title: Can society take God's place--a reflection on Nursing's Social Policy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This article is an opinion on the strength of and issues related to applying nursing's social contract.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this article is to promote discussion on the implications, use, and knowledge of nursing's social contract in a volatile healthcare environment. SOURCE(S) OF INFORMATION: This article is based on the author's opinions and Nursing's Social Policy Statement (2nd ed.) (ANA, 2003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nurses today need to understand the history and current implications of nursing's social contract to meet society's expectations of the nursing profession.
authors.affiliation: South Jersey Healthcare, Vineland, NJ, USA. bruceboxer@ymail.com
authors.forename: Bruce Alan
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Boxer
mesh_terms: D000533:Altruism; D002321:Career Choice; D006801:Humans; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology; D009729:Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010687:Philosophy, Nursing; D011640:Public Policy; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D035621:Secularism; D012922:Social Change; D012938:Social Perception; D012941:Social Responsibility; D012945:Social Values