Book excerpt: Nurses have to be aware of a range of sociological and psychological issues in order to provide holistic care. This book explores sociology and psychology relevant to nursing and explains why it is so important to understand these disciplines in order to be a good nurse. It is written specifically for nursing students, and clearly explains the key concepts using nursing case studies and examples. Chapters move from individual and personal issues onto wider society as a whole and explore the psychological and sociological basis of all aspects of nursing practice.