This book helps new nursing students, and those applying to nursing programmes, understand what being a nurse is all about. It explores the essential issues, processes and theories of nursing practice, and is therefore an ideal introductory text as you start your nursing programme, or as pre-course reading. This revised edition includes a new first chapter on being a nursing student, with insights from students themselves, and explains what will be expected of you in the new all-degree programmes. Interviews with real nurses in each of the fields of practice gives you an important view into the real world of nursing. The revised third edition includes a new chapter on being a nursing student, with student tips and stories Updated with, and linked to, the new NMC Standards and Essential Skills Clusters for degree-level education Activities, case studies and scenarios helps you apply theory to practice Particularly suitable for first-year students and those applying to pre-registration programmes This book is part of the Transforming Nursing Practice Series, the first series of books designed to help students meet the requirements of the NMC Standards and Essential Skills Clusters for the new degree programmes.