Nursing Things to Know

Nursing students must be able to comprehend, communicate, and document information in the English language, and to communicate accurately and effectively with patients, significant others and spouses, other family members, healthcare workers, and other professionals in healthcare settings, as well as with instructors, supervisors, classmates, and various health or educational team members in both clinical and classroom settings. This includes the ability to elicit, receive, and accurately interpret information from others; to collect, document, and convey relevant information to others; to understand and use healthcare terminology; and to comprehend and follow directions and instructions. In addition, nursing students must be able to accurately record patient medical information, write and manage patients’ plans of care, maintain reports, present information in a professional and logical manner, and appropriately provide patient education and instructions to effectively care for patients or clients and their families.

Nursing students must have the capacity to develop and refine critical thinking, decision making and problem-solving skills that are crucial for safe and effective nursing practice. These processes involve capabilities to measure, quantify, calculate, question, analyze, conceptualize, reason, integrate, and synthesize information in order to make timely decisions reflecting sound clinical judgment, and to determine appropriate clinical decision making. Student nurses must additionally be able to find and use evidence-based research; to learn from other individuals; to comprehend, integrate, and apply new information; to make sound clinical decisions; and to communicate outcomes verbally and in writing. Student nurses must be able to make measurements, calculate, and reason; and to analyze, integrate, and synthesize data rapidly, consistently, and accurately to problem-solve and ultimately make logical diagnostic and therapeutic judgments.

Nursing students must be able to collect, use, and interpret information from physical assessments (includes, but is not limited to the following: detect changes in skin color or condition, discriminate between abnormal and normal color of body fluids or exudates, detect a fire in a patient care area, draw up the correct quantity of medication into a syringe, read fine print such as medication and equipment labeling), observed demonstrations, diagnostic and assessment tools (such as, but not limited to, sphygmomanometer, stethoscope, bladder scanner, telemetry/ECG, and reflex hammer) and from all other modes of patient assessment in the context of laboratory studies, medication administration, radiologic studies, and other patient care activities. Nursing students must also be able to detect, interpret, and communicate sounds related to bodily functions and detect audible alarms with the frequency and volume ranges of the sounds generated by mechanical systems that monitor bodily functions. Nursing students must be able to detect foul odors of bodily fluids or spoiled foods, detect smoke from burning materials, detect changes in skin temperature, detect unsafe temperature levels in heat producing devices used in patient care, detect anatomical abnormalities (such as subcutaneous crepitus, edema, masses or infiltrated intravenous fluids), palpate pulses and percuss/palpate other body areas.

Nursing students must be able to perform physical assessments and diagnostic and therapeutic maneuvers necessary and required in the curriculum and of a future registered nurse. Student nurses must be able to perform patient care activities, including, but not limited to, insertion of urinary catheters; insertion of nasogastric tubes; insertion of intravenous catheters; hanging of blood products/other intravenous infusions; transferring of patients in and out of bed; ambulation of patients; turning and positioning of patients; moving equipment to various heights; accurately reading the volumes in body fluid collection devices hung above or below bed level; disposing of needles in sharps containers; accurately placing and maintaining position of stethoscope for detecting sounds of bodily functions; manipulating small equipment and containers, such as syringes, needles, vials, ampules, and medication packages. Nursing students must be able to respond to emergency situations in a timely manner and provide emergency care including cardio pulmonary resuscitation. Student nurses must possess the physical endurance necessary for extended periods of activity that are required for safe performance in clinical and classroom settings. Student nurses must possess the ability to comply with all safety standards in all clinical settings including, but not limited to, infectious control precautions (universal, contact, air borne) and use of emergency equipment (crash cart, fire extinguisher, evacuation chairs). Student nurses must be capable of moving within and among clinical environments without compromising the safety of others.

Student nurses must possess the capacity to communicate effectively, respectfully, and with cultural humility, with all individuals whom they encounter and to demonstrate behaviors associated with compassion, respect, concern for others, integrity, ethical comportment, sound clinical judgment, and accountability for their responsibilities and actions. Student nurses must be able to accept the supervision of an instructor and/or preceptor, to accept constructive criticism or feedback, and to modify behavior based on feedback. Student nurses must demonstrate the ability to adapt quickly to rapidly changing situations/environments, to uncertain circumstances and to withstand human trauma and its effects. Student nurses must have the capacity to correctly judge when assistance is required and seek appropriate assistance in a timely manner. Student nurses must be able to function cooperatively and efficiently with others. Student nurses must possess the personal qualities of integrity, empathy, concern for the welfare of others, interest, and motivation. Student nurses must possess the emotional maturity required for the full use of their intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment; and the prompt completion of all responsibilities associated with the care of patients. As nursing education involves exposure to a wide variety of situations, student nurses must be able to demonstrate resilience in both classroom and clinical settings, and participate in self-help and interventions as appropriate.

Student nurses are expected to exhibit professionalism, personal accountability, compassion, integrity, concern for others, and care for all individuals in a respectful and effective manner regardless of gender identity, age, race, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or any other protected status. Student nurses should understand and function within the legal and ethical aspects of the professional standards of practice, and maintain and display ethical and moral behaviors commensurate with the role of a registered nurse in all interactions with patients, faculty, staff, students and the public. Individuals whose performance is impaired by abuse of alcohol or other substances are not suitable student nurses for admission, promotion, or graduation. Student nurses must:

1. Be able to meet guidelines established by healthcare organizations where they will be engaged in clinical experiences, and
2. Legally be able to be licensed to practice nursing in the State of Washington.

As such, student nurses must detail in writing, to the Nursing Program, at the time of application, any felony offense or disciplinary action on any previous or current licenses. If a conviction occurs after matriculation, students are required to inform the Associate Dean for Nursing of any actions which might impair the ability of the student nurse to obtain a nursing license or meet guidelines established by healthcare organizations where they will be engaged in clinicals and practicums. Failure to notify the Nursing Program may result in removal from the program.