This course provides opportunities for the novice nursing student to develop the competencies necessary to meet basic human needs. This is accomplished through a mix of classroom lecture and lab application. In the classroom, students are introduced to concepts such as the nursing process, scope of practice, interprofessional communication, teamwork, patient safety, patient education, critical thinking, ethicallegal responsibilities, and cultural diversity. Additionally, this course, through its lab component, builds the psychomotor skills needed to address the microbial, physical, and psychological safety needs of the individual experiencing alterations in health.