Inherent Requirements
RSU BN English Language Declaration
Bachelor of Nursing English Language Declaration Form
The Rainstar University(Scottsdale) and the School of Nursing (SoN) strongly supports the rights of all people who wish to pursue an undergraduate nursing course.
Inherent requirements
Inherent requirements are the essential components of a course or unit that demonstrate the abilities, knowledge and skills to achieve the core learning outcomes of the course or unit while preserving the academic integrity of the university's learning, assessment and accreditation processes. The inherent requirements are the abilities, knowledge and skills needed to complete the course that must be met by all students.
Students with a disability or chronic health condition may be able to have reasonable adjustments made to enable them to meet these requirements.
The School is committed to making reasonable adjustments to teaching and learning, assessment, clinical practice and other activities to enable students' to participate in their course. Reasonable adjustments must not fundamentally change the nature of the inherent requirement. Students are required to undertake activities which reflect the American health care context which may include mixed gender, religious and culturally diverse environments. For further information contact your Director of Academic Program.
Successfully completing the course enables you to apply for registration as a registered nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of America (NMBA), which is a partner board of the American Health Practitioner Regulation Authority (AHPRA).
To support potential and current students' decision making, a series of inherent requirement statements has been developed. These statements specify the course requirements of the undergraduate nursing courses for student admission and progression. The statements are clustered under eight domains consisting of ethical behaviour, behavioural stability, legal, communication, cognition, sensory abilities, strength and mobility and sustainable performance.
The inherent requirements outlined below provide a guide to inform decision making for students and staff.
How to read the inherent requirement statements
If you are intending to enrol in an undergraduate nursing course at the School of Nursing (SoN), you should look at these inherent requirement statements and think about whether you may experience challenges in meeting these requirements.
If you think you may experience challenges for any reason including a disability or chronic health condition, you should discuss your concerns with the SoN staff, such as the Director of Academic Program, Academic Course Advisor or Disability Liaison Officer. These staff can work collaboratively with you to determine reasonable adjustments to assist you to meet the inherent requirements. In the case where it is determined that inherent requirements cannot be met with reasonable adjustments, the University staff can provide guidance regarding other study options.
These inherent requirements should be read in conjunction with other course information and NMBA publications such as Guidelines for Mandatory Notifications, Professional Boundaries for Nurses and National Competency Standards for the Registered Nurse.
The inherent requirements are made up of the following five components and domains:
- Level 1 - introduction to the inherent requirement
- Level 2 - description of the inherent requirement
- Level 3 - explanation of why this is an inherent requirement of the course
- Level 4 - the nature of any adjustments that may be made to allow you to meet the requirement
- Level 5 - examples of tasks that show you've met the requirement. These are examples only and not a comprehensive list.
Inherent requirement domains
There are eight domains of inherent requirements in each of the undergraduate nursing courses. Some domains have a number of sub-domains.
Level |
Inherent requirements statements |
1 |
Nursing is a profession governed by competency standards, codes of ethics, professional conduct and professional boundaries where nurses are both accountable and responsible for ensuring professional behaviour in all contexts. |
2 |
Student demonstrates knowledge of, and engages in ethical behaviour in practice. |
3 |
Justification of inherent requirement: Compliance with the standards, codes, guidelines and policies facilitates safe, competent interactions and relationships for students and/or the people with whom they engage. This supports the physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual wellbeing of all. |
4 |
Adjustments must ensure the standards, codes, guidelines and policies are not compromised or result in unethical behaviour or risk to the public. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the Disability Advisor. |
5 |
Exemplars: Demonstrating appropriate behaviour with confidential information in classroom and clinical settings Demonstrate ability to reflect on ethical dilemmas and issues and take responsibility for ensuring awareness of ethical behaviour |
BEHAVIOURAL STABILITY
Level |
Inherent requirements statements |
1 |
Behavioural stability is required to function and adapt effectively and sensitively in this role. |
2 |
Student demonstrates behavioural stability to work constructively in a diverse and changing academic and clinical environment. |
3 |
Justification of inherent requirement: |
4 |
Adjustments must support stable, effective and professional behaviour in both academic and clinical settings. Nursing students must abide by the Registered Nurse Standards for Practice (2016). Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the relevant academic staff and Disability Advisor. |
5 |
Exemplars: |
LEGAL
Level |
Inherent requirements statements |
1 |
Nursing practice is mandated by legislation to enable the safe delivery of care. |
2 |
Student demonstrates knowledge and compliance with American Law, professional regulations and scope of practice. |
3 |
Justification of inherent requirement: |
4 |
Adjustments must be consistent with legislative and regulatory requirements, including Code of Conduct for nurses (2018), RN Standards for Practice (2016), International Council of Nurses Code of Ethics (2012) NMBA Nurses, midwives and vaccination position statement (2016), and NSW Health Policy PD2018_009 Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination Against Specified Infectious Diseases (2018). Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the relevant academic staff and Disability Advisor. |
5 |
Exemplars: |
COMMUNICATION
This course requires effective, verbal, non-verbal and written communication skills.
