Purpose Statement:
All students in this program are expected to meet certain essential functions/technical standards which are essential for successful completion of all phases of the program and which reflect industry requirements and standards. To verify the students’ ability to perform these essential functions, students may be required to demonstrate the following technical standards:
| Standard | Definition of Standard | Example(s) of Technical Standard |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Critical Thinking Skills | Skills that demonstrate the use of judgment and problem-solving needed to prioritize responses and interventions that maintain safety and provide care for patients. | Including the use of scientific and evidence-based knowledge regarding alterations in health, to guide actions which promote safety and maintain patient-centered care. Skill development includes reading and comprehending relevant information in textbooks, medical records, and other forms of data. |
| 2. Mobility/Motor Skills | Maintenance of physical abilities sufficient to move from room to room and maneuver in small spaces. | Including but not limited to flexibility for bending and squatting, sufficient dexterity and strength to assist patients with physical limitations and manipulate patient equipment. |
| 3. Tactile Skills | Sense of touch sufficient to perform a physical examination and to detect movement. | Including but not limited to detecting pulses and determining skin turgor. |
| 4. Auditory Skills | Hearing sufficient to monitor and assess health needs. | Including but not limited to hearing a call bell, alarms, heart sounds, breath sounds, and cries for help. |
| 5. Visual Skills | Vision sufficient for observation and assessment necessary to provide care. | Including but not limited to observing patient response to treatment, changes in skin color, readings on equipment, and medication instructions. |
| 6. Communication Skills | Use of therapeutic communication that fosters collaboration with the patient, family, and members of the interdisciplinary healthcare team. | Including written and speaking skills sufficient to perform nursing assessments, provide patient teaching, document observations, interpret doctor’s orders, record patient responses to treatments, write nurses’ notes, give and receive patient reports. |
| 7. Interpersonal Skills | Ability to work well with others using active listening and cooperation. | Including the ability to interact with individuals, families and groups from a variety of social, emotional, cultural, and intellectual backgrounds and the establishment of positive relationships with patients, families, peers, agency staff members and faculty. |
| 8. Behavioral Skills | The ability to adapt to changing environments and work-related challenges while maintaining composure in stressful situations.
The ability to consistently demonstrate professional behaviors in attitude, communication, and work ethic while adhering to professional boundaries. |
Including behavior that demonstrates respect of self and others, and behavior that demonstrates initiative, cooperation, and professionalism. Performance of duties that adhere to ethical and legal standards and promote a positive image of professional nursing. Performs duties within scope of practice. |
In the case of a qualified individual with a documented disability, appropriate and reasonable accommodations will be made unless to do so would fundamentally alter the essential training elements, cause undue hardship, or produce a direct threat to the safety of the patient or student.
Accessibility Services Statement
The College has a legal obligation to provide appropriate accommodations for students with documented disabilities. If you have a disability and are seeking accommodations, you should contact the Student Accessibility Services (SAS) office (Sink Building; (828) 694-1813; access@blueridge.edu). Students can contact SAS at any time, however they are encouraged to initiate this process as soon as possible (prior to the start of classes and/or field experience).