As with other nurses worldwide, image, status and role definition are prominent issues in Jordan. Here nursing is considered menial work and the roles and responsibilities of the nurse have not yet been formally defined by royal decree, Jordanian courts or the nursing profession. Moreover, while nursing curricula ordinarily influence scope of practice, nurse educators have long noted an incongruity between nurses' training and their roles in practice. Although Jordanian nurses are educated to be change agents, patient advocates, health educators and critical thinkers they function more like medical assistants and housekeepers.