Includes bibliographical references and index.

Professional nursing practice / Rose Kearney-Nunnery -- Coping with returning to school / Bernadette Dorsch Curry -- What is theory? / Rose Kearney-Nunnery -- Evolution and use of formal nursing knowledge / Jacqueline Fawcett, Barbara Swoyer -- Health and illness models / Rose Kearney-Nunery -- Evidence-based practice / Rose Kearney-Nunnery -- Effective communication / Jacqueline Owers Favret -- Group theory / Rose Kearney-Nunnery -- Critical thinking / Genevieve M. Bartol, Rebecca S. Parrish -- Teaching-learning process / Rose Kearney-Nunnery -- Leadership / Theresa M. Valiga, Sheila C. Grossman -- Management in organizations / Rose Kearney-Nunnery -- Change / Rose Kearney-Nunnery -- Professional ethics / Joseph T. Catalano -- Managing and providing care / Vicki L. Buchda -- Healthy initiatives for at-risk population / Rose Kearney-Nunnery -- Quality health care / Francoise Dunefsky -- Nursing informatics and health management information systems / Julia Aucoin -- Health care economics / Cyril F. Chang, Sylvia A. Price, Susan K. Pfoutz -- Protecting the populace / Robin S. Vogt -- The political imperative / Rose Kearney-Nunnery, Jimmie E. Nunnery -- Health care reform / Sister Rosemary Donley -- Expanding the vision / Rose Kearney-Nunnery.