and comforting them in death. Dorothea Lynde Dix-School teacher, founded schools, advocate for the mentally ill, formed an army nursing corps, and organized hospitals and ambulatory services. Mary Eliza Mahoney- 1st African-American RN in the USA, concerned with relationships between cultures and races, Cofounder of The National Association of Colored People. Isabel Hampton Robb- founder of modern ANA and American nursing theory, established nursing standards, develop a grading policy, author of nursing textbooks. Lillian Wald and Mary Brewster opened the Henry Street Settlement. 7. Theories are designed to explain a phenomenon such as self-care or caring. A nursing theory is a conceptualization of some aspect of nursing that describes, explains, predicts, or prescribes nursing. It helps to identify the focus, means, and goals of practice. Theories give us perspective for assessing our patients’ situations and organizing data and methods for analyzing and interpreting information. Integration of theory into practice is the basis for professional nursing. PROFESSIONALISM 1. Caring, Competence, Collaboration, Critical thinking, Commitment to Holistic care, Integrity, Responsibility, and Accountability. 2. A profession requires a basic liberal foundation and an extended education of its members, it has a theoretical body of knowledge leading to defined skills, abilities, and norms, it provides a specific service, members of a profession have autonomy in decision making and practice, and the profession as a whole has a code of ethics for practice. 3. LPN Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)- 2 year program that focuses on the basic sciences and theoretical and clinical courses related to the practice of nursing. Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)- 4 year programs that focuses on the basic sciences; theoretical and clinical courses; and courses in the social sciences, arts, and humanities to support the nursing theory Master’s Degree- is important for the roles of a nurse educator and nurse administrator, and it is required for an advanced practice registered nurse Doctoral * Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)- Emphasize more basic research and theory and research-oriented * Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)- practice-focused and provides skills in obtaining expanded knowledge through the formulation and interpretations of evidence-based practice 4. Caregiver- help patients maintain and regain health, manage disease and symptoms, and attain a maximal level function and independence through the healing process. Advocate- protect your patient’s human and legal rights and provide assistance in asserting these rights if the need arises. Educator- explain concepts and facts about health, describe the reason for routine care activities, demonstrate procedures such as self-care activities, reinforce learning or patient behavior, and evaluate the patient’s progress in learning. Communicator- it allows you to know your patients’ strengths, weaknesses, and their needs. Without it you cannot give comfort and emotional support, make decisions with patients and families, give care effectively, protect patients from threats to well-being, coordinate and manage patient care, assist in patient rehabilitation, or provide patient education. Manager- uses appropriate leadership styles to create a nursing environment for the patients and staff that reflect the mission and values of the health care organization. 5. Licensure- Must pass NCLEX to receive license. This provides a standard minimized knowledge base for nurses. 6. Certified by national nursing organizations in about 20 specific areas of nursing practice. After passing an exam, maintain certification by completing CEU’s. 7. According to Benner, an expert nurse passes through five levels of proficiency when acquiring and developing generalist or specialized nursing skills. Novice-beginning nursing student learns via a specific set of rules or procedures. Advanced Beginner-Nurse has had some level of experience, may be observational, but is able to identify meaningful aspects or principles of nursing care. Competent- establish long-range goals, and has been in the same position for 2-3 years with an understanding of organization and specific care required by the type of patient. Proficient- Same clinical position for 2-3 years, focuses on managing care, and is able to assess an entire situation and can readily transfer knowledge gained from multiple previous experiences to a situation. Expert-can focus on multiple dimensions of a situation and has an intuitive grasp of an existing or potential clinical problem. Skilled at identifying patient-centered problems and problems related to the health care sys tem. 8. 9. Advanced Practice Nurse-most independent nurse, has master’s degree in nursing; advanced education in pathophysiology, pharmacology, and physical assessment; and certification and expertise in a specialized area of practice-clinical nurse specialist, certified nurse practitioner, certified nurse midwife, and certified RN anesthetist. Nurse Educator-works primarily in schools of nursing, staff development department of health care agencies, and patient education departments. Must have experience in clinical practice to provide them with practical skills and theoretical knowledge. Nurse Administrator- manages patient care and the delivery of specific nursing services within a health care agency. Examples: assistant nurse manager, nurse manager, house supervisor, director of nursing, and chief nurse executive or vice president. Nurse Researcher- investigates problems to improve nursing care and further define and expand the scope of nursing practice. 