Essential Job Functions for Clinical Rotations

Physical activities required to complete essential functions of the position:

• Standing/Walking: Standing and walking is required for the majority of time spent in the clinical area (6-12 hours). Standing in one position is required while performing certain aspects of patient care. Walking occurs on vinyl, tile, linoleum, or carpeted floors.

• Sitting: Sits while charting or entering data into computer. May also sit while receiving/ giving verbal report at start/end of shift. May also sit during breaks and meal period. Total sitting is less than two hours for each eight-hour shift, depending on clinical assignment.

• Lifting: Regularly lifts medical supplies, medications, patient supplies, patient charts, weighing up to ten pounds. Also lifts CPR equipment and other medical equipment weighing up to 44 pounds. Required to assist in lifting and transferring patients
  of varying weights and is expected to request assistance when lifting, ambulating and repositioning patients. Must be able to support at least 75 pounds to reposition, transfer, and ambulate patients safely.

• Carrying: Frequently carries medical supplies and other items weighing up to
  44 pounds. Occasionally carries certain medical equipment weighing up to 50 pounds.

• Pushing/Pulling: Pushing/pulling 71-100 pounds is required when administering patient therapy and care, as well as when pushing equipment such as oxygen tanks and monitors, and when transporting patients in wheelchairs, beds, or gurneys. Pushing required
  at 3.5 pounds of pressure when administering CPR. Full manual dexterity of both upper extremities required.

• Climbing: No significant climbing is required, may be required to climb a step stool.

• Bending: Required when administering patient care. Must be able to bend to touch floor

  to remove environmental hazards.

• Crawling: Not required.

• Reaching: Reaching above head required when performing aspects of care such

  as hanging and adjusting IV bags.

• Squatting/Kneeling: Required when operating medical equipment and performing

  aspects of patient care, such as CPR.

• Twisting: Twisting at waist required when bathing patients and performing other

  procedures.

• Speaking: Must be able to clearly speak English to communicate, assess and educate

  patients/families. Must also be able to communicate verbally with physicians and

  other professionals involved in patient care.

• Hearing: Must have normal hearing (aide permitted) in order to perform physical

  assessments, including listening with a stethoscope for bowel, heart, and lung sounds. Must also be able to hear to detect subtle yet critical information regarding patient condition including alarms and to communicate with physicians and other professionals involved with patient care. Normal hearing required for discussion with others

  by telephone.

• Visual Acuity: Required within normal limits (glasses or contacts permitted) for

  monitoring equipment, reading medical data, preparing and administering medications

and injections, performing physical assessments of patients including subtle changes

in color.

• Depth Perception: Required for fine tasks such as administering injections, sterile

  catheter insertions (urinary, IV), nasogastric tube insertions.

• Fine Motor Skills: Must have fine motor skills of all fingers and be able to grasp and

  control medical equipment and to perform precise procedures such as sterile dressing

  changes. Must be able to grasp objects such as a pen to prepare handwritten reports.

• Tactile Sensation: Must be able to assess patients through palpation with fingers

  and hands; must be able to distinguish warm/cold and be able to feel vibrations.

• Smell: Must have normal sense of smell to detect odors indicating unsafe conditions

  or changing patient status.

• Driving Required: Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from

  affiliating clinical agencies.