Of courage and leaving safe harbors.

If the health care system in the United States is to be sustainable, dramatic changes that result in better outcomes, lower costs, and improved quality are needed. As the largest group of health care providers, successful change will depend, in part, upon nursing practitioners, leaders, visionaries, advocates, and educators who are courageous enough to make difficult decisions and to follow through with actions. This philosophical inquiry addresses the nature of courage, types and motivations for courageous actions, and the complex psychological manifestations of thinking courageously. The inquiry concludes with educational and practical goals to promote proper use of courage in clinical practice.