This new Fifth Edition provides a comprehensive overview for nurses of the evolving marketplace and need for development and maintenance of sound professionalism. Features include discussion of the nurse's role in public policy and client care management; clinical vignettes that incorporate real life situations into daily practice; thought-provoking questions to help stimulate critical thinking; and, learning objectives with measurable outcomes. New to this edition are chapters on professional nursing roles, technology and informatics, and working in diverse, international communities; expanded in-depth content on nursing history and organizations; and, Internet exercises, critical thinking questions, and new content on alternative settings for family based care.