Nursing Practice and Health Care is an essential companion to pre-registration nursing education programmes, for those studying at degree and diploma level, and for students on post-registration courses. This fifth edition has been completely revised to reflect the current professional and educational requirements for those preparing for registration as a nurse, while maintaining a strong focus on practice and reflecting the needs of those requiring nursing and health care. Additionally, it uses the 2008 NMC Code as the cornerstone for many of its chapters. Building on the changes in the fourth edition, the requirements of pre-registration nursing programmes, the fitness for practice initiative and other developments in health policy within the four countries of the UK, the book provides an invaluable support for students as they learn the skills in critical thinking that will enable the development of an accountable, professional practitioner. Both student- and patient-centred, the book is divided into five parts: Perspectives on nursing, Learning nursing, Practisting nursing, Key aspects of care and Professional support and development.