Technical Standards

One goal of the College of Nursing is preparation for the professional practice of nursing through programs of undergraduate and graduate education. Graduates of the degree programs must demonstrate competencies in those intellectual, physical, and social tasks that together represent the fundamentals of nursing practice. Applicants and students will be judged not only on their scholastic ability and achievement, but also on their intellectual, physical, and emotional capacities to meet the full requirements of the respective curricula.

The standards of admission to the undergraduate and graduate programs are established by the faculty and reflect the achievements, skills, and abilities needed for the practice of professional and advanced nursing. Respective faculty groups recommend the admission of applicants to the appropriate deans based upon information in the application, and where applicable, letters of recommendation and personal interviews.

Nationally recognized organizations that accredit various programs in the College require the development of broad knowledge and specialized skills and behaviors to prepare for delivering general or advanced nursing care. This educational process enables students to become self-directed learners, pursue further education, and deliver competent nursing care. Courses in nursing and the basic sciences provide a core of knowledge necessary for clinical practice, while clinical courses include diverse experiences in inpatient and outpatient settings that lead to competence in the practice of nursing at a basic or advanced level.

The following technical standards specify those attributes the faculty believes are necessary for completing the educational programs in nursing. These standards describe the essential functions students must demonstrate to fulfill the requirements of the degree programs in nursing and thus are prerequisites for entrance, continuation, and graduation.

The University of Kentucky College of Nursing will consider for admission any applicant who demonstrates the ability to perform, or to learn to perform, the skills listed in this document. Applicants are NOT required to disclose the nature of any disability, but an applicant with questions about these technical requirements is strongly encouraged to discuss the issue with the dean for the particular program of study. If appropriate, and upon the request of the applicant, student, or faculty, reasonable accommodations for a disability will be provided.

Certain chronic or recurrent illnesses and problems that interfere with patient care or safety may be incompatible with nursing education or practice. Other illnesses may lead to high likelihood of student absences and should be carefully considered. Deficiencies in knowledge, judgment, integrity, character, or professional attitude and demeanor may jeopardize patient care, and thus become grounds for course failure and possible dismissal from a nursing program.

Students must possess aptitude, abilities, and skills in five areas: (a) observation; (b) communication; (c) sensory and motor coordination and function; (d) conceptualization, integration, and quantification; and (e) behavioral and social skills, abilities, and aptitude. These areas are described in detail below.

Observation
Students must be able to observe a patient accurately, at a distance and close-at-hand, noting nonverbal as well as verbal signals. Specific visual tasks include, but are not limited, to the following: observing skin and anatomic structures and body movements, reading written and illustrated material, seeing class and clinical demonstrations, discriminating numbers and patterns associated with patient care instruments and tests (such as sphygmomanometers, electrocardiograms, urine output).

Communication
Students must be able to relate effectively and sensitively to patients and families, conveying a sense of compassion and empathy. Students must be able to elicit information from patients; accurately describe changes in mood, activity, and posture; and perceive verbal and nonverbal interactions. Communication includes reading and writing as well as speaking and listening. Students must be able to communicate quickly, effectively, and efficiently in oral and written English with members of the health care team. Specific requirements include, but are not limited, to the following: eliciting pain levels from patients, providing patient teaching, and reporting changes in patient states to other members of the health care team. Students must learn to recognize and appropriately respond to emotions such as sadness, worry, fear and anger in patients. Students must be able to read and record observations and plans legibly, efficiently, and accurately in documents such as the patient record. They must be able to prepare and convey concise, but complete, summaries of brief and prolonged encounters with patients. Students must be able to complete forms according to directions in a timely fashion.

Sensory and Motor
Students must have sufficient sensory and motor function to perform a physical examination using palpitation, auscultation, percussion, and other diagnostic maneuvers. In general, this requires sufficient exteroceptive sense (touch, pain, temperature), proprioceptive sense (position, pressure, movement, stereognosis, vibration), physical strength, and motor function. Students should be able to execute motor movements to provide general care and to competently use patient care equipment (such as intravenous monitors, sterile equipment, catheters). They must be able to respond promptly to urgencies within a health care setting, and must not hinder the ability of co-workers to provide prompt treatment and care. Students must be able to learn to perform basic laboratory tests, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, and patient care procedures (such as fingerstick, dressing changes, intravenous insertions). Examples of emergency treatment reasonably required of nursing students include responding quickly when called, initiating appropriate therapeutic procedures, administering intravenous medication, applying pressure to stop bleeding, and performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Intellectual-Conceptual
These abilities include measuring, calculating, reasoning, analyzing, judging, recognizing numbers, and synthesizing. Problem solving, a critical skill demanded of nurses, requires all of these intellectual abilities, and must be performed quickly, especially in emergency situations. Students must be able to identify significant findings from history, physical, and laboratory data, and recall and retain information. They must be able to arrive at a nursing diagnosis, plan and evaluate care, and evaluate the outcomes of care. Students must be able to provide reasoned explanations for their diagnoses, learn to prescribe therapies (which may include medications), and become skilled in managing time, people, and resources according to their level of educational preparation. The ability to collaborate with other health care professionals, and to incorporate new information from patients, families, peers, teachings, and literature into decision making is essential. Discriminating judgments in patient assessment, care planning and evaluating are mandatory. Students must be able to identify and communicate the limits of their knowledge to others when appropriate. Students must be able to interpret graphs describing relationships and to use other modes of data presentation.

Behavioral Attributes
Empathy, integrity, honesty, concern for others, interpersonal skills, interest, and motivation are personal qualities required of all nurses. Students must possess the emotional health required for the full use of their intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment, the prompt completion of responsibilities attendant to the care of patients, and the development of mature, culturally sensitive, and effective relationships with patients. These attributes require the ability to be aware of, and appropriately react to, one's own immediate emotional responses and biases. Students must be able to develop professional relationships with patients, providing comfort and reassurance when appropriate, while protecting patient confidentiality. Students must possess adequate endurance and strength to function effectively under stress and for extended periods. Students must be able to adapt to changing environments, display flexibility, and learn to function under conditions of uncertainty inherent in the clinical problems of many patients. Students are expected to accept appropriate suggestions and criticisms, and respond by modifications of behaviors when necessary.

UK Healthcare | College of Nursing | Search Our Site | Contact Us