Health, Character and Technical Standards for
Health Programs

Dental Assisting | Dental Hygiene | Radiation Therapy |
| Radiologic Technology | Nursing | Paramedic Emergency Medicine |

Technical standards have been established as a guidance tool for use in realistically informing the student of minimum standards needed to satisfactorily function in the program and ultimately in the profession. Applicants who feel they may not be able to meet one or more of the technical standards listed below should contact the program officials to discuss individual cases. The program officials will seriously consider all academically qualified candidates providing that the technical standards can be met with reasonable accommodations.

The college must ensure that patients/clients are not placed in jeopardy by students during learning experiences. Therefore, students in practica, service learning and clinical experiences must demonstrate sufficient emotional stability to withstand the stresses, uncertainties, and changing circumstances that characterize patient/client care responsibilities. Furthermore, the student is expected to have the emotional stability required to exercise sound judgment, accept direction and guidance from a supervisor or faculty member and establish rapport and maintain sensitive interpersonal relationships with employees, customers and/or patients/clients and their families.

Dental Assisting

Applicants must be in good physical and mental health in order to qualify for the program to include:

1. Sitting at chairside for a sustained length of time with frequent reaching and turning;
2. Manual dexterity to safely perform intraoral instrumentation;
3. Sufficient hearing to assess patient needs;
4. Sufficient eyesight to observe patients, operate dental equipment, including x-ray machines; visual acuity (correctable) to work with small measurements in preparing and manipulating dental materials.

Specific Admission Requirements for Dental Assisting

Dental Hygiene

Applicants must be in good physical and mental health in order to qualify for the program, to include:

1. Sitting at chairside for a sustained length of time with frequent reaching;
2. Manual dexterity to safely perform intraoral instrumentation;
3. Sufficient hearing to assess patient needs;
4. Sufficient eyesight to observe patients, operate equipment andÿevaluate radiographs; visual acuity (correctable) to work with small measurements, and to interpret small defects;
5. Sufficient writing skills to record medical and dental data and communicate with other dental professionals; ability to express ideas to educate the client and exchange information with other health professionals.

Specific Admission Requirements for Dental Hygiene

Radiologic Technology, Radiation Therapy Associate Degree and Radiation Therapy Certificate Program

The student must have sufficient strength and motor coordination required to perform the following physical activities:

1. Standing for sustained periods of time and walking most of the work day to accomplish tasks;
2. Frequent reaching and manual dexterity in handling accessory equipment for radiographic purposes including typing on computer terminals;
3. Frequently transporting, moving, lifting and transferring patients from a wheelchair or stretcher to and from a radiographic table.

In addition, the student must have:

1. Sufficient eyesight to observe patients, manipulate equipment and evaluate radiographic quality. Visual acuity (correctable) sufficient to work with analyzing data and figures, working with computer terminals, extensive reading, visual inspection involving small defects, small parts, and operation of machines;
2. Sufficient hearing to assess patient needs;
3. Sufficient writing skills to communicate needs promptly and effectively. Ability to express or exchange ideas by means of the spoken word. Primary functions include activities in which the student must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to patients, physicians, families, and other employees accurately, and loudly or quickly; and
4. Ability to work with frequent interruptions and respond appropriately to unexpected situations. Ability to work with wide variations in work load and stress levels.

Specific Admission Requirements for Radiologic Technology, Radiation Therapy Associate Degree, and Radiation Therapy Certifcate Programs.

Nursing (RN, LPN-RN Advancement Option & PN Programs)

Applicants must be in good physical and mental health in order to qualify for RN or PN licensure. In addition, State Boards of Nursing may have specific requirements regarding prior convictions of offenses and licensure. Please contact the Board of Nursing in the state in which practice is planned regarding licensure requirements. Satisfactory completion of program does not guarantee RN or PN licensure.

Standards have been established to provide guidance to students as to skills and abilities required to function successfully in the program and ultimately in the profession of nursing. Applicants who think they may not be able to meet one or more of the technical standards should contact department head or faculty to discuss individual cases.

1. Sufficient hearing to assess patient needs and to understand instructions, emergency signals and telephone conversation.
2. Sufficient visual acuity to observe patients, manipulate equipment, and interpret data; visual acuity sufficient to ensure a safe environment, identify color changes, read fine print/writing and calculate fine calibrations.
3. Sufficient verbal ability to express and exchange information and ideas and to interact with patients, family members, physicians, peers and other ancillary medical personnel.
4. Ability to work with frequent interruptions, to respond appropriately in emergencies or unexpected situations and to cope with extreme variations in workload and stress levels.
5. Sufficient strength and motor coordination to perform the following physical activities: manual dexterity in handling and lifting equipment; frequently moving, lifting, and transferring patients; and performing CPR.

Specific Admission Requirements for RN, LPN-RN Advancement Option & PN Programs)
Program Comments for RN or LPN-RN Advancement Option
Program Comments for Practical Nursing

Paramedic Emergency Medicine

Technical/Physical Standards

Paramedic Emergency Medicine Program students must have sufficient strength and motor coordination required to perform the following physical activities: standing and walking for sustained periods of time; driving an ambulance and/or rescue unit under emergency conditions; frequent reaching and manual dexterity in handling equipment often in confined spaces; frequently transporting, moving, lifting, and transferring patients of various sizes to and from a stretcher and other patient transport devices.

Health Requirements

Annual TB testing; Hepatitis B vaccine; personal health insurance; completed health physical (all students are sent NHTI health forms upon acceptance, which must be completed prior to the start of classes); and NHTI liability insurance.

In addition, the student must have:
Never been convicted of a felony (may interfere with National Registry eligibility); sufficient eyesight (correctable) to observe patients, manipulate equipment, and interpret data. Visual acuity (correctable) sufficient to work with analyzing data and figures, working with computer terminals, making visual inspections of equipment; sufficient hearing (correctable) to assess patient needs and to understand instructions; sufficient written and oral skills to communicate needs promptly and effectively, to express or exchange ideas and to interact with patients, physicians, peers and other ancillary medical personnel as well as other public service emergency personnel; ability to work with frequent interruptions and respond appropriately to unexpected situations. Ability to work with wide variations in workload and stress levels; mental health status to cope with personal stresses in a way that does not adversely affect performance, such as mood changes, lack of concentration, etc.

Specific Admission Requirements for Paramedic Emergency Medicine

Revised May 16, 2008
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