10. National League for Nursing-advances excellence in nursing education to prepare nurses to meet the needs of a diverse population in a changing health care environment. American Nurses Association- improves standards of health and availability of health care, to foster high standards for nursing, and to promote the professional development and general and economic welfare of nurses. International Council of Nursing- promote national associations of nurses, improving standards of nursing practice, seeking higher status for nurses, and providing an international power base for nurses. National Student Nurses Association/ Student Nurse Association of PA- consider issues of importance to nursing students such as career development and preparation for licensing. Specialty Organizations- seek to improve the standards of practice, expand nursing roles, and foster the welfare of nurses within specialty areas. Publish journals and present educational programs. 11. 12. Problem-solving approach to clinical practice that involves the conscientious use of current best evidence, along with clinical expertise and patient preferences and values in making decisions about patient care. 13. Ask a clinical question that is problem focused. Collect the most relevant and best evidence. Critically appraise the evidence you gather. Integrate all evidence with one’s clinical expertise and patient preferences and values in making a practice decision or change. Evaluate the practice decision or change. Share knowledge. LEGAL ISSUES IN NURSING PRACTICE 1. Statutory Law- written by state legislature and U.S. Congress-may be a civil or criminal offense. Civil laws protect the rights of individuals within our society and provide for fair and equitable treatment when civil wrongs or violations occur. Fines or community service and examples are malpractice or negligence. Criminal laws protect society as a whole and provide punishment for crimes, which are defined as municipal, state, and federal legislation-felony or misdemeanor. Administrative Law (Regulatory Law)-reflects decisions made by administrative bodies such as State Boards of Nursing when they pass rules and regulations. Common Law-results from judicial decision made in courts when individual legal cases are decided-informed consent, patients right to refuse treatment, negligence, and malpractice. 2. Federal laws- body of laws that were created by the federal government of the country. Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Law (EMTALA)- when patient comes to emergency department an appropriate medical screening occurs within the capacity of the hospital- cannot discharge or transfer patient until they are stable. The Health Care Quality Improvement Act of 1986. Patient Bill of Right- became patient care partnership given out to patients. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)- prohibits discrimination and ensures for persons with disabilities equal opportunities in employment, state and local government services, public accommodations, commercial facilities, and transportation. People with HIV do not have to disclose their disability. Patient Self-Determination Act (PSDA)-requires health care institutions to provide written information to patients concerning their right under state law to make decisions including the right to refuse treatment and formulate advance directives. Patients records need to document whether or not the patient has signed an advance directive. For living wills or durable powers of attorney for health care to be enforceable, the patient must be legally incompetent or lack to the capacity to make decisions regarding health care treatment. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)-protects individu als from losing their health care insurance when changing jobs by providing portability. These rules create patient rights to consent to the use and disclosure of their protected health information, to inspect and copy one’s medical record, and to amend mistaken or incomplete information. State Laws-Mandatory Reporting Laws-communicable diseases, school immunizations, suspected neglect and abuse, legal immunity provided to the reporter, may face civil or criminal action if nor reported. Good Samaritan Laws-limit liability and offer legal immunity if a nurse helps at the scene of an accident. Nurse Practice Act- describe and define the legal boundaries of nursing practice within each state. Scope of Practice-perform a procedure in which you have training for, distinguishes between nursing and malpractice. 3. RN-licensed and educated in nursing process and critical thinking; responsible for who you delegate to. LPN- licensed but does not cover assessment of patient. Can collect data but must give to nurse. NA/PCT- not licensed 4. Standards of care are set by ANA and are the legal requirements for nursing practice that describe the minimum acceptable nursing care. Nurse practice act defines scope of nursing practice, distinguishing between nursing and medical practice and establishing education and licensure requirements for nurses. Internal-Standards defined within hospital. External- developed by ANA and TJC-accredited body of the hospital-health department. 5. Established to help accredited organizations address specific areas of concern in regards to patient safety. Identify patients correctly. Improve staff communication. Use medicines safely. Prevent infection. Identify patient safety risks. Prevent mistakes in surgery. 6. Advance directive include living wills, health care proxies, and durable powers of attorney for health care. They are based on values of informed consent, patient autonomy over end-of-life decisions, truth telling, and control over the dying process. 7. Living wills represent written documents that direct treatment in accordance with a patient’s wishes in the event of a terminal illness or condition. The patient is able to declare which medical procedures he or she wants or does not want when terminally ill or in a vegetative state. Durable Power of Attorney for health care is a legal document that designates a person or persons of one’s choosing to make health care decisions when the patient is no lo nger able to make decisions on his or her own behalf. 8. 9. 