This course is designed to provide students with an advanced level of skill and knowledge in diagnostic reasoning and clinical decision making for conducting health assessments and planning care for holistic, adaptive human beings. The following elements are integrated into the course: scientific integrity and ethics, human diversity, and social issues. Students will apply the knowledge and skills learned as they diagnose and manage the care of clients with acute, chronic and episodic health problems throughout the life span, in the subsequent clinical nursing courses. Students will demonstrate advanced assessment skills (a comprehensive history and physical examination) in the 40-hour precepted clinical experience to detect and differentiate abnormal findings and to generate potential diagnoses.