This book examines some of the more disturbing representations of nurses in popular culture, to understand nursing's complex identities, challenges and future directions.

Margaret McAllister is Professor of Nursing at Central Queensland University, Australia. With a background in nursing, mental health nursing, education and cultural studies, Margaret teaches in the Master of Mental Health Nursing and has research expertise in Narrative Therapy and Narrative Research.

Donna Lee Brien is Professor of Creative Industries at Central Queensland University, Australia. Co-editor of the Australasian Journal of Popular Culture, Donna's research on writing and popular culture has been widely published in scholarly and popular publications.

1. Transgressive texts about nursing 2. Nursing's dark past and secret knowledge 3. Objects of Desire 4. Nursing and the abject 5. Apparitions, lost souls and healing spaces 6. Mighty, Mean and Monstrous Nurses 7. Murdering nurses 8. Nurses and sick health care systems 9. Growing from adversity 10. Conclusion: Out of the shadows, into the light