ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR HEALTH CAREERS
PROGRAMS NURSING AND PRACTICAL NURSING
All individuals, including persons with disabilities, who apply for admission to the Nursing program must be able to perform specific essential
functions with or without reasonable accommodation.
The following outlines the abilities and behavioral characteristics necessary for the student to be admitted to, continue in, and graduate from, the
Nursing program at HACC. These essential requirements are standards of admission.
The applicant should carefully review the essential requirements for the program and ask questions if not familiar with the activities or functions
listed. The applicant must decide if he or she has any limitations that may restrict or interfere with satisfactory performance of any of the
requirements. It is ultimately the applicant's responsibility to meet these essential requirements if accepted into the program.
The applicant should consult with the program director to discuss any individual situation if he or she may not be able to meet these essential
requirements. Requests for reasonable accommodation will be considered. Contact the program director if you have any questions about this
matter.
COMMUNICATION
1.
Communicate verbally using clear and effective English
2.
Write legibly in clear and effective English using correct grammar, punctuation and spelling
3.
Quickly and accurately comprehend and follow verbal instructions in English
4.
Quickly and accurately read, comprehend and follow written instructions in English
5.
Actively participate in group discussions
6.
Use communication equipment – telephone, computer, other device used for communication.
PHYSICAL SKILLS
Possess fine and gross skills sufficient to handle equipment and provide safe and effective patient care
1.
Exert maximum physical force to lift, push, pull or carry objects up to 50 pounds (oxygen cylinders, beds, patients, or any other type of
equipment)
2.
Move quickly, freely and safely around the assigned work area and patient care settings
3.
Sustain professional activities for up to 8 or more hours
4.
Reach above shoulder level (to manipulate equipment)
5.
Reach below waist level (to manipulate equipment)
6.
Move upper and lower extremities, back, hips, and knees without restriction - bend, stoop, and squat
7.
Keep hand and arm steady while moving arm or while holding arm and hand in one position
8.
Make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects
9.
Coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down
OBSERVATION AND SENSORY SKILLS
1.
Hear, comprehend and interpret conversation and sounds not solely based on visual cues (including alarms, monitors, faint sounds, such
as heart and breath sounds, taking blood pressure)
2.
Ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer) and at a distance
a)
Function efficiently in various degrees of light, from dark to bright lighting
b)
Differentiate colors, varying shades of same color, and shades of black, white and gray
c)
Read fine print and hand writing
3.
Detect and distinguish odors from clients and environment
4.
Distinguish textures, degrees of firmness, temperature differences, pulse rate and vibrations; feel anatomical landmarks and veins
5.
Distinguish and describe patient affect, body language and physical responses which the patient cannot verbally relay (i.e. facial expressions,
sweating, trembling, color change, bleeding, etc)
INTELLECTUAL, COGNITIVE, AND CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS
1.
Concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted
2.
Apply principles of critical, logical thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw sensible and valid conclusions
3.
Combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
4.
Perform multiple tasks simultaneously
5.
Arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (alphabetize)
6.
Integrate information quickly, consistently, accurately, especially in an emergency situation
BEHAVIORAL / SOCI AL SKILLS / ETHICS
1.
Display a high level of professionalism and discretion in all actions and communication (written, oral and electronic)
2.
Function effectively and display integrity, poise and emotional stability under stress (emergency, critical, or dangerous situations) in
actions with all (peers, patients, staff, faculty)
3.
Use team approach to carry out responsibilities
4.
Respond to all persons sensitively and with respect for cultural diversity
5.
Maintain general good health and self-care
6.
Display flexibility and adapt to changing environments
7.
Manage time effectively
8.
Accept responsibility for own behavior and be forthright about errors or uncertainty
9.
Refuse to perform or participate in any illegal, unethical or incompetent acts, to include but not limited to the following: falsifying or
knowingly making incorrect entries into a patient’s record or related document; copying other student’s written assignments; cheating on a
quiz or examination; making untrue statements to a faculty member or administrator