Includes bibliographical references and index.

Contents: Entry into practice: the debate rages on / Carol Huston -- Evidence based practice / Suzanne Prevost -- Developing effective leaders to meet 21st century healthcare challenges / Bernadette Mazurek Melnyk, Kathy Malloch, and Lynn Gallagher-Ford -- Using simulation to teach nurses / Sherry D. Fox and Rebekah Damazo -- The current nursing shortage: causes, consequences, and solutions / Carol Huston -- Importing foreign nurses / Carol Huston -- Unlicensed assistive personnel and the registered nurse / Carol Huston -- Socialization and mentoring / Jeanne Madison -- Diversity in the nursing workforce / Carol Huston -- New graduate RN transition to practice programs(Nurse residencies) / Deloras Jones and Nikki West -- Mandatory minimum staffing ratios: are they working? / Carol Huston -- Mandatory overtime in nursing: how much? how often? / Carol Huston -- Violence in nursing: the expectations and the reality / Charmaine Hockley -- Technology in the health care workplace: benefits, limitations, and challenges / Carol Huston -- Medical errors: an ongoing threat to quality health care / Carol Huston -- Whistle-blowing in nursing / Carol Huston -- Impaired nursing practice: what are we doing about it? / Jennifer Lillibridge -- Collective bargaining and the professional nurse / Carol Huston -- Assuring provider competence through licensure, continuing education, and certification / Carol Huston -- The nursing profession's historic struggle to increase its power base / Carol Huston -- Professional identity and image / Carol Huston -- Advanced practice nursing: the latest issues and trends / Margaret Rowberg -- Nursing, policy, and politics: understanding the connection and importance of getting involved / Donna M. Nickitas -- Nursing's professional associations / Marjorie Beyers.