In writing this book, I believe that an introductory course in psychology should provide clear understanding of the relevance of psychology to the nursing practice. The student nurses will be trained and developed as a general practitioner. Basic knowledge of how to relate with themselves and others are necessary so that they can use themselves therapeutically with their clients. Understanding human behavior should be the guiding principle for all the student nurses who will join the nursing profession since in the future, when they enter into the nursing practice, they will be dealing with different types of people, different cultures as well as religions. In order to become an effective caregiver, counselor, researcher and a nurse across-culture, good understanding of how each person behaves will help the nursing professionals to deliver quality nursing care.6

This book is prepared as simple as possible to suit the needs of all the student nurses all over the world. It is divided into sixteen chapters with key features that include introduction, side notes, points to remember, MEQs, SAQs and MCQs.

I would like to give my appreciation to Fathima Khumaira, my post basic student from the Republic of Maldives whose contribution and insight in chapter eleven made the presentation about stress, conflict and coping mechanisms more realistic since she gave input on the actual conflict in the hospital.

I would also wish to acknowledge the help of my colleagues from the UCSI University especially the group president, Mr Peter Ng, the Head of the School of Nursing, Associate Professor Jeya Devi Coomarasamy, my friend and colleague Heidarali Abedi, PhD (Nursing) who is formerly the Dean of Isfahan Medical Science University Faculty of Nursing in Iran and currently the editor-in-chief of the Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research. I also extend my appreciation to the other lecturers from the School of Nursing especially Sheiladevi Sukumaran, Cho Cho Zaw, Lim Cheong Peng, Wong Mui Wah, Radha A, P Maniam, Ratna Sarasa, Jagjit Kaur, AP Najar Singh, Jayanthi A, P Marimuthu, and Adilius Manual.

I would like to recognize also James Yeow from the Department of Psychology who reviewed extensively the manuscript of this book, Ms Than Soo Nyet, formerly from the University of Malaya and now my colleague and all the members of the East Asia Forum of Nursing Scholars (EAFONS) who is headed by Professor Dr David Gordon 8Arthur from the National University of Singapore and my former colleague from the Association of Deans of the Philippine Colleges of Nursing (ADPCN), Dr Maria Teresita Sy – Sinda from the Silliman University, Philippines and Matron Hjh. Ramziah Hj. Ahmad AMN, PJK, the current president of the Malaysian Nurses Association.