| Functional Ability | Standard | Examples |
| Gross Motor Skills | Gross motor skills sufficient to provide the full range of safe and effective nursing care | Move within confined spaces Sit and stand and maintain balance Reach above shoulders (IV poles) Reach below waist |
| Fine Motor Skills | Fine motor skills sufficient to perform psychomotor skills | Pick up objects with hands Grasp small objects with hands Write with pen/pencil, key/type (computer) Pinch/pick or otherwise work with fingers (manipulate a syringe) Twist and squeeze fingers (turn knobs, administer eye-drops) |
| Physical Endurance | Physical stamina sufficient to perform client care activities for entire length of work role | Stand (at client side during surgical or therapeutic procedure) Sustain repetitive movements (CPR) Maintain physical tolerance (work entire shift) |
| Physical Strength | Physical strength sufficient to perform full range of required client care activities | Push and pull 25 lbs (position clients) Support 25 lbs of weight (ambulate client) Lift 50 lbs* (pick up child, transfer client) Move heavy objects weighing from 11-50 lbs Carry equipment/supplies Use upper body strength (CPR, physically restrain a client) Squeeze with hands (operate fire extinguisher) |
| Mobility | Physical activities sufficient to move from place to place and to maneuver to perform nursing activities | Walk with or without assistive devices Twist, bend, stoop/squat, move quickly (respond to emergency) Climb (ladders, stools) |
| Hearing | Auditory ability sufficient for physical monitoring and assessment of client healthcare needs (with or without assistive devices) | Hear normal speaking level sounds (person-to-person report) Hear faint voices Hear faint body sounds (blood pressure, assess placement of tubes) Hear in situations when not able to see lips (when masks are used) Hear auditory alarm (monitors, fire alarms, call bells) |
| Visual | Visual ability sufficient for accurate observation and performance of nursing care (with or without assistive devices) | See objects up to 20 inches away (information on a computer screen) See objects more than 20 feet away (client at end of hall) Use depth perception Use peripheral vision Distinguish color and color intensity (color codes on supplies, charts, beds, flushed skin, paleness) |
| Tactile | Tactile ability sufficient for physical monitoring and assessment of healthcare needs | Feel vibrations Detect temperature variations (skin, solutions) Feel differences in surface characteristics, sizes, shapes (palpate, identify body landmarks, skin turgor) Detect environmental temperature (drafts) |
| Smell | Olfactory ability sufficient for physical monitoring and assessment of healthcare needs | Detect odors from client (foul smelling drainage,
alcohol on breath) Detect smoke, gasses or noxious smells |
| Reading | Reading ability sufficient to comprehend the written word at a minimum of a tenth grade level | Read and understand written documents (textbooks, _______) |
| Arithmetic Competence | Arithmetic ability sufficient to do computations at a minimum of an eighth grade level, includes three concepts: counting, measuring and computing | Read and understand columns of writing (flow
sheet, charts), digital displays and graphic
printouts Calibrate equipment, convert numbers to and from the metric system Tell time and measure time Count rates and use measuring tools Read instrument marks Add, subtract, multiply and divide numbers Compute fractions Use a calculator Write numbers in records |
| Emotional Stability | Emotional stability sufficient to assume responsibility/accountability for actions | Provide client with emotional support Adapt to changing environments/stress Deal with the unexpected Establish therapeutic boundaries Focus attention to task Monitor own emotions Perform multiple responsibilities concurrently Handle strong emotions |
| Analytical Thinking | Reasoning skills sufficient to perform deductive/inductive thinking for nursing decisions | Transfer knowledge from one situation to another Process information, evaluate outcomes Problem solve Prioritize tasks Use long-term and short-term memory |
| Critical Thinking | Critical thinking ability sufficient to exercise sound nursing judgment | Identify cause/effect relationships Plan/control activities for others Synthesize knowledge and skills Sequence information |
| Interpersonal Skills | Interpersonal abilities sufficient to interact with individuals, families and groups respecting social, cultural and spiritual differences | Negotiate interpersonal conflict Respect differences in clients Establish rapport with clients and co-workers |
| Communication Skills | Communication abilities sufficient for interaction with others in oral and written form | Teach clients/family about healthcare Explain procedures Give oral reports Interact with others Speak on the telephone Influence people Direct activities of others Convey info through writing |