This course is the first in the nursing curriculum. It includes an introduction to trends in nursing today. An emphasis is placed on the role and responsibility of the individual practical nurse as a person in today¿s society and as a professional in the delivery of health care. An introduction to the mission and conceptual framework of the North Dakota State College of Science Nursing Program is included. Nursing principles are taught in the lecture setting. Class discussion begins with basic nursing care and progresses to introduce various disease processes in the biopsychosocial, spiritual, and culturally diverse adult client. Emphasis is placed on the care of the client in the long-term or transitional care setting. Course content will incorporate the nursing process concepts of assessment, planning, intervention, and evaluation. Incorporation of the nursing process will aide in student learning to provide safe and effective care within the clinical setting. Communication techniques, physical assessment, and complex nursing procedures are discussed in lecture, with demonstration/application in the laboratory. The class consists of both scheduled didactic and laboratory sessions to provide students with practical hands-on learning experiences. (F, S)