ESSENTIAL SKILLS OF PTA STUDENTS

For students to successfully complete Kennebec Valley Community College's Physical Therapist Assistant program they must be capable of performing with or without reasonable accommodation skills and tasks such as the following:

1. Academic ability to earn a "C" or better in all courses and a 2.0

    cumulative grade point average.

2. Handle the stresses of an intensive training program with a heavy

    academic schedule and fast-paced clinical situations.

3. Ability to adhere to the Student Code of Ethics.

4. Ability to commute to a clinical education site or assume a temporary

    residence at a clinical site distant from KVCC.

5. Ability to achieve a level of competency in all physical therapy procedures that will enable the student to practice legally, safely, and ethically in a clinical setting. The PT procedures include but are not limited to the following competencies: The student must be able to demonstrate the ability to:

        a. guard patients when standing and ambulating on level surfaces

            and stairs with and without the use of assistive devices including

            cane, crutches, and walkers;

        b. transfer patients from a bed to a chair and back safely using

            minimum, moderate, and maximal assist techniques;

        c. use proper body mechanics in all situations;

        d. perform cleaning protocol procedures with all size whirlpools;

 
        e. manipulate instrument dials while applying ultrasound;

 
        f. apply graded manual resistance to a patient's body parts to

           assess strength or apply exercise techniques;

        g. perform treatments within time constraints;

        h. auscultate cardiovascular and pulmonary sounds;

        i. palpate a pulse, muscle spasm, muscle contractions, bony

           landmarks, and temperature;

        j. administer CPR and other emergency measures;

        k. distinguish color changes of a patient's skin;

        l. detect subtle environmental changes and odors including but not

           limited to the smell of burning electrical equipment, smoke,

           spills, and pathophysiologic odors;

        m. detect high and low frequency sounds including, but not limited

             to, alarms, bells, and emergency signals;

        n. assess a patient ten (10) feet away.

6. Interact and communicate effectively, safely, and efficiently with

    patients, family, significant others, and other health care providers by:

        a. explaining procedures;

        b. receiving information verbally and from written documentation;

        c. documenting in a patient's chart;

        d. exhibiting appropriate interpersonal skills;

        e. recognizing and responding appropriately to nonverbal behavior

           of self and others;

        f. recognizing the psychosocial impact of disability on self and

           others.

 

The above list is not exclusive; the items are only examples.