'The age of unreason' and the charge nurse

In this introduction to a major six-part series on issues in ward management facing charge nurses, series co-ordinator Ros Brown urges a positive attitude towards the momentous changes which are taking place in the National Health Service in general and nursing in particular. It is important, she argues, that charge nurses consider the potential opportunities which might arise from change and reform; otherwise, 'a wave of disinvestment' in the service might be created at a time when commitment and endeavour are perhaps needed most. Ros Brown's incisive analysis sets the scene for the issues which will be explored in subsequent articles. The first part of the series appears in next week's edition of Nursing Standard.