Nursing

Nursing Program Physical Requirements

The following physical activities and abilities are required for admission into the nursing program. If you cannot complete these activities, please contact the ADA office so nursing staff can adjust the lesson plan as appropriate or necessary.

Standing/Walking: Standing and walking is required for the majority of time spent in the clinical area (4-8 hours). Standing in one position is required while performing certain aspects of patient care. Walking occurs on vinyl, tile, linoleum, or carpeted floors.
Sitting: Sit while charting or entering data into a computer. One may also sit while receiving/giving verbal reports at the start/end of one's shift. It is also possible that sitting may occur during breaks and meal periods. Total sitting is less than two hours for each eight-hour shift, depending on clinical assignment.
Lifting: Regular lifting of medical supplies, medications, patient supplies, and patient charts, all weighing up to ten pounds is required. Also lifting CPR equipment and other medical equipment weighing up to 45 pounds is required. One is required to assist in lifting and transferring patients of varying weights and is expected to request assistance when lifting, ambulating, and repositioning patients. One must be able to support at least 75 pounds to reposition, transfer, and ambulate patients safely.
Carrying: Frequent carrying of medical supplies and other items weighing up to 45 pounds is required, along with occasional carrying of certain medical equipment weighing up to 50 pounds.
Pushing/Pulling: Pushing/pulling 70-100 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 is required at 3.5 pounds of pressure when administering CPR. Full manual dexterity of both upper extremities is required.
Climbing: No significant climbing is required; one may be required to climb a step stool.
Bending: Bending is required when administering patient care. One must be able to bend to touch the floor to remove environmental hazards.
Reaching: Reaching above one's head is required when performing aspects of care such as hanging and adjusting IV bags.
Squatting/Kneeling: Squatting or kneeling is required when operating medical equipment and performing aspects of patient care, such as CPR.
Twisting: Twisting at the waist is required when bathing patients and performing other procedures.
Speaking: Must be able to clearly speak English to communicate, assess, and educate patients and families. One must also be able to communicate verbally with physicians and other professionals involved in patient care.
Hearing: One must have normal hearing (aids permitted) in order to perform physical assessments, including listening with a stethoscope for bowel, heart, and lung sounds. One must also be able to hear to detect subtle, yet critical information regarding patient conditions including alarms, and to communicate with physicians and other professionals involved in patient care.
Visual Acuity: Vision is required within normal limits (glasses or contacts permitted) for monitoring equipment, reading medical data, preparing and administering medications and injections, and 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: One 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. Ability to grasp objects such as a pen to prepare handwritten reports is also required.
Tactile Sensation: Students must be able to assess patients through palpation with fingers and hands, and must be able to distinguish between warm/cold and be able to feel vibrations.
Smell: One must have normal sense of smell to detect odors indicating unsafe conditions or changing patient status.
Driving Record: Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from clinical agencies.

If you do not meet all of these requirements, please contact the ADA representative for Redlands Community College. By applying to Redlands Community College's nursing program, you agree that you have read this information and that you meet all of the above requirements.