The emergence of clinical supervision as a major issue on the nursing agenda is an exciting and challenging development. This initiative is one that should provide a supportive framework within which practitioners can improve clinical skills while expanding their knowledge base and professionalism. In practice, however, the implementation of clinical supervision has been fraught with problems. In response to difficulties encountered by clinical nurses, managers and policy makers throughout the United Kingdom, Veronica Bishop has brought together leading authors in the field to share their experiences and explore the issues. The result is a collection of direct and accessible chapters from which the profession as a whole can learn much. Practical advice is given to those preparing to set up clinical supervision programmes in their own service areas. Potential pitfalls are pointed out and the way ahead illuminated.