10. Negligence is conduct that falls below a standard of care. Courts define negligence cases as the degree of care that an ordinarily careful and prudent person would use under the same or similar circumstances. 11. Malpractice is a type of negligence and is often referred to as professional negligence. When nursing care falls below a standard of care, nursing malpractice occurs. 12. Assault- any action that places a person in apprehension of a harmful or offensive contact without consent. Battery-any intentional touching without consent. False Imprisonment-unjustified restraint of a person without legal warrant and requires the patient be aware of confinement. Defamation of Character- publication of false statements that result in damage to a persons’ reputation. Invasion of Privacy- the release of a patient’s medical information to an unauthorized person such as a member of the press, the patient’s employer, or the patient’s family. Breach of Confidenti ality-

Legal Structures The Sole Trader Economics Essay

The exclusive bargainer is a concern owned by one person who is freelance and why may, in some instances, employ other people on a full clip or a portion clip footing. Normally utilizing personal financess to get down concern, the exclusive bargainer decides on the type of goods or services to be produced, where the concern is to be located, what capital is required, what staff ( if any ) to use, what the mark market should be a host of other facets concerned with the constitution and running of the endeavor. In the United Kingdom about 80 per cent of all concern is exclusive bargainers. The ground for this predomination is the comparative easiness with which an person can set up a concern this type. These types of concern are people, who working in edifice, little stores, independent agents etc. The partnership is when two or more persons set up a concern which they own. The spouses have unlimited personal liability both jointly and independently. A The liability of limited spouses is limited to their investing in the partnership. Under the jurisprudence, partnerships are limited to 20 or less spouses. Partnership companies normally have written contracts between spouses, but that ‘s non necessary. This states the type of partnership it is, how much capital each party has contributed, and how net incomes and losingss will be shared. The typical illustrations of partnerships are physicians, tooth doctors and solicitors.A They can profit from shared expertness, but like the exclusive bargainer, have unlimited liability. Limited companies are companies which are registered at Companies House- www.companieshouse.gov.uk. It is a legal entity or legal individual with its ain legal rights and duties, separate and distinguishable from those of its members. All belongings, which is registered on company, belongs to company and is non treated as belonging to the company ‘s stockholders and managers. The benefit of limited company is that is offers limited liability to its members. The company as a separate legal entity is apt for its debts and the members and managers are non personally apt unless they have acted wrongly in some manner. There are two types of limited companies as public limited companies ( PLCs ) and private limited companies ( Limited, LTD ) . The huge bulk of trading companies are private companies limited by portions. Many private companies are really little. There is no minimal capital required for private company and it ‘s normally less than 100? . A private company may non offer portions to the populace. For illustration it can be any store, saloon, building company etc. PLC is company whichA is appropriate for larger concerns where portions are intended to be available to the general populace. A public company must hold a minimal portion capital of ?50,000, of which at least one-quarter plus any portion premium must be paid up before the company can obtain its trading certification from Companies House and get down trading. This is the lone type of company which may raise capital by offering portions to the populace. For illustration it ‘s some supermarket concatenation, bringing company or air hoses company. Consumer co-operative societies are administrations owned by consumers which aim is carry throughing demands and aspirations of their members. They operate in market system independently from the province as common assistance, oriented to service instead than do a profit.A Consumer ‘s co-ops frequently take the signifier of retail mercantile establishments owned and operated by their consumers, such asA nutrient co-ops, wellness attention, insurance, A lodging, A utilitiesA and personal finance. Workers ‘ co-operatives are administrations in which ownership and control of the assets are in the custodies of the people who working in it. They have the aim of making and keeping sustainable occupations and bring forthing wealth, to better the quality of life of the worker-members, ennoble human work, allow workers democratic self-management and promote community and local development. The chief rules of the administrations are democracy, unfastened rank, societal duty, common co-operation and trust, aid to distinguish co-operative from other signifiers of concern administrations. Public corporations are legal entities created by authorities to set about commercial activities behalf of an proprietor authorities. In the populace sector the province owns assets in assorted signifiers, which it uses to supply a scope of goods and services felt to be of benefit to its citizens. These province corporations an of import portion of the public sector of the economic system and they are really important to national end product, employment and investing. These public corporations are infirmaries, municipal H2O companies, rail services etc. Municipal endeavors are concerns owned by local public governments that provide services and frequently gross in metropoliss across UK. Increasingly, local authoritiess have turned