Financial statements ratio analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Financial statements ratio analysis - Essay Example The company has a relatively high turnover of more than one. A ratio of more than one means the net sales are more than the total fixed assets. This means that one dollar of fixed asset invested generates more than on dollar of sales. However, this ability decreased across the period. Current ratio highlights the capability of a company to meet its current obligations as they become due. A ratio of less than one as in the case of the company implies that the company has more obligations than the assets hence cannot meet them. In 2013 the ability increased but still does not satisfy all the obligations. Debt to total assets ratio shows the portion of the company’s financing provided by the creditors that is it measures a company’s financial leverage. From the calculation above the company has more assets than liabilities hence it is less risky since it has a ratio of close to 0.5 implying that it has liabilities of close to 50% of its total assets. Across the period the percentage increased from 56% to 63% meaning it increased its liabilities. Return on equity illustrates the company’s ability to generate profit or return from its shareholders’ investments. It therefore shows how efficient a company uses the shareholder money. From the ratio above the company is a bit efficient in using the shareholders’ money but the efficiency decreased in 2013 from 36% to 28%. With regards to the profit margin, the company’s ability to convert sales into profit is lower than that of the industry. Accounts receivable turnover shows that the number of times a company collects its receivables is lower than that of the company. Further, its fixed asset turnover is also lower than that of the industry implying that it uses its fixed assets less effectively. The company also has a lower current ratio than the industry thus it has more liabilities in relation to its assets than the

Battle Royal( Ralph Ellison) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Battle Royal( Ralph Ellison) - Essay Example In the beginning of the chapter, the African American Narrator is praised by the white folks for his speech in satirical terms. But the black man will not relent. He wishes to protect his essential dignity, notwithstanding the fact that the white people are out to ridicule him on all counts. The black narrator is firm about his decision. Instead of avoiding the white men, he wishes to actively associate with them, to prove his worth. But racial segregation continues. Social harmony between the people of black and white races is still a distant dream. Blacks undergo horrific experiences and Ellison has availed the option to make the story full of imagery and satire than come out with statements and statistics. Strange situations are created for the humiliation of the black youngsters. This happens in an all-white men’s club, where a black protagonist of the story, considered to be a brilliant orator, is invited for a speech on cultural issues. A clever plan is hatched to humiliate him and other black youngsters. He is supposed to give a talk on humility but what is the use of talk on such a topic to people devoid of humanity? In the next situation, describing a fight scene in the ring Ellison states, "It was complete anarchy. Everybody fought everybody else. No group fought together for long" (942). This is the broad indicator as for the tactics used by the white people to keep the blacks suppressed, divided and fight amongst

Financial statements ratio analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Financial statements ratio analysis - Essay Example The company has a relatively high turnover of more than one. A ratio of more than one means the net sales are more than the total fixed assets. This means that one dollar of fixed asset invested generates more than on dollar of sales. However, this ability decreased across the period. Current ratio highlights the capability of a company to meet its current obligations as they become due. A ratio of less than one as in the case of the company implies that the company has more obligations than the assets hence cannot meet them. In 2013 the ability increased but still does not satisfy all the obligations. Debt to total assets ratio shows the portion of the company’s financing provided by the creditors that is it measures a company’s financial leverage. From the calculation above the company has more assets than liabilities hence it is less risky since it has a ratio of close to 0.5 implying that it has liabilities of close to 50% of its total assets. Across the period the percentage increased from 56% to 63% meaning it increased its liabilities. Return on equity illustrates the company’s ability to generate profit or return from its shareholders’ investments. It therefore shows how efficient a company uses the shareholder money. From the ratio above the company is a bit efficient in using the shareholders’ money but the efficiency decreased in 2013 from 36% to 28%. With regards to the profit margin, the company’s ability to convert sales into profit is lower than that of the industry. Accounts receivable turnover shows that the number of times a company collects its receivables is lower than that of the company. Further, its fixed asset turnover is also lower than that of the industry implying that it uses its fixed assets less effectively. The company also has a lower current ratio than the industry thus it has more liabilities in relation to its assets than the

