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Physical and Mental Qualifications

Students with disabilities have to have the disabilities verified by the CSUB Disability Services office at (661) 654-3360. It is to the student's advantage to do this as soon as possible in the quarter to ensure that approved accommodations can be granted in a timely manner.

Essential Functions

There are essential physical and mental functions or abilities necessary for admission and progression in nursing at CSUB. To matriculate or progress in the nursing curriculum, students must be able to perform all of the essential functions (with or without accommodations). The Department of Nursing follows the CSUB nondiscrimination policy, and students requesting accommodations should contact the Disability Services office. These essential functions include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Critical Thinking
   1. Make effective clinical decisions.
   2. Identify cause and effect relationships with clinical data.
   3. Develop nursing care plans.
   4. Perform math calculations requisite to safe dosage calculations and medication administration.
   5. Read, synthesize, analyze, evaluate, and integrate material in the classroom and the clinical setting.
2. Professional-Ethical Conduct

   Students must possess the ability to reason morally and practice nursing in a professional and ethical manner.

   1. Demonstrate integrity, honesty, responsibility, and tolerance.
   2. Abide by professional standards of practice.
   3. Deliver compassionate care to all patient populations.
3. Interpersonal Skills

   Students must demonstrate appropriate interpersonal abilities while interacting with individuals, families, and groups from a variety of social, emotional, cultural, and intellectual backgrounds.

   1. Communicate effectively and sensitively with other students, faculty, staff, patients, families, and other professionals.
   2. Demonstrate willingness and ability to give and receive feedback.
   3. Develop mature, sensitive, and effective relationships with clients.
   4. Establish trust and rapport with clients and colleagues.
4. Communication

   Students must have the ability to clearly communicate in oral and written forms, and to effectively interpret communication with others.

   1. Use appropriate grammar, vocabulary, and syntax.
   2. Effectively communicate nursing actions.
   3. Appropriately interpret client responses.
   4. Initiate health teaching.
   5. Demonstrate accurate nursing documentation.
   6. Accurately report patient information to members of the health care team.
5. Mobility and Stamina

   Students must possess sufficient gross and fine motor skills and endurance to provide safe and effective nursing care in all health care settings.

   1. Perform basic life support, including CPR.
   2. Function in an emergency situation.
   3. Safely assist a patient in moving (e.g., from wheelchair to commode, from chair to bed, lift and transfer from gurney to bed).
   4. Calibrate and use equipment.
   5. Perform treatments and procedures.
   6. Apply pressure to stop bleeding.
   7. Manipulate diagnostic instruments to adequately perform all aspects of a physical assessment.
   8. Sit, stand, and move about in patient environments for 12-hour periods.
6. Tactile

   Students must have sufficient tactile ability to perform a physical assessment of a patient and to perform procedures necessary for nursing care.

   1. Perform palpation and other functions necessary for a physical exam.
   2. Assess texture, shape, size, and vibration.
   3. Note temperature changes in skin and equipment.
   4. Perform therapeutic functions (e.g., inserting a urinary catheter or IV, change dressings, give medications).
7. Auditory

   Students must have sufficient auditory ability to effectively monitor and assess health needs of patients.

   1. Hear cries for help.
   2. Hear alarms on equipment and overhead codes.
   3. Hear auscultatory sounds using a stethoscope.
   4. Hear and interpret verbal communication from patients.
   5. Communicate over the telephone.
8. Visual

   Students must possess visual ability for observation and assessment necessary in nursing care.

   1. Observe patient responses (e.g., changes in skin color, grimaces).
   2. See drainage on dressings and note characteristics of body fluids.
   3. Note fluid levels in collection devices, syringes, and infusion devices.
   4. Read gauges that monitor patient progress (e.g., sphygmomanometer).
   5. Discriminate colors for diagnostic purposes.
   6. Assess movements of patients.
   7. Observe patient behavior (e.g., in rehab or psychiatric facilities).
9. Behavioral-Emotional Health

   Students must possess the emotional health required for full use of his or her intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment, and the prompt completion of all responsibilities attendant to the care of patients.

   1. Maintain mature, sensitive, and effective relationships with patients, students, staff, faculty, and other professionals under even highly stressful situations.
   2. Experience empathy for the situations and circumstances of others and effectively communicate that empathy.
   3. Be willing to examine and change his or her behavior when it interferes with productive individual or team relationships.
   4. Prioritize competing demands.
   5. Function in stressful circumstances.
   6. Separate own needs and experiences in order to maintain objectivity and client-centered care.
   7. Adjust to changing circumstances.
   8. Plan effectively and complete all assigned duties carefully.