Technical Skills

Qualified applicants are expected to meet all admission criteria as well as perform essential functions. Students requesting reasonable accomodations to meet these criteria must inform the Program Director in writing of the need for accomodations at the time of admission. The student is expected to file the appropriate forms to document the need for accomodation with the Services for Students with Disabilities Office, DAMA 117, 575-527-7548.

Functional Ability Category	Representative Activity/Attribute	Examples
Gross Motor Skills	Move within confined spaces Sit and maintain balance Stand and maintain balance Reach above Shoulders Reach below waist	Function in an ICU environment: move about an iCU room in order to perform procedures on the patient. Must also read patient chart, equipment settings, and/or equipment displays. Sit to record findings. Change equipment settings above head and below waist, plug electrical appliances into wall outlets.
Fine Motor Skills	Pick up objects with hands Grasp small objects with hands Write with pen or pencil Key/type Pinch/pick or otherwise work with fingers Twist Squeeze with finger	Lift medication vials to eyes to read. Squeeze medication vials to empty. Squeeze Ballard suction catheter button. Grasp hold and read small instruments such as volume measuring devices. Write in patient chart. Record patient data in record. Change settings on equipment by turning knob and observing change.
Physical Endurance	Stand in place for prolonged periods Sustain repetitive movements Maintain physical tolerance for 8 or 12 hour periods Ability to perform activities day, evening and night	Stand and perform repetitive procedures on patients such as Chest Physical Therapy and CPR. Repeat this procedure periodically throughout an 8-hour shift.
Smell	Detect odors from patients Detect smoke Detect gases or noxious smells	Assess for noxious odors originating from the patient or environment (gas or smoke).
Physical Strength	Push and pull 25 pounds Support 25 pounds Lift 25 pounsd Carry equipment/supplies Use upper body strength Squeeze with hands	Assist patient from bed to chair. Hoist patient up in bed. Move patient from stretcher to bed and back. Carry medications, pulse oximeter, stethoscope or other equipment to patient room. Push ventilator or other heavy equipment to patient room. Push ventilator or other heavy equipment from respiratory care department to patient room. Move other equipment such as Pulse Oximeter, IPPB, IPV machine. Lift equipment from bed height to shelf height above chest level.
Mobility	Twist Bend Stoop/squat Move quickly Climb Walk	Turn to change settings on monitor while standing at patient bedside. Behind to change equipment settings on floor, at knee level, waist level, chest level, eye level, and above head. Gather equipment and manually resuscitate patient without delay. Make rapid adjustments if needed to ensure patient safety. Make way to patient room if an emergency is called using stairs.
Hearing	Hear normal speaking level sounds Hear faint voices Hear faint body sounds Hear in situation when not able to see lips Hear auditory alarms	Listen to patient breath sounds to determine if patient is breathing. Listen to heart sounds to determine if heart is beating. Determine the intensity and quality of patient breath sounds in order to help determine a diagnosis. Hear audible alarms such as a ventilator alarm. Hear overhead pages to call for emergency assistance.
Visual	See objects up to 20 inches away See objects up to 20 feet away Use depth perception Use peripheral vision Distinguish color Distinguish color intensity	Read patient chart to determine correct therapy. Visually assess patient color to assess for hypoxia. Read settings on monitors and other equipment. Visually assess for changes. Confirm settings visually such as with ventilator display.
Tactile	Feel vibrations Detect temperature Feel differences in surface characteristics Feel differences in sizes/shapes Detect environmental temperature	Assess patient by feeling for patient pulse, temperature, tactile fremetis, edema, and subcutaneous emphysema.
Reading	Read and understand written documents	Read and interpret physician orders, physician, therapist and nurse's notes. Read from a computer monitor. Gather data reasonably accurate and in a reasonable amount of time to ensure safe and effective patient care relative to other caregivers.
Math Competence	Read and understand columns of writing Read digital displays Read graphic printouts Calibrate equipment Convert numbers to and from metric system Read graphs Tell time Measure time Count rates Use measuring tools Read measurement marks Add/subtract/multiply/divide Compute fractions Use calculator	Read and interpret patient graphic charts and graphic displays. Perform basic arithmetic functions in order to calculate minute ventilation, convert temperature, correctly place graduate tubing, and other functions.
Emotional Stability	Establish appropriate emotional boundaries Provide emotional support to others Adapt to changing environment/stress Deal with the unexpected Focus attention on task Monitor own emotions Perform multiple responsibilities concurrently Handle strong emotions	Provide for safe patient care despite a rapidly changing and intensely emotional environment. Perform multiple tasks concurrently, example: delivery of medication or oxygen in one room while performing an arterial blood gas in another such as in an emergency room environment. Maintain enough composure to provide for safe and effective patient care despite crisis circumstances.
Analytical Thinking	Transfer knowledge from one situation to another Process information Evaluate outcomes Problem solve Prioritize tasks Use long-term memory Use short-term memory	Evaluate different sources of diagnostic information to help arrive at a patient diagnosis. Evaluate priorities in order to provide for the most appropriate care. Appropriately evaluate data in order to notify physicians and nursing when necessary.
Critical Thinking	Identify cause/effect relationships Plan/control activities for others Synthesize knowledge and skills Sequence information	Evaluate different sources of diagnostic information to help arrive at a patient diagnosis and treatment. Evaluate data in order to formulate an appropriate action plan.
Interpersonal Skills	Negotiate interpersonal conflict Respect differences in patients, fellow students, and members of the health care team Establish rapport with patients, fellow students, and members of the health care team	Communicate effectively with disagreeable patients, family doctors and nurses, and other staff in order to attempt to meet therapeutic goals for the patient.
Communication Skills	Teach Explain procedures Give oral reports Interact with others Speak on the telephone Influence people Convey information through writing	Communicate effectively and appropriately with doctors, nurses, patients, family and other staff in order to provide for most effective and efficient patient care.