REQUIREMENTS FOR ENROLLMENT IN THE NURSING PROGRAM
1. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND ABILITIES FOR NURSING STUDENTS
Technical Standards include non-academic criteria essential to successfully complete the required nursing coursework. It is essential that students possess and maintain the following functional requirements, with or without reasonable accommodations.
DISABILITIES SERVICES
In accordance with law and Cayuga Community College policy, no qualified individual with a disability shall, on the basis of that disability, be excluded from participation in the program. Cayuga Community College will provide reasonable accommodations to a qualified individual with a disability on an individual basis, taking into consideration the essential skills which must be performed to meet learning outcomes. It is the responsibility of the applicant or student to request the accommodations that are needed to perform the behaviors listed below. Contact the Office of Accessibility Resources and the Director of Nursing if you think you may need an accommodation for a disability.
Section I: ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Candidates for the nursing program must possess abilities necessary for learning skills related to the provision of nursing care. Candidates must be able to perform, with or without accommodation, certain essential functions in the areas of communication, observation, motor skills, conceptual and analytical reasoning, and social skills. The following is a representative list of these essential functions, with or without accommodation, expected of students at the time of enrollment in the nursing program:
| Criteria | Examples |
|---|---|
| Communication | Communicate effectively in order to give, receive, and record information accurately and efficiently from people and other data sources while maintaining confidentiality. |
| Observation | Make accurate determinations of color, temperature, movement, odor, texture, rhythm, density, size, position, and sound. Be able to detect, respond, and react to indications of the needs of others. |
| Motor Skills | Possess sufficient fine and gross motor skills to position and move people safely, use appropriate infection control techniques, use medical equipment, provide for the safety of yourself and others, and implement emergency procedures. |
| Conceptual and Analytical Reasoning | Demonstrate the ability to gather, classify, interpret, calculate, measure, and analyze information, exercise good judgment, utilize critical thinking, and carry out appropriate actions in relation to the data received. |
| Social Skills | Perform effectively under stress, display flexibility and adaptability, demonstrate compassion, develop effective, caring relationships with others, and work collaboratively with others. |
Section II: NURSING SKILLS
After enrollment, students in the nursing program will use the essential functions (described in Section I) in learning specific nursing skills throughout the program, such as (but not limited to), bed baths, making beds, oral care, urinary catheterization, dressing changes, CPR, administration of medications by oral, injected, topical, intravenous, and suppository routes, performing active and passive client exercises including assisting clients with ambulation, delivering oxygen therapy, measuring vital signs, and performing head to toe and focused assessments of clients. Your ability to be successful in the nursing program will be dependent on, among other things, your ability to learn these nursing skills, either with or without accommodation.
2. LEGAL LIMITATIONS FOR RN LICENSURE
There is a requirement that the applicant for the licensure exam be of “good moral character.” Applicants should be aware that eligibility for licensure as a registered nurse in New York State by persons who have been convicted of a crime (felony or misdemeanor) or have charges pending in any state or country will be determined through an investigation by the New York State Education Office of Professional Discipline. On the Application for Licensure, the applicant is required to truthfully answer the following questions:
- Have you ever been found guilty after trial, or pleaded guilty, no contest, or nolo contendere to a crime (felony or misdemeanor) in any court?
- Are criminal charges pending against you in any court?
- Has any licensing or disciplinary authority refused to issue you a license, or ever revoked, annulled, canceled, accepted surrender of, suspended, placed on probation, refused to renew a professional license or certificate held by you now or previously, or ever fined, censured, reprimanded or otherwise disciplined you?
- Are charges pending against you in any jurisdiction for any sort of professional misconduct?
- Has any hospital or licensed facility restricted or terminated your professional training, employment, or privileges, or have you ever voluntarily or involuntarily resigned or withdrawn from such association to avoid imposition of such measures?
3. HEALTH REQUIREMENTS
After being accepted into the Nursing program, the student must show evidence of the following prior to the first day of class:
- Completed physical exam and updated annually. The health record must show no physical condition which would limit safe performance of technical standards (specified above)
- Completed Mantoux test and immunization records
- Compliance with New York State health requirements
4. CPR REQUIREMENT
The student must hold CPR certification throughout the program. American Heart Association certification (BLS for Adults, Infant and Child) is valid for two years. Red Cross certification (Professional Rescuer Course) is valid for one year. Online certification or re-certification is not accepted. Note: “Heart Saver” and “Community CPR” do not meet the CPR requirement.