Technical standards outline the skills and expectations required for students to successfully enter, progress through, and complete the program. They ensure clarity and consistency for students, faculty, staff, administration, and disability services. These standards apply equally to all students.
If you require accommodations to fully participate in the program, please contact the Office of Disability Services to confidentially discuss your needs. Technical standards can be met with or without accommodations, and the examples provided are not all encompassing.
Technical Standard, Definition and Examples
Skills that demonstrate the use of judgment and problem-solving needed to prioritize responses and interventions that maintain safety and provide care for patients.
Examples:
- Be able to gather, analyze, and synthesize data.
- Be able to assess a situation, determine potential solutions and alternatives, and intervene quickly and timely.
- Skill development includes reading and comprehending relevant information in textbooks, medical records, and other forms of data.
- Quickly assess surroundings and patient to communicate abnormal findings.
Maintenance of physical abilities sufficient to move from room to room and maneuver in small spaces.
Examples:
- Use manual dexterity to render client care.
- Use manual dexterity to manipulate various types of equipment.
- Access all client bedsides and respond immediately to an emergency situation anywhere in facility.
- Move multiple pieces of equipment while helping patient turn or ambulate.
- Perform urinary catheter insertion and tracheostomy suction.
Sense of touch sufficient to perform a physical examination and to detect movement.
Examples:
- Able to touch, assess, and interpret tactile sensations, including but not limited to detecting pulses, breathing, and determining skin turgor.
Sufficient physical ability and stamina to attend classes and provide care to patients.
Examples:
- Walk and stand for long periods of time.
- Be able to bend, stoop, reach, and lift.
- Attend class for 3-hour sessions.
- Attend 12-hour clinical rotations once a week, up to 240 hours in a semester.
- Occasionally lift up to 50 pounds, frequently lift 25 pounds, and constantly lift 10 pounds from floor to shoulder level or overhead.
Hearing sufficient to monitor and assess health needs.
Examples:
- Including but not limited to hearing heart sounds, breath sounds, and abdominal sounds.
- Be able to identify, differentiate, and respond to various sounds, alarms, and cries for help.
Vision sufficient for observation and assessment necessary to provide care.
Examples:
- Including but not limited to observing patient response to treatment, changes in skin color, and medication instructions.
- Able to see details at close range and use medical equipment.
- Work in environments with fluorescent lighting for up to 12 hours at a time.
Use of therapeutic communication that fosters collaboration with the patient, family, and members of the interdisciplinary healthcare team.
Examples:
- See and fully communicate (both orally and written) with clients, family members, providers, and other employees in person, over text, and over telephone.
- Manipulate data in Electronic Medical Records software and manual charts.
- Follow directions and perform assigned activities.
- Communicate with patients to perform assessment and provide education/explanation.
Ability to work well with others using active listening and cooperation.
Examples:
- Work effectively with others demonstrating tact, discretion, and diplomacy.
- Must be able to maintain calm, effective, and accurate performance in stressful situations.
- Interact with anxious or upset patients and family members.
Olfaction sufficient to detect odors and tolerate various odors.
Examples:
- Detect odors from urine samples.
- Tolerate body and chemical odors.
The ability to adapt to changing environments and work-related challenges while maintaining composure in stressful situations. Consistently demonstrate professional behaviors in attitude, communication, and work ethic while adhering to professional boundaries.
Examples:
- Including behavior that demonstrates respect of self and others, and behavior that demonstrates initiative, cooperation, and professionalism.
- Work effectively with others demonstrating tact, discretion, and diplomacy.
- Performance of duties that adhere to ethical and legal standards and promote a positive image of professional nursing. Performs duties within scope of practice.
- Work varied schedules (days, nights, weekends).
- Must be able to maintain calm, effective, and accurate performance in stressful situations.
- Work in high stress situations and respond appropriately.
We are committed to ensuring all students have the support they need to succeed in this program. If you have a documented disability, reasonable accommodations will be provided unless they fundamentally alter essential training requirements, create undue hardship, or pose a safety risk to you or others.
Disability Services Statement
If you have a documented disability and need accommodations, please contact the Disability Services Office (Ward Hall Building; 252-638-1454) as soon as possible—ideally before classes or field experiences begin. You are also encouraged to inform your instructor as needed so we can best support your learning.