A Preamble to Shaping Health Policy through Nursing Research

　Historically, this is an exciting time. The world is a very different place than it was for our ancestors. People are living longer and are healthier in many ways. Drugs are available to treat and prevent many illnesses. New technologies are emerging which will influence our lives in positive ways, but also bring new challenges with them. Travel is more accessible, leading to an interaction of cultures and ways of life not previously imagined. Nations are emerging into the 21st century as multicultural societies. Populations are growing rapidly, and our natural resources are diminishing, even as new resources are discovered or synthesized.

　The ability to shape ones environment is a key ingredient in creating a better world. For those in professions related to health, that often means shaping health policy. Shaping Health Policy through Nursing Research is a compendium of success stories from leading researchers in the United States who have made major contributions to improving health care through their research programs. These examples are remarkable, not only because of their inherent contributions to improve care, but also because they were transformed to create changes based on the new information.