to municipal endeavor to both raise gross and advance local occupations and economic stableness by developing a more diversified base of locally controlled wealth. TheA map of their function is to supply public services such as instruction, lodging, roads, societal services etc.Administrations aims and stakeholdersThe chief organizational aim of for-profit administration is to do more net income. Aims and aims set up where the concern would wish to be in the hereafter, assisting to command their programs, motivate staff and give everyone sense of way. Any determination made within the administration should be in line with their purposes and aims. The aims are influence by assorted stakeholders, every bit good as the nature of the concern. Different stakeholder groups will hold different aims to fulfill the ir involvements. Aims can be: corporate which affect the whole concern, departmental aims that are for a certain country of concern and single aims are used in public presentation assessment for employees. Employees- pay degrees ; working conditions ; occupation security ; personal development Managers- occupation security ; position ; personal power ; organizational profitableness ; growing of the administration Shareholders- market value of investing ; dividends ; security of investing ; liquidness of investing Creditors- security of loan ; involvement of loan ; liquidness of investing Suppliers- security of contract ; regular payment ; growing of administration ; market development Society- safe merchandises ; environmental sensitiveness ; equal chances ; turning away of favoritismDuties of an administrationEvery company, concern, section has a responsibility and remit to supply a service. An administration must run within the boundaries of the jurisprudence. Reputation and trust are everything, and a consumer ca n't hold trust or religion in your ability to present if you ca n't turn out and warrant you ‘re legitimacy. An administration must besides hold rigorous fiscal control. Recruitment is vitally of import. Administrations need dependable workers who have enthusiasm, but besides intelligence ; workers that are able to be originative but besides to take advice and review from direction. Besides administrations are responsible for wellness and safety of their employees. They need to supply safe working environment and equipment.How economic systems effort to apportion resources efficaciouslyThere are three sorts of economic system which are fundamenta lly adopted by the different states. They are: free market, centrally planned, assorted market. Free market economic system: The intercession of authorities is kept at a minimal degree or neglected in free market system and all the economic sciences resources comes under the private sectors every bit good market. Price mechanism will find how much of goods or services will be supplied harmonizing to the market demands. Most determinations are based on market mechanism. The supply, demand and ability play the critical function in market determination doing. As per looking at the free market system it raises the assorted unresolved inquiries like who will bring forth the goods and services and substructures for the state to run into the demands of every populace. Centrally planned economic system system: Centrally planned economic system refers that authorities allocates the economic resources ; authorities makes all the planning sing the economical activities. Private sectors are kept far off in engagement of any economical accretion. These sorts of economic sciences were found in the Asian, cardinal Europe, Eastern Europe and Latin American states but now these are found in Cuba, Iraq, Iran, North Korea etc. In these systems fundamentally unemployment jobs will non be faced since authorities program all the economical activities and resources will be allocated based demands of its people and different industries inputs. Mixed economic system system: This system is a mixture of all other systems. The system where both capitalist economy and socialism economic system are included it is known as assorted economic system. Mixed economic system splits the available economic resources available in the state to both private sectors and authorities. Private sectors are encouraged to acquire involved and take part in using the resources which helps to derive economic net income for whole state. States like USA, UK, Russia and China to states like Cambodia, Peru and Vietnam has adopted this economic system. When one fails to run into the public desire other can acquire it and helps to keep the economic balance non merely in the peculiar state but besides the whole state.The impact of financial and pecuniary policy on concern administrations and their activitiesFiscal policy determinations have a widespread consequence on the mundane determinations and behavior of single families and concerns. Basically financ ial policy means how authorities revenue enhancements us and how it spends the money. Lower revenue enhancements mean more disposable income for consumers and more hard currency for concerns to put in occupations and equipment. Stimulus-spending plans, which are short term in nature and frequently affect substructure undertakings, can besides assist thrust concern demand by making short term occupations. Increasing income or ingestion revenue enhancements normally mean less disposable income, which, over clip, can slow concern activity. Monetary policy impact alterations in short term involvement rates influence long term involvement rates, such as mortgage rates. Low involvement rates mean lower involvement disbursal for concerns and higher disposable income for consumers. This combination means higher concern net incomes. Lower mortgage rates may spur more place purchasing activity, which is normally good for the building industry. Lower rates besides mean more refinancing of bing mortgages, which may besides enable consumers to see other purchases. High involvement