Accommodation Policy for Students with Disabilities

Students enrolled in the School of Nursing and Health Sciences are expected to meet the following criteria:

Nursing education requires that the accumulation of scientific knowledge be
accompanied by the simultaneous acquisition of skills and professional attitudes and
behaviors. The nursing degrees awarded by the Manhattanville College School of Nursing
and Health Studies at the completion of the educational process certifies that the
individual has acquired a base of knowledge and skills requisite for the practice of
nursing at the respective undergraduate or graduate level.

To this end, all courses in the curriculum must be completed successfully. In order to
acquire the knowledge and skills to function in a variety of clinical situations and to
render a wide spectrum of patient care, candidates for the undergraduate and graduate
degrees in nursing must have abilities and skills in five areas:

1. Observation
2. Communication
3. Motor
4. Conceptual-Integrative
5. Behavioral-Social

Technological compensation can be made for some disabilities in certain of these
areas, but a candidate should be able to perform in a reasonably independent manner
and exercise independent judgment.

Observation
The candidate must be able to observe demonstrations and participate in didactic
courses and simulated learning opportunities. A candidate must be able to observe a
patient accurately at a distance and close at hand. Observation requires the use of
common sense, as well as the functional use of the senses of vision, audition, olfaction,
and palpation.

Communication
Candidates must communicate effectively using English in clinical and classroom
settings. A candidate must be able to elicit information from patients, describe changes
in mood, activity and posture, and perceive nonverbal communications. A candidate
must be able to communicate effectively and sensitively with patients. Communication
includes not only speech, but reading and writing. The candidate must be able to
communicate effectively and efficiently with all members of the health care team in both
immediate and recorded modes.

Motor
Candidates should have sufficient motor function to elicit information from patients by
palpation, auscultation, percussion and other assessment techniques. A candidate
should be able to perform nursing skills requiring the use of gross and fine motor skills
(e.g. IV insertion, venous blood draw, urinary catheter insertion). A candidate should be
able to execute motor movements reasonably required to provide nursing care and
emergency response to patients.

Examples of emergency responses reasonably required of nurses are
cardiopulmonary resuscitation, medication administration, and application of pressure to
stop bleeding. Candidates must perform actions which require the use of both gross and
fine muscular movements, equilibrium, and functional use of the senses of touch and
vision. Candidates should also be able to assist and/or participate in various lifting
activities.

Conceptual-Integrative
These abilities include measurement, calculation, reasoning, analysis, synthesis, and
retention of complex information. Critical thinking requires all of these intellectual
abilities in order to provide optimal nursing care. In addition, the candidate should be
able to comprehend three-dimensional relationships and to understand the spatial
relationships of structures.

Behavioral-Social
Candidates must possess the emotional health required for the full use of their
intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment, the prompt completion of all
responsibilities attendant to the care of patients, and the development of mature,
sensitive and effective relationships with patients. Candidates must be able to tolerate
physically taxing workloads and to function effectively under stress in the classroom and
clinical area.

They must be able to adapt to changing environments, display flexibility and learn to
function in the face of uncertainties inherent in the clinical environment. Compassion,
integrity, concern for others, interpersonal skills, interest and motivation are all personal
qualities that are assessed during the admissions and educational process.

Reasonable accommodations will be considered on a case by case basis for
individuals who meet eligibility under applicable statutes. (aacnnursing.org)