Unlike many academic disciplines, nursing is a relative newcomer to the academy. Subject areas such as philosophy, chemistry and mathematics have far longer histories in the University environment, and over time they have developed disciplinary cultures which, to varying degrees, act to guide initiates. This is much less the case in our new and still emerging discipline. Moreover, where the typical academic in the traditional subjects enters their chosen profession at a relatively young age and following completion of a doctorate, the new nurse academic is likely to be older and much less likely to hold a doctoral degree on commencement of their academic career. They will invariably have had a previous career and, in many cases, will have operated at a senior or advanced level where they felt comfortable and respected.