Offered autumn and spring. Offered at Missoula College. Prereq., acceptance into the Registered Nursing Program. This course provides opportunities to develop competencies necessary to meet the needs of individuals throughout the lifespan in a safe, legal, and ethical manner using the nursing process. Students learn concepts and skills necessary for maintaining standard precautions, physical, psychological and nutritional safety, along with skills needed in therapeutic interventions. Students are introduced to the concepts of professional nursing, patient needs, safety, communication, teaching/learning, critical thinking, ethical-legal, rural nursing, cultural and ethnic diversity, and interdisciplinary patient-centered care.