Technical Standards for Admission, Progression and Graduation

Transcription

1 Technical Standards fr Admissin, Prgressin and Graduatin Missin f the Schl f Nursing. The University f Maryland Schl f Nursing seeks t shape the prfessin f nursing by develping nursing leaders in educatin, research, and practice. The Schl accmplishes this thrugh its utstanding baccalaureate, graduate, and cntinuing educatin prgrams; cutting edge science and research; and innvative clinical enterprise. Persnal Attributes and Capabilities Essential fr Admissin, Prgressin and Graduatin f students f the University f Maryland Schl f Nursing. The curricula leading t Baccalaureate, Master s and Dctral degrees in Nursing frm the University f Maryland Schl f Nursing require students t engage in diverse and cmplex experiences directed at the acquisitin and practice f essential nursing skills and functins. Unique cmbinatins f cgnitive, affective, psychmtr, physical and scial abilities are required t perfrm these functins satisfactrily in a timely manner that is cnsistent with patient safety and effective clinical utcmes. In additin t being essential t the successful cmpletin f the requirements f nursing degrees, these skills and functins are necessary t ensure the health and safety f patients, fellw students, faculty and ther health care prviders. Applicants and students shuld assume that any plan f study will be cmpleted with patient interactin r wrk in a clinical envirnment. Applicants shuld always inquire f the Schl in advance f enrllment abut the nature f patient and clinical wrk required. The Technical Standards fr interacting with patients and wrking in a clinical envirnment are nt applicable prvided such wrk is nt required as part f the student s prgram f study and presuming the student des nt enrll in curses r participate in ther activities which invlve interactin with patients r wrk in a clinical envirnment. Under certain circumstances, a student may be able t cmplete a pst-baccalaureate prgram withut patient interactin r wrk in a clinical envirnment, depending n the fferings available while the student is enrlled, the fcus f the student s plan f study, and review and apprval by the Schl. Admissin t the Schl f Nursing is pen t all qualified individuals and in accrdance with the 1973 Vcatinal Rehabilitatin Act (29 U.S.C. 701 et seq.) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C et seq.). The fllwing technical standards describe the nn-academic qualificatins required in additin t academic qualificatins that the Schl cnsiders essential fr entrance t, cntinuatin in and graduatin frm its Baccalaureate nursing degree prgram, as well as frm certain Master s and Dctral degree prgrams. Candidates fr nursing degrees must be able t meet these minimum standards with r withut reasnable accmmdatin fr successful cmpletin f degree requirements. The use f a trained intermediary is nt acceptable if a student s judgment and skill are mediated by reliance upn smene else s pwer f selectin, bservatin, r clinical ability. Standards A. Visual, Auditry and Tactile Abilities Sufficient abilities t allw the student t gather data frm written reference materials, ral presentatins, demnstratins and bservatins f a patient and the patient s envirnment. Sufficient ability t perfrm health assessments and interventins; cllect diagnstic specimens; and btain infrmatin frm digital, analg and wavefrm representatins f

2 physilgic phenmena t determine a patient s cnditin. Examples f relevant activities: Visual acuity sufficient t draw up the crrect quantity f medicatin in a syringe r detect changes in skin clr r cnditin. Auditry ability sufficient t hear and interpret infrmatin a patient is cmmunicating verbally, t detect sunds related t bdily functins using a stethscpe, t detect audible alarms generated by mechanical systems used t mnitr patient physilgical status, t cmmunicate via a telephne and t hear cries fr help frm patients and staff. Tactile abilities sufficient t detect unsafe temperature levels in heat-prducing devices used in patient care r detect anatmical abnrmalities, such as edema r small ndules. B. Cmmunicatin Abilities Ability t cmmunicate with accuracy, clarity and efficiency with patients, their families and ther members f the health care team (including spken and nn-verbal cmmunicatins, such as interpretatin f facial expressins, affect and bdy language). Required cmmunicatin abilities, including speech, hearing, reading, writing, language skills and cmputer literacy, in real time with a primarily English-speaking ppulatin. Examples f relevant activities: Abilities sufficient t give verbal directins t r fllw verbal directins frm ther members f the health care team and t participate in health care team discussins f patient care. Ability sufficient t elicit and recrd infrmatin abut health histry, current health state r respnses t treatment frm patients r family members. Ability sufficient t cnvey infrmatin t patients and thers as necessary t teach, direct and cunsel individuals. C. Mtr Abilities Sufficient mtr functin t execute mvements required t prvide general care and treatment t patients in all health care settings. Required mtr functins include grss and fine mtr skills, physical endurance, physical strength and mbility t carry ut nursing prcedures, perfrm basic labratry tests and prvide rutine and emergency care and treatment t patients within a safe time frame and ver an extended perid f time (i.e., a 6 12 hur clinical practicum per day). Examples f relevant activities: Fine mtr skills sufficient t btain assessment infrmatin by palpatin, auscultatin, percussin and ther diagnstic maneuvers. Physical endurance sufficient t cmplete assigned perids f clinical practice. Mbility sufficient t carry ut patient care prcedures, such as trachestmy care r perfrming emergency airway suctining, maneuvering in small areas such as patient rms and nursing wrk statins. Strength sufficient t carry ut patient care prcedures, such as assisting in the

