In this program grouping, students should be able to meet specific technical standards, which are the essential skills and abilities needed to be successful in a program, with or without reasonable accommodation. It is important to review and understand these standards before applying to the program.
This information should be reviewed prior to applying to the program.
Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made to ensure access to academic programs, activities, services, and employment in accordance with Section 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended. If accommodations are needed, contact the campus Accommodations Specialist or the Northwood Tech Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Officer, at 715-645-7042, TTY 711, 30 days in advance of needed assistance. Services available are documented on the Northwood Tech Accommodations webpage:
Accommodation Services | Northwood Technical College.
For more information, please see Administrative Procedure J-111A Reasonable Accommodation for Student.
Area
Physical Skills
Standard
Students must be able to apply knowledge and experience through demonstrating competency, quality and productivity standards in job responsibilities as outlined in the course competencies and program outcomes.
Students must be able to handle and carry books, supplies and equipment at varying weights.
Students must perform physical activities that require considerable use of their hands, arms, and legs. This includes using hands, fingers, arms and legs.
Students must have sufficient endurance, strength, mobility, balance, flexibility and coordination to perform activities and emergency procedures.
Students should demonstrate stamina sufficient to maintain physical activity for a period of a typical shift.
Students must have sufficient gross and fine motor skills to perform emergency skills in a safe and effective manner
Students must have the ability to perform physical activities that require considerable use of their hands, arms, and legs. This includes fine motor abilities like finger dexterity, manual dexterity, arm-hand steadiness and trunk strength.
Students must have sufficient endurance, strength, mobility, balance, flexibility and coordination to perform patient care activities and emergency procedures.
Examples (Not Inclusive)
- Examples include the ability to grasp, twist, squeeze, pinch and manipulate equipment (i.e., ability to carry the cot)
- Examples include the ability to move in confined spaces; maintain balance in standing position; move body from one side to the other; reach below the waist and to the front or the side of the body to the level of the top of head; and ability to push, pull, stabilize, and freely move arms to allow movement of an object or transfer subjects from one place to another
- Additional examples include the ability to squat or execute a modified squat (one knee on the floor); move quickly in case of emergency situations; climb and descend a flight of stairs
- Transfer, lift and carry patients from floor to cot and may include uneven surfaces
- Manipulate, assemble and move equipment
- Type on a computer, write with a pen
- Arm-hand steadiness
- Finger and manual dexterity (squeeze, grasp, twist, pinch, and manipulate small objects, e.g. sharps)
- Demonstrate the ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers to start IVs, manipulate or assemble instrument parts quickly with good hand-eye coordination
- Wear personal, protective equipment for safe practices (masks, eyewear, etc.)
Sensory Skills
Students must have sufficient auditory ability, visual ability, sense of smell and tactile ability
Students should demonstrate ability to tolerate heat, humidity and extreme cold during personal care activities
Students must monitor and assess needs of the patient and health care team. Students must have vision sufficient for observation and assessment necessary for patient care.
Students should demonstrate ability to tolerate exposure to odors and common allergens.
- Identify lung sounds
- Detect differences in odors
- Visually detect hazards
- See and detect warning signals on equipment displays
- Detect subtle changes or differences (e.g. pulse, temperature)
- Tactile examples include ability to distinguish subtle vibrations through the skin (i.e., assess a pulse), identify the subtle difference in surface characteristics, and detect temperature (i.e., skin, liquids, environments).
- Ability to respond to direction of the AED
- Olfactory examples include ability to detect differences in body and environmental odors
- Auditory examples include ability to hear and understand voices in noisy environments, including traffic noise, busy places of business, sirens, etc.
- Identify dangerous objects and situations within the environment
- Placement in a latex or allergen-free environment cannot be guaranteed"
- Detect changes in skin color, temperature, swelling
- Detect odors (abnormal breath, alcohol, gases, fire)
- Detect subtle differences through skin (depth of veins and arteries; vibrations, pulse, temperature)"
- Ability to see clearly, (both near and far), including peripheral vision and depth perception
- Ability to identify labels and patient ID bands
- Observe patient while in care
- Hold and operate equipment and IV's correctly
Communication Skills
Students will be able to communicate, read, write, interpret, comprehend, and legibly document as needed.
Students must extensively use verbal skills and reasoning skills.
Students must be able to interact appropriately and effectively with students, faculty, staff, and members of the public.
Students must be able to listen and respond to others in a nonjudgmental, respectful manner.
