Help with setting a cursor to be used for a loop

[PAVB]

Lets go to the basics, is this what you are looking for?

SQL> 
SQL> create table PATIENT( 
  2  patient_nbr number(10));

Table created.

SQL> insert into PATIENT select 1 from dual;

1 row created.

SQL> insert into PATIENT select 2 from dual;

1 row created.

SQL> insert into PATIENT select 3 from dual;

1 row created.

SQL> insert into PATIENT select 4 from dual;

1 row created.

SQL> insert into PATIENT select 5 from dual;

1 row created.

SQL> commit;

Commit complete.

SQL> 
SQL> create table FORM( 
  2  patient_nbr number(10),
  3  some_date date);

Table created.

SQL> insert into FORM select 2,NULL from dual;

1 row created.

SQL> commit;

Commit complete.

SQL> 
SQL> select * from PATIENT;

PATIENT_NBR
-----------
          1
          2
          3
          4
          5

SQL> 
SQL> select * from FORM;

PATIENT_NBR SOME_DATE
----------- ---------
          2

SQL> 
SQL> insert 
  2  into    FORM
  3          select a.patient_nbr, sysdate
  4          from   PATIENT a
  5          where (a.patient_nbr not in (select b.patient_nbr
  6                                       from   FORM b))
  7  ;

4 rows created.

SQL> commit;

Commit complete.

SQL> 
SQL> select * from FORM;

PATIENT_NBR SOME_DATE
----------- ---------
          2
          1 15-SEP-10
          3 15-SEP-10
          4 15-SEP-10
          5 15-SEP-10

SQL>