An attempt is made to explain the nurses' role: what the nurse is, what the nurse does, how the nurse is viewed by society, why nurses suffer burnout, nursing costs, and health care system reform. (CT)

Two viewpoints on written informed consent are presented: Written informed consent should not be required unless research goes beyond the bounds of normal practice and poses danger or discomfort to the patient; and the principles of autonomy and individual rights must be applied at least as stringently to research as to practice. (CT)

Describes a course designed to give students the theoretical and practical knowledge to understand the factors influencing the provision of quality nursing care; to use standards to evaluate nursing care; and to make planning changes to improvement. (Author)

Evaluation model guidelines for hospital departments of nursing to use in their nursing quality assurance programs are presented as developed in Wisconsin. Four essential components of the Wisconsin outcome evaluation system are criteria, assessment, standards, and improvement of care. Sample tests and charts are included in the article. (MF)

Describes a workshop strategy which provides a mechanism for implementing change and facilitates the administrative support necessary to improve nursing care in institutional settings. Participants learn to set realistic, high-priority goals; implement change theory; and use available resources to achieve a goal. (CT)

Nurses should not be too optimistic about the future of nursing. Problems still exist: government regulations which limit nurses' direct access to clients and physicians' views of nurses' abilities. Nurses must explore their current roles and propose new structures to enhance the nurses' impact on the health care system. (CT)

Examines the problems technical innovation has brought to health care professionals, administrators, and patients from the standpoints of increased specialization, equipment obsolescence, bureaucracy, retraining, regulations, high costs of services, depersonalization, and ethical dilemmas. (CT)