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You are required to read the following information. All undergraduates and graduates admitted to the University of Wyoming Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing (FWWSON) will be asked to verify that they can meet these standards with or without accommodation(s). In courses or programs without clinical components, or involving no direct client care, these Technical Standards may be modified by the program admission committee.
Observation/Sensory-motor:
Applicants must be able to observe demonstrations and learn from experiences in the
basic sciences, including but not limited to, physiology and pharmacology, microbiology
and pathophysiology laboratory situations. Applicants must be able to observe and
learn from experiences in the clinical nursing laboratory such as the following examples:
accurately read gradients/calibrations on a syringe; measure medications accurately;
accurately recognize color changes on chemical reaction strips; assess heart, breath,
abdominal sounds; assess normal and abnormal color changes in the skin; observe pupil
changes; and observe digital or waveform readings.
Communication:
Communications include not only speech but also reading, writing, and computer usage,
including handheld digital access. Applicants must be able to communicate accurately
and effectively with patients, caregivers, physicians, other health professionals,
clinical facility staff, faculty and staff, peers, and the community in general in
order to elicit information, describe changes in mood, activity and posture, and perceive
nonverbal communications.
Psychomotor:
Applicants should have sufficient motor function to elicit information from patients
by palpation, auscultation, percussion, and other diagnostic maneuvers. Applicants
should be physically able to collect specimens and perform basic tests (such as glucose
finger stick, urine dipstick). Applicants should be able to execute motor movements
reasonably required to provide general care and emergency treatment to patients. Examples
of emergency treatment reasonably required of nurses are cardiopulmonary resuscitation,
administration of intravenous medication, application of pressure to stop bleeding,
and assist in moving and lifting patients using proper body mechanics. Such actions
require coordination of both gross and fine muscular movements, equilibrium and using
tactile and visual senses.
Intellectual-Conceptual, Integrative, and Quantitative:
Applicants must be able to comprehend and interpret documents written in English.
Applicants should have cognitive abilities including measurements, calculation, reasoning,
analysis, and synthesis. Critical thinking is the ability to synthesize knowledge
and integrate the relevant aspects of a client's history, physical exam findings and
diagnostic studies. Problem solving, the critical skill demanded of nurses, requires
all of these intellectual abilities. In addition, the applicant should be able to
comprehend three dimensional relationships and to understand the spatial relationships
of structures in order to understand normal and abnormal anatomy and physiology.
Behavioral and Social Attributes:
Applicants must possess the emotional health required to utilize their intellectual
abilities fully, exercise good judgment, complete all responsibilities attendant to
the nursing diagnosis and care of patients promptly, and the development of mature,
sensitive and effective relationships with patients and their families. Applicants
must be able to tolerate physically taxing workloads and to function effectively under
stress. They must be able to adapt to changing environments, to display flexibility,
and to learn to function in the face of uncertainties inherent in the clinical problems
of many patients. Compassion, integrity, concern for others, interpersonal communication
skills, interest and motivation are all personal qualities that should be assessed
during the admissions and education process. As a component of nursing education,
a student must demonstrate ethical behavior including adherence to the professional
nursing code and the UW and FWWSON student conduct codes.
Applicants who disclose a disability are considered for admission if they are otherwise
qualified so long as such accommodation does not significantly alter the essential
requirements of the curriculum and the educational program, or significantly affect
the safety of patient care or others. When applicants or students disclose a disability,
the provision of reasonable accommodations will be considered in an attempt to assist
these individuals in meeting these required technical standards. Applicants whose
response indicates that they cannot meet one or more of the expectations will be reviewed
further by University Disability Support Services, with applicant and faculty input,
to determine if any reasonable accommodations are possible to facilitate successful
completion of the nursing curriculum and preparation for the national registry examination
(website: https://www.uwyo.edu/udss/).
It is important to give persons interested in enrolling in nursing a realistic view
of the vigorous demands of the School of Nursing's theoretical and practicum curriculum
while at the same time investigating reasonable accommodations. Whether or not a requested
accommodation is reasonable will be determined on a case by case basis.
If you have questions about these technical standards and/or your ability to meet
them, please contact the FWWSON at 307-766-4312.
Technical Standards for Admission Verification Form
The Technical Standards for Admission Verification Form is completed when the applicant is offered formal admission into the nursing program. Consideration of reasonable accommodations occurs following receipt of the form.
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1Approved Student Affairs Committee 10/12/2022; approved FSA 11/14/2022, next review: December 2023
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Last updated: 1/6/2023
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