The current focus on Primary Care in the NHS means that nurses working in the community have a greater role than ever to play in delivering the UK Government's health agenda. All community nurses are required to contribute significantly to the changing focus of care delivery, not only by delivering high quality evidence-based care to greater numbers of people in their own environments, but also by influencing policy decisions at local and national levels. To do this effectively students need a sound introduction to the role of nursing within the Primary Health Care Team, up-to-date information on new initiatives and recent legislation, and a practical guide to obtaining the most from community placements.

Nursing in Primary Care will help pre-registration students and other newcomers to community practice as they grapple with new concepts and ideas specific to delivering care to people in the community. It provides a comprehensive overview of the issues which impact on modern community nursing, including: the current health policy context and recent developments in the NHS; tackling poverty; understanding differences and diversity; conducting health needs assessment; promoting health; communicating effectively; and the present and future role of nursing in primary care. The authors also describe working with specific client groups, such as older people, and those with chronic illnesses, mental health problems and learning disabilities.

Clearly written by a team of lecturers and practitioners, and illustrated throughout with interactive, practical activities, Nursing in Primary Care will be a valuable resource for students and their supervisors and will enable community practitioners to make a real contribution to the increased focus on nursing in primary care.

NAOMI A. WATSON is Senior Lecturer and Pathway Leader for Adult Nursing, at De Montfort University, Leicester. She has published a number of papers in leading journals on Nursing Education and Health Care, and is a reviewer for Advanced Nursing.

CAROL WILKINSON is Principal Lecturer in Health Studies at the University of Lincolnshire and Humberside. She is the author of Managing Health at Work and Fundamentals of Health at Work.