Emotions make the world go round Essay Example for Free

Emotions make the world go round Essay Emotions are one of the unique traits of humans. Not all living things created by God were able to have emotions, only men are permitted to feel and express. Although animals have the ability to sense some things, it is not as powerful and as expressive as that of the humans. Human emotion speaks a thousand words†¦ in silent mode. What we have to understand when it comes to emotion is the reality that it comes from different factors which affects the cycle of emotion and feelings. Organism and environment has something to do with this but it is always linked to the question, â€Å"how do you feel? † which basically means that in emotions, feelings are essential (Kuhl, 1986). Do you ever wonder why a new born baby cries after his or her birth? Scientifically speaking, babies cry after birth because they are cold but there is a long story behind this one which we will not elaborate anymore. Looking in another aspect, away from science, babies cry because it signifies their ability to live. It serves as a sign that they are alive and it assures the people inside the delivery room about the baby’s existence. Looking at this situation through science’s perspective, an infant’s emotion is more likely associated with both conditioning and stimulation. Remember that around four (4) minutes before the baby is born, something happens inside his or her body which triggers the crying when the time to get out of the mother’s womb comes (Morley, 2002). On the other hand, when the baby is already born, we all know that the doctor taps the baby which ignites a little sense of feeling or sensitivity on the baby’s side. Therefore, conditioning and stimulation happens before and after the baby is born, thus, it is clear that there is really an effect both inside and outside the baby’s body. Although science can explain almost everything in life including emotions and feelings, in the end, it does not really matter that much when you were used in feeling and not thinking too much. Emotions are reactions in everything which happens to you. Others might associate it with adrenalin rush but thinking outside the box, emotions were proofs regarding your humanity. It is not the basis of weakness but instead, it is the sign that you are alive and doing well. Many people were not able to express their emotions like anger, fear happiness and sadness and decide to go to medical doctors for check ups. Perhaps, this is one proof that emotions are not just a thing in our life but ability. Works Cited Kuhl, J. (1986). Motivation and information processing: A new look at decision making, dynamic change, and action control. In R. M. Sorrentino E. T. Higgins (Eds. ), Handbook of motivation and cognition: Foundations of social behavior (pp. 404-434). Chichester: Wiley. Morly, G. M. (2002). Why Do Babies Cry? The Anatomical and Physiological Changes During the Moments After Birth. http://www. cordclamp. com/Why Do Babies Cr1. htm

