Technical Standards and Essential Functions

The goal of the Emory & Henry College School of Nursing is to produce competent, professional Registered Nurses who provide compassionate, quality care to various patients across the lifespan. In addition to scholastic achievement, nursing students will be judged on their physical, intellectual and emotional aptitude to complete the essential function requirements of the nursing program. Fundamental skills which are required, with or without reasonable accommodations, to complete the essential functions and technical standards of the Emory & Henry College School of Nursing BSN programs include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Observation: The functional use of vision and other sensory modalities for observation are required. Students must be able to observe/participate in didactic, laboratory, and clinical demonstrations, as well as observe patients up close and at a distance while noticing the verbal and non-verbal signals.
2. Communication: Communication is a vital part of nursing and includes speech, reading, writing and computer literacy. Nursing students must effectively communicate with patients to elicit and transmit information concerning changes in physical health, mood, and activities as well as other vital information related to healthcare needs. Students must be able to communicate and perceive nonverbal signals. Nursing students must effectively and efficiently communicate with various members of the health care team.
3. Sensory and Motor Coordination and Function: Nursing students must have fine motor, gross motor and equilibrium functions to effectively perform patient assessments (i.e., palpation, auscultation, percussion muscle testing, range of motion and other examination procedures) and to carry out nursing interventions. Students must be able to execute motor movements required to provide general therapeutic interventions (i.e., patient transfers/positioning, exercise, performing manual mobilization techniques) and provide emergency treatment to patients. Quick reactions are essential for safety and therapeutic response. Such skills require coordination of both fine and gross muscular movement, equilibrium and functional use of touch and vision.
4. Intellectual, Conceptual, Integrative and Quantitative Abilities: Nursing students must be able to effectively solve problems and have decision-making skills, which require the student to measure, calculate, reason, analyze, integrate and synthesize information from various sources. Students must be able to perform these skills and abilities in a timely manner, especially in emergency situations. Students must be able to synthesize knowledge and integrate relevant information of a patient’s history and physical examination to develop an effective nursing intervention plan.
5. Behavioral and Social Attributes: Nursing students must possess emotional health/psychological ability required for full use of their intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment, the prompt completion of all responsibilities inherent to diagnosis and care of patients, and the development of mature, compassionate, and empathetic relationships and rapport with patients. Nursing students must be able to handle physically, mentally and emotionally taxing workloads and function effectively under stress. Students must be able to adapt to a changing environment, display flexibility and function in the face of uncertainties inherent in the clinical patients’ experience. Ethical behavior must be demonstrated in the classroom and clinical settings at all times. Compassion, empathy, integrity, values, concern for others, interpersonal skills, and motivation are all personal qualities which will be assessed.
6. Nursing students must be able to use a computer to access various internet sites utilized in the nursing program as well as be able to write papers and do assignments throughout the program.
   
   It is the responsibility of the student to request appropriate accommodations. Emory & Henry College will provide reasonable accommodations for eligible students as long as accommodations do not fundamentally alter the nature of the program and do not impose an undue hardship such as those that cause a significant expense, difficulty, or are unduly disruptive to the educational process. To determine eligibility for accommodations, students should follow the procedures listed at:https://www.ehc.edu/office-student-success/disability-support-services/register-with-our-office/

Students needing accommodations are encouraged to contact the Office of Disability Support Services as soon as possible; DISCLOSURE BEFORE BEING OFFERED ADMISSION IS NOT REQUIRED. Applicants/students with disabilities who meet the above technical standards, with or without reasonable accommodations, shall not be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, nor be subjected to discrimination in the Emory & Henry College School of Nursing.