This book covers the courses in nursing and midwifery offered by the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bangalore. Based on the latest syllabus of the Indian Nursing Council, Sociology for Nurses is a text aimed primarily at students pursuing a B.Sc. in nursing. Since nurses have to deal with patients from many different kinds of backgrounds and situations, some of which may be unfamiliar to them, it is important for them to obtain a basic knowledge and appreciation of such backgrounds and situations. A sound training in sociology enables nurses to gain the social insight and empathy essential for their work. This book has been designed to make even the most difficult sociological concepts easy to understand through clear and simple language, numerous definition and concept boxes and comparison tables. The author has drawn from his vast personal experience in conducting workshops and creating training materials for nurses to produce a textbook that nurses will find useful in conducting their day-to-day work.