From practice to professionalism: the struggle within -- History and evolution of nursing -- Educating the profession -- Finding and maintaining work/life harmony -- Seeking and managing information -- Theoretical basis for the practice of nursing -- Evidence-based practice -- Health services in the United States -- Professional accountability: credentialing and accreditation -- Health care policy issues -- Diversity -- Legal accountabilities in the health care environment -- Ethical considerations in the health care environment -- Teacher/ learner -- Change agent -- Delegator and decision maker -- Collaborator and negotiator -- Evaluator -- Manager of information systems -- Defining a professional: graduate education -- Mentoring and the profession -- Responsibilities of the profession.