This engagingly written text offers nursing students comprehensive ideas and perspectives that are basic to the practice of contemporary nursing. Each chapter focuses on a foundational area of study and explores the central concepts, relevant issues, dilemma, and debates. It presents a broad-range of professional issues, ranging from a brief history of nursing in the U.S., research and legal issues, to an introduction to nursing organizations and regulatory bodies.

Contributors
ForewordA.I. Meleis
Preface
1. So, You Want to Be a Nurse, P.J. Haylock
2. The Evolution of Nursing Education and Practice in the U.S., V.A. Lambert and C.E. Lambert
3. The Art and Science of Nursing, J.M. Parker
4. Exploring Popular Images and Representations of Nurses and Nursing, P. Darbyshire and S. Gordon
5. Nursing, Philosophy, and Knowledge: A Commitment to Know Oneself and Others, G.J. Mitchell
6. Tracing Nurse Caring: Issues, Concerns, Debates, J. Watson, D. Jackson, and S. Borbasi
7. Nursing Theory, F.B. Pilkington and D.A. Bournes
8. Research in Nursing, R. Anders, J. Daly, D. Thompson, D. Elliott, and E. Chang
9. Ethics: A Patient-Centered Approach, G.L. Husted and J.H. Husted
10. The Legal Context of Nursing, E. Murphy
11. Gender Issues in Nursing: A Global Perspective, S. Speedy
12. Becoming Part of a Multidisciplinary Health Care Team, K.M. Nokes
13. Professionalism: The Role of Regulatory Bodies and Nursing Organizations, V.A. Lambert and C.E. Lambert
14. Public Health Nursing: An Exercise in Citizenship, M.K. Maeve
15. Rural Health in America: Challenges and Opportunities, C. Reavis
16. Meeting the Health Care Needs of a Diverse Society, A. Omeri and M.A. Andrews
17. Critical Thinking in Nursing: Beyond Clinical Judgment to Perspective, Context, and Meaning, W.K. Cody
18. Making the Transition to Professional Nursing: Becoming a Lifelong Learner, J. Conway and M. McMillan
Index