Applicants to the Nursing Program should be aware that nursing at the Associate Degree level involves the provision
of direct care to patients. A student in the Nursing Program must have the knowledge and ability to effectively assess
a patient’s biopsychosocial needs. Furthermore, the student must be able to analyze data in order to state a patient’s
problem, comprehensively plan independent and collaborative interventions, implement the plan of care, and evaluate the
care given, as well as the patient’s response to the care. Therefore, the student must have observational, communication,
motor, cognitive, psychosocial, and behavioral abilities sufficient to carry out the above responsibilities. Technological
accommodation can be made available for some disabilities in some of these areas, but a student must be able to perform in
a reasonably independent manner. The use of a trained intermediary is not permitted since a student’s judgment would be
influenced by someone else’s observations.
In order to be considered for admission or to be retained in the Nursing Program, all applicants must have the following abilities and skills:
1. A visual acuity with corrective lenses to identify: cyanosis, absence of respiratory movement in patients; read small print on medication containers, physicians’ orders, monitors, and equipment calibrations.
2. A hearing ability with auditory aids to: understand the normal speaking voice without viewing the speaker’s face; hear monitor alarms, emergency signals, call bells from patients and telephone orders; take/hear blood pressure, heart, lung, vascular, and abdominal sounds with stethoscope.
3. The physical ability to stand for prolonged periods of time, perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation, transfer, move, and reposition patients, and move from room to room or maneuver in limited spaces.
4. Effective communication in verbal and written form by speaking clearly and succinctly when explaining treatment procedures, describing patient’s conditions, and implementing health teaching. Write legibly and correctly in patient’s chart for local documentation.
5. The manual dexterity to use sterile techniques to insert catheter, withdraw blood, and prepare medications / administer medications (oral and parenteral routes).
6. The tactile ability to palpate pulses, determine warmth and coolness, detect enlarged nodes and lumps.
7. The ability to function safely under stressful conditions and the ability to adapt to an ever changing environment inherent in clinical situations involving patient care.
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