Who's the victim?

There are two ways someone can play the “victim mode.” Either they are only concerned with everyone else or they are only concerned with themselves. In some circumstances, people are like this because they do not understand otherwise, usually this pertains to young children. However, my experiences have dealt with young adults who know better. It is my belief that the only reason for their behavior is because they are selfish and immature.
Alex is a person who has many examples of playing the “victim mode.” She is usually concerned with everyone else. One example is, Alex took her phone to school. She put it in her locker but doesn’t remember where she put it and doesn’t remember ever getting it out. Instead of just admitting she lost it, she claimed someone stole it so she would not get into trouble. The principal checked the cameras that had a clear view of her locker and reported that the only people in her locker that day were her and her locker partner. The tapes are in a locked VCR compartment that only the principal has the key to and it is monitored by the secretary, therefore there was no way the video could be tampered with. Somehow though, someone stole her phone. Not long after that, Alex lost a very expensive pair of boots. She blamed everyone else in the family for it. She claimed someone moved them. Well, it just so happens that Alex likes to get on the computer and the computer happens to be in her sister’s room. When her sister came home from college one weekend, she cleaned her room and in the process found Alex’s boots. Alex ran downstairs to her mom declaring that her sister had stolen them. Considering Alex had worn the boots in between the periods of her sister’s visits, it was not possible for her sister to be the one to take them. Then, the next morning as her sister and her mom were leaving, Alex stands at the top of the stairs and shouts down to her mom asking to go to the movies and hang out at her boyfriend’s house. Her mom said not unless she found a ride because she had to take Alex’s car because her was in the shop and that she didn’t like the idea of her going over to her boyfriend’s house she would rather them wait and come to her house when she got home. Infuriated, Alex exclaimed, “You never let me do anything. The other two got to do stuff all the time.”
Nicole is an example of a person in “victim mode” who is only concerned with herself. Nicole’s mom wanted her to come with her and Autumn, her grand-daughter, for a girls day. Nicole said no, she needed alone time with her husband (even though neither of them work and they spend all day together while her sister watches her son and her niece) and then proceeded to tell her mom to take Joey, Nicole’s son, with her instead. When her mom said no she was just going to take Autumn, Nicole was angry and screamed at her mom saying , “You never does anything for me and I need my alone time and I’m always doing things and I never get a break.” Later, during a phone call, she proceeded to tell a friend that her mom is selfish.
I would not see the situations any differently now that we have talked about it in class. I would not be a good person to give either girl feedback because I would not be nice about it. I would tell them the truth and if that makes them see the light then it does, if not then there’s no hope for them. I would tell Alex she needs to be more responsible and keep track of her things and she needs to make plans earlier and let her mom know about them before she is walking out the door. She also needs to understand that her mom has good reasons for responding the way she does. She tells her no sometimes because she is trying to protect her because she loves her. I would tell Nicole that she needs to realize that everything is not about her. There are other people in this world and it is extremely rude to call her mom selfish when she was just trying to do something nice for Nicole. Just because the what someone is trying to do is not exactly what she wants it to be does not make the gesture any less nice and does not mean that the other person is wrong for not doing what she wanted.

