As an occupation, nursing is perceived by some as an emergent profession and by others as a managed service. For the former group, the key to quality improvement in nursing is to develop and promote that professionalism. For the latter group, the success of nursing as an occupation depends on its ability to colonise senior positions within the management hierarchy of health services.

This text takes a fresh view on the debate at the heart of nursing. It considers the future for nursing within health care and social care and how it needs to adjust to its changing status and power in the...