A description is presented of a course, "Patient and Family Education," designed to provide second-year baccalaureate nursing students with the skills and knowledge necessary to educate patients about health care and treatment. Following a rationale for and general information about the course, a glossary of terms and a list of instructional materials are given. Next, major course goals, long-range objectives, and the units of instruction are enumerated. The bulk of the course description provides information on the individual course units, including, with some variation for each unit, an overview of content, statements of goals and objectives with sample test questions related to those objectives, informational texts, and a list of readings. The course units cover: (1) Patient and Family Education: An Overview; (2) Patient and Family Assessment; (3) The Use of Goals and Objectives; (4) Learning Theories; (5) Interpersonal Techniques; (6) Teaching Tools; (7) Planning and Implementation of Patient Education Programs; (8) Program Evaluation; and (9) Program Development. Finally, student evaluation criteria and a questionnaire on student perceptions of learning and teaching are presented. (LAL)