This major new textbook provides a unique one-stop resource that introduces nursing students to the disciplines that underpin nursing practice. The broad range of subjects covered includes Sociology, Psychology, Anthropology, Public Health, Philosophy, Economics, Politics and Science.

Written by nursing lecturers with nursing students in mind, this book enables nurses to grasp the principles behind these disciplines and apply the concepts to everyday health care practices. Each chapter offers:

The theoretical background of the major tenets of each discipline
A comprehensive discussion of how they relate to practice
Cross-references to other relevant chapter sections
Suggestions for further reading
A glossary of key terms.

Practical advice is also available in a chapter dedicated to methods of research, planning and construction of written work. Moreover, the textbook encourages creative and lateral thinking beyond its use in planning and writing assignments.

Thinking Nursing is essential reading for nursing students on Common Foundation Programmes (both at diploma and degree level) and qualified nurses undertaking additional specialist training including masters degrees, as well as those involved in planning, designing and the implementation of educational courses for nurses.

Tom Mason has been working in nursing for almost 30 years - 17 of those in clinical practice, the remainder in teaching and research. He has published nine books and over 70 journal articles, and was awarded the International Association of Forensic Nurse's Achievement Award in 1999. His main professional interests are the management of violence in healthcare settings, and the sociology of nursing. Tom is currently Professor of Forensic Nursing at the Caswell Clinic, South Wales, and external professor at the University of Glamorgan. He is also visiting professor at Chester College of Higher Education. Elizabeth Mason-Whitehead has been working in nursing, midwifery and health visiting for nearly 30 years - 21 of those in clinical practice. Since the 1990s, Elizabeth has been employed in reseacrh and teaching. Her writing and research interests are in the fields of teenage pregnancy, social exclusion, and nurse education. Elizabeth sits on a number of editorial and examination boards. She is currently senior lecturer at Chester College of Higher Education.