This lively book is designed to inform all nurses, both student and professional, about the contemporary political issues affecting them and their work in the early 21st century. It covers both internal politics - the organisation of nurses' work, hierarchies, primary versus secondary care, interprofessional issues, funding and training; and external politics - the organization of health care, professional bodies, pay negotiations, politicians and trade unions. Complete with practical information about nursing organizations, statutory bodies and industrial relations, this book is for anyone interested in the political context of nursing.