This document discusses key concepts in medical surgical nursing and the nursing process. It defines health according to the WHO as complete physical, mental and social well-being. It outlines Maslow's hierarchy of basic human needs and defines nursing as focused on maintaining or recovering optimal health. The nursing process consists of 5 steps - assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation. Assessment involves collecting data on a patient's health needs. Nursing diagnosis is a clinical judgment about a patient's response to health problems. Planning identifies priorities, goals and interventions. Evaluation determines if goals were achieved.