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Nursing: Technical Standards for Nursing Technical Standards for Admission, Academic Progression, and Graduation in Undergraduate and Graduate Nursing Programs The goal of the College’s nursing programs is to prepare students to think critically, and practice nursing competently and compassionately in rapidly changing practice environments. All efforts are designed to build nursing knowledge, enhance nursing practice and patient safety, foster professional integrity, and ultimately improve the health outcomes of patients, families, and communities across the continuum of care. In addition, certain functional abilities are essential for the delivery of safe, effective nursing care during clinical training activities. Therefore, the faculty has determined that certain technical standards are requisite for admission, progression, and graduation from the nursing programs. In addition to classroom learning, clinical training occurs throughout the program and involves considerations (such as patient safety and clinical facilities) that are not present for classroom accommodations. For this reason, applicants and students who seek accommodations prior to or immediately after enrolling in the nursing programs must also request an assessment of the types of reasonable accommodations needed for the clinical training component of the program. An individual must be able to independently, with or without reasonable accommodation, meet the following technical standards of general abilities and those specifically of (1) observation; (2) communication; (3) motor; (4) intellectual, conceptual, and quantitative abilities; (5) essential behavioral and social attributes; and (6) ability to manage stressful situations. Individuals unable to meet these technical standards, with or without reasonable accommodation, will not be able to complete the program and are counseled to pursue alternate careers. General Abilities: The student is expected to possess functional use of the senses of vision, touch, hearing, and smell so that data received by the senses may be integrated, analyzed, and synthesized in a consistent and accurate manner. A student must also possess the ability to perceive pain, pressure, temperature, position, vibration, and movement that are important to the student’s ability to gather significant information needed to effectively evaluate patients. A student must be able to respond promptly to urgent situations that may occur during clinical training activities and must not hinder the ability of other members of the health care team to provide prompt treatment and care to patients. Observational Ability: The student must have sufficient capacity to make accurate visual observations and interpret them in the context of laboratory studies, medication administration, and patient care activities. In addition, the student must be able to document these observations and maintain accurate records. Communication Ability: The student must communicate effectively both verbally and non-verbally to elicit information and to translate that information to others. Each student must have the ability to read, write, comprehend and speak the English language to facilitate communication with patients, their family members, and other professionals in health care settings. In addition, the student must be able to maintain accurate patient records, present information in a professional, logical manner and provide patient counseling and instruction to effectively care for patients and their families. The student must communicate effectively verbally and in writing with instructors and other students in the classroom setting as well. Motor Ability: The student must be able to perform gross and fine motor movements with sufficient coordination needed to perform complete physical examinations utilizing the techniques of inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation, and other diagnostic maneuvers. A student must develop the psychomotor skills reasonably needed to perform or assist with procedures, treatments, administration of medication, management and operation of diagnostic and therapeutic medical equipment, and such maneuvers to assist with patient care activities such as lifting, wheel chair guidance, and mobility. The student must have sufficient levels of neuromuscular control and eye-to-hand coordination as well as possess the physical and mental stamina to meet the demands associated with extended periods of sitting, standing, moving, and physical exertion required for satisfactory and safe performance in the clinical and classroom settings including performing CPR if necessary. The student must possess the ability of manual dexterity such as to draw up solutions in a syringe. Intellectual, Conceptual, and Quantitative Abilities: The student must be able to develop and refine problem-solving skills that are crucial to practice as a nurse. Problem solving involves the abilities to measure, calculate, reason, analyze, and synthesize objective and subjective data, and to make decisions, often in a time urgent environment, that reflect consistent and thoughtful deliberation and sound clinical judgment. Each student must demonstrate mastery of these skills and possess the ability to incorporate new information from peers, teachers, and the nursing and medical literature to formulate sound judgment in patient assessment, intervention, evaluation, teaching, and setting short and long term goals. Behavioral
and Social Attributes: Compassion, integrity,
motivation, effective interpersonal skills, and concern for others
are personal attributes required of those in the nursing programs.
Personal comfort and acceptance of the role of a nurse functioning
under supervision of a clinical instructor or preceptor is essential
for a nursing student. The student must possess the skills required
for full utilization of the student’s intellectual abilities;
the exercise of good judgment; the prompt completion of all responsibilities
in the classroom and clinical settings; and the development of mature,
sensitive, and effective relationships with patients and other members
of the health care team. Each student must be able to exercise stable,
sound judgment and to complete assessment and interventional activities.
The ability to establish rapport and maintain sensitive, interpersonal
relationships with individuals, families, and groups from a variety
of social, emotional, cultural and intellectual backgrounds is critical
for practice as a nurse. The student must be able to adapt to changing
environments; display flexibility; accept and integrate constructive
criticism given in the classroom and clinical settings; effectively
interact in the clinical setting with other members of the healthcare
team; and learn to function cooperatively and efficiently in the
face of uncertainties inherent in clinical practice. Ability to Manage Stressful Situations: The student must be able to adapt to and function effectively to stressful situations in both the classroom and clinical settings, including emergency situations. Students will encounter multiple stressors while in the nursing programs. These stressors may be (but are not limited to) personal, patient care/family, faculty/peer, and or program related. In accordance with law and Drexel University policy, no qualified individual with a disability shall, on the basis of that disability, be excluded from participation in Drexel University programs or activities. Drexel University will provide reasonable accommodation to a qualified individual with a disability. To obtain accommodations, individuals must request them from the Office of Disability Services that can be contacted at the following address: Office
of Disability Services |
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