Performance Requirements: Nursing

Program: Nursing
Pathway: Health Science

We partner with major Dallas-Fort Worth hospitals for the clinical component of our program. These hospitals may have the following performance requirements to ensure patient safety and welfare.

Physical Requirements

Visual acuity (with corrective lenses if needed) to:
- Identify cyanosis
- Observe absence of respiratory movements in patients
- Read very fine, small print on:
  - Medication containers
  - Physicians' orders
  - Monitors
  - Equipment calibrations
Hearing ability (with auditory aids if needed) to:
- Understand the normal speaking voice without viewing the speaker's face
- Hear monitor alarms, emergency signals and call bells from patients
- Take / hear blood pressure, lung, heart, vascular and abdominal sounds with stethoscope
Manual dexterity to:
- Use sterile technique
  - Examples: to insert catheters or prepare and administer medications
- Manipulate and assemble equipment for use
Physical ability to:
- Stand for prolonged periods of time
- Perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
- Lift patients and objects of 35 pounds or more
- Push pieces of equipment from room to room
- Maneuver in limited spaces

Communication Requirements

Communicate effectively in verbal and written form by:
- Speaking clearly and succinctly when:
  - Explaining treatment procedures
  - Describing patient conditions
  - Implementing health techniques
- Writing legibly and correctly in patients' records for legal documentation
Function safely under stressful conditions with the ability to:
- Adapt to ever changing environment inherent in clinical situations involving patient care
Computer skills to:
- Use a variety of software programs and the internet for research and course projects, including PowerPoint for presentations