ADA - Nursing Doctoral Program Essential Functions

Observation (to include the various sensory modalities)

Students must be able to decode written documents and hear in situations when unable to read lips. They must be able to see objects up to 20 inches away. Students must be able to process, retain, and integrate information from a variety of sources, including, but not limited to: oral delivery by instructor(s) or student(s); blackboard data and diagrams; printed material (handouts, journals, manuals, books, medical records, computers, computer print-outs); PowerPoint presentations; overhead transparencies; slides; film and video segments; audio recordings; live demonstrations; one-to-one and group interactions in the classroom; and internet based or teleconferences.

Communication

Students must be able to convey thoughts and ideas in writing and when speaking. They must be able to encode information into written form through some effective means, and have communication skills sufficient to make presentations. They must be able to speak, read, and comprehend effectively and efficiently in the English language. They must be capable of communicating the background, research questions, hypotheses, methods, results, interpretations and implications of their research projects to other students, faculty and visitors. In addition, they must be able to communicate basic information in their area of research and related fields to other students, faculty, and visitors. They must be able to respond to questions asked or problems formulated, and to ask pertinent questions in a one-on-one, small group or large group format.

Psychomotor Skills

Students must have sufficient motor capacities and mobility to attend class. They must be able to manipulate a standard or adapted computer keyboard.

Intellectual and Cognitive Abilities

Students must be able to think creatively and systematically. They must be able to calculate, reason, analyze, synthesize, integrate, remember and apply information for the purposes of developing models, analyzing data, writing papers, and making presentations. Creative problem solving and reasoning require all of these intellectual abilities in order to generate and test hypotheses. Students must be able to translate information from printed reports to actual research projects. This may involve the integration of their classroom experiences with those obtained from interaction with other researchers and from reports in the literature. Each student must be capable of becoming proficient in the statistical analysis and interpretation of their observations.

Professional and Social Attributes

Students must be able to adapt positively to stress and assume responsibility and accountability for their actions. They must develop mature, sensitive, and effective professional relationships with others, function as a part of a team, and negotiate conflicts satisfactorily and fairly. Students must be able to focus their attention on activities and decision-making. They must be tolerant of the views of others, and capable of assuming responsibility for their actions. They must be able to recognize and employ socially acceptable actions and behaviors corresponding to environmental and situational demands.

Application of Legal/Ethical Principles and Professional Standards

Students must apply an ethical decision making process in their studies (e.g. writing of papers, data collection), adhere to the practice standards of the nursing profession, adhere to the legal/ethical standards set forth by the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas, and participate in the legal/regulatory/social policy processes that influence health care and nursing practice and education. Students must demonstrate honesty, integrity, and reliability and adhere to standards reflecting the values and function of the scientific profession. This includes a responsibility to acquire and share data in an honest and timely manner, to respect rights of privacy, and to have respect for human subjects.