Important changes within the NHS and nursing have taken place over the last fifteen years. The healthcare environment has been transformed and the picture of professional nursing redrawn and sharpened. But how do these changes relate to practising nurses and student nurses at the beginning of their professional practice and what effect will they have on the everyday lives of nurses and their patients?

Social Policy for Nurses aims to answer these essential questions, providing the ideal introduction to health policy for nurses at all stages of their careers. Written in an engaging and accessible style, the book provides a comprehensive discussion of the current policy imperatives facing nurses across the UK. The text offers a clear overview of the nature of policy and policy-making, reminding nurses of their ability, and responsibility, to become involved. The importance of learning lessons from the past, both good and bad, is strongly emphasised and the book has helpful chapter summaries, case studies and learning activities to help readers engage with the policies discussed. The themes explored include:

• Working in partnership and empowering the users
• Building a healthier nation
• Professionalism
• Information technology

The future for the profession and for a high-quality, collectively provided health service is now very much in the hands of all nurses. This book sets out to inspire the current and future generation of nurses to reflect fully on the influence that health policy has on their profession and daily practice, and on health service provision more generally.

About the Author
Anita Fatchett is senior lecturer in health at Leeds Metropolitan University.

Reviews
"Anita Fatchett has gained a strong reputation for knowledge and excellence in the teaching of nurses. This clear and well-written book further justifies her reputation and should be the definitive text for today's nurses working in a transformed modern professional environment."
Fabian Hamilton, Labour MP for Leeds North East

"As nursing and the NHS go through turbulent times, this book gives us the social policy context to remind us where we have come from, and assess what the future might hold."
James Buchan, Queen Mary University

"This book is highly contemporary and includes commentary on the latest in a series of dizzying changes to the NHS. Fatchett has the gift of summarising the key points of nearly 60 years of policy and drawing out their significance for nursing and nurses."
Michael Traynor, Middlesex University

Book Information
ISBN 9780745649207
Author Anita Fatchett
Format Paperback
Page Count 320
Imprint Polity Press
Publisher John Wiley and Sons Ltd
Weight(grams) 581g
Dimensions(mm) 246mm * 172mm * 24mm