ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Introduction Currently, the workforce of the United States is severely understaffed for health workers, especially nurses. The nursing profession is one of the most challenging across the board. Today, nurses play a variety of roles: they not only conduct standard procedures but also take up the responsibilities of a counselor, health promoter, and patient advocate. Given the inadequate patient-to-nurse ratio, it is readily imaginable how overwhelmed nurses probably are. What could definitely help to improve the situation is effective staffing management. Ideally, it would help nurses avoid burnout, keep a healthy work-life balance, and stay alert and concentrated on the job. This, in turn, would account for more precision and accuracy in the workplace. This essay covers current staffing trends in nursing, staffing frameworks, and acuity as well as gives an explanation of an effective skill-mix and non-productive FTEs. Current Staffing Trends Challenges in nurse recruitment are at an all-time high: in 2019, there is still a vast number of job openings to be filled. Most hospitals depend on new graduate nurses to apply for these jobs. Sadly enough, as many as 57% of newly graduated health workers cannot keep up with the straining work pace and leave their facilities in their first two years on the job (Avant Health Professionals, 2019). This trend is fairly alarming, especially given that the retirement rates among nurses are also on the rise. In 2019, more nurses than ever choose to quit the field altogether, which leads to dangerously low staffing levels. When experienced nurses leave, they no longer can pass down their clinical expertise and institutional knowledge, therefore, depriving younger nurses of an opportunity to receive meaningful mentorship. Understaffing also accounts for unsafe conditions for both nurses and patients. The most understaffed units are medical-surgical, emergency room, and operating room. Currently, US hospitals are trying to balance out the situation by inviting international nurses from developing countries. Acuity One of the key roles of a nurse staffing manager is evaluating acuity and putting together a schedule accordingly. In the nursing field, acuity levels refer to the urgency of a situation regarding a patient (Thomas, 2015). Measuring acuity levels helps nurse managers set adequate staffing levels. Without an appropriate system in place, patients may be deprived of the amount of care that matches their most dire needs, which in turn, would lead to the aggravation of their conditions. Building a system that takes acuity levels in consideration is especially important at understaffed facilities. The general logic is usually that higher acuity patients, i.e. patients who are severely ill, need more intensive care. On the other hand, patients with more predictable health outcomes and who are doing be
TAL Apparel Limited: Stepping Up Value Chain The case study will look at benefits offered by the introduction and use of the Textile Alliance Limited (TAL) Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) by retailers. Also, the viability of VMI system as a strategic resource for TAL will be analyzed. Also, the obstacles that might stand in VMI’s way to adoption by the retailers will be identified during the case study. Also, the solutions to the identified obstacles will be proposed in the paper. Vendor Management Inventory (VMI) is a continuous replenishment program whereby the Vendor manages inventory of distribution by creating purchasing orders basing on what the distributors have sold in their stores and warehouses; this creates demand based on information they have on the current sales. In the Vendor Management Inventory, through a system called Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), the sales system of distributors and that the of the manufacturer are interconnected in such a way that the manufacturers are aware of the distributors sales in their stores and replace the same forehand, before the distributors could run short of supply. The vendor managed inventory is an IT investment that connects different department, companies or industry through communication. The vendor (manufacturer), acts like the buyer in the Vendor Managed Inventory by creating the demand and specifying the delivery quantities sent to customers through the information system EDI (Ali, pg 5). The Vendor Managed Inventory system has its benefits as follows: adoption of the system by retailers reduces the inventory; the distributors do not have to deal with a bulky amount of stock because the manufacturer is equipped with information of movement of sales and supplies only the goods that are out of stock. Another benefit of the program is shorter distribution cycles; it takes only a short time for goods to be replaced by the manufacturer, this safest time. Also, the system shortens the supply chains where there are no middle men, the goods move direct from manufacturer to the distributors, this eliminates unnecessary delays. Also, the system leads to a centralized forecasting system; both the manufacturer and distributors forecast together on the expected market changes and make unilateral decisions on how to handle them. Also, the system leads to increased revenue to both the manufacturer and distributors thr
