Includes bibliographical references and index.

The development of professional nursing : history, the profession, and the nursing education experience -- The essence of nursing : knowledge and caring -- The image of nursing : what it is and how it needs to change -- Nursing education, accreditation, and regulation -- Health policy and political action : critical actions for nurses -- Ethics and legal issues -- Health promotion, disease prevention, and illness : a continuum of care -- The healthcare delivery system : focus on acute care -- Provide patient-centered care -- Work in interdisciplinary teams -- Employ evidence-based practice -- Apply quality improvement -- Utilize informatics -- Critical healthcare issue : why don't we .have enough nurses? -- Transformation of nursing practice : roles and issues