Technical Standards

BSN-Prelicensure Technical Standards

Technical standards, as distinguished from academic standards, refer to the physical, cognitive, and behavioral abilities required for satisfactory completion of the curriculum.  The essential required abilities include motor, sensory, communicative, intellectual, behavioral, and social aspects.

Several standards are common to all programs.  These are listed below, followed by specific requirements of each program.

You must have the ability to:

1. Think critically, with sound judgment, emotional stability, maturity, empathy, and physical and mental stamina.
2. Learn and function in a wide variety of didactic and clinical settings.
3. Communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, using appropriate grammar, spelling, and vocabulary.
4. Immediately comprehend and respond to auditory instructions or requests.
5. Think clearly and act calmly in stressful situations.
6. Perform up to a 12-hour clinical experience in a single 24-hour period.
7. Work cooperatively, preserving relationships with other members of the health care team.
8. Perform fine and gross motor skills with both hands.
9. Apply adequate pressure to stop bleeding.
10. Perform CPR.

Nursing students must have the ability to:

1. Take an accurate health history and perform physical assessments using necessary sensory, auditory, and visual acuity.
2. Process and professionally communicate information with accuracy in a timely manner.
3. Understand and apply ethical standards for health care.
4. Demonstrate cognitive abilities necessary to master relevant content in arts, sciences and clinical courses at a level deemed appropriate by the faculty.
5. Demonstrate emotional stability at a level necessary to deliver professional, safe, competent care in all settings.
6. Assist in accomplishing safe transfer of patients from bed to chair or stretcher and return to bed.