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Purpose

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree is an undifferentiated degree attesting to general knowledge in, and the basic skills required for, practicing the full scope of nursing. The Department of Nursing strives to educate students to become competent and compassionate nurses capable of meeting all requirements for licensure and post-graduate work in the field of nursing.  In addition to classroom learning, clinical learning occurs throughout the program and involves considerations, including patient safety and clinical facilities, that are not present in the classroom.  Essential abilities and characteristics required for completion of this degree consist of certain minimum, motor, sensory/observational, communication, cognitive, and professional/behavioral competencies. Therefore, the faculty has determined that certain technical standards are requisite for admission, progression, and graduation from the nursing program.

Standards

In order to acquire the knowledge and skills to function in the field of nursing, individuals must have abilities and skills in the following areas:

Motor

The student should have sufficient motor function such that they are able to execute movements required to provide general care and treatment to patients in all health care settings.

The student must possess the motor skills necessary for assessment and therapeutic procedures such as inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation, and other diagnostic maneuvers and procedures. Such actions require coordination of both gross and fine muscular movements, equilibrium and functional uses of the senses of touch, vision and hearing. The student must also be able to perform basic life support (including cardiopulmonary resuscitation), transfer and position patients, and position and re-position self around patients. The student must also be able to operate equipment typically found in the health care environment (IV pumps, cardiac monitor, and electric and manual blood pressure equipment, safe patient handling equipment, etc.).

Sensory/Observation

The student must be able to acquire information presented through demonstration and experience in the basic and nursing sciences.

The student must be able to observe the patient accurately, at a distance and close at hand, and observe verbal and non-verbal communications when performing nursing assessments and interventions or administering medications. The student must be capable of perceiving the signs of disease and infection as manifested through physical examination including information that may be derived from visual inspection and images of the body surfaces, palpable changes in various organs and tissues, and auditory information (patient voice, heart tones, bowel and lung sounds, etc.).

Communication

The student must have the ability to communicate effectively and sensitively with other students, faculty, staff, patients, family and other professionals.

The student must be able to express his or her ideas and feelings clearly and demonstrate a willingness and ability to give and receive feedback in both the classroom and clinical settings. The student must be able to convey or exchange information to obtain a health history, identify problems presented, explain alternative solutions, maintain accurate records, and give directions during and post-treatment. The student must be able to effectively communicate in the English language with the ability to retrieve and record information from various sources including computerized data bases. The student must also be able to process and communicate information on the patient’s status with accuracy in a timely manner to members of the health care team and exercise judgment to seek support and consultation in a timely and effective manner.

Cognitive

The student must be able to measure, calculate, reason, prioritize, analyze, integrate, synthesize information and act with integrity and sound judgment. The student must have the ability to sustain attention and memory to maintain patient safety.

The student must be able to read and comprehend extensive written materials. The student must also be able to evaluate and apply information and engage in critical thinking in the classroom, lab and clinical setting within the time constraints unique to each setting.

Professional conduct/behavior

The student must possess the ability to exercise sound professional judgment and practice nursing in an ethical manner.

In addition to adhering to the ���ϲ����� honor code, the student must abide by professional standards of practice. They must possess attributes that include compassion, empathy, altruism, integrity, honesty, responsibility and tolerance. The student must be able to engage in patient care delivery in all settings and be able to deliver care to all patient populations including but not limited to children, adolescents, adults, individuals with disabilities, medically compromised patients and vulnerable adults. The student must be able to maintain mature, sensitive, and effective relationships with patients, students, faculty, staff and other professionals under all circumstances, including highly stressful situations. They must be able to function effectively under stress, adapt to an environment that may change rapidly without warning and/or in unpredictable ways, and function cooperatively and efficiently in the face of uncertainties inherent in clinical practice. The student must be able to experience empathy for the situations and circumstances of others and effectively communicate that empathy. They must know how their own values, attitudes, beliefs, emotions, and experiences affect their perceptions and relationships with others. The student must possess skills and experience necessary for effective and harmonious relationships in diverse academic and work environments.

Reasonable Accommodations for Qualified Individuals with Disabilities

���ϲ�����, the School of Health Sciences and the Department of Nursing are committed to the principle of equal opportunity and providing educational opportunities to otherwise qualified individuals with disabilities.  A “qualified individual” with a disability is one who, with or without reasonable accommodations, meets the academic requirements and these Technical Standards.  Students wishing to request reasonable accommodations should contact /u/academics/koenigsberger-learning-center/disabilities-resources/.  to initiate the process.