Book excerpt: The health service is changing to emphasise the need for public involvement and empowerment in their own health. Student nurses need preparation for practice which brings health promotion into the forefront of nursing care. Written in clear language and in a simple to use format, this book provides a practical guide to what health promotion is and how it interacts with public health. It focuses on the real world and explains carefully how health promotion can be implemented in straightforward terms, while drawing on the main theories, models and evidence that inform practice. The book covers the essential topics like lifestyle changes, health screening and teaching patients enabling students to become health promoting nurses of the future. Key features Case studies and scenarios makes theory easy to apply to nursing practice Plenty of activities help build critical thinking and independent learning skills Applicable to the whole pre-registration nursing programme, all levels and fields including child and adolescent perspectives and health promotion for mental health