Program Essential Skills and Technical Standards

Nursing is a physically, mentally, and emotionally demanding profession. The School of Nursing has identified the following program essential skills and technical standards that students are expected to meet while engaged in learning experiences in the classroom and clinical environments:

1. Critical thinking skills such as the ability to identify, assess, and comprehend conditions surrounding patient situations and then come to appropriate conclusions and courses of action.
2. Physical functions such as the ability to move about patient rooms and treatment areas, the dexterity for manipulation of instruments and administration of injections, and the ability to push, pull, and lift, all with or without reasonable accommodations.
3. Observation skills such as the ability to use the senses (including sight, hearing, touch, and smell), or other tools or accommodations, to make correct judgments regarding patient conditions.
4. Communication skills such as ability to communicate effectively and appropriately with fellow students, faculty, patients, and all members of the health care team in a manner and time period that is appropriate for the circumstances.
5. Emotional coping skills to handle the rigors and demands of the profession.
6. Intellectual/conceptual skills such as the ability to measure, calculate, analyze, synthesize, and evaluate.
7. Other behavioral attributes consistent with professional responsibility, such as the ability to engage in activities consistent with safe nursing practice without abuse of, dependence on, or impairment by alcohol, other drugs, or substances that may impair behavior or judgment. A student must demonstrate responsibility and accountability for actions as a student and as a developing professional nurse.

Some students with disabilities may need accommodations to perform these skills and functions. As explained in the University’s Americans with Disabilities Act Regulation, 4.0070R, a qualified student with a disability may request reasonable accommodations by contacting Student Accessibility Services (SAS). The student is encouraged to begin communication with SAS early so that SAS has sufficient time to consider the request, engage in an interactive dialogue, and coordinate with the School of Nursing and its faculty to attempt compliance with providing appropriate and reasonable accommodations and modifications. 

While the School of Nursing’s intent is to remove barriers to education for nursing students with disabilities, some requested accommodations may be denied if they would pose an undue financial or administrative hardship or cause a fundamental alteration to the program. 

Students who do not demonstrate that they can meet the technical standards for success in the program, with or without accommodations, may be dismissed or subject to other appropriate remedial measures.