Technical Standard Inventory Required for Nursing Assistant Program

Technical Standards

Representative Activities/Attributes

Gross Motor Skills

  • Move within confined spaces
  • Maintain balance in multiple positions
  • Reach above shoulders (IV poles, etc.)
  • Reach below waist (plugs electrical appliance into wall)
  • Reach out front

Fine Motor Skills

  • Pick up objects with hands
  • Grasp small objects with hands
  • Write with pen or pencil
  • Key/type (use computer)
  • Pinch/pick or otherwise work with fingers
  • Twist (turn objects/knobs using hands)

Physical Endurance

  • Walk or stand for extended periods (4-8-hour shifts)
  • Sustain repetitive movement
  • Maintain physical activity for a period of 5-8 hours

Physical Strength

  • Push and pull 50 pounds (position client, move equipment)
  • Support 50 pounds of weight (ambulate client)
  • Lift 50 pounds (pick up child, transfer client, bend to lift an infant or child)
  • Carry equipment/supplies
  • Use upper/lower body strength (perform CPR, physically restrain a client)
  • Squeeze with hands (operate fire extinguisher)

Mobility

  • Twist
  • Bend
  • Stoop/squat
  • Move quickly (respond to an emergency)
  • Climb stairs

Hearing

  • Hear normal speaking level sounds (person to person report)
  • Hear faint voices such as a whisper within a range of 3 feet
  • Hear when not able to see lips (when masks are used)
  • Hear auditory alarms (fire alarms, call bells)

Vision

  • See objects up to 20 inches away (information on computer screen, skin conditions)
  • See objects up to 20 feet away (client in room)
  • Use depth perception
  • Use peripheral vision
  • Distinguish color and color intensity (color codes on supplies, flushed skin/paleness)

Tactile

  • Feel vibrations (palpate pulses)
  • Detect temperature (skin, solutions)
  • Feel differences in surface characteristics (skin turgor, rashes)
  • Tell differences in sizes, shapes (palpate vein, identify body landmarks)
  • Detect environmental temperature

Smell

  • Detect body and environmental odors (foul smelling drainage, alcohol breath, smoke, gasses, or noxious smells)

Environment

  • Tolerate heat and humidity (giving showers)
  • Tolerate strong odors
  • Tolerate exposure to allergens (latex gloves, chemical substances, pets, etc.)
  • Tolerate strong soaps

Reading

  • Read and understand written documents (flow sheets, charts, graphs)
  • Read digital displays

Math

  • Convert numbers to and from metric and American systems (calculating intake and output)
  • Tell time
  • Count rates (pulse)
  • Read and interpret measurement marks (measurement tapes and scales)
  • Add, subtract, multiply and or divide numbers
  • Document numbers in records (charts, computerized data)

Communication Skills

  • Speak English
  • Write English
  • Listen/comprehend both written and spoken words

Emotional Stability

  • Establish working relationships
  • Provide client with emotional support
  • Adapt to changing environment/stress
  • Deal with the unexpected (client condition, crisis)
  • Focus attention on task
  • Cope with own emotions

Problem Solving

  • Know the difference between serious and minor problems
  • Apply knowledge and skills
  • Organize and use information
  • Use long-term memory
  • Use short-term memory

Interpersonal Skills

  • Establish rapport with individual, families and groups
  • Respect/value cultural differences in others
  • Handle interpersonal conflict