Includes bibliographical references and index.

Critical thinking -- Introduction to managed care -- Introduction to theory of nursing management -- Introduction to theory of human resource development -- The planning process -- Foundations for panning--mission, philosophy, objectives, and management plans -- Staffing and scheduling -- Human resource management -- Introduction to collective bargaining -- Budgeting basics -- Managing a clinical practice discipline -- Desicion making and problem solving -- Implementing planned change -- The organizing process -- Committees and other groups -- Decentralization and participatory management -- The directing (leading) process -- Leadership -- Motivation -- Communication -- Nursing informatics -- Staff development -- Managing cnflict -- Controlling or evaluating -- Total quality management -- quality management -- Perforamance appraisal -- Pay for performance

Introductory -level management text organizes content into four major maangement areas: planning, organizing, leading, and evaluating. The content of this text provides an understanding of key management functions and reinforces essential leadership behaviors.