Minimum Technical Standards

Technical Standards

Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences seeks to produce highly skilled and compassionate health care professionals. Students are expected to develop a robust knowledge base and the requisite skills, with the ability to appropriately apply their knowledge and skills, effectively interpret information, and contribute to individual centered decisions across a broad spectrum of situations and settings.

The following technical standards, in conjunction with the academic standards, are requirements for admission, promotion, and graduation. The term “candidate” refers to candidates for admission to health profession school as well as current health profession students who are candidates for retention, promotion, or graduation. These requirements may be achieved with or without reasonable accommodations. Candidates with disabilities are encouraged to contact Disability Services early in the application process to begin a confidential conversation about what accommodations they may need to meet these standards. Fulfillment of the technical standards for graduation from health profession programs does not guarantee that a graduate will be able to fulfill the technical requirements of any specific job position.

Observational skills

Candidates must acquire information as presented through demonstrations and experiences in the foundational sciences. In addition, candidates must be able to evaluate individuals accurately and assess their relevant health, behavioral, and medical information. Candidates must be able to obtain and interpret information through a comprehensive assessment of individuals, correctly interpret diagnostic representations of individuals’ physiologic data, and accurately evaluate individuals’ conditions and responses.

Communication skills

Candidates must exhibit interpersonal skills to enable effective caregiving of individuals, including the ability to communicate effectively, with all members of a multidisciplinary health-care team, care recipients, community members and organizations, and other supporting individuals, in person and in writing. Candidates must be able to clearly and accurately record information and accurately interpret verbal and nonverbal communication.

Clinical skills

Candidates must be able to perform routine physical examination and diagnostic maneuvers. Candidates must be able to provide or direct general care and emergency treatment for individuals and respond to emergency situations in a timely manner. Candidates must meet applicable safety standards for the environment and follow universal precaution procedures.

Intellectual-conceptual, integrative, and cognitive skills

Candidates must effectively interpret, assimilate, and understand the complex information required to function within the curriculum, including, but not limited to, the ability to comprehend three-dimensional relationships and understand the spatial relationships of structures; effectively participate in individual, small-group, and lecture learning modalities in the classroom, clinical, and community settings; learn, participate, collaborate, and contribute as a part of a team; synthesize information both in person and via remote technology; interpret causal connections and make accurate, fact-based conclusions based on available data and information; formulate a hypothesis and investigate potential answers and outcomes; and reach appropriate and accurate conclusions.

Behavioral attributes, social skills, and professional expectations

Candidates must exercise good judgment; promptly complete all responsibilities attendant to the diagnosis and care of individuals; and develop mature, sensitive, and effective relationships with individuals. The skills required to do so include the ability to effectively handle and manage heavy workloads, function effectively under stress, adapt to changing environments, display flexibility, and learn to function in the face of the uncertainties inherent in the health problems of individuals. Candidates are expected to exhibit professionalism, personal accountability, compassion, integrity, concern for others, and interpersonal skills including the ability to accept and apply feedback and to respect boundaries and care for all individuals in a respectful and effective manner regardless of gender identity, age, race, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or any other protected status. Candidates should understand and function within the legal and ethical aspects of practice and maintain and display ethical and moral behaviors commensurate with the role of a health care professional in all interactions with care recipients, faculty, staff, students, and the public. Interest and motivation throughout the educational processes are expected of all candidates.