Graduate nurses are expected to ‘hit the ground running’, taking on complex care challenges in a stressful and fast-paced environment. This comprehensive yet accessible textbook provides expert guidance for students and commencing nurses on the contexts for their practice. Part 1 presents a pragmatic insight into the intersection, tensions and complexities of practice and professional issues for Australian nurses. It outlines the nature of nursing roles and professional codes of conduct, national health priority areas and legal and ethical issues including the growing use of health informatics. There is an examination of the diverse career paths available in nursing, a focus on nurses’ mental health and well-being and a special examination of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health issues. Part 2 unpacks key issues across a range of clinical contexts that will be a key resource for clinical practicums. Contexts covered include acute care, community nursing, paediatric nursing, mental health nursing and aged care. Part 3 examines the professional and practice issues of nursing in diverse, distinctive and emergent practice areas including aesthetic nursing, military nursing and international nursing with case studies and vignettes highlighting common issues and challenges. Drawing on the expertise of a wide range of Australian clinical and academic nursing professionals, this text is a key reference for all nursing undergraduates seeking to enter successfully into the profession.