Essential Functions

The following technical standards define the essential skills and abilities students must demonstrate to engage fully in this program. These requirements ensure students can meet the academic, clinical, and professional expectations necessary for successful progression and completion.

Fine and Gross Motor Skills (with assistive devices as needed)

  • Perform program functions over an 8 hour day that may include frequent standing or walking, frequent sitting, and frequent reaching, bending, kneeling and crouching each hour. 
  • Lift and transport containers weighing up to 25 pounds  
  • Manipulate laboratory devices (pipettes, syringes, test tubes, specimens, reagents, and analytical equipment) with speed and accuracy without compromising patient or employee safety 
  • Reach instruments, bench tops, and equipment to perform duties;
  • Perform microscopic manipulations, streak and examine agar plates, perform complex chemical and immunological analyses 

Visual and Sensory Skills (with corrective lenses or adaptive devices as needed)

  • Read fine print including information displayed on orders, printouts, monitors, and equipment 
  • Characterize the color, clarity, and viscosity of biological specimens, reagents, or chemical reactions 
  • Use a microscope to distinguish elements in a patient sample whether stained or unstained as to size, structure, color and intensity 
  • Interpret color reactions, written and illustrated material, and numbers and patterns associated with diagnostic testing 
  • Hear and respond to the normal speaking voice and audible instrument alert signals 

Communication Skills (both oral and written)

  • Read, write, comprehend and respond to English communications (including person to person, electronic, graphic, and telephone format) so that communications can be given to and received from coworkers and patients in a confidential, effective, efficient and sensitive manner 

Cognitive skills / Critical Thinking & Application

  • Judge, comprehend, make calculations, reason, analyze, synthesize, integrate and apply information in the cognitive, psychomotor, and affective domains of learning to solve problems and evaluate work 
  • Demonstrate time management skills by completing assigned tasks within time frames designated for professional competency 
  • Complete work with precision and accuracy in accordance with established protocol 

Environmental Requirements

  • Work in an environment with potentially infectious materials (HIV, Hepatitis, various microbes) and toxic or irritating chemicals that require special safety precautions, additional safety education, and health risk monitoring 
  • Maintain general good health and self-care in order not to harm the health and safety of self, staff and patients 
  • Perform the required tasks in a fast-paced, stressful environment that includes instrument noise, time constraints, emergency situations, people working in close proximity, unpleasant odors and sights, pathogens, blood, and body fluids 
  • Recognize and respond to safety hazards to minimize the risk to self and others; demonstrate sufficient psychological stability and maturity to effectively handle the rigors of a demanding clinical internship 

Professional Standards

  • Demonstrate appropriate interpersonal behaviors while interacting with others during program‐related occurrences, including but not limited to: courtesy and cooperation; receiving and responding to constructive feedback; respect and empathy; and non‐threatening conduct 
  • Demonstrate ability to perform required skills and maintain professionalism (by continuing to meet Standards of Professional Conduct) under distracting, demanding, and/or stressful circumstances  
  • Adapt to an environment that may change rapidly, without warning, and in unpredictable ways 
  • Maintain consistent, positive work behaviors including initiative, preparedness, dependability, persistence, and follow‐through
  • Project an image of professionalism through appearance, dress, hygiene, positive attitude, and body language