Importance of Research in Nursing Practice and Theories

Importance of Research in Nursing Practice and Theories Introduction This essay will consider the definition of nursing research, different types of research and design, and why research is important in nursing practice. It will also illustrate examples of research influencing practice, and make recommendations for current or future practice. Main Body Nursing research can be defined as any scientific (i.e. systematic) enquiry into the effectiveness or value of nursing practice (Parahoo, 1997; Sullivan, 1998; Polit Beck, 2004). It denotes any empirical evidence on which nursing care is based. This includes both quantitative and qualitative research evidence (Comack, 1996). Qualitative research essentially entails analysis of individual subjective experience. It focuses on meanings and experiences as conveyed for example through philosophies such as grounded theory, phenomenology, discourse analysis, and experientialism (Coolican, 1994). Data collection is typically in the form of interviews, case studies, and systematic observation, while data analysis generally involves the identification of themes, for example through thematic analysis. Quantitative research relies on positivist philosophy, where only measurable phenomena are considered worthy of investigation. Randomised clinical trials (i.e. controlled experiments) are the preferred method of inquiry albeit questionnaire and archive-based surveys, in the form of retrospective or prospective designs, and other methodologies, may also be used. Data analysis is based on statistical tests (Howitt Cramer, 2005). Why is research important? Given the growing emphasis on evidence-based practice in nursing care across the Western world (Sullivan, 1998), there is a need for an ample body of accumulated empirical evidence to which nurses can refer in order to inform clinical practice (Polit Beck, 2004). Any responsible and accountable vocation claiming to be a profession, and answerable to a professional body, requires an empirical evidence base. This is the only way that standards of practice can be evaluated and improved, for the benefit of the general public. The value of empirical evidence, as contrasted with casual observation and anecdotes, is that it is systematic and typically obtained under controlled conditions. Research enables nursing practice to keep pace with a rapidly changing world in which health care practices must continually improve to meet changing and ever more demanding patient expectations and requirements (Eastabrooks, 1998). Only through continued research activity can a ppropriate evidence-based ‘best practice’ guidelines be introduced to ensure the good quality nursing care (Ring et al, 2005). Examples where research influences nursing practice aren’t difficult to find (Polit Beck, 2004). A review of electronic databases such as Internurse, High-Wire Press, Science Direct, and Academic Search Premier, yields an abundance of quantitative and qualitative studies on nursing practice. Five varied examples are as follows, including both quantitative and qualitative research; Meyer et al (2002); Barr et al (2005); Hughes Umeh (2005); Ring et al (2005), and Lee Knight (2006). Meyer et al (2002) conducted a randomised clinical trial contrasting the effectiveness of two different bandaging techniques nurses use for treating venous leg ulcers. The study showed that ulcers treated with higher compression bandaging didn’t heal any quicker than ulcers administered lower compression bandages. Barr et al (2005) studied archived data of all self-harm patients who presented at A E units over a given period, to ascertain the extent to which nurses carry out psychosocial assessment. It emerged that nurses do not always conducted psychological evaluations, as stipulated. However, patients were more likely to be assessed if they were considered ‘high risk’. Hughes and Umeh (2005) studied stresses experienced by nurses at work. Extremely heavy and stressful workloads can impair the quality of nursing care, for example by increasing the frequency of sick leave. Certain nursing groups may be more susceptible to stress, with implications for clinical practice. This study was based on a questionnaire survey, administered to general and psychiatric nurses. Analysis revealed that general nurses experienced more stress than their psychiatric counterparts, notably in the absence of social support from colleagues, friends, and family. Ring et al (2005) employed a qualitative design to evaluate the degree to which nurses adhere to best practice statements (BPS) in clinical practice. BPS reduce variations in the quality of care patients receive, and hence is a fundamental component of clinical practice. The methodology involved conducting semi-structured interviews with a small group of registered nurses involved in the formulation of BPS. Several themes emerged from the data, indicating considerable variation in the implementation of BPS. Hareendran et al (2005) also used a qualitative method. This study aimed to establish the effect that venous leg ulcers may have on a patients’ quality of life. Patients suffering from venous ulcers attended semi-structured interviews and completed a questionnaire. Interview transcripts showed that ulcers caused uncomfortable symptoms (e.g. itching, pain, interrupted sleep) in the majority of patients. Furthermore, one-half of patients were dissatisfied with the quality of care they received. Clearly, these examples illustrate how research evidence can influence clinical practice. For example, Meyer et al’s (2002) study could facilitate understanding of the impact of bandaging, and improve care delivery, such that ulcer patients aren’t unnecessarily inconvenienced by highly compressed bandaging which clearly isn’t going to speed up recovery. Hughes and Umeh’s (2005) study may lead to better redistribution of workloads, and more potent social support systems, thereby maintain the quality of care nurses dispense. Despite the advantages, there are significant barriers to research utilisation. Consider the notion of best practice guidelines. These are standards firmly rooted in empirical research, consistent with ethos of evidence-based practice. However, nurses have identified considerable hindrances to such evidence-based practice (Polit Beck, 2004), including a lack of resource, deficient training, a general apathy towards change amongst nursing staff, multidisciplinary issues that are difficult to resolve, and a lack of inspirational clinical leadership at local level (Ring et al, 2005). One way to resolve these hindrances is clearly by improving nurse training, for example, in how to translate raw research findings into practice, and/or liase with other health professionals in working out how best to implement a best-practice statement. Nurses can also be encouraged to form and/or join a journal club (Wikipedia, 2006). This is essentially a group of individuals who convene on a regular ba sis to review recent empirical findings and perhaps work out feasible modalities to translate evidence into practice. Conclusion Overall undertaking rigorous research and translating evidence into practice are indispensable elements in the development of any profession, and nursing practice is no exception. On a positive note there is continued (and growing emphasis) on evidence-based nursing practice, supported by both the Department of Health, and Nursing Midwifery Practice Development Unit (NMPDU). Despite inconsistent implementation, nursing care is likely to continue to benefit from empirical research. However, on a less optimist note, a review of nursing research indicates a paucity of randomised clinical trials. The bulk of empirical evidence appears to be based on less rigorous research methodologies, making it difficult to establish causal relationships. For example, although qualitative evidence has revealed potential barriers to research utilisation, it isn’t certain there is a causal link between these factors. Future research needs to redress this imbalance. Bibliography Barr, W., Leitner, M. Thomas, J. (2005) Psychosocial assessment of patients who attend an accident and emergency department with self-harm. Journal of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, 12, pp.130-138. Coolican, H. (1994) Research Methods and Statistics in Psychology. London: Hodder Stoughton. Cormack, D. (2000) The Research Process in Nursing: Fourth Edition. London: Blackwell Science. Eastabrooks, C.A. (1998) Will evidence-based nursing practice make practice perfect. Canadian Journal of Nursing Research. 30, pp.15-36. Lee, S. Knight, D. (2006) District nurses’ involvement in mental health: an exploratory survey. British Journal of Community Nursing, 11, pp.138-142. Hafner, J., Botonakis, I. Burg, G. (2000) A Comparison of Multilayer Bandage Systems During Rest, Exercise, and Over 2 Days of Wear Time. Archives of Dematology, 136, pp.857-863. Hareendran. A., Bradbury, A., Budd, J., Geroulakos, G., Hobbs, R., Kenkre J. Symonds, T. (2005) Measuring the impact of venous leg ulcers on quality of life. Journal of Wound Care, 14, pp.53-57. Howitt, D. Cramer, D. (2005) Introduction to Research Methods in Psychology. London: Pearson. Hughes, H. Umeh, K. (2005) Work stress differentials between psychiatric and general nurses. British Journal of Nursing, 14, pp.802-808. Meyer, F.J., Burnand, K.G., Lagattolla, N.R.F. Eastham, D. (2002) Randomised clinical trial comparing the efficacy of two bandaging regimens in the treatment of venous leg ulcers. British Journal of Surgery, 89, pp.40-44. Parahoo K. (1997). Nursing Research: Principles, Process and Issues. Basingstoke: Macmillan Polit D.F. Beck C.T. (2004) Nursing Research Principles and Methods (7th ed). Philadelphia: Lippincott. O’Brien, J.F., Grace, P.A., Perry, I.J., Hannigan, A., Moloney, M.C. Burke, P.E. (2003) Randomised clinical trial and economic analysis of four-layer compression bandaging for venous ulcers. British Journal of Surgery. 90, pp.794-798. Ring, N., Malcolm, C., Coull, A., Murphy-Black, T. Watterson, A. (2005) Nursing best practice statements: an exploration of their implementation in clinical practice. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 14, pp.1048-1058. Sullivan P (1998) Developing evidence-based care in mental health nursing. Nursing Standard. 12, pp.35-38. Wikipedia (2006 Journal Club [online] MediaWiki: Available from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Journal_club [Accessed April 15 2007]