rates can hold the opposite impact for concerns: higher involvement disbursals, lower gross revenues and lower net incomes. Interest-rate alterations can impact stock monetary values, which can impact consumer disbursement.Apple IncMarket construction is figure of houses bring forthing indistinguishable merchandise homogeneous. Monopolistic competition where there is a big figure of houses, each holding a little proportion of the market portion and somewhat differentiated merchandises. They take the monetary values of other rivals as given and disregard the impact of its ain monetary values of other houses. The figure of houses and end product determines supply and demand. For illustration: Coke and Pepsi ; toothpaste ; shaving froths like Gillette and Dove. Oligopoly is when a little figure of houses control the market. Then normally monetary values of merchandises or services are high. Industries which are illustrations of oligopolies include: Steel industry, aluminum, movie, telecasting, cell phone, gas, electricity. Duopoly is a particular instance of an oligopoly with two houses. Monopsony when there is one purchaser faces with many Sellerss. Oligopsony, a market where many Sellerss can be present but meet merely a few purchasers. Monopoly, where there is merely one supplier of a merchandise or service. For illustration it was Microsoft Company in U.S. Natural monopoly is when house is a natural monopoly if it is able to function the full market demand at a lower cost than any combination of two or more smaller, more specialised houses. Perfect competition a theoretical market construction that features no barriers to entry, an limitless figure of manufacturers and consumers, and a absolutely elastic demand curve.Supply and DemandSupply and demand are the forces that make market economic systems work. They determine the measure of each good produced and the monetary value at which it is sold. A market is a group of purchasers and Sellerss of a peculiar good or service. The purchasers as a group determine the demand for the merchandise, and the Sellerss as a group determine the supply of the merchandise. For illustration, if oil monetary values rises so monetary value of bringing services rise and the monetary value of the goods every bit good. When summer is end and tourer season is finished so monetary values of hotel suites goes down. If grape crop is bad one twelvemonth so monetary values of vino will be higher in following twelvemonth.Apple Iraqi National CongressSignificance of international trade to UK concern administrationsSome of the cardinal trade goods in which the UK trades are manufactured goods, drinks, fuels and chemicals. Harmonizing to a World Trade Organization ( WTO ) study published in 2008, the UK has retained its place as the universe ‘s largest commercial services exporter. Furthermore, with the UK entering a net income of $ 263 billion in the commercial services sector, the state continues to be the universe ‘s 2nd largest supplier of these services. UK trade consists of the motion of goods and services within the European Union, of which it is a member, and to non-EU states. International trade in the UK is assisted by UK Trade & A ; Investment ( UKTI ) . This authorities organisation focuses on heightening the fight of United kingdom companies through abroad trade and investings. It besides aims at go oning to pull high-quality foreign direct investing ( FDI ) . In order to pull foreign concerns and foreign investing, the British authorities has adopted a assortment of plans. For case, the Parliament allows local and regional authoritiess to set up endeavor zones. In these zones, companies receive freedoms from belongings revenue enhancements and reimbursement for costs involved in the building of new mills or concern locations. There are besides plans that provide inducements for companies to turn up in economically down urban countries that are known as â€Å" Assisted Areas. † In 1998, the entire value of these plans was US $ 315 million. There are 7 free trade zones in the United Kingdom ( Birmingham, Humberside, Liverpool, Prestwick, Sheerness, Southampton, and Tilbury ) . These zones allow goods to be stored for cargo without duties or import responsibilities.The impact of planetary factors on UK concern organisationsInternational trade and the UK economic system: UK concerns will see international trade growing accelerate from 2014 as the planetary economic system ends a period of growing contraction, harmonizing to HSBC. There are cardinal alterations taking topographic point in universe trade, UK exports to China and to India grew by 21 % and 37 % severally in 2011 and HSBC estimates that it processed around one tierce of these by value. Market chances: Evaluating markets and future tendencies can be a major challenge for any concern. New market chances jumping from a scope of possible beginnings and vary in their size, importance, and hazard. New demographic or perpendicular industry sections New geographic parts Alternate offerings of service theoretical accounts, supplies, and other rentes World Trade Organisation ( WTO ) is the lone international bureau supervising the regulations of international trade. It polices free trade understandings, settees trade differences between authoritiess and organises trade dialogues.4.3The impact of policies of the EU on UK concern administrationsThe United Kingdom is a member of the European Union but is n't portion of the individual currency, the Euro. Free trade – The EU is a trade axis which means there are no quotas or duties for companies exporting goods and services within the EU. European statute law is meant to do it easier for UK concerns to merchandise across the EU ‘s 27 provinces. The internal market – the individual market means UK citizens are free to travel, live, survey and trade anyplace within the EU.

The Vampire Diaries: The Struggle Chapter Twelve