Students will be able to observe and recognize non-verbal behavior.
Students should demonstrate emotional stability.
- Speak, read, and write English
- Collaborate with others
- Respond to others in an accepting and respectful manner
- Ability to interact and support people during times of stress and emotional upset.
- Ability to cope with strong emotions and physical outbursts of people while remaining in a reasonable state of calm
- Ability to focus attention on a person's needs despite interruptions and multiple demands
- Ability to interact as a team member
- Ability to show respect for diversity in culture, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, socio-economic status and abilities/disabilities"
- Prepare written and verbal reports regarding patient care
- Ability to convey information in a clear, professional and timely manner
- Identify patients
- Read, identify, and chart data as needed
- Follow proper protocol
- Work independently and in a team
Safety Skills
Students must be able to respond appropriately to threatening or emergency situations.
Students must be able to adhere to safety guidelines and regulations in a variety of settings.
Students must apply knowledge and skills necessary to provide a safe environment for themselves and the community.
- Wear personal protective equipment for safe practices (vests, gloves, eye and hearing protection, gown, mask, etc.)
- Tolerate heat, humidity, and extreme cold during personal care activities
- Work in an environment that may contain common allergens
- Adhere to safety/emergency protocols
- Carefully handle equipment throughout the course
- Work in an environment with potentially infectious materials
- Demonstrate adherence to safety guidelines and regulations
- Recognize potentially hazardous conditions and take appropriate actions
- Maintain immunization and health care requirements
- Operate equipment, adhering to safety standards
- Identify, react and remove themselves from unsafe situations
- Adhere to safety protocols while in EMS vehicles"
- Follow evacuation procedures in the event of fire or other disaster
- Respond to hostile patients, staff or other individuals
- Report suspicious behaviors to safety personnel
- Complete infection control and other safety training as required
Critical Thinking Skills
Students must demonstrate the ability to do basic math.
Students must measure, calculate, reason, analyze and synthesize patient data in a timely manner.
Students must demonstrate critical thinking, problem-solving and the decision-making ability needed to during scenarios and clinicals.
Students must be able to make accurate independent judgments while following oral directives.
Students must demonstrate clinical competency and the ability to participate in all clinical experiences.
- Adapt decisions based on new information
- Maintain focus in an environment with distractions
- Demonstrate impulse control and professional level of maturity
- Maintain appropriate boundaries in relationships with patients and peers
- Maintain confidential information (Including by refraining from posting any confidential information on social media)
- Apply broad concepts to clinical situations
- Concentrate to perform clinical tasks
- Anticipate needs for procedures, patient, and respond appropriately
- Prioritize care of patient
- Be observant of contamination and know how to correct the situation
Professionalism
Students should demonstrate ability to adapt to changing situations and emergency conditions while maintaining emotional control.
Students must be able to when effectively under stress; utilize healthy stress management techniques.
Students must be able to demonstrate appropriate impulse control and professional level of maturity.
Students must be able to demonstrate ethical behavior, cross-cultural competency, moral reasoning, and a commitment to an environment of mutual respect, trust, integrity and reliability in interactions with patients, patient representatives, students, faculty, staff, members of the public, and other healthcare professionals.
Students should demonstrate ability to accept constructive feedback.
Students should demonstrate abiity to accept responsibility for own actions.
Students must demonstrate the ability to establish effective relationships.
Students must show respect for diverse populations.
Students must be able to function independently at optimum level in a non-structured environment that is constantly changing.
- Exhibit positive interpersonal skills in all interactions
- Maintain confidentiality
- Demonstrate ability to work as a team member
- Adhere to attendance, dress code, and personal hygiene policies or protocol
- Respond to challenging situations while maintaining composure and professionalism
- Avoid participating in gossip complaining and any other unprofessional communication
- Exhibit consistent and on-time attendance as scheduled
- Work cooperatively with intra and inter professional teams
- Display integrity, honesty, respect, reliability and accountability
- Read and comprehend procedure manuals and policies
- Comply with legal and ethical standards
Northwood Technical College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities. The following person has been designated to manage inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Amanda Gohde, Vice President, Talent & Culture, 1900 College Drive, Rice Lake WI 54868; Amanda.Gohde@NorthwoodTech.edu, phone: 715-645-7042.
Specific programs included as part of this grouping are listed below:
- Advanced EMT
- Emergency Medical Technician
- Emergency Medical Technician – Paramedic
- Paramedic Technician
