Adult nursing in context

Abstract The context of adult nursing is shaped by numerous external factors, including global conflicts, international terrorism, the consequences of the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union, an ageing population with complex health needs, and the impact of the World Wide Web and healthtech on health services. In addition, the Covid-19 pandemic has had an enduring impact on individuals, families, communities, and healthcare systems and services. It has again exposed the underlying health inequalities in society and triggered, or uncovered, mental health problems in large parts of the population, including many nurses. Nurses—both personally and professionally—and nursing practices have had to adapt to these overwhelming external factors, and the need for nurses to ‘self-care’ has been highlighted. This chapter outlines how these contextual factors impact nurses and adult nursing practice.