This book is directed to the RN student returning to school. The intent is to provide you, the practicing RN, with professional concepts to advance your practice. These concepts build on your prior nursing education, and their application will greatly enhance your professional practice and growth. The aim is to engage you intellectually in an ongoing professional dialogue and journey with your peers, colleagues, and instructors, broaden your professional development, and build on your pre-existing knowledge and experiences. You are challenged to delve further into professional education and conceptual practice. The book is written for the adult learner with the characteristics of self-direction, prior experiences, applicability to practice, and motivation to meet the challenge to expand his or her knowledge base"--