3 turning, lifting, transferring and ambulatin f patients. This includes, but is nt limited t, the ability t carry and lift lads frm the flr, lift lads frm 12 inches frm the flr t shulder height and verhead, as well as ccasinally lifting 50 punds, frequently lifting 25 punds, and cnstantly lifting 10 punds. D. Behaviral, Interpersnal and Emtinal Abilities Ability t relate t clleagues, staff, faculty and patients with hnesty, integrity, maturity, empathy, prfessinalism, and nn-discriminatin. Capacity fr the develpment f a mature, sensitive and effective therapeutic relatinship with patients. Ability t wrk effectively and cnstructively in stressful and changing clinical and academic envirnments, bth independently and under supervisin, and as part f a team r grup, with the ability t mdify behavir in respnse t feedback and cnstructive criticism. Capacity t demnstrate ethical behavir, including adherence t the prfessinal nursing and student hnr cdes. Examples f relevant activities: Emtinal skills sufficient t remain calm in an emergency situatin. Interpersnal skills sufficient t cmmunicate effectively with patients and families f diverse religius, cultural r scial backgrunds. Behaviral skills sufficient t demnstrate the exercise f gd judgment and prmpt cmpletin f all respnsibilities attendant t the diagnsis and care f patients. E. Cgnitive, Cnceptual and Quantitative Abilities Ability t read and understand written dcuments in English and slve prblems invlving measurement, calculatin, reasning, analysis and synthesis. Ability t gather data, develp a plan f actin, establish pririties amng cmpeting demands, and mnitr treatment plans and mdalities. Ability t cmprehend three-dimensinal and spatial relatinships. Examples f relevant activities: Cgnitive skills sufficient t calculate apprpriate medicatin dsage given specific patient parameters. Cnceptual ability sufficient t analyze and synthesize data and develp an apprpriate plan f care. Quantitative ability sufficient t cllect data, priritize needs and anticipate reactins. Ability t cmprehend spatial relatinships adequately t prperly administer varius types f injectins r assess wunds f varying depths. Other Requirements A student must cmply with University immunizatin requirements, as utlined at: The admissin f a student wh is chrnically infected with Hepatitis B virus will be

4 cnsidered n a case-by-case basis after cnsultatin with a panel f experts in Infectius Diseases. This panel will cnsider the Hepatitis B e antigen status, the health f the student, and decide what, if any, restrictins and mnitring are necessary fr the student during their training in nursing. Applicants with Disabilities The Schl f Nursing will prvide reasnable accmmdatin in the admissins prcess fr applicants with disabilities. An applicant is nt disqualified frm cnsideratin due t a disability. Althugh the Schl f Nursing may nt inquire whether an applicant has a disability prir t making an admissins decisin, an applicant may disclse during the admissin prcess a disability fr which he r she wishes accmmdatin during the admissins prcess r upn admissin. If this disclsure ccurs, the Schl f Nursing may request that the applicant prvide dcumentatin f the disability. The admissins cmmittee will cnsider the applicant based n the published criteria fr admissin f all applicants. An applicant wh disclses a disability and requests accmmdatin in the admissin prcess will be required t submit, in writing, the request fr accmmdatin and pertinent supprting dcumentatin. This pertinent infrmatin will include a histry f accmmdatins granted previusly in ther educatinal prgrams and references wh can discuss the experience f the student in ther educatinal settings. Requests fr accmmdatin shuld be initiated with the University s Office f Disability Supprt Services. The Schl f Nursing may require additinal medical r ther verificatin f disabilities and prf f infrmatin presented cncerning accmmdatins. Such prf may include demnstratin f assisted physical abilities. The Schl may require independent medical examinatins r testing t verify claimed disabilities, determine the extent and effects f disabilities, and assess the utility f accmmdatins. Technical and medical cnsultatins frm resurces within the University and external t the University may be btained. Csts f independent medical examinatins, testing, technical and medical cnsultatins required by the Schl f Nursing will be brne by the Schl. The Schl f Nursing in cnjunctin with Office f Disability Supprt Services will make a determinatin as t the reasnableness f the accmmdatins that the applicant has requested r will determine alternative reasnable accmmdatins that the Schl may ffer. Enrlled Students with Disabilities A student wh disclses a disability and requests accmmdatin will be required t submit, in writing, the request fr accmmdatin and pertinent supprting dcumentatin. The pertinent infrmatin will include dcumentatin f the disability, by an apprpriately credentialed prfessinal. If available, dcumentatin shuld als include histry f accmmdatins granted previusly in ther educatinal prgrams and references wh can discuss the experience f the student in ther educatinal settings. Requests fr accmmdatin shuld be initiated with the University s Office f Disability Supprt Services. Requests shuld be made prir t the start f each semester fr curses in which accmmdatins may be needed. The Schl f Nursing may require additinal medical r ther verificatin f disabilities and prf f infrmatin presented cncerning accmmdatins. Such prf may include demnstratin f assisted physical abilities. The Schl may require

5 independent medical examinatins r testing t verify claimed disabilities, determine the extent and effects f disabilities, and assess the utility f accmmdatins. Technical and medical cnsultatins frm resurces within the University and external t the University may be btained. Csts f independent medical examinatins, testing, technical and medical cnsultatins required by the Schl f Nursing will be brne by the Schl. The Schl f Nursing s faculty in cnjunctin with Schl s Disability Supprt Liaisns will make a determinatin as t whether the student can perfrm the essential functins f the educatinal prgram, taking int accunt the accmmdatins that the student has requested r alternative reasnable accmmdatin that the Schl f Nursing wuld ffer. Csts f reasnable accmmdatin will be brne by the Schl f Nursing frm its resurces r ther funds available t it. The Schl f Nursing will prvide reasnable accmmdatins, but is nt required t make, nr will it make, mdificatins that wuld fundamentally alter the nature f the educatinal prgram r prvide auxiliary aids that present an undue burden t the Schl. The student must be able t perfrm all f the technical standards with r withut reasnable accmmdatins t matriculate r cntinue in the prgram. Adapted frm the University f Nrth Carlina Schl f Nursing Technical Standards fr Admissin, Prgressin and Graduatin Cpyright 2011 Schl f Nursing, UNC-CH