This stimulating and original study is written for nurses, midwives, health visitors and others, such as teachers, social workers and managers engaged in 'caring'. It will interest a variety of students, not only of nursing, but also of women's studies and sociology.

The research on which this book is based shows the importance of the charge nurse or ward sister in making emotional style in which it was given, and that nurses felt better able to care for patients and colleagues when their learning environment was emotionally supportive.