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 | Use of judgment and problem-solving
Ability to prioritize responses and interventions in emergency situations Application of ethical standards |
Performing closing counts while prioritizing sterile team members’ request |
| 2. Mobility/Motor Skills | Ability to perform functions such as standing for prolonged periods of time (4 to 6 hours) while navigating surgical field environment
Ability to stand in one confined area for extensive periods (excess of 4 to 6 hours) Ability to lift instrument trays up to 50 pounds Ability to push and manipulate large, heavy equipment (over 100 pounds) |
Lengthy procedures that often require abstinence from nourishment and restroom breaks while standing in one confined area
Lifting heavy instrument caskets Moving equipment Transferring patients from stretcher to Operating Room (OR) bed and back |
| 3. Tactile Skills | Fine and gross motor skills and the ability to perform multiple motor tasks simultaneously
Manual dexterity to retrieve requests supplies or instruments and pass them quickly and smoothly to the team members |
Passing instruments to multiple sterile personnel while holding retractor(s)
Passing instrumentation and supplies to sterile team members |
| 4. Auditory Skills | Ability to hear and understand muffled communication without visualization of the communicator’s mouth/lips | N/A |
| 5. Visual Skills | Visual ability to have peripheral and depth perception and ability to distinguish shades of color
Visual ability to see 20/20 or better with or without use of corrective lenses/glasses Visual ability to recognize hand signals |
Visualizing hair-thin suture and micro-needles in order to maintain correct counts during procedure
Visualizing hand signals during surgery |
| 6. Communication Skills | Comprehensive understanding of spoken and written English language to include complex medical terminology, the ability to read medication/prescription labels, directions for dosage and use in an accurate and expedient manner
Ability to verbally and in writing report client data to the healthcare team, requires reading and writing on charts |
Reading and creating medication labels
Communication with fellow team members |
| 7. Interpersonal Skills | Ability to work with others in a variety of settings and situations
Maintaining hygiene and dress or uniform requirements Ability to listen to others and determine their wants and needs and respond quickly |
N/A |
| 8. Behavioral Skills | Ability to adapt to changing environments and work-related challenges while maintaining composure in stressful situations
Ability to maintain utmost integrity and aseptic technique |
Surgical conscience |
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.
Disability 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 Disability Services Office (Sink Building; 694-1813) and notify your course instructor of your disability as appropriate. Students should initiate this process as soon as possible (prior to the start of classes and/or field experience).