Health and Physical Considerations for Nursing Students

Because the college seeks to provide in as much as possible a reasonably safe environment for its health career students and their patients, a student may be required, during the course of the program, to demonstrate their physical and/or emotional fitness to meet the essential requirements of the program. Such essential requirements may include freedom from communicable diseases, the ability to perform certain physical tasks, and suitable emotional fitness. Any appraisal measures used to determine such physical and/or emotional fitness will be in compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, so as not to discriminate against any individual on the basis of disability.

All Tennessee Board of Regents Nursing programs have adopted the following core performance standards. Admission to and progression in nursing programs is not based on these standards but should be used to assist the student in determining whether accommodations or modifications are necessary. The standards are:

1. Critical thinking ability sufficient for clinical judgment.

2. Interpersonal abilities sufficient to effectively interact with individuals, families, and groups from a variety of social, emotional, cultural, and intellectual backgrounds.

3. Communication abilities sufficient for interaction with others in verbal and written form.

4. Physical abilities sufficient to move from room to room and maneuver in small spaces.

5. Gross and fine motor abilities sufficient to provide safe and effective nursing care.

6. Auditory abilities sufficient to monitor and assess health needs.

7. Visual ability sufficient for observation and assessment necessary in nursing care.

8. Tactile ability sufficient for physical assessment. 

If a student believes that one or more of the standards cannot be met without accommodation or modification, the nursing program will determine whether or not accommodations or modification can be reasonably made. A student should contact the director of Nursing for assistance.

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