General Performance Requirements

To ensure our students’ and patients’ safety and welfare, each of our programs has sets of specific physical and non-physical requirements. Almost all of our students (check with an Admission Advisor if applicable) must be able to:

• Handle stressful situations related to technical and procedural standards and patient care situations
• Respond quickly and appropriately to emergencies using the English language
• Communicate effectively with patients and staff in both verbal and written forms in clear English
• Read and interpret (or learn how to) patient charts and requisitions
• Tolerate strong, unpleasant odors
• Provide physical and emotional support to the patients during procedures
• Report clearly and legibly through progress notes in patient charts
• Meet class standards for successful course completion
• Collect, interpret, and integrate data about patients
• Recognize and respond appropriately to individuals of all ages, genders, and races and from all socio-economic, religious, and cultural backgrounds
• Cope with the stress of heavy workloads, demanding patients, and life-threatening clinical situations
• Recognize and respond appropriately to potentially hazardous situations
• Demonstrate the physical and emotional capacity to work a 40-hour week while at the clinical rotation
• Behave in an ethical, sound, competent, compassionate, and professional manner in the classroom and the clinic
• Lift/carry:
  • 1 pound (0.45 kg)–5 pounds (2.27 kg) frequently–image receptors, lead aprons, files
  • 20 pounds (9.07 kg)–50 pounds (22.68 kg) occasionally–patient transfers and patient positioning
  • 50 pounds (22.68 kg)–70 pounds (31.75 kg) rarely to occasionally–patient transfers
• Stand and walk for up to 8 hours per day
• Carry a minimum of 20 pounds (9.07 kg) while walking a distance of 100 feet (30.48 m)
• Bend or flex the upper trunk forward up to 45 degrees and flex the lower torso into a squatting position
• Rotate the upper trunk up to 30 degrees to the right and left
• Reach a minimum of 72 inches (1.83 m) above floor level or a full arm’s reach
• Utilize the sense of hearing to communicate with the patients and healthcare team effectively
• Utilize the sense of vision in all levels of hospital lighting, which varies from low levels of illumination to bright light levels
• Sit in class for up to 6 hours per day
• Palpate anatomical structures and handle injured body parts without causing injury to the patient
• Give manual resistance to a patient’s arm, leg, or trunk during exercise
• Move with adequate agility and speed to ensure patient safety
• Walk and balance well enough to help patients walk and transfer with or without equipment while preventing injury to patient and self
• Safely grasp and manipulate small objects and set dials on electrical equipment
• Use visual, auditory, and tactile senses to observe patients and collect and interpret data
• Respond to warning sounds, machine alarms, and calls for help