CONCEPTUAL FOUNDATIONS OF PROFESSIONAL NURSING PRACTICE focuses on the professional nursing role and the concepts which form the basis of professional nursing practice today. This edition focuses on the concepts important for professional nursing practice. Part I, The Context of Professional Nursing Practice, discusses the history and current status of nursing education, socialization into professional nursing, nursing theory, the nursing process, client systems, nursing roles, and health care delivery. Part II, Dimensions of Professional Nursing Practice, discusses the political, economic, legal, ethical, social, and cultural influences on nursing and health care. Part III, Themes in Professional Nursing Practice, includes topics that are directly relevant to patient care such as caring, health promotion, teaching and learning interpersonal communication, critical thinking, change, research, and information technology.