A voice spoke as Elena reached for a can on the store shelf. â€Å"Cranberry sauce already?† Elena looked up. â€Å"Hi, Matt. Yes, Aunt Judith likes to do a preview the Sunday before Thanksgiving, remember? If she practices, there's less chance she'll do something terrible.† â€Å"Like forgetting to buy the cranberry sauce until fifteen minutes before dinner?† â€Å"Until five minutes before dinner,† said Elena, consulting her watch, and Matt laughed. It was a good sound, and one Elena hadn't heard for too long. She moved on toward the check-out stand, but after she'd paid for her purchase she hesitated, looking back. Matt was standing by the magazine rack, apparently absorbed, but there was something about the slope of his shoulders that made her want to go to him. She poked a finger at his magazine. â€Å"What areyou doing for dinner?† she said. When he glanced uncertainly toward the front of the store, she added, â€Å"Bonnie's waiting out in the car; she'll be there. Other than that it's just the family. And Robert, of course; he should be there by now.† She meant that Stefan wasn't coming. She still wasn't sure how things were between Matt and Stefan these days. At least they spoke to each other. â€Å"I'm fending for myself tonight; Mom's not feeling so hot,† he said. But then, as if to change the subject, he went on, â€Å"Where's Meredith?† â€Å"With her family, visiting some relatives or something.† Elena was vague because Meredith had been Aunt Judith's cooking?† â€Å"For old times' sake?† â€Å"For oldfriends' sake,† said Elena after a moment's hesitation, and smiled at him. He blinked and looked away. â€Å"How can I refuse an invitation like that?† he said in an oddly muted voice. But when he put the magazine back and followed her out he was smiling, too. Bonnie greeted him cheerfully, and when they got home Aunt Judith looked pleased to see him come into the kitchen. â€Å"Dinner's almost ready,† she said, taking the grocery bag from Elena. â€Å"Robert got here a few minutes ago. Why don't you go straight on back to the dining room? Oh, and get another chair, Elena. Matt makes seven.† â€Å"Six, Aunt Judith,† said Elena, amused. â€Å"You and Robert, me and Margaret, Matt and Bonnie.† â€Å"Yes, dear, but Robert's brought a guest, too. They're already sitting down.† Elena registered the words just as she stepped through the dining room door, but there was an instant's delay before her mind reacted to them. Even so, sheknew; stepping through that door, she somehow knew what was waiting for her. Robert was standing there, fiddling with a bottle of white wine and looking jovial. And sitting at the table, on the far side of the autumn centerpiece and the tall lighted candles, was Damon. Elena realized she'd stopped moving when Bonnie ran into her from behind. Then she forced her legs into action. Her mind wasn't as obedient; it remained frozen. â€Å"Ah, Elena,† Robert said, holding out a hand. â€Å"This is Elena, the girl I was telling you about,† he said to Damon. â€Å"Elena, this is Damon†¦ ah†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Smith,† said Damon. â€Å"Oh, yes. He's from my alma mater, William and Mary, and I just ran into him outside the drugstore. Since he was looking for some place to eat, I invited him along here for a home-cooked meal. Damon, these are some friends of Elena's, Matt and Bonnie.† â€Å"Hi,† said Matt. Bonnie just stared; then, she swung enormous eyes on Elena. Elena was trying to get a grip on herself. She didn't know whether to shriek, march out of the room, or throw the glass of wine Robert was pouring in Damon's face. She was too angry, for the moment, to be frightened. Matt went to bring in a chair from the living room. Elena wondered at his casual acceptance of Damon, and then realized he hadn't been at Alaric's party. He wouldn't know what had happened there between Stefan and the â€Å"visitor from college.† Bonnie, though, looked ready to panic. She was gazing at Elena imploringly. Damon had risen and was Before Elena could come up with a response, she heard Margaret's high little voice in the doorway. â€Å"Matt, do you want to see my kitty? Aunt Judith says I can keep her. I'm going to call her Snowball.† Elena turned, fired with an idea. â€Å"She's cute,† Matt was saying obligingly, bending over the little mound of white fur in Margaret's arms. He looked startled as Elena unceremoniously grabbed the kitten from under his nose. â€Å"Here, Margaret, let's show your kitty to Robert's friend,† she said, and thrust the fluffy bundle into Damon's face, all but throwing it at him. Pandemonium ensued. Snowball swelled to twice her normal size as her fur stood on end. She made a noise like water dropped on a red-hot griddle and then she was a snarling, spitting cyclone that clawed Elena, swiped at Damon, and ricocheted off the walls before tearing out of the room. For an instant, Elena had the satisfaction of seeing Damon's night black eyes slightly wider than usual. Then the lids drooped down, hooding them again, and Elena turned to face the reaction of the other occupants of the room. Margaret was just opening her mouth for a steam engine wail. Robert was trying to forestall it, hustling her off to find the cat. Bonnie had her back pressed flat against the wall, looking desperate. Matt and Aunt Judith, who was peering in from the kitchen, just looked appalled. â€Å"I guess you don't have a way with animals,† she said to Damon, and took her seat at the table. She nodded to Bonnie who reluctantly peeled herself off the wall and scuttled for her own seat before Damon could touch the chair. Bonnie's brown eyes slid around to follow him as he sat down in turn. After a few minutes, Robert reappeared with a tear-stained Margaret and frowned sternly at Elena. Matt pushed his own chair in silently although his eyebrows were in his hair. As Aunt Judith arrived and the meal began, Elena looked up and down the table. A bright haze seemed to lie over everything, and she had a feeling of unreality, but the scene itself looked almost unbelievably wholesome, like something out of a commercial. Just your average family sitting down to eat turkey, she thought. One slightly flustered maiden aunt, worried that the peas will be mushy and the rolls burnt, one comfortable uncle-to-be, one golden-haired teenage niece and her tow-headed baby sister. One blue-eyed boy-next-door type, one spritely girlfriend, one gorgeous vampire passing the candied yams. A typical American household. Bonnie spent the first half of the meal telegraphing â€Å"What do I do?