Essential Functions and Abilities
Demands of a nursing student
Students accepted into this program will need the cognitive ability, emotional stability, and physical endurance to complete the program and practice professional nursing.
Essential Functions and Abilities of a Nursing Student
When determining professional suitability for the practice of professional nursing, the nursing student must be able to do the following: exercise safe judgments based on assessment data, remain visibly calm in emergency situations, interact in a caring manner with others, follow directions, be flexible, and demonstrate honesty, integrity, commitment, cooperation, respect and accountability. The student must not pose a significant risk to the health and safety of himself or others.
The following are essential functions, abilities, and physical requirements for the nursing student:
Critical Thinking
Critical thinking ability sufficient to collect, analyze, integrate, and generalize information and knowledge to make clinical judgments and management decisions that promote positive patient outcomes. Ability to identify cause/effect relationships and clinical situations, develop nursing care plans, and apply mathematical skills for calculating safe drug dosages
Physical Abilities
Gross and fine motor skills sufficient to provide safe, effective nursing care. Ability to lift up to 50 pounds, turn, reposition/ambulate patients, and manipulate small equipment and containers (i.e. syringes, vials, ampules, and medication packages to administer medications.
Interpersonal Abilities
Interpersonal ability sufficient to provide safe care to populations, as well as safety to self. Ability to establish a therapeutic relationship with patients, families, and health care team, maintain a positive relationship with instructors and peers, demonstrate self-control, and accept constructive criticism for professional development.
Physical Stamina
Physical abilities sufficient to perform required patient care activities in a safe and effective manner for the entire length of the clinical experience. Ability to move around in clinical environment, administer cardio-pulmonary procedures, and walk/stand, twist, bend, stoop, kneel, reach, push and pull for extended periods.
Communication Skills
Communications skills sufficient to speak, comprehend and write (print and cursive) in English at a level that meets the need for accurate, clear effective communication. Ability to explain procedures, initiate health teaching, document and interpret nursing actions and patient/client responses, and complete assignments and exams within specified time frames.
Visual Abilities
Visual ability sufficient to observe and assess patients and their environments. Ability to detect changes in physical appearance, color and contour, read medication labels, syringes, manometers, and written communication accurately.
Auditory Abilities
Auditory ability sufficient to monitor and assess patient health needs. Ability to hear faint body sounds, auditory alarms and normal speaking level sounds (i.e. blood pressure sounds, monitors, fire alarms, call bells, cries for help and person-to-person report).
Tactile Abilities
Tactile ability sufficient to perform physical assessment. Ability to palpate (i.e. pulses, changes in skin temperature, and anatomical abnormalities). and provide therapeutic interventions needed for examinations and procedures.
Disclosure of a Disability
After acceptance into the nursing program, a copy of the form “Essential Functions and Abilities of the Nursing Student” is mailed to each new student to review, sign, and return to the School within two weeks of receipt. This information is outlined in the School Catalog/Website/Student Handbook. Disclosure of a disability prior to the program start date will allow the student time for their individual evaluation and submission of the written documentation to the School.
For reasonable accommodations to be considered, it is first necessary for the student to submit to Jill Duska, Coordinator of Student Affairs (740-266-1230) the most recent evaluation of the disability from a licensed/certified psychologist (with experience in the disability identified) or if appropriate, a medical doctor. The specific disability and recommendations should be described in the documentation submitted. The “Essential Functions and Abilities of the Nursing Student” serve as a guide for the written recommended accommodations.
Students who disclose a disability and request accommodation after the educational program begins, may experience a delay in the progress of their program until all required documentation is submitted and processed.
Contact Admissions
All inquiries or correspondence for admission should be directed to the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid at the School of Nursing between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Phone: 740-266-1230
E-mail: [email protected]
Fax: 740-266-2710