Each student must meet objectives and competencies in the following areas in order to be admitted and continue in the nursing program:

Vision

The student must be able to:

• Make visual observations of patient’s status

• Detect unsafe environmental conditions

• Possess visual acuity of near clarity of vision at 20 inches or less and far clarity of vision at 20 feet or more

Hearing

The student must be able to:

• Hear spoken verbal communication from others

• Hear sounds used for patient assessment such as breath sounds, blood pressure, apical pulse, and others that would indicate changes in the patient’s physiological status

Speech

The student must be able to:

• Utilize clear, effective speech when communicating with patients, families, and the health care team

Touch

The student must be able to:

• Possess the ability to sufficiently access patient pulses, monitor patient skin temperature, assess for edema and other important signs of changes in patient’s physiological status

Smell

The student must be able to:

• Detect odors that indicate changes in the patient’s physiological status

• Perceive odors that indicate unsafe environmental conditions

Reading The student must be able to:

• Possess the ability to read and comprehend course materials, patient care documentation, interpret health care facility and university policies

Writing

The student must be able to:

• Write in legible documentation style which is readable in the English language

Movement

The student must be able to:

• Observe, assess patients, and perform emergency patient care

• Possess full manual dexterity of upper extremities, including neck and shoulders

• Possess unrestricted movement of lower extremities, back and hips

• Touch the floor to remove environmental hazards (Examples include: nursing procedures such as bladder catheterizations, parenteral injections, application of restraints, patient hygiene)

Lifting

The student must be able to:

• Lift and/or support at least 75 pounds to safely transfer, ambulate, and reposition patient **

If a student should present with any limitation in the above areas, each case will be reviewed on an individual basis. If possible, reasonable accommodations will be made.

Nursing Student Health Evaluation

Robert Morris University

6001 University Boulevard Moon Township, PA 15108

Legal Statements