School of Nursing

Performance Standards for Admission to and Retention in the Associate of Science in Nursing and RN-BSN Degree Programs
A candidate for the Associate of Science in Nursing and RN-BSN degree programs must have abilities and skills of four varieties: observation, communication, motor, and behavioral.  Reasonable accommodations may be made on an individual basis as directed by the Disabilities Coordinator; however, a candidate is expected to perform in an independent manner.  Please read the performance standards for admission and progression in the nursing program.

Motor Skills

Candidates should have sufficient motor function so that they are able to execute movements required to provide general care and treatment to clients in all health care settings.  (For example: For the safety and protection of the clients, the candidate must be able to administer intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous and oral medications; apply pressure to stop bleeding; open obstructed airway; and provide patient/client daily hygiene care; perform basic life support, including CPR, and function in an emergency situation.  The candidate must have the ability to safely assist a client in moving, for example, from a chair to a bed, or from a wheelchair to a commode.)

Sensory/Observation

A candidate must be able to acquire the information presented through demonstrations and experiences in the basic and nursing sciences.  He or she must be able to observe a client accurately, at a distance and close at hand, and observe and appreciate non-verbal communications when performing nursing assessment, planning, intervention, and evaluation.  The candidate must be capable of perceiving the signs of disease and infection as manifested through physical examination.  Such information is derived from images of the body surfaces, palpable changes in various organs and tissues, and auditory information (client voice, heart tones, bowel and lung sounds).

Communication

The candidate must communicate effectively and sensitively with other students, faculty, staff, clients, family, and other professionals.  He or she must express his or her ideas and feelings clearly and demonstrate a willingness and ability to give and receive feedback.  A candidate must be able to: convey or exchange information at a level allowing development of a health history; identify problems presented; explain alternative solutions; and provide education.  The candidate must be able to communicate effectively in oral and written forms.  The candidate must be able to process and communicate information on the client’s status with accuracy in a timely manner to members of the health care team.  The appropriate communication may also rely on the candidate’s ability to make a correct judgment in seeking supervision and consultation in a timely manner.

Cognitive

A candidate must be able to measure, calculate, reason, analyze, integrate and synthesize in the context of undergraduate nursing study.  The candidate must be able to quickly read and comprehend extensive written material.  He or she must also be able to evaluate and apply information and engage in critical thinking in the classroom and clinical setting.

Behavioral/Emotional

A candidate must possess the emotional health required for the full utilization of his or her intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment, and the prompt completion of all responsibilities attendant to the diagnosis and care of clients and families.  In addition, s/he must be able to maintain mature, sensitive, and effective relationships with clients, students, family, staff and other professionals under all circumstances including highly stressful situations.  The candidate must have the emotional stability to function effectively under stress and to adapt to an environment that may change rapidly without warning and/or in unpredictable ways. The candidate must be able to experience empathy for the situations and circumstances of others and effectively communicate that empathy.  The candidate must know that his or her values, attitudes, beliefs, emotions, and experiences affect his or her perceptions and relationships with others.  The candidate must be able and willing to examine and change his or her behavior when it interferes with productive individual or team relationships.  The candidate must possess skills and experience necessary for effective and harmonious relationships in diverse academic and working environments.

Professional Conduct

Candidates must possess the ability to reason morally and practice nursing in an ethical manner.  Candidates must be willing to learn and abide by professional standards of practice and of the South Georgia State College’s School of Nursing policies.  S/he must possess attributes that include compassion, empathy, altruism, integrity, honesty, responsibility and tolerance.  Candidates must be able to engage in client care delivery in all settings and be able to deliver care to all client populations including but not limited to children, adolescents, adults, developmentally disabled persons, medically compromised clients, and vulnerable adults.

Students in nursing obtain clinical experience in the campus skills laboratory, simulation laboratories and selected community clinical facilities. The student must assume responsibility for travel to clinical agencies. Students will provide care to assigned clients regardless of diagnosis, age, sex, race, creed, sexual orientation, or ethnic origin. Major clinical facilities utilized by South Georgia State College require a background check and a drug screening prior to attending clinical. Based on the results of these screenings, the agencies may choose to disallow a student to attend clinical at these sites. To complete the nursing curriculum, students must be able to attend clinical at these sites. Failure to do so would result in the inability of the student to complete the program of study. Students must meet the facilities’ requirements related to the PSI Background Check and Urine Drug Screen.