Essential Functions of a Nursing Student

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Kankakee Community College and the Nursing program do not discriminate based on disability in the administration of educational policies, admission policies, student aid, or other college-administered programs.

The nursing student must have the abilities and skills necessary to provide competent patient care, which includes observation; communication; physical strength and endurance; gross and fine motor skills ability; hearing, visual, tactile and smell sensory ability, intellectual-conceptual abilities, and behavior/social attributes. Reasonable accommodations can be made for some disabilities in certain areas, but the nursing student must be able to perform in a reasonably independent manner. The following is a list of essential functions that are required of students in the Nursing Program:

1. Demonstrate visual acuity, auditory ability, and, if necessary, tolerate noxious odors, perfume, unsightly wounds and skin conditions to accurately assess the condition of a patient at a distance and close at hand as required to administer effective patient care.
2. Read and effectively utilize a computer screen and keyboard.
3. Demonstrate analytical thinking, critical thinking and problem-solving skills for effective patient management and implementation of selected treatment interventions.
4. Maneuver equipment in a patient’s room, home, clinic or in the nursing classroom/laboratory.
5. Work in stressful situations, responding appropriately and in an emotionally controlled manner in emergency situations that require quick thinking and the simultaneous coordination of a variety of activities.
6. Must possess coping skills to accept constructive criticism, talk in front of groups of varying sizes, and use effective time management strategies.
7. Must consistently have sufficient cardiac, pulmonary, and musculoskeletal endurance.
8. Demonstrate sufficient physical agility to respond to patient/family/caregiver needs, including unexpected changes in the patient’s status in a timely manner.
9. Demonstrate the ability to assist patients in ambulating, positioning in bed, and transferring from one surface to another in various settings and environments, which may require full-body range of motion, reaching in any direction, equilibrium and righting reactions and bilateral upper extremity activities.
10. Demonstrate proper postures, body mechanics, ergonomics and lifting techniques.
11. Must be capable of touching or being touched by another person in appropriate and professional ways.
12. Lift objects in excess of 100 pounds occasionally, and/or in excess of 50 pounds or more frequently, and/or in excess of 20 pounds constantly to move objects/patients/supplies/equipment.
13. Tolerate prolonged standing, stooping, squatting, bending, pushing, and pulling and independently be mobile throughout a clinical day.
14. Be able to sit quietly in a classroom for at least two hours.
15. Demonstrate ability to read, write, understand and speak English to accurately apply instructions.
16. Demonstrate verbal and non-verbal communication with the patient/client, Nursing staff, health care delivery personnel, and others in an effective, appropriate, capable and culturally competent manner.
17. Must be able to recognize, accept and follow the Code of Ethics for Nurses.
18. Must be able to recognize, accept, and follow the Code of Conduct for Kankakee Community College.

Students who are unable to perform these functions, with or without reasonable accommodations, may be unsafe in the clinical environment and thus will likely be unsuccessful in the program.

If you have concerns about meeting these essential functions, please make an appointment with an Admissions Advisor, Disability Services Office Coordinator and/or the Director of Nursing Programs.