Provides direct nursing care by utilizing advanced scientific knowledge, nursing theory and skills to assess, plan, and implement appropriate health and nursing care to patients, in addition to performing registered nursing functions. Evaluates physical and psychosocial health status of the patient through a comprehensive health history and physical examination, using skills of observation, inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation, and using or ordering diagnostic instruments or procedures that are basic to nursing evaluation of physical signs and symptoms.