This widely used book for issues and trends courses is designed to prepare nurses for the transition from the educational setting to actual practice. This edition has been completely revised and updated to provide the most current information about nursing and the critical issues in health care today that impact on nursing education and the nursing profession. Areas discussed include nursing education， registration， credentialing， legal and ethical issues， the health care delivery system， the political process， career opportunities， and nursing organizations. Each chapter is preceded by a listing of key terms and contains bulleted key concepts to help students quickly identify pertinent information. Behavioral objectives and critical thinking exercises are also included to reinforce the material discussed. Other features include the new NCLEX CAT program， and an overview on resume and cover letter writing.