This course establishes fundamental concepts and skills of nursing which are essential to providing basic care to the adult patient. The role of the practical nurse in the long-term care setting is emphasized. The student is introduced to the nursing process and critical thinking as the logical framework(s) upon which nursing actions are based. The patient as the focus of nursing care, is introduced as a unique, irreducible whole. The concepts of basic human needs, health and illness, homeostasis, safety, nutrition, elimination, and comfort are considered in the class, laboratory and clinical setting. Students will progress from learning about interventions in the classroom, to practicing in the lab and finally to performing interventions in the clinical setting. Students apply teaching and learning principles as a means of health promotion.