Literature

Webster’s Universal Unabridged Dictionary states that literature is, “‘all writings in prose or verse, especially those of an imaginative or critical character’” (pg 2). Another definition is, “the entire body of writings of a specific language, period, people” (Dictionary.com). However, these definitions are incomplete. A better definition of literature is any form of text that presents an idea, thought, expression, or explanation and is used to pass along ideas or information and to make one think. Literature can get the wheels turning and can open one’s mind. Eveline is a great example of literature. Eveline made the reader question further details and since literature is a way to make people think, Eveline is literature.
Eveline is literature because it even reflects the functions of literature. An example of this would be that it improves thinking skills because it makes one question what they read. Or in other words, it engages critical thinking. It is not just enough to know that Eveline worked at, “the Store.” The reader itches to know what the store sold, did she like her job, and what kind of people shopped there. In the story, a picture of a preacher is mentioned. This inspires one to think critically because the reader takes one description and uses it to uncover details about the character’s life. For example, the picture of the preacher provides evidence of the family’s religious beliefs. Another example of how Eveline induces critical thinking is the fact that Eveline has a chance to escape her terrible life but instead she chooses to stay.
“All the seas of the world tumbled about her heart. He was drawing her into them: he would drown her. She gripped with both hands the Iron railing.
-Come!
No! No! No! It was impossible” (pg 815).
Why is it that she cannot leave? What is holding her back? These questions arise because Eveline causes critical thinking. Critical thinking can be implied by Eveline because the reader can use phrases from it to unearth details. “Then she would be married-she Eveline. People would treat her with respect then” (pg 813). This statement reveals cultural ideas that were present during the time period Eveline was written. Why would getting married earn her respect? By using critical thinking one can guess that in 1916, it was proper for a young woman to be married, afterwards, she would earn respect. Eveline, makes the reader think critically about the details of the text so that they can reach a conclusion, idea, or answer that satisfies them. Therefore, Eveline shows the function of literature, improving thinking skills. Eveline exemplifies the definition of literature.
Eveline is a perfect model of what literature is and of what the function of literature is. Literature is any form of text that presents an idea, thought, expression, or explanation and is used to pass along ideas or information and to make one think. Eveline is a form of text, written by James Joyce, which makes one question further. It made the reader think instead of just accept. Eveline also showed the function of literature. Because it made the reader question further, it improved thinking skills. Eveline made the reader question further details and since literature is a way to make people think, Eveline is literature.

This I believe

I believe in the power of choice. Although it may seem like we do not have control over the way something makes us feel, in a way, we do. We cannot control what others do or say to us or what happens to us. We can, however, control how it affects us.
When I was younger, I had a problem with letting other people get to me. My dad had the perfect solution. He would take me in his car, turn on the music, and just drive. He told me to just listen. I would concentrate so intently to the music that I forgot about being upset. Music became my healing power. Then, when I was ten, my life started to crumble. My dad got cancer. The doctors found a tumor in his head; they said his chances would be high if they caught it before the cancer spread. So, we went for it. He had the surgery and was fine, for about a year and a half. It came back. He survived for almost another year before he went into a coma. I went into his room everyday to talk to him because I knew he was there listening. I knew he would hold on for my family and me; he would endure his pain just so we would not suffer. Eventually, I knew I could not be selfish any longer. One morning, before anyone woke up, I crept into my dad’s room and told him that we knew he loved us and that it was ok to go. He died July 28, 2003. That day, I lost my best friend. I fell into a dark pit of grief and did not think I would ever recover. I watched as my friends enjoyed their last bit of summer with such enthusiasm and joy. How could they be so happy? All I could do was sit in my room and read the old books my dad and I used to read together or sleep so I could pretend like the whole thing was just another nightmare and when I woke up he would be there. One day, while reading, I heard the radio start to play one of those songs my dad and I listened to. Soon I found myself focusing in on the music; suddenly I was singing the words. As the song went on, I felt the grief leave. It was in that moment that I realized I had the power to be happy. I could choose to remember all the good memories about my dad and how much I love him instead of focusing on how much I miss him or the fact that he’s gone.
Choosing to be happy brought me out of a trance. Even though I could not choose what happened to me, I could still choose to be happy. Now, nothing can bring me down, I choose my happiness instead. I believe in the power of choice.

