PN Program Requirements - Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School

Program Requirements

The following documents must be provided upon notification of acceptance into our Practical Nursing Program and returned to us prior to beginning the first semester:

Health Requirements: Proof of Immunizations according to the DPH requirements:

Hepatitis B vaccine, Titer
MMR, Titer
Td required (tetanus 10 years), Tdap recommended.
Negative,TB Bloodtest or (-) Chest & TB Blood.
Varicella, Titer
Meningococcal Vaccination: if under 21 years of age, you must provide evidence of receiving a dose of quadrivalent meningococcal vaccine on or after your 16th birthday.
Proof of physical exam within one year of the program start, the program starts every August. Please complete and submitted the Health Clearance Form before the start of the PN Program.
Proof of current health insurance for the duration of the program.
Proof of a student nurse liability policy must be maintained for the entire program length.
Proof of current CPR (Healthcare Provider and AED) Certification (America Heart Association or the American Red Cross) must be maintained for the entire program length.
Attest to the ability to meet the technical standards of the nursing program, with or without accommodations.
Satisfactory Criminal Offender Record Information Release (CORI)
Copy of COVID-19 Card with Booster

Our Practical Nursing Program requires a CORI inquiry as part of the admission process into the practical nursing program. Individuals who have been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor crime or have a pending criminal case must meet the eligibility requirements of the school and any affiliating clinical agencies. Students who are refused clinical placement due to CORI issues will be withdrawn from the nursing program.

Technical Standards

Students entering the our Practical Nursing Program must meet the technical standards required to perform nursing care to patients, requiring specific skills in various healthcare settings. Students must document their ability to perform these standards, with or without reasonable accommodations, upon acceptance to the program, which include the following:

Communication (Verbal & Non-Verbal)

1. Communicate effectively, either independently or with corrective devices.
2. Communicate in English through reading, orally, and in writing to instructors, professors, clinical staff, clients, families, and all members of the healthcare team.
3. Understand oral directions/requests from health care workers, clients, voice pages, and telephone messages stated in a normal tone.
4. Accurately detect audibly breath, heart, and bowel sounds.

Visual Ability

1. See and accurately read all written medical information pertaining to the client.
2. See and accurately read all readings and functions of technical equipment pertaining to client care.
3. See and accurately read all calibrated containers for accurate measurement of body fluids, specimens, and medication administration devices (syringes, pumps, etc.).
4. See and accurately perform an accurate client assessment.

Physical Strength (Gross Motor Control)

1. Ability to lift 50 pounds unassisted in a safe manner, thereby, protecting yourself, the client, and those in close proximity to you.
2. Bend and/or lift to assist the client with activities of daily living and manipulate the client's equipment.
3. List to safely transfer or position all clients in various situations.
4. Move, push, or pull equipment, beds, stretchers, wheelchairs, etc.
5. Ability to raise arms over one’s head in order to assist clients and manipulate equipment.
6. Kneel and stand independently.
7. Walk/stand for extended periods and distances over 8 hours.

Manual Dexterity (Fine Motor Movement)

1. Accurately manipulate dials, gauges, buttons, and switches to set, monitor, and care for client-care-related equipment.
2. Accurately administer sterile solutions without contaminating syringes, needles, solutions, etc.
3. Accurately administer all types of medications (oral and parenteral).
4. Safely and effectively perform dressing procedures without contaminating the wound or sterile.
5. Successfully don and remove protective apparel to maintain standard precautions.
6. Determine by touch: hot/cold, wet/dry, and hard/soft.
7. Use small muscle dexterity necessary to perform precision psychomotor skills.

Behavioral/Mental Performance

1. Function safely, effectively, and calmly under stressful situations.
2. Prioritize and manage tasks simultaneously.
3. Exhibit social skills necessary to interact therapeutically with clients, families, all healthcare personnel, and faculty.
4. Maintain personal hygiene consistent with department dress code guidelines.
5. Display ethical attitudes and actions consistent with professional behavior in healthcare and classroom settings.
6. Display the social skills to behave with politeness, tact, and sensitivity to others in all settings.
7. Exhibit respect for cultural and ethnic differences of clients, peers, and individuals in health care and classroom settings.
8. Remain free from alcohol and/or chemical impairment in the classroom and clinical settings at all times.

During the admission process, prospective students will receive, read, understand, and sign an acknowledgment of the meaning of the Technical Standards required of the Practical Nursing Program. The Technical Standard form will be maintained in the student record. The prospective student will satisfactorily perform the tasks listed in the Technical Standards. It is the prospective student’s responsibility to notify the Practical Nursing Program Coordinator if he/she wishes to receive a determination of reasonable accommodations in performing any of the stated standards. He/she must understand that there are many instances where reasonable accommodations for a method of satisfying the required task may not be possible.