Overview of patient education. Opportunities and challenges for the twenty-first century.

Nurses, on a day-to-day basis, and the profession as a whole, will continue to be challenged by the economic climate and nursing shortage. Nursing must march forward, demonstrating the ability to delivery cost-effective patient education based on research. Issues in patient education must be addressed by the profession as a whole. Benefits of education, resulting from nursing care, for patients, families, and communities, as outlined in this overview, must be brought to the public's attention. In this way the opportunities for the twenty-first century will be achieved and the challenges met.