What Is Nursing? Exploring Theory and Practice

This book helps new nursing students, and those thinking of entering the profession, understand what it is to be a nurse in today′s rapidly changing healthcare environments. The new edition includes a new first chapter on becoming a nursing student, with insights from students themselves. The book also explains the process of nursing and systems of care delivery which underpin actual practice. A chapter on international working is included for those working or studying abroad. Finally, it explores what nursing is really like when you qualify through interviews with registered nurses in each of the main nursing fields of practice.

Dawn Ritchie is a Lecturer in Nursing at the University of Nottingham. She has been involved in nurse education for a number of years, including pre-registration and learning beyond registration programmes, and has developed a keen interest in the practical application of nursing. Dawn’s clinical background is in critical and acute care in children’s nursing.

Dr Carol Hall is a Registered Nurse and Emeritus Professor in Nursing Education at the University of Nottingham, where she continues to support nursing students and faculty. Carol has extensive experience in the design, delivery and quality assurance of nursing education, through national and international roles in curriculum development, validation and accreditation. She also participates in teaching enhancement internationally through leadership and evaluation of funded projects. Carol was Education Forum Chair for the Royal College of Nursing (2006 - 2015) and Vice President of the Federation of European Nurse Educators (2012 - 2018). She has chaired pilot panels for Nursing and Allied Health during the development of the UK Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF 2018, 2019) and co-chaired International Standards Organisation (ISO) panel ‘Quality of learning environments for students in healthcare professions (IWA 35: 2020). Carol is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland (Nursing and Midwifery) and Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.