Essential Skills
The following descriptions of hard and soft skills, along with some environmental demands, are intended to help students understand the expectations of future classroom and workplace environments. Please note that these descriptions are NOT admission requirements for program acceptance. Instead, they are designed to assist students in making informed decisions about their future.
Hard Skills
- Constantly engaging in hand-eye coordination
- Frequent dexterity (gripping/holding/carrying/using tools/using small parts of machinery)
- Frequently engaging in repetitive motions
- Demonstrate sufficient visual ability to load a fine (10-0) suture onto needle holders with/without corrective lenses and while wearing safety glasses
- Demonstrate sufficient peripheral vision to anticipate and function while in the sterile surgical environment
- Hear and understand muffled communication without visualization of the communicator's mouth/lips and within 20 feet
- Hear activation/warning signals on equipment
- Detect odors sufficient to maintain environmental safety and patient needs
- Assist with and/or lift, move, position, and manipulate the unconscious patient
- Communicate and understand fluent English verbally and in writing
- Possess short- and long-term memory to track surgical supplies and anticipate needs
Soft Skills
- Give proper attention to personal hygiene and dress code
- Make appropriate judgment decisions
- Demonstrate the use of positive coping skills under stress
- Demonstrate calm and effective responses, especially in emergency situations
- Exhibit positive interpersonal skills with patients, staff, and faculty
- Appropriate use of phone during class, clinical, and workplace
- Attention to Detail/Meticulousness
- Communication/Engaging with instructors and employers
- Critical Thinking/Problem Solving
- Dedication/Diligence/Reliability
- Malleable and Teachable
- Professionalism
- Regular and reliable attendance
- Punctuality/Time Management
- Self-Regulation
- Team Player
Environmental Demands
- Ability to smell and tolerate odors
- Constantly hearing/talking and standing/walking
- Physical contact with patients
- Tolerate hazardous working conditions
- Tolerate hazardous conditions involving bloodborne pathogens
Refrain from nourishment or restroom breaks for periods up to 6 hours - Lift a minimum of 50 pounds
- Stand, bend, stoop, and/or sit for long periods with minimal or no breaks
- Refrain from nourishment or restroom breaks for up to 6 hours
- Ambulate and/or move around without assistive devices
- Be free of reportable communicable diseases and chemical abuse