Nursing students are expected to be able to perform the essential functions listed below to safely provide for the health care needs of patients. If a student has concerns about being able to perform one or more of the essential functions, he/she may visit with the Disability Office to discuss reasonable accommodations.

Physiological Functions

Fine motor skills

• E.g. Fill a syringe with medication
• E.g. Measure blood pressure

General motor skills

• Stand and walk without assistance.
• Walk between patient rooms and/or respond to emergencies.

Physical endurance

• Provide active nursing care over an entire shift (8-12 hours).
• Stand for long periods of time.

Physical strength

• Have sufficient strength to push, pull, turn and position equipment and persons.
• Lift 25 pounds or more.

Hearing ability

• Hear sounds within normal range.
• Effectively listen with a stethoscope.

Visual ability

• Clearly observe a person and objects at a near and far distance.
• Read fine print (e.g. nutrition label).

Touch (tactile) ability

• Feel differences in temperature.
• Detect changes in surfaces (e.g. skin)
• Feel pulses.

Sense of smell

• Detect odors.

Cognitive Functions

• Perform math calculations (basic algebra)
• Speak, read, write and understand the English language written at the 12th grade level.
• Professionally express and exchange ideas in verbal or written form using the English language.
• Use cognitive (thinking) abilities to measure, calculate, reason, and analyze information and data.
• Prioritize data to make decisions.
• Transfer knowledge to accomplish application of theory information to the practice setting.
• Utilize computers to access and store information.

Psychological/Social/Cultural Functions

• Function within the ethical and legal standards of nursing practice settings.
• Effectively function in stressful situations.
• Maintain control of emotions.
• Respond professionally to angry or unpleasant persons.
• Interact therapeutically to angry or unpleasant persons.
• Work effectively in a group or as part of a team.
• Concentrate on a task without being distracted.
• Effectively manage time and respond to schedules/deadlines.
• Manage two or more activites or sources of information without becoming confused.
• Utilize problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Adapt to change.
• Assume responsibility for own actions.

The nursing program reserves the right to dismiss a student who fails to meet the essential functions or whose physical fitness, work, or personal/professional behavior demonstrates lack of fitness to continue in the program.