Essential Physical Competencies

Students entering the TSC ADN program are required to fill out an Essential Physical Competency Standards worksheet. Students must continue to successfully demonstrate/perform the following activities, as a required component to continue in the program.

1. Extended walking and standing daily – clinical practice requires an average of 1-hour intermittent sitting, 4 hours intermittent standing, and 3 hours intermittent walking in an average 8-hour work period.
2. Ability to grasp, push and/or pull
3. Ability to squat, kneel, bend, reach and twist – clinical practice requires 50% of the time completing these activities.
4. Carrying and moving equipment – nurses frequently lift/carry up to 50 pounds and push/pull up to 100 pounds.

Other essential competencies identified for nursing care include:

5. Vision that allows detecting physical change and to see color
6. Hearing that allows responding to physical and verbal cues
7. Sense of touch that allows for assessment and palpation
8. Critical thinking
9. Interpersonal and communication skills

Students with disabilities, including learning disabilities, who with to request academic adjustments to a class, must notify the Disability Services Office at the beginning or prior to the start of the semester so that appropriate accommodations may be made. In accordance with federal law, a student requesting academic adjustments must provide documentation of his/her disability to the Disability Services counselor. For more information, see the TSC student handbook. Disability Services Office

Students who are granted accommodations related to testing performance must utilize this service if he/she plans to apply these accommodations to the NCLEX-RN. Typically, these accommodations include longer test time and a less distracted environment. Upon time to schedule your NCLEX, please refer to the Texas Board of Nursing and the NCSBN website for forms required for NCLEX accommodations.