The recent spate of economic recession in the global economy and eventually national economy has prompted policymakers to consider diverse aspects of expansionary economic policies. To some extent, policymakers have adopted policies that can be considered unconventional and highly aggressive in hope that desirable economic conditions can be obtained. Whereas monetary policy has been used to ease quantitative pressures, fiscal policies have attempted to reduce taxes and increase government spending. There have been widespread changes in the way economists view the efficacy of discretionary policies by the Federal government since the publication of Keynes’s work of ‘General Theory’ (Keynes). Indeed, the experiences of the 1930 depression and the subsequent World War II brought about consensus amongst economists about the importance of fiscal multiplier effect. Furthermore, it became apparent that expansionary economic policies were important in sparking business cycle in an economy through contraction of economic downturns. Numerous historical experiences served as important aspects of opening up the economic understanding about the importance of monetary and fiscal policies in enhancing economic growth and revival from recessionary effects. For instance, the 1960s and 70s revealed to economists that monetary policy was an important component of economic performance. Furthermore, the experiences of 1970s and 80s opened up the understanding about the importance of supply-side of expenditure and tax policies and how they affected the economy. Indeed, carefully developed monetary and fiscal policies can ultimately salvage an economy in depression and recession. Bureaucracy within emerging markets can be defined as the study of roles and functions of government departments and agencies. It also encompasses the association between the various government bodies and important national arms such as the Judiciary and Legislature. Additionally Bureaucracy defines the institutional set-up as well as the conduct of the various government departments. Max Weber (1947) argued that in a bureaucratic system there needs to be separation of tasks, qualified man power with distinctive skills, a well defined institutional arrangement that depicts a clear chain of command; with each unit having its unique obligations, and finally there should be e
The ecological problems have had a short but notorious history in China, and a particular aspect of environmental issues, the air pollution, has been a part of a broader global discussion about ecology. The background of pollution issues in China dates back to 1970s when China began its industrial growth. In the late 1990s, numerous transfers of industries, including the technology and whole factories have largely contributed to the ecological problems, although Chinese economy has benefited from these transfers. For example, the ThyssenKrupp steel factory, including the large steel mill, has been “dismantled and shipped piece by piece from Germany’s old industrial heartland to Hebei Province, China’s new Ruhr Valley” (Kahn & Landler, 2007, par. 1-5). The air pollution, the number of hard particles and the emissions of sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide began to grow rapidly until it began reaching its peaks in the late 2010s. While the current situation with polluted air and emissions in industrial parts of China can be considered critical, some attempts are already made for normalization, and these steps are becoming a topic for discussion in the public sector and the government, as well. In the year 2004 the most polluted air was in the cities of Northern China provinces, known for their coal industry, which were Linfen, Yangquan, and Datong, while the others were Shizuishan Sanmenxia, Jinchang, Shijiazhuang, Xianyang, Zhuzhou, and Luoyang; Beijing score no.28 in the list of 113 most polluted cities of China (Jize, 2004, par. 1-5). The citizens in China have long since took notice of the smog in the cities, similar to that of XIX century London when the visibility becomes very low, and the breathing is difficult without a mask. The authorities say that this the catastrophic state of environment results from tripling the number of vehicles in the country in the period between 2005 and 2011. Another reason for pollution peak is the fact that in China, almost two-thirds of electricity is supplied by coal-fired power plants, whose upkeep leaves much to be desired (Pouget, 2015, par. 2-8). The Chinese officials, however, were reluctant to changes in legislation, claiming that although today China pollutes more than the United States, they should not be forced to take actions on cutting down carbon emissions because of its developing industry and economy. China has also demanded the world’s largest polluter in history, the United States, go first in taking such action (Davenport, 2014, par. 5). The consequences of air pollution in China are already becoming evident, and not only they are the reason for environmental problems, but also they have a significant influence on the health of Chinese people living in polluted areas. Numerous researches have stated that air pollution had a direct relation to the mortality rate as well as various negative effects on human health. For example, a study conducted by Chen et al. shows that ambient air pollution had an acute ef
