Nursing Program - Technical Requirements
The following technical standards are to guide students to make an informed decision regarding a career in nursing. These standards are required to complete the nursing curriculum and to enter nursing practice as a Registered Nurse.
The skills are as follows:
- Auditory: Each student must possess auditory ability to monitor, and assess health needs, including (but not limited to);
- hear and interpret information a client is communicating verbally;
- hear auscultory sounds using a stethoscope;
- hear auditory signals from equipment;
- communicate over the telephone.
- Visual: Each student must possess visual ability sufficient for observation, and assessment necessary to provide nursing care, including (but not limited to);
- observe drainage on dressings and drainage of body fluids;
- note fluid levels in supplies and equipment;
- read gauges that monitor clients;
- see to administer treatments;
- observe changes in client skin color;
- observe clients behavior and movement.
- Tactile: Each student must possess tactile ability sufficient to perform a physical assessment, and procedures on clients, including (but not limited to);
- perform palpation, and other functions necessary for physical exam;
- assess texture, shape, size, temperature, and vibration;
- perform therapeutic procedures;
- collect specimens.
- Sense of Smell: It is desirable that each student possess a sense of smell acute enough to detect strong odors that may indicate a change in a client's condition, including (but not limited to);
- a purulent wound;
- ketones on a person's breath;
- body fluids that have a strong odor;
- smoke or other indicator of danger.
- Communication: Each student must be able to communicate in English effectively with clients, families, and other health care professionals. This includes expressive, and receptive modes of verbal, nonverbal, and written communication, including (but not limited to);
- explain procedures, and treatments;
- initiate health education;
- document nursing assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of nurse and client actions, and responses;
- read client documentation, and medical literature;
- give an accurate report of client information to other health care providers.
- Motor Function: Each student must have sufficient motor function, neuromuscular strength, and coordination to effectively perform nursing functions, including (but not limited to);
- transfer clients to/from wheelchair to bed, and bed to/from stretcher;
- gather assessment data by palpation, auscultation and percussion;
- manipulate instruments to perform physical assessment;
- apply pressure (to stop bleeding).
- Gross and Fine Motor Coordination: Each student must have sufficient gross and fine motor coordination to;
- move around in the health care environment;
- perform treatments, and procedures;
- calibrate, and use equipment;
- navigate stairs or other non-handicapped client settings.
- Stamina: Each student must have sufficient stamina to sit, stand, and move within the classrooms; skills lab, nursing units, operating room, and community settings, for periods of time as long as eight hours at a time. Each student must be able to lift 20 lbs.
- Behavioral: Each student must possess the ability to establish, and maintain, appropriate professional relationships, including the following factors;
- act ethically;
- exercise sound clinical judgment;
- be compassionate;
- develop mature, and effective relationships with clients;
- complete all responsibilities required for client care.
- Emotional Health: Each student must possess the emotional health required for full utilization of his/her intellectual abilities, including (but not limited to);
- prioritize competing demands;
- function in stressful situations;
- tolerate physically taxing workloads;
- adjust to changing circumstances.
- Program Outcomes:
- to educate the student to provide safe, and competent nursing care;
- to promote the student's individual growth in meeting personal, and career goals;
- to prepare the student to take the NCLEX-RN exam;
- to provide for the nursing employment needs within the community through multiple program options.
