Making visible the unseen elements of nursing.

The traditional image of nurses as caregivers needs revision but this is challenging as much nursing work cannot easily be explained. This article summarises the main findings from a large-scale study of a relatively invisible, but everyday, element of nursing practice--"organising work". This has always been a component of nursing but has recently been seen as a distraction from patient care. More must be done to recognise and communicate its value and the demands it places on staff to shape education, professional development and how nurses are viewed.