These technical standards establish the expectations and abilities considered essential for students admitted to the University of North Dakota Physician Assistant Program to achieve the level of competency required for graduation and practice. Students must possess the intellectual ability to learn, integrate, analyze and synthesize data. They must have somatic sensation and the functional use of the senses of vision and hearing. Candidates' diagnostic skills will also be lessened without the functional use of the senses of equilibrium, smell and taste. Additionally, they must have sufficient exteroceptive sense (touch, pain, and temperature), sufficient proprioceptive sense (position, pressure, movement, stereognosis, and vibratory) and sufficient motor function to permit them to carry out the following:
Observation: Candidates must be able to observe demonstrations and experiments in basic and clinical sciences (including computer-assisted instruction), and must be able to observe a patient accurately at a distance and close at hand. This ability requires functional vision and somatic sensation and is enhanced by a sense of smell.
Communication: Candidates must be able to speak, hear, and observe patients in order to elicit information, describe changes in mood, activity and posture, and perceive nonverbal communications. Candidates must be able to communicate effectively and sensitively with patients, including speech, reading and writing. They must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in oral and written form with all members of the health care team.
Motor: Candidates must have sufficient motor function to elicit information from patients by palpation, auscultation, percussion, and other diagnostic maneuvers. A candidate should have motor function sufficient to execute movements reasonably required to provide general care and emergency treatment to patients. Candidates must possess sufficient postural control, neuromuscular control and eye-to-hand coordination to utilize standard medical/surgical instruments. They must possess sufficient control of the upper extremities to meet the physical requirements for training and performing a safe physical examination. Candidates must possess sufficient strength and motor coordination to stand and walk for up to 90% of work time, to lift up to 45 pounds and to carry up to 25 pounds. Such actions require coordination of both gross and fine muscular movements, equilibrium and functional use of the senses of touch and vision.
Intellectual-Conceptual, Integrative and Quantitative Abilities: Candidates must be able to measure, calculate, analyze, and synthesize data to reach diagnostic and therapeutic judgments. The candidate must also be able to comprehend three-dimensional relationships and the spatial relationships of structures.
Behavioral Attributes: Candidates must possess the emotional health necessary for full utilization of their intellectual abilities, the exercise of sound judgment, the prompt completion of responsibilities attendant to the diagnosis and care of patients, and the development of mature, sensitive, and effective relationships with patients and co-workers. Candidates must be able to tolerate physically taxing workloads and to function effectively under stress. They must be able to adapt to changing environments, to display flexibility and to learn to function in the face of uncertainties inherent in the clinical problems of many patients. They must have a high level of compassion for others, motivation to serve, integrity, and a consciousness of social values and possess sufficient interpersonal skills to interact positively with people from all levels of society, all ethnic backgrounds, and all belief systems.
Requests for accommodations must be submitted in writing, allowing sufficient time prior to matriculation for action on these requests. Candidates who feel that they may not meet the technical standards are encouraged to contact the Director of the PA Program to discuss and identify what accommodations, if any, can be made by the University of North Dakota Physician Assistant Program so that the candidate might be able to meet the standards. Candidates are urged to ask questions about the Program's technical standards for clarification and to determine whether they can meet the requirements with or without reasonable accommodation. Questions may be directed to the Director of the PA Program.
Revealing a disability is voluntary; however, such disclosure is necessary before any accommodations may be made in the learning environment or in the Program's procedures. Information about disabilities is handled in a confidential manner. Reasonable accommodations will be made to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. An accommodation requires Program and institutional approval.
