Core Performance Standards :: Tusculum College

In addition to the nursing progam’s admission requirements, Tusculum College School of Nursing sets forth its essential eligibility requirements for its nursing program by citing the core performance standards. The standards set forth cognitive, sensory, affective and psychomotor performance requirements for every nursing student and nurse. Each core performance standard is accompanied by examples of activities nursing students and nurses are required to perform while executing nursing care. The standards are used to assist applicants and students in the determination of need for ADA related accommodations and medications. The core performance standards are intended to constitute an objective measure of:

A qualified applicant’s or student’s ability with or without accommodations to meet the program performance requirements, and
Accommodations required by a matriculated student who seeks accommodations under the ADA.

Nursing applicants and students with disabilities seeking accommodations under the ADA, as amended, should be referred to the Department of Education Office for Civil Rights document titled, Students with Disabilities Preparing for Postsecondary Education: Know Your Rights and Responsibilities (US Department of Education. September 2007).

Core Performance Standards for Nursing Students*

Every nursing applicant and student is required to have the following abilities in order to perform safe, effective professional nursing care.

Ability	Standard	Activity Examples
Critical Thinking	Critical thinking ability sufficient for clinical judgment	Identify cause and effect relationships in clinical situations Use scientific method in development of care plans Evaluate effectiveness of nursing interventions
Professional Relationships	Abilities sufficient to establish interaction with a diverse population, individuals, families and groups	Establish rapport with patients and colleagues Ability to engage in conflict resolution Demonstrate peer accountability
Communication	Ability for professional interactions with others in verbal and written form	Explain treatment procedures, initiate health teaching, accurately document. Interpret nursing actions and client responses
Movement	Physical abilities sufficient to move from room to room and maneuver in small spaces	Move around in patient rooms, work spaces and treatment areas Administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Motor Skill	Gross and fine motor skills sufficient to provide safe and effective nursing care	Calibration and use of equipment Therapeutic positioning of patients Ambulating patients Transferring patients from bed to chair Ability to lift 30 pounds
Hearing	Auditory ability sufficient to assess and provide safe and effective nursing care	Ability to hear monitoring device alarms and other emergency signals Ability to discern auscultated sounds, heart sounds and cries for help
Visual	Visual ability sufficient for observation and assessment in nursing care	Ability to observe patient condition and responses to treatment Ability to discern colors Ability to discern changes in color shading
Tactile	Tactile ability sufficient for physical assessment	Ability to palpate in physical assessment and in various therapeutic procedures Ability to discern changes in skin temperature

*Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) Council on Collegiate Education for Nursing