Patient assessment

One of the most important things a hospital employee does is patient assessment. Part of the patient assessment is educating patients about what is going on. You start off by telling the patients about what is going on. You start off by telling the patient about the exam they are about to get. Then you let them know the possible risks and side effects as well as pre and post procedure instructions. Then you get the patient’s history relevant to the procedure about to take place. Finally, you ask if they have any questions and answer them as best as you can. Doing these things will not only make your patient aware of what is going on but will also protect you if something were to happen during the exam. While talking to patients it is important that you use proper verbals and non-verbals. You don’t want to yell at your patient but you do want to speak at a level they can hear and you don’t want to speak too fast to be understood. Another importance of speech is to not speak to the patient like they’re stupid but also not like they have been through medical school. Speak on a level they understand. As far as non-verbals go, make sure to make them feel comfortable by making eye contact and smiling. Tending to the patients needs this way will not only make the patient less nervous but will also make them more likely to work with you. Before taking a patient anywhere to do an exam, make sure they are able to move properly. Also, make sure they are of stable mental status. The final thing that must be assessed the level of consciousness. Don’t forget to look at what the patient is hooked up to or special precautions on their door. This again, is to protect your safety as well as the patient’s safety. One easy way to check these things is the patient’s chart. If the patient’s skin turns blue, usually in nail beds or mucous membranes, this indicates a lack of oxygen. If they are pale or clammy that is an indication of low blood pressure. If this happens, get the nurse or a physician and never leave the patient alone. If their temperature is hot and they are dry this indicates fever. If the patient is breathing rapidly they may require oxygen. These are some of the reasons it is important to know how to take vitals. A normal temperature taken orally is 98.6 for and adult and one degree lower five to thirteen years of age. Normal respiration is twelve to twenty breaths per minute for adults and twenty-one to thirty breaths for children. A normal resting pulse per minute is seventy to seventy-two for men, seventy-eight to eighty-two for women, ninety to one-hundred for children and one-hundred-twenty for infants. A normal blood pressure for patients is 100-140/60-90. Shock is when blood pressure is 30mm below baseline systolic. There are five types of shock, hypovolemic, septic, neurologic, cardiogenic, and anaphylaxis. If the patient is in shock lay them on their back, call for help check vitals, be ready for CPR, a record the occurrence.

How Time Flys

Where does the time go? It seems like just yesterday I was back in middle school going through those awkward years. Back in that time not only did I have that awkward look but I was figuring out who my friends were and who I was as a person. But those years are far gone and I’m way past my first crush and my first kiss. It’s hard to believe I’m through those four glorious yet miserably stressful high school years. Then it was all about who was popular or not and popularity was never based on what it should have been based off of such as who was kind to everyone or who treated all of the people with the respect they deserved. Instead it was based off of who was the best looking, most accomplished and involved, who had the best clothes, and finally who was head cheerleader or captain of the football team, or where I’m from who was on the varsity wrestling team. It even seemed strange to me then that such petty things were important to most of the students in my graduating class. What is even stranger to me though, the ones who were seen as having all those things and therefore were seen as popular are now the ones is that still see those things as important “qualities.” Even with the frivolous views of high school, I still enjoyed most of it and found that high school sweetheart that I fell in love with ad then, like most high school relationships, ended with that big blow-up fight. Those years, even with all the stress, flew by quicker than I imagined they could. Now, I am n my third year in college. It’s still hard to believe I’m already this far. My first year of college was all about the adjusting to a new school. I also found exercising on my own to be very important. This year was also the year I met my husband. I had seen him on the sidelines before and my friends were convinced I needed a man, so I agreed to meet him. We text each other for awhile but I decided he was a jerk and he decided I wasn’t right for his life style at that time. He left for boot camp our second semester but we continued to talk. I, and most of the other students at Avila, still saw him as a bit of a jerk. However, when He came back he had a completely different attitude about hi despite the m. He showed a side of him no one had ever seen before. Soon after he got back, he came to visit me on his way to run another errand. Afterwards, I got a nervous phone call from him. He asked me on a date, the first dated he had ever asked a girl to. Everyone deserves a chance because you just may never know, so I said yes despite the warnings from friends. Now, he and I are married, moved Joplin together have an apartment and a puppy and are happy as can be! Man time FLYS!