Introduction Work is basic to the individual condition. It establishes what we accomplish during much of our active lives. It encourages human interaction and it enables people to establish their sense of uniqueness. It enables people to fulfill their material needs and to benefit from modern inventions and achievements of civilization. “Our views towards work and its management have undergone significant changes over the past couple of decades, with much of it being the product of national contexts being increasingly subject to global economic influences” (Abbott 2006, p. 187). As a result, Administrators should try to devise better organizational strategies that can enable them to deal with workers efficiently. This paper examines causes of conflict in employment relationship with specific reference to Wal-Mart Company. One of the evident challenges in many organizations and companies is the occurrence of disagreements among employees and their managers. Workers can settle disputes that strain their relationships through various mechanisms. Generally, “most squabbles in organizations often revolve around issues related to wage demands, terms of service, administrative strategies, and company goals” (Dunlop 2008, p. 276). In broad terms, “employment relationship is concerned with the theory and practice associated with the management and regulation of the employment relationship” (Dundon 2007, p. 234). Specifically, it deals with social and sometimes political aspects of the workers association and the sharing of authority between the administration and workers. It is also concerned with the occurrence and expression of disputes and the legal and social regulatory structure in which workers relationships exist. Employment relationship is a modern expression that defines industrial relations. Industrial relations generally refer to the upholding of the association that exists between labor organizations and administration, and related processes that encompass collective bargaining, dialogue and discussion and industrial dispute (Daniels 2006, p. 24). The application of the expression ‘employment relations’, instead of industrial relations indicates the socio-economic and legal progress made in the employment relationship that have been witnessed over the past few decades (Stone 2005, p. 124). Disputes usually arise in employment relationship due to the absence of consultation by administrators with their laborers. For example, workers can frustrate the restructuring plans of a company if they are not involved in making such decisions. “Since participation is often concerned with negotiation, conflict may occur between employees and management, particularly, where employees participate in higher-level decisions and differing interests are most likely to be visible” (Stone 2005, p. 127). Wal-Mart is a leading retail chain in the United States of America. Founded in 1962, the company has since doubled its fortunes to become the dominant player in North America’s retail industry. Wal-Mart has since opened 3,800 stores in America and 2,800
Introduction Pneumococcal diseases have posed a real global health challenge. Streptococcus pneumonia is the dominant causative factor of the disease. Pneumococcal infections which patients are prone to attack include meningitis and pneumonia. A high mortality rate arising from pneumococcal infections has been recorded especially among children below the age of five years in developing countries. The main concern, however, remains to be the high cost of vaccines in the third world market. As a result, international agencies like the Advanced Market Commitment have developed real-time strategies to address this health menace. What are the existing Pneumococcal vaccines in the market? Why is there a need for a different vaccine in developing countries? There are several existing pneumococcal vaccines in the market today used in different countries. For example, the vaccination of children below the age of thirteen months was declared in early 2006 in Europe and which would incorporate the conjugate pneumococcal vaccine. This was a directive given by the European Medicines Agency which is mandated to oversee a myriad of immunization exercises throughout Europe. The vaccine is administered in four doses to the affected patient. On the same note, other varieties of the pneumococcal vaccine have been put into test ad equally recommended for use. For instance, the 9, 10, and 13 series are highly recommended. Another variety is the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine which is mainly used by the older population. The vaccine has a lower rate of failure and can provide up to 85 percent prevention for a period not less than five years (Kaddar, Lydon & Levine 2004). The developing countries require a different vaccine to fight the prevalence of pneumococcal disease which has continued to claim the lives of both children and older people. The existing vaccines in the market seem to be not effective in the developing world. Even as the existing vaccines are being used, the pneumococcal disease continues to be the main cause of concern in developing countries. The mortality rate among children below the age of five years stands at one million children on an annual basis. Therefore, there is a need for developing countries to have access to safe vaccines which are also effective when used. Despite the available vaccines which are currently used in these developing countries to prevent pneumococcal disease, the majority of the population cannot easily afford the cost of vaccination. The high rate of poverty and poorly sustained economies make it difficult for patients to be vaccinated. It is therefore recommended that new vaccines which are not only effective but also cheap be introduced in the third world healthcare system to save millions of lives that are lost each year. There are several other varieties of vaccines available in the third world market but which may not be able to meet the disease challenges due to the resistance ability of the disease-causing organism. How does the market for vaccines differ between developed and developing countries? Why is there a need for an AMC initia
