Technical Standards

Technical Standards

The abilities and skills which students must possess in order to complete the training associated with the Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) Health Sciences and Nursing programs are referred to as Essential Functions or Technical Standards. These essential functions and technical standards are a group of minimal physical and cognitive abilities as well as sufficient mental and emotional stability to confirm that students are able to complete the entire course of study, participate fully in all aspects of training and be deployable as competent health sciences and nursing students, with or without reasonable accommodation.

The NOVA Health Sciences and Nursing programs have the ethical responsibility for the safety of patients with whom students will come in contact, and to the public to assure that its students can become fully competent health sciences and nursing professionals. Thus, it is important that persons admitted to our programs possess the intelligence, integrity, compassion, humanitarian concern and physical and emotional capacity necessary to practice health sciences and nursing skills. Students must verify that they meet these essential functions and technical standards at the time of matriculation to our programs and maintain them during their training. Students are obligated to alert the program directors in health sciences and the associate dean of nursing of any change in their ability to fulfill the essential functions or technical standards. Students who do not meet the essential functions or technical standards are at risk for dismissal from the program.

The NOVA Respiratory Therapy program’s technical standards have been reviewed by the program’s Advisory Committee to establish, maintain and promote educational standards of quality to prepare individuals for respiratory care practice, and to provide recognition for postsecondary educational programs that meet the minimum requirements outlined in these technical standards. These technical standards are to be used for the development, evaluation and self‐analysis of NOVA’s Respiratory Therapy program. These technical standards will be reviewed annually by the NOVA Respiratory Therapy Program Advisory Board.

  • Students must have sufficient eyesight (with or without corrected vision) to observe patients, manipulate equipment and accessories and visually monitor patients in dimmed light via video monitors

  • Students must have a normal or corrected ability sufficient to interpret verbal communication from patients and the health care team members and to monitor and assess patient health needs.
  • Students must have the ability to hear monitor alarms, emergency signals and cries for help.
  • Students must have the ability to hear telephone interactions.
  • Students must have the ability to hear audible stethoscope signals during patient assessment.
  • Students must have the ability to hear patients speaking from a reasonable distance.

  • Students must have a normal or corrected visual acuity sufficient for observation and patient assessment, equipment operations and departmental protocols.
  • Students must have the visual acuity to read, write and assess the patient and the environment.
  • Students must have the ability to read emergency monitor data.
  • Students must be able to observe patient conditions and needs from a reasonable distance.
  • Students must be able to identify and distinguish colors.
  • Students must be able to view radiographic images and medical reports.
  • Students must be able to read departmental protocols for procedures, examinations and physicians' orders.
  • Students must be able to correctly read data displayed by various respiratory therapy equipment.

  • Students must be able to communicate effectively and sensitively with patients, their families and members of the health team. Students must be able to communicate effectively with patients from different social and cultural backgrounds, as well as develop effective professional rapport with patients and co-workers. Students must be able to record examination and diagnostics results clearly, accurately and efficiently. Students must be able to communicate effectively in English with patients, family and other healthcare professionals in a variety of patient settings.
  • Students must have sufficient hearing to communicate with patients and other members of the healthcare team, monitor patients via audio monitors and hear background sounds during equipment operations.
  • Students must be able to effectively communicate information and ideas in spoken English so others can understand.
  • Students must have the ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented verbally.
  • Students must have the ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  • Students must have the ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
  • Students must be able to understand written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

  • Students must be able to respond to emergency situations in a timely manner and provide general and emergency care. They must possess adequate sensory function and motor coordination to fulfill minimum competency objectives for inspection, palpation, percussion and auscultation necessary to perform a physical examination. They must possess sufficient postural control, neuromuscular control and eye-to-hand coordination in order to utilize standard medical/surgical instruments to participate in the inpatient and outpatient setting and other clinical activities.
  • Students must have sufficient gross and fine motor coordination to manipulate equipment and accessories; lift, push, pull or transfer equipment that may weigh a minimum of 50 lbs.; and stoop, bend or promptly assist patients who become unstable.
  • Students must have satisfactory physical strength and endurance to move immobile patients to or from a stretcher or wheelchair, work with arms extended, carry 20-25 lbs. while walking and stand in place for long periods of time.
  • Students must be able to raise objects from a low to high position.
  • Students must have the physical stamina to stand and walk for 7-12 hours in a clinical setting.
  • Students must have the ability to stand, move from room to room and maneuver in small spaces.
  • Students must be able to work with arms fully extended overhead.
  • Students must be able to bend downward and forward by bending at the spine or waist.
  • Students must have the manual dexterity, mobility and strength to perform CPR.
  • Students must be able to seize, hold, grasp and turn with hands.
  • Students must be able to complete finite tasks with their fingers.

  • Students must be able to learn through a variety of modalities including, but not limited to classroom instruction; small group, team and collaborative activities; individual study; preparation and presentation of reports; and the use of computer technology. Students must have the mental capacity to assimilate and learn a large amount of complex, technical and detailed information in order to formulate diagnostic and therapeutic plans.
  • Students must be able to weigh the relative costs and benefits of a potential action and exercise independent judgment and discretion in the performance of assigned responsibilities.
  • Students must have the ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong and correct the problem, working within the RTH scope of practice.

  • Students must have the emotional stability to function effectively under stress and to adapt to an environment that may change rapidly, without warning and/or in unpredictable ways. They must accept responsibility for learning, exercising good judgment and promptly completing all responsibilities attendant to the diagnosis and care of patients. They must understand the legal and ethical standards of the medical profession. Students must be able to work effectively, respectfully and professionally as part of the healthcare team, and to interact with patients, their families and healthcare personnel in a courteous, professional and respectful manner. Students must be able to contribute to collaborative, constructive learning environments, accept constructive feedback from others and take personal responsibility for making appropriate positive changes.

  • Students must be able to understand the basis and content of both general and medical ethics. The student must possess attributes that include compassion, empathy, altruism, integrity, responsibility and tolerance. Students must be able to recognize limitations in their knowledge, skills and abilities and to seek appropriate assistance with their identified limitations. Students whose performance is impaired by abuse of alcohol or other substances are not suitable candidates for admission, promotion or graduation. In addition, should the student be convicted of any felony offense while in the Health Sciences and Nursing programs, they agree to immediately notify the program as to the nature of the conviction. Failure to disclosure prior or new offenses can lead to disciplinary action that may include dismissal.

  • Students must be able to demonstrate critical thinking skills sufficient for clinical judgment; synthesize information from written material and verbal/nonverbal communication; and apply knowledge to clinical situations.
  • Students must be able to respond to emergencies promptly and provide general and emergency care.
  • Students must be able to make rapid decisions under pressure.
  • Students must be able to handle multiple priorities in stressful situations.
  • Students must be able to identify cause-effect relationships in clinical situations.

  • Students must be able to tolerate environmental stressors.
  • Students must be able to tolerate risk or discomforts in the clinical setting that require special safety precautions, additional safety education and health risk monitoring, working with sharps, chemicals, and infectious diseases.
  • Students may be required to use protective clothing or gear such as masks, goggles, gloves, gowns and lead aprons.
  • Students must be able to work with chemicals and detergents.
  • Students must be able to tolerate exposure to fumes and odors.
  • Students must be able to work in areas that may be closed and crowded.

Given the above statements, any qualified person with a disability who can perform these essential functions/technical standards with reasonable accommodation will be considered for admission along with other qualified applicants.

Preadmission Health History and Physical for NOVA Health Sciences Programs