Coffee Essay -- Essays Papers

Coffee It is 9:00 A.M. on a Monday morning. By this time, many people are out and about, fully charged. I am still snug in bed, sleeping like a log. The alarm begins to beep. I press the snooze button. Nine minutes later, it beeps again. I press the snooze. One more time. Beep. Snooze. Finally, pressing the button has drained my energy and the next time it begins to beep, it goes on for a good five minutes. The incessant beeping pounds on my brain so I get up, unplug my alarm, crawl out of bed, and to my closet. Thus, the struggle through the day begins. Yet, this morning picture isn't the same picture of happiness and energy that I usually am at about 11:30 A.M. This drastic change is due to one word. This one word brings light to the eyes of non-morning people. This word means hope. This word is coffee. I've become addicted to the frothy warm drink. Five minutes late to class, I still have to stop by the cafeteria to fill up a 16 oz. Styrofoam cup. Without it, my day is incomplete. It gives me the energy I need to get through the day. It told me to try and climb that tree. It gave me my jump. It gives me the bright outlook that I have on life. It tells me that everything will be just fine, even if I haven't studied for that exam that I will be taking in the next hour. I would be a walking zombie without my French Vanilla cappuccino. I would be lying on a bench, asleep, without my French Vanilla cappuccino. It's my one true love. When I smell its sweet perfume, m...

Literature - Postmodernism, Economic Domination, and the Function of Art :: Literature Essays Literary Criticism

Postmodernism: Economic Domination and the Function of Art    Does aesthetic creativity relate to or influence reality? Does art possess the capacity to heal society? These questions seem implicit to Walker Percy's understanding of literature and art in general. Literature is a thought-involved process concerned with communication; it selves as a moral guidepost to commend society as well as correct it. Literature represents and describes; it presents readers with a method of articulating and resolving problems in society.         Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   "So it is clear that redescribing a world is the   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   necessary first step towards changing it" (Rushdie   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   18).       Art, in one sense, creates its own political agenda. Percy pursues his diagnostic theory of literature having reckoned with the basic relationship between language and life. Percy seems to answer the initial two questions posed with a resounding yes.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The issue of art's impact upon a society is not quite so easily resolved, however. Not every person writes or thinks about art with the same set of assumptions. In order to strike at the heart of the question "what is the purpose of art?" we must first identify, understand and appreciate certain fundamental assumptions inquiries, mediating contexts, surrounding the political nature of art and the role of the artist in authentic creativity. I would like to frame my discussion within the apparent struggle between two ideological contexts: modernism and postmodernism. Using Percy's diagnostic theory of literature to facilitate the discussion, we can examine how modem and postmodern assumptions attempt to shape the purpose of aesthetic creativity.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Percy's approach to art is inherently modern. He is concerned with unity and truth and achieving them through the creative process. Modernism claims to Speak to some form of ideological absolute, a universal quality. All things ultimately move to reveal a unified whole, a universe bathed in Truth. Reason is the primary tool of the modernist. It is privileged above all other human faculties. Reason allows humanity to possess knowledge, to know, to assimilate, to unify. Truth and knowledge are hopelessly intertwined. The search for knowledge is thus the search for truth as well. Percy mirrors this modern reverence for the power of human thought, when he claims that literature is essentially cognitive. Art is an expansion and extension of the mind. Art is thus actively involved in the search for Truth.