† messages to Elena with her eyes. But when all Elena telegraphed back was â€Å"Nothing,† she apparently decided to abandon herself to her fate. She began to eat. Elena had no idea what to do. To be trapped tike this was an insult, a humiliation, and Damon knew it. He had Aunt Judith and Robert dazzled, though, with compliments about the meal and light chat about William and Mary. Even Margaret was smiling at him now, and soon enough Bonnie would go under. â€Å"Fell's Church is having its Founders' Day celebration next week,† Aunt Judith informed Damon, her thin cheeks faintly pink. â€Å"It would be so nice if you could come back for that.† Aunt Judith looked pleased. â€Å"And this year Elena has a big part in it. She's been chosen to represent the Spirit of Fell's Church.† â€Å"You must be proud of her,† said Damon. â€Å"Oh, we are,† Aunt Judith said. â€Å"So you'll try to come then?† Elena broke in, buttering a roll furiously. â€Å"I've heard some news about Vickie,† she said. â€Å"You remember, the girl who was attacked.† She looked pointedly at Damon. There was a short silence. Then Damon said, â€Å"I'm afraid I don't know her.† â€Å"Oh, I'm sure you do. About my height, brown eyes, light brown hair†¦ anyway, she's getting worse.† â€Å"Oh, dear,† said Aunt Judith. â€Å"Yes, apparently the doctors can't understand it. She just keeps getting worse and worse, as if the attack was still going on.† Elena kept her eyes on Damon's face as she spoke, but he displayed only a courteous interest. â€Å"Have some more stuffing,† she finished, propelling a bowl at him. â€Å"No thank you. I'll have some more of this, though.† He held a spoonful of jellied cranberry sauce up to one of the candles so that light shone through it. â€Å"It's such a tantalizing color.† Bonnie, like the rest of the people at the table, looked up at the candle when he did this. But Elena noticed she didn't look down again. She remained gazing into the dancing flame, and slowly all expression disappeared from her face. Oh,no , thought Elena, as a tingle of apprehension crept through her limbs. She'd seen that look before. She tried to get Bonnie's attention, but the other girl seemed to see nothing but the candle. â€Å"†¦ and then the elementary children put on a pageant about the town's history,† Aunt Judith was saying to Damon. â€Å"But the ending ceremony is done by older students. Elena, how many seniors will be doing the readings this year?† â€Å"Just three of us.† Elena had to turn to address her aunt, and it was while she was looking at Aunt Judith's smiling face that she heard the voice. â€Å"Death.† Aunt Judith gasped. Robert paused with his fork halfway to his mouth. Elena wished, wildly and absolutely hopelessly, for Meredith. â€Å"Death,† said the voice again. â€Å"Death is in this house.† Elena looked around the table and saw that there was no one to help her. They were all staring at Bonnie, motionless as subjects in a photograph. Bonnie herself was staring into the candle flame. Her face was blank, her eyes wide, as they had been before when this voice spoke through her. Now, those sightless eyes turned toward Elena. â€Å"Your death,† shoulders, lifting her. Bonnie's skin had gone bluish-white, her eyes were closed. Aunt Judith fluttered around her, dabbing at her face with a damp napkin. Damon watched with thoughtful, narrowed eyes. â€Å"She's all right,† Robert said, looking up in obvious relief. â€Å"I think she just fainted. It must have been some kind of hysterical attack.† But Elena didn't breathe again until Bonnie opened groggy eyes and asked what everyone was staring at. It put an effective end to the dinner. Robert insisted that Bonnie be taken home at once, and in the activity that followed Elena found time for a whispered word with Damon. â€Å"Get out!† He raised his eyebrows. â€Å"What?† â€Å"I said, get out! Now! Go. Or I'll tell them you're the killer.† He looked reproachful. â€Å"Don't you think a guest deserves a little more consideration?† he said, but at her expression he shrugged and smiled. â€Å"Thank you for having me for dinner,† he said aloud to Aunt Judith, who was walking past carrying a blanket to the car. â€Å"I hope I can return the favor sometime.† To Elena he added, â€Å"Be seeing you.† Well,that was clear enough, Elena thought, as Robert drove away with a somber Matt and a sleepy Bonnie. Aunt Judith was on the phone with Mrs. McCullough. â€Å"I don't know what it is with these girls, either,† she said. â€Å"First Vickie, now Bonnie†¦ and Elena has not been herself lately†¦Ã¢â‚¬  While Aunt Judith talked and Margaret searched for the missing Snowball, Elena paced. She would have to call Stefan. That was all there was to it. She wasn't worried about Bonnie; the other times this had happened hadn't seemed to do permanent damage. And Damon would have better things to do than harass Elena's friends tonight. He was coming here, to collect for the â€Å"favor† he'd done her. She knew without a doubt that that was the meaning of his final words. And it meant she would have to tell Stefan everything, because she needed him tonight, needed his protection. Only, what could Stefan do? Despite all her pleas and arguments last week, he had refused to take her blood. He'd insisted that his Powers would return without it, but Elena knew he was still vulnerable right now. Even if Stefan were here, could he stop Damon? Could he do it without being killed himself? Bonnie's house was no refuge. And Meredith was gone. There was no one to help her, no one she could trust. But the thought of waiting here alone tonight, knowing that Damon was coming, was unbearable. She heard Aunt Judith click down the receiver. Automatically, she moved toward the kitchen, Stefan's She looked at the floor to ceiling windows and at the elaborate fireplace with its beautifully scrolled molding. This room was part of the original house, the one that had almost completely burned in the Civil War. Her own bedroom was just above. A great light was beginning to dawn. Elena looked at the molding around the ceiling, at where it joined the more modern dining room. Then she almost ran toward the stairs, her heart beating fast. â€Å"Aunt Judith?