Review

From bedmaking to policymaking?

NURSING AND SOCIAL POLICY: CARE IN CONTEXT
Gough P, Maslin-Prothero S, Masterson A
Butterworth Heinemann, 1994

This book about social policy, written specifically for nurses, fills a void in the existing literature. The book provides an insight into social policy that will be of use both for nurses in training or undertaking further education as well as those trying to make sense of current policy changes.

Traditionally nurse training has not considered policy issues, although this situation is now changing with courses like Project 2000. Nurses’ lack of contribution to policy decisions may be due in part to this gap in their knowledge. The anonymity of nurses within the policy arena is clearly demonstrated by the third edition of Health Policy in Britain which contains only two references to nursing in the index.¹ Raising their awareness will better prepare nurses to participate in social and political decisions affecting healthcare, a point explicitly made in the introductory chapter.

The book provides a good introduction to its subject. Because it covers a broad area there is an inevitable lack of depth. This is compensated for in part by references for further reading at the end of each chapter. The book starts with a useful historical overview of policy developments before examining the policy making process and setting present policy issues within the context of state action.

A general chapter on policy and health is followed by specific chapters on policy relating to different areas of concern to nurses. Although the limitations of segregating topics are recognised by the authors the book examines several important areas of interest such as disability, women’s issues, race and class. It ends with a rather disappointing chapter entitled ‘Policy for and of nursing’, which fails to explore many of the ideas aired in the book. The authors encourage a professional strategy for nursing which may not ultimately be in the best interest of patients/clients or nurses. They conclude on an optimistic but somewhat elementary note.