Academic Catalog

Nursing Essential Functions

Essential Functions

The nursing profession requires significant physical, mental, and behavioral skills. The essential functions listed describe what students must be able to do to meet the requirements of being a nurse to ensure protection of patient safety. The essential functions define selected attributes and behaviors necessary for students to demonstrate in order to successfully complete their education and subsequently enter their profession. Individuals are required to navigate their assigned responsibilities independently with or without reasonable accommodations. To request a reasonable accommodation, contact accessibility@aspen.edu for assistance.

Essential Functions for Nursing Students (General)

Students must be able to perform each of the following essential functions with or without reasonable accommodations. Immersion, practicum, project, and/or field experience is a required part of nursing programs. Any accommodations will be determined on a case-by-case basis. If you feel you may need a reasonable accommodation, contact accessibility@aspen.edu for assistance.

  • Motor/Physical Strength: Possess the physical strength and mobility to safely carry out practice procedures that fall within the scope of practice.
  • Perceptual/Sensory: Use their senses to make accurate assessments and judgments.
  • Behavioral/Interpersonal (relationships)/Emotional Stability: Develop mature, sensitive, and effective therapeutic relationships with individuals, families, and groups of various social,
    emotional, cultural, and intellectual backgrounds. Adherence to Aspen University policies, procedures, and requirements as described in the university academic catalog, student
    handbook, and course syllabi. Demonstrate ethical behavior, including adherence to professional and university code of conduct policies.
  • Communication: Communicate effectively and accurately in English using speech, reading, writing, language skills, and computer literacy. The use of appropriate nonverbal communication
    is also essential.
  • Problem Solving/Critical Thinking: Collect, analyze, prioritize, integrate, and generalize information and knowledge to make sound judgments and decisions to promote positive outcomes.
  • Punctuality/Work Habits: Adhere to the classroom and immersion/practicum/project/field experience schedules. complete classroom and immersion/practicum/project/field experience assignments and submit in a timely manner.
  • General Health: Work in an environment that puts one at risk for infection. Meet all health and safety requirements as listed in the catalog and program handbook.

Nursing Program Vaccines Disclosure

Students understand that immunizations against measles, mumps, rubella (MMR vaccine), tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis (Tdap vaccine), varicella (or chickenpox), and influenza are an important patient and health care personnel safety issue and are strongly supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Vaccine Information Statements are available at http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/vis/index.html.

By enrolling in a nursing program, students acknowledge that they have read and are aware of the Vaccine Information statements regarding each vaccine listed above. Students understand that if they refuse one or more of the vaccines and are exposed to these disease(s) that the vaccination(s) are given to prevent, they may not be allowed to return to work or school during the incubation period. Students understand that they may not qualify to go to certain clinical sites that require certain vaccinations, which may impact student progress in the program and the ability to graduate promptly.

Essential Functions BSN-PL