Health-Related Behavioral Standards
In accordance with the law and University policies, no qualified individual with a disability shall, on the basis of that disability, be excluded from participation in The Catholic University of America programs or activities. The Conway School of Nursing, in accord with University policy, will provide reasonable accommodation to a qualified individual with a disability. To obtain accommodations, an individual must request them from the University Office of Disability Support Services.
Admission and continuation in Conway School of Nursing programs is contingent on general abilities, behavioral and social attributes, and the ability to professionally manage stressful situations. The required behavioral attributes are outlined below:
General Abilities: The student is expected to possess functional use of the senses of vision, touch, hearing, and smell so that data received by the senses may be integrated, analyzed, and synthesized in a consistent and accurate manner. A student must also possess the ability to perceive pain, pressure, temperature, position, vibration, and movement, all of which are important to the student's ability to gather significant information needed to effectively evaluate patients. A student must be able to respond promptly to urgent situations that may occur during clinical training activities and must not hinder the ability of other members of the health care team to provide prompt treatment and care to patients.
Observational Ability: The student must have sufficient capacity to make accurate visual observations and interpret them in the context of laboratory studies, medication administration, and patient care activities. In addition, the student must be able to document these observations and maintain accurate records.
Communication Ability: The student must communicate effectively to elicit information and to translate that information to others. Each student must have the ability to read, write, comprehend, and speak the English language to facilitate communication with patients, their family members, and other professionals in health care settings. In addition, the student must be able to maintain accurate patient records, present information in a professional, logical manner, and provide patient counseling and instruction to effectively care for patients and their families. The student must communicate effectively verbally and in writing with instructors and other students in the classroom setting as well. This requires verbal abilities, control of non-verbal behaviors that limit communication, and the ability to respond to non-verbal cues from patients, fellow students, and instructors.
Motor Ability: The student must be able to perform gross and fine motor movements with sufficient coordination needed to perform complete physical examinations utilizing the techniques of inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation, and other diagnostic maneuvers. A student must develop the psychomotor skills reasonably needed to perform or assist with procedures, treatments, administration of medication, management and operation of diagnostic and therapeutic medical equipment, and maneuvers to assist with patient care activities such as lifting, wheelchair guidance, and mobility. The student must have sufficient levels of neuromuscular control and eye-to-hand coordination as well as possess the physical and mental stamina to meet the demands associated with satisfactory and safe performance in the clinical and classroom settings including performing CPR if necessary.
Intellectual, Conceptual, and Quantitative Abilities: The student must be able to develop and refine problem-solving skills that are crucial to practice as a nurse. Problem solving involves the ability to measure, calculate, reason, analyze, and synthesize objective and subjective data, and to make decisions, often in a time urgent environment, that reflect consistent and thoughtful deliberation and sound clinical judgment. Each student must demonstrate mastery of these skills and possess the ability to formulate sound judgment in patient assessment, intervention, evaluation, teaching, and setting short and long term goals.
Behavioral and Social Attributes: Compassion, integrity, motivation, effective interpersonal skills, and concern for others are personal attributes required of those in the nursing programs. Comfort with and acceptance of the role of a nurse functioning under supervision of a clinical instructor or preceptor is essential for a nursing student. The student must possess the skills required for full utilization of the student's intellectual abilities; the exercise of good judgment; the prompt completion of all responsibilities in the classroom and clinical settings; and the development of mature, sensitive, and effective relationships with patients and other members of the health care team. Each student must be able to exercise stable, sound judgment and to complete assessment and interventional activities. The ability to establish rapport and maintain sensitive, interpersonal relationships with individuals, families, and groups from a variety of social, emotional, cultural, and intellectual backgrounds is critical for practice as a nurse. The student must be able to adapt to changing environments; display flexibility; accept and integrate constructive criticism given in the classroom and clinical settings; effectively interact in the clinical setting with other members of the healthcare team; and learn to function cooperatively and efficiently in the face of uncertainties inherent in clinical practice.
Ability to Manage Stressful Situations: The student must be able to adapt to and function effectively under stressful situations that may occur in both the classroom and clinical settings, including emergency situations. Students will encounter multiple stressors while in the nursing programs. These stressors may be (but are not limited to) personal, patient care/family, faculty/peer, and or program related.
Unsafe Practice: Unsafe practice is defined as behavior that threatens, or has the potential to threaten, the safety of a client, a family member, another student, a faculty member, or other health care provider in the clinical placement.
Students are not allowed to practice in a clinical setting without the knowledge or supervision of a faculty member.
Students who exhibit potentially unsafe practice during a clinical experience may be immediately withdrawn from the clinical setting. This decision may be made by the clinical faculty or at the request of the clinical agency.
Students who are at risk for unsafe practice may also be prevented from attending their clinical practicum or experience, until the unsafe practice concern has been investigated and satisfactorily resolved.
If the concern cannot be resolved, the student may be subject to additional administrative sanctions and may be subject to administrative dismissal from the program and the Conway School of Nursing.
Students who exhibit any potentially unsafe practice during a clinical, laboratory, or academic setting may be subject to drug and alcohol testing with the concurrence of the Assistant Dean or Dean. Students failing to comply with the request may be disciplined or dismissed. Students who test positive for any non-prescribed medications or substances will be disciplined and/or dismissed. The student has the right to follow the published University policies and procedures in the event of course failure or program dismissal as posted on www.catholic.edu.