Essential functions are those physical, mental, and psychosocial characteristics that are necessary to meet the clinical/practice/fieldwork expectations for the Kinney College of Nursing and Health Professions programs.
Becoming a healthcare professional requires the completion of an education program that is both intellectually and physically challenging. The purpose of this statement is to articulate the essential function requirements of the Kinney College programs in a way that allows students to compare their own capabilities against these demands.
A student with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation in order to meet academic requirements and to fulfill the essential functions of the KCNHP programs. Reasonable accommodation does not mean that students with disabilities will be exempt from certain tasks; it does mean that we will work with students with disabilities to determine whether there are ways that we can assist the student toward completion of the task(s) at issue without fundamentally altering the nature of the program or task and without incurring undue financial and administrative burden.
Motor Skills
- Ability to independently manipulate and guide weights up to 20-50 pounds (will vary per specific program requirements)
- Ability to move about freely and maneuver in small spaces
- Tolerate regular changes of physical position, both stationary and mobile, for extended (8-12 hour shift) periods of time
- Possess skills to independently handle and operate a range of items, devices or equipment
- Maintain a stable physical position
- Agility to respond in an emergency situation
- Manipulate equipment by pushing buttons, operating keyboards and turning dials
- Simultaneously manipulate controls with one hand and manipulate the transducer (Diagnostic Medical Sonography)
Communication Skills
- Process, comprehend and communicate information effectively, clearly, in a timely manner, in the English language and with individuals from various social, emotional, cultural and intellectual backgrounds including the ability to perceive non-verbal communication.
Cognitive/Critical Thinking Skills
- Collect, measure, calculate, analyze, interpret, and apply information
- Exercise good judgment in a variety of settings
- Ability to set priorities and manage time effectively
Interpersonal and Behavioral Skills
- Establish and maintain professional working relationships
- Apply conflict management and problem solving strategies
- Demonstrate professional, ethical, and legal behavior
- Demonstrate appropriate maturity, stability, and empathy to establish effective and harmonious relationships in diverse settings
- Demonstrate flexibility and ability to adapt to change
- Maintain self-control in potentially stressful environments
- Comply with professional standards regardless of circumstance
Sensory Skills
- Uses all available senses to collect data regarding patient status and provide patient care
- Monitor the patient and machine controls from a distance of 20 inches in a darkened room (Diagnostic Medical Sonography)
- View and evaluate images displayed on a computer screen, distinguishing between white, grey, black, red and blue colors for up to 8 hours each day (Diagnostic Medical Sonography)
