Nursing Program Technical Standards

It is critical that all candidates for a nursing degree possess certain fundamental skills and abilities. A person qualified for the nursing program is one who has met SVSU’s academic standards and is able, with or without reasonable accommodations, to demonstrate on a regular basis the ability to perform the essential functions of a registered nurse and to provide safe and quality nursing care.

The list of core skills and abilities set forth below is designed to help students make an informed decision about whether to pursue a career in nursing. The examples of necessary activities provided below are not exhaustive; individual clinical sites may have stricter requirements to which students practicing in that site must adhere. Additional specific requirements and competencies of the nursing program (e.g., academic standards) are outlined in course syllabi and clinical performance tools. Before deciding whether to obtain a nursing degree, it is important that all students consider whether he or she will be able to perform the essential functions of nursing, with or without accommodations. All nursing students are required to meet the same standards. SVSU fully complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and does not discriminate against students with disabilities. If at any time you wish to discuss whether reasonable accommodations can be provided by SVSU, you should submit a written request for accommodation to SVSU Disability Services. In order to allow Disability Services ample time to determine whether reasonable accommodations can be provided, whenever possible, the request should be submitted prior to entry into a course for which the student believes reasonable accommodations may be needed.

Table of core skills, standard and examples of necessary activities.
Core Skills	Standard	Examples of Necessary Activities
Communication	Communication abilities are sufficient for interaction with others in oral and written form.	Explain treatment procedures, initiate health teaching, document and interpret nursing actions and client responses. Read and record documentation in the chart and online data sources, quickly and accurately in emergency situations.
Mobility	Physical abilities are sufficient to move from room to room and maneuver in small spaces.	Move around in client rooms, workspaces and treatment areas, administer cardio-pulmonary procedures, lift 40 pounds and move patients from bed to wheelchair or stretcher. Must be able to sit, stand, move and tolerate taxing workloads for up to12 hours at a time.
Motor Skills	Gross and fine motor abilities sufficient to provide safe and effective nursing care.	Calibrate and use the equipment, position clients, administer medications orally and by injection, use hospital equipment safely and manipulate life support devices. Can apply pressure to stop bleeding. Can perform palpation, percussion and auscultation.
Hearing	Auditory ability sufficient to monitor and assess health needs.	Hears monitor alarms, emergency signals, body sounds, cries for help. Can hear using a stethoscope and communicate over the telephone.
Visual	Visual ability sufficient for observation and assessment necessary in nursing care.	Observes client responses and recognizes subtle physical changes. Can determine differences in colors and read information on patient charts, medications and equipment. Can read gauges. Can see to administer treatments, discriminate colors for diagnostic purposes, observe changes in skin color and drainage on dressings and assess movements.
Tactile	Tactile ability sufficient for physical assessment and performance of skilled nursing activities.	Performs palpation, functions of physical examination and/or those activities related to therapeutic nursing interventions, e.g. insertion of a catheter or IV. Can assess temperature, shape, size and vibration. Some latex sensitivities can be accommodated, but allergies make it extremely hard, if not impossible, to place in clinical settings.
Mental	Coping ability sufficient for coping with death, anxiety, and multiple demands.	Comforts patients and families, keeps personal stress level in check and responds to multiple demands. Acts ethically and uses compassion. Completes all responsibilities, attendant to client care. Adjusts to changing circumstances.
Cognitive	Reading comprehension, deductive, inductive reasoning and computation skills.	Calculates medication dosages, understands laboratory values, reads and understands physician orders. Can exercise sound clinical judgment.

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BSN
(989) 964-4517
rmwinter@svsu.edu

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cmhupert@svsu.edu

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mpkocha1@svsu.edu