Nurses constitute the largest professional health care group, comprising 45% of full time public hospital staff and 60% of private hospital staff (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2001). By virtue of their numbers and their specific expertise: ‘Nurses are in a unique position to assist their clients in achieving and maintaining optimal levels of health. Nurses understand the challenges of today’s health care system and embrace the opportunity to use, wellness activities to promote health and prevent illness’(McMurray 2001).