Nursing in the new millennium: challenges and opportunities

The technological, social, political, and economic pressures in our world are placing inordinate strains on the health care system. Nurses, as the largest groups of workers in health care, are shaped by these changes in the system and also have considerable opportunity to shape the system itself. Meeting the challenges of the 21st century will require a significant dedication to learning new skills to be an active participant in our evolving health care system.