† Her aunt paused on the stairway. â€Å"Aunt Judith, tell me something. Did Damon go into the living room?† â€Å"What!† Aunt Judith blinked at her in distraction. â€Å"Did Robert take Damon into the living room? Please think, Aunt Judith! I need to know.† â€Å"Why, no, I don't think so. No, he didn't. They came in and went straight to the dining room. Elena, what on earth?†¦Ã¢â‚¬  This last as Elena impulsively threw her arms around her and hugged her. â€Å"Sorry, Aunt Judith. I'm just happy,† said Elena. Smiling, she turned to go back down the stairs. â€Å"Well, I'm gladsomeone's happy, after the way dinner turned out. Although that nice boy, Damon, seemed to enjoy himself. Do you know, Elena, he seemed quite taken with you, in spite of the way you were acting.† Elena turned back around. â€Å"So?† â€Å"Well, I just thought you might give him a chance, that's all. I thought he was very pleasant. The kind of young man I like to see around here.† Elena goggled a moment, then swallowed to keep the hysterical laughter from escaping. Her aunt was suggesting that she take up Damon instead of Stefan†¦ because Damon was safer. The kind of nice young man any aunt would like. â€Å"Aunt Judith,† she began, gasping, but then she realized it was useless. She shook her head mutely, throwing her hands up in defeat, and watched her aunt go up the stairs. Usually Elena slept with her door closed. But tonight she left it open and lay on her bed gazing out into the darkened hallway. Every so often she glanced at the luminous numbers of the clock on the nightstand beside her. There was no danger that she would fall asleep. As the minutes crawled by, she almost began to wish she could. Time moved with agonizing slowness. Eleven o'clock†¦ eleven thirty†¦ midnight. Onea.m. One thirty. Two. At 2:10 she heard a sound. She listened, still lying on her bed, to the faint whisper of noise downstairs. She'd known he would find a way to get in if he wanted. If Damon was that determined, no lock would keep him out. The hallway was dark, but her eyes had had a long time to adjust. She could see the darker silhouette making its way up the stairs. When it reached the top she saw the swift, deadly glimmer of his smile. She waited, unsmiling, until he reached her and stood facing her, with only a yard of hardwood floor between them. The house was completely silent. Across the hall Margaret slept; at the end of the passage, Aunt Judith lay wrapped in dreams, unaware of what was going on outside her door. Damon said nothing, but he looked at her, his eyes taking in the long white nightgown with its high, lacy neck. Elena had chosen it because it was the most modest one she owned, but Damon obviously thought it attractive. She forced herself to stand quietly, but her mouth was dry and her heart was thudding dully. Now was the time. In another minute she would know. She backed up, without a word or gesture of invitation, leaving the doorway empty. She saw the quick flare in his bottomless eyes, and watched him come eagerly toward her. And watched him stop. He stood just outside her room, plainly disconcerted. He tried again to step forward but could not. Something seemed to be preventing him from moving any farther. On his face, surprise gave way to puzzlement and then anger. He looked up, his eyes raking over the lintel, scanning the ceiling on either side of the threshold. Then, as the full realization hit him, his lips pulled back from his teeth in an animal snarl. Safe on her side of the doorway, Elena laughed softly. It had worked. â€Å"My room and the living room below are all that's left of the old house,† she said to him. â€Å"And, of course, that was a different dwelling place. One you werenot invited into, and never will be.† His chest was heaving with anger, his nostrils dilated, his eyes wild. Waves of black rage emanated from him. He looked as if he would like to tear the walls down with his hands, which were twitching and clenching with fury. Triumph and relief made Elena giddy. â€Å"You'd better go now,† she said. â€Å"There's nothing for you here.† One minute more those menacing eyes blazed into hers, and then Damon turned around. But he didn't head for the stairway. Instead, he took one step across the hall and laid his hand on the door to Margaret's room. Elena started forward before she knew what she was doing. She stopped in the doorway, grasping the casing trim, her own breath coming hard. His head whipped around and he smiled at her, a slow, cruel smile. He twisted the doorknob slightly without looking at it. His eyes, like pools of liquid ebony, remained on Elena. â€Å"Your choice,† he said. Elena stood very still, feeling as if all of winter was inside her. Margaret was just a baby. He couldn't mean it; no one could be such a monster as to hurt a four-year-old. Everything seemed to be happening in slow motion. She saw Damon's hand on the doorknob; she saw those merciless eyes. She was walking through the doorway, leaving behind the only safe place she knew. Death was in the house, Bonnie had said. And now Elena had gone to meet Death of her own free will. She bowed her head to conceal the helpless tears that came to her eyes. It was over. Damon had won. She did not look up to see him advance on her. But she felt the air stir around her, making her shiver. And then she was enfolded in soft, endless blackness, which wrapped around her like a great bird's wings.