A cochlear implant is an electronic device that is used by the deaf or persons with problems of hearing. The device is usually implanted in the ear to ensure that one is able to sense sounds within the environment. The main components contained in the cochlear implant include a microphone, speech processor, transmitter and an electrode array (Clark, 2009). The microphone receives various sounds from the environment and this is then transmitted to the speech processor which ensures proper selection and arrangement of sound. The transmitter helps to convert the sounds into electric impulses which are eventually sent to the various parts of the auditory nerve. The purpose of having a cochlear implant is to provide hearing for the deaf persons especially those with affected sensory hair cells . It facilitates the understanding of sounds of speech in an appropriate way. Young children, who need special education, have been able to learn speeches and sounds by using this device. It facilitates the understanding of various environmental sounds by old people with hearing problems. Cochlear implants work by stimulating the auditory nerve in a very complex manner. It generates different signals through the auditory nerve and then directs them towards the brain (Clark, 2009). The brain recognizes these signals and records them as sound. This process requires one to learn on how to detect and understand the environmental sounds after which he can comfortably hear them. The current cost of the device ranges is about $5,000 and this may even go as high as $10,000. For the replacement of this device, it is done after every 10 years depending on the extent of its usage. There are various costs associated with cochlear implantation which include costs before operation, costs during the surgery, post-operational costs, programming costs, daily expenses as well as the costs of rehabilitation. Preoperative costs may include medical expenses, other audio logical evaluations, costs incurred for a CT scan, and costs associated with the various trials carried out to check the hearing conditions of patients as well as therapy. Other costs related to the surgical operations and procedure are those of acquiring the implant device, other related components supplied as well as surgeons’ fees paid by the patient. The costs incurred after operations can be very high in the process of programming which is usually done several times and the average costs incurred in may vary from one patient to another. The risks associated with the use of this device include the requirements for shaving the hair cells before an implant is made and this may affect the hearing of the patient permanently. The quality of sound is not as effective as the natural ear and young children may not understand some sounds as they need to learn on how to use it for a given period of time. The audiologists and language pathologists should be used at every stage during the learning process. Another risk that has been reported is that the operation involved may also damage
Executive Summary The telecommunications industry in Saudi Arabia has undergone tremendous change over the recent past. This paper focuses on three major stakeholders in the provision of telecommunication services in this region with more emphasis on Mobily Telecommunications Company. The three main companies in operation within this region are Etisalat also called Mobily, the Zain telecommunications company owned by the Zain group in Kuwait, and the Saudi Telecommunication Company (STC). The later is the leader in both market share and penetration. At the end of last year, the telecommunications industry in the region grew by nine percent. This is a region that exhibits tremendous increase in the number of mobile phone subscribers. The penetration of mobile phone use in this region is more than 200 percent reflecting the presence of many prepaid subscribers in the region. Among the strategies that will likely have a big impact on the market is the shift to deductions for majority of the inactive subscribers. As indicated by changes in market strategies by these companies, this is a move feared to result into a drop in the number of subscribers and a decrease in the mobile phone penetration. This report examines the industry at the moment with regard to more than 52 million subscribers. Among the strategies employed by these three companies is the introduction of 3.5 G connectivity. The later was first driven by Mobily and at the moment, the rest of the companies are equally shifting toward the same technology. Of the three companies, Mobily is the leading in operations and in innovations. The devices used by Mobily exhibit the fasted download speed, and the company is currently testing the use of 42Mbps download speeds. The shift toward faster download speed by these service providers is expected to offer the market a big growth stimulus. While examining the three companies in this report, the strategies employed by Mobily will be compared to those used by its rivals. The corporate strategies employed will be analyzed theoretically under both the SWOT and PEST analysis. Background of Mobily Telecommunications Company Mobily has been described as the fasted growing company in both Saudi Arabia and parts of North Africa. In Saudi Arabia, Mobily is the second largest telecommunications company. Also called Etihad –Etisahat, this company was founded by the Emirates Telecommunications Corporation based in UAE. The company plunged into Saudi Arabia in 2004. Following its successful entry into the region, the company adopted a fast growing strategy with regard to both direct and indirect channels for selling its services (Audi Saradar Investment Bank, 2011). This is a strategy that allowed this company to attain rapid growth in the following years. It had nearly five million subscribers as at 2006 and later attained a subscription of six million by the following year. Having won the bid for the GSM license, the company provides nationwide mobile phone services and is credited for breaking the monopoly in the industry. Mobily incorporated the use of 3.5G in 2006, and later adopted 4G services this year. The c