Nurses have always recognized the importance of sessing each patient as an individual and plan ng care partnership with that individual. Although a detailed re of all developmental theorists is beyond the scope of this chapter, it is important to highlight the de velopmental priorities and related health issues of each age group receiving medical-surgical nursing care Different age groups may respond injury and i ness in widely diverse yet normal ways. Accurate as sessment will account for normal physiolog and psy chologic developmental information. Therefore related risk factors, as well as defining characteristics must be considered against the backdrop of what is for particular age group. Ongoing assess also be driven by "normal" developmental ment W information. For example, white blood cells (WBCs) are considered an important assessment factor for in fection. Because of the normal decline of the immune system among the elderly, an infection may be present without an increase in pected outcomes, the patient's response to care given, also a function of life span issues. Determining expected outcome a blend realism (i.e., What i physically, mentally, socially possible?), timing (i.e., can the outcome realistically be achieved or reevaluated?), and individualism (i.e., What does the re- cipient of care want the outcome to be?)