Dec 05, 2024  
2024-2025 College Catalog 
    
2024-2025 College Catalog

Technical Standards


State Tested Nurse Assistant Training Course/Home Health Aid Course (STNA)

Standard Description Example of Activities related to
Functional Abilities
(but not limited to the following)
Physical: Motor
  • Strength, mobility, flexibility, stamina and coordination necessary to perform client care activities and emergency procedures.
  • Gross and fine motor skills necessary to perform psychomotor skills and to provide safe, effective care.
  • Push, pull, lift, or support various weights utilizing safe and proper body mechanics.
  • Stand, bend, walk, and/or sit for 7-12 hours to perform safe clinical practice.
Gross Motor Skills
  • Move within a confined space
  • Sit and maintain balance
  • Stand and maintain balance
  • Reach above shoulders (e.g. supplies)
  • Reach below waist

Fine Motor Skills

  • Pick objects with hands
  • Grasp small objects with hands (e.g. catheter tubing)
  • Key/type (use of computer keyboard)
  • Pinch/manipulate or otherwise work with fingers
  • Twist objects/knobs with hands (e.g. mechanical equipment)
  • Squeeze with fingers (e.g. emptying catheter bag)

Physical Endurance

  • Stand for long period of time (e.g. at a client side during therapeutic procedure)
  • Sustain repetitive movements (e.g. CPR)
  • Maintain physical tolerance (work an entire shift, 8-12 hrs.)

Physical Strength

  • Push and pull (e.g. position patients), Support patient’s weight (e.g. ambulating clients), Lift objects and clients (e.g. lift a child), position pts. (up to 50 lbs.)
  • Defend self against a combative client
  • Carry equipment/supplies
  • Use upper body strength (e.g. perform CPR)
  • Squeeze with hands (e.g. operate fire extinguisher)
  • Transfer client from bed to wheelchair, wheelchair to bed, etc.

Mobility

  • Stand, Sit, Flex
  • Lift (up to 50 lbs.)
  • Twist, Reach
  • Bend
  • Stoop, kneel/squat
  • Move quickly (e.g. respond to an emergency)
  • Climb stairs
  • Walk
     
Physical:
Sensory (with or without corrective appliances)
The student is expected to possess functional use of the senses of vision, hearing, touch and smell. All data received by the senses must be integrated, analyzed and synthesized in a consistent and accurate manner. This includes data obtained in the classroom, online, laboratory or clinical settings through observation, auscultation, palpation, and other measures.
  • Detect pain, pressure, temperature, position, equilibrium and movement.
  • Detect changes in skin color, condition or temperature (pale, ashen, grey, bluish).
  • Observe patients/residents, read records, manipulate equipment and visually monitor patients/residents in dim light, oberserve color of skin, wounds and drainage.
  • Observe clients in a room from a distance of 20 feet away.
  • Collect data from recording equipment and measurement devices used in client care.
  • Detect a fire in a client area.
  • Detect sounds related to bodily functions using a stethoscope (e.g. blood pressure).
  • Observe and collect data from recording equipment and measurement devices used in client care.
  • Detect audible alarms, bed monitors, emergency signals, call lights and cries for help.
  • Effectively hear to communicate with others.
  • Detect unsafe temperature levels in heat-producing devices used in client care.
  • Detect anatomical abnormalities, such as edema
  • Feel vibrations such as radial pulse.
  • Detect foul odors of bodily fluids or spoiled foods.
  • Detect smoke from burning materials.
     
Psycho-Social Abilities    
a. Communication
1) oral
2) written
3) inter-personal
The student shall have the ability to
  • read, write, and comprehend the English language at a level that allows one to safely carry out the essential functions of an assignment.
  • interpret and process information in order to provide safe care.
  • access information and document both electronically and in writing.
  • recognize, interpret, and respond to nonverbal behavior of self and others.
  • verbally communicate with others demonstrating clear articulation and fluency in English.
  • accurately elicit information from clients.
  • legibly record data in a timely manner.
  • Chart data electronically and in writing.
  • Read and comprehend printed policy and procedure manuals.
  • Read and follow patient care plans.
  • Observe and report changes (including pain levels) in client(s) to supervisor.
  • Illicit information from patient.
  • Convey information accurately, logically, and professionally through written and oral reports.
  • Elicit pain levels Report changes in client status to other members of the health team.
  • Ability to communicate with a wide variety of people and styles, ability to be easily understood.
b. Critical Thinking/Judgment
Critical thinking ability is sufficient to make sound clinical judgments.
The students shall have the ability to
  • Actively examine their own thinking and the thinking of others.
  • Recall, collect, analyze, synthesize and integrate information from a variety of sources.
  • Use an objective and subjective observations and know the difference.
  • Observe and report any changes of client to the supervisor.

Report changing needs of various client situations

  • Display logical reasoning in planning and prioritizing care for unpredictable client situations.
  • Displays intellectual integrity, virtues such as honesty, impartiality, and openness to the views of others.
  • Recognizes the implications and practical consequences of making assumptions.
  • Communicating and collaborating effectively with members of the health care team.  Raise questions and problems that are well articulated.
  • Satisfactory intellectual and emotional function to ensure patient safety and to exercise independent judgment and discretion in performing assigned tasks.
  • Follow written and oral care plans to meet clients health needs.
  • Scans the environment and detects unsafe situations for correction.
c. Professional Behavior Behavior that encompasses the interpersonal abilities and personal attributes necessary for the practice of the nursing profession in the development of effective relationships with individuals and groups with varied socioeconomic, emotional, cultural and intellectual backgrounds. Interpersonal Abilities:
  • Maintain effective, harmonious relationships with clients, families, staff, and colleagues.
  • Accept accountability and responsibility for one’s actions.
  • Comply with the ethical and legal standards and policies of the STNA program.
  • Understand and comply with HIPPA and residents rights.
  • Deal effectively with interpersonal conflict.
  • Exercise stable, sound judgment in client and staff situations.
Personal Attributes:
  • Convey caring, compassion, empathy, and concern for others.
  • Demonstrate initiative, motivation, and industry.
  • Display integrity, honesty, and responsibility.
  • Display respect, sensitivity, and tolerance for diverse populations.
  • Demonstrate comfort with close physical contact in the care of clients.
d. Emotional, Psychological, Mental Stability The ability to function effectively and empathetically under stressful and rapidly changing situations while interacting with individuals and groups.
  • Maintains empathetic, flexible, culturally sensitive, therapeutic relationships with others.
  • Examines and modifies own behaviors and attitudes and accepts constructive criticisms as needed to facilitate learning and interpersonal relationships.
  • Demonstrates ability to function effectively under stress; flexible, concern for others; able to provide safe care and work in an environment with multiple interruptions and noises, distractions, and unexpected patient needs.
e. Math Competency

Mathematics is the study of the measurement, properties, and relationships of quantities and sets, using numbers and symbols. Competency is the ability of being adequately or well qualified.

 

  • Add, subtract, multiply and divide numbers.
  • Read and understand columns of numbers (e.g. flow charts).
  • Read and understand digital displays.
  • Convert number to and from the Metric System.
  • Convert inches to feet.
  • Tell time: analog and military.
  • Count rates (e.g. respiration, pulse).
  • Read and understand measurement marks.
  • Use a calculator
  • Write numbers in records

f. Infection Control

Student may be exposed to communicable disease and/or body fluids and toxic substances

The student will identify basic principles of infection control, and reasons why prevention and control are important, identify practices and methods to control or eliminate microorganisms and state the purpose of standard precautions.
  • Hand washing.
  • Handling of soiled linen, clothing.
  • Disposal of bio hazardous waste.
  • May be assigned an isolation resident and must be able to do the appropriate PPE for direct care.
  • Examples are not all inclusive.