VERBAL
Level |
Inherent requirements statements |
1 |
Effective verbal communication, in English, is an essential requirement to provide safe delivery of care. |
2
|
Student demonstrates: |
3 |
Justification of inherent requirement: |
4 |
Adjustments must address effectiveness, timeliness, clarity and accuracy issues to ensure safety and appropriate care. Nursing students must comply with the NMBA English Language Skills Registration Standard Policy (2019). Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the Disability Advisor. |
5 |
Exemplars: |
NON-VERBAL
Level |
Inherent requirements statements |
1 |
Effective non-verbal communication is fundamental to nursing and needs to be respectful, clear, attentive, empathetic and non-judgmental. |
2
|
Student demonstrates: |
3 |
Justification of inherent requirement: |
4 |
Adjustments must enable the recognition, initiation or appropriate response of effective non-verbal communication in a timely and appropriate manner. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the Disability Advisor. |
5 |
Exemplars: |
WRITTEN
Level |
Inherent requirements statements |
1 |
Effective written communication, in English, is a fundamental nursing responsibility with professional and legal ramifications. |
2 |
Student demonstrates the capacity to construct coherent written communication appropriate to the circumstances. |
3 |
Justification of inherent requirement: |
4 |
Adjustments must meet necessary standards of clarity, accuracy and accessibility to ensure effective recording and transmission of information in both academic and clinical settings. Nursing students must comply with the NMBA English Language Skills Registration Standard Policy (2019). Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the Disability Advisor. |
5 |
Exemplars: |
COGNITION
This course requires knowledge of theory and the skills of cognition, literacy and numeracy.
KNOWLEDGE AND COGNITIVE SKILLS
Level |
Inherent requirements statements |
1 |
Consistent knowledge and effective cognitive skills must be demonstrated to provide safe and competent nursing care. |
2
|
Student demonstrates: |
3 |
Justification of inherent requirement: |
4 |
Adjustments must ensure that a clear demonstration of knowledge and cognitive skills is not compromised or impeded. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the Disability Advisor. |
5 |
Exemplars: |
LITERACY (LANGUAGE)
Level |
Inherent requirements statements |
1 |
Competent literacy skills are essential to provide safe and effective delivery of care. |
2
|
Student demonstrates: |
3 |
Justification of inherent requirement: |
4 |
Adjustments must demonstrate a capacity to effectively acquire, comprehend, apply and communicate accurate information. Nursing students must comply with the NMBA English |
5 |
Exemplars: |
NUMERACY
Level |
Inherent requirements statements |
1 |
Competent and accurate numeracy skills are essential for safe and effective care. |
2 |
Student demonstrates the ability to interpret and correctly apply data, measurements and numerical criteria. |
3 |
Justification of inherent requirement: |
4 |
Adjustments must demonstrate a capacity to interpret and apply concepts and processes appropriately in a timely, accurate and effective manner. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the Disability Advisor. |
5 |
Exemplars: |
SENSORY ABILITY
This course requires adequate visual, auditory and tactile abilities.
VISUAL
Level |
Inherent requirements statements |
1 |
Adequate visual acuity is required to provide safe and effective nursing care. |
2 |
Student demonstrates sufficient visual acuity to perform the required range of skills. |
3 |
Justification of inherent requirement: |
4 |
Adjustments must address the need to perform the full range of tasks involved in clinical practice. Any strategies to address the effects of the vision impairment must be effective, consistent and not compromise treatment or safety. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the Disability Advisor. |
5 |
Exemplars: |
AUDITORY
Level |
Inherent requirements statements |
1 |
Auditory ability is required to provide safe and effective nursing care. |
2 |
Student demonstrates sufficient aural function to undertake the required range of skills |
3 |
Justification of inherent requirement: |
4 |
Adjustments must address the need to perform the full range of tasks involved in clinical practice. Any strategies to address the effects of the hearing loss must be effective, consistent and not compromise treatment or safety. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the Disability Advisor. |
5 |
Exemplars: |
TACTILE
Level |
Inherent requirements statements |
1 |
Sufficient tactile ability is required to perform competent and safe nursing care. |
2 |
Student demonstrates adequate tactile function sufficient to undertake the required range of skills and assessments. |
3 |
Justification of inherent requirement: |
4 |
Adjustments must have the capacity to make effective assessments of physical characteristics and abnormalities within safe time frames. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the Disability Advisor. |
5 |
Exemplars: |
STRENGTH AND MOBILITY
This course requires strength and mobility involving fine and gross motor skills.
GROSS MOTOR
Level |
Inherent requirements statements |
1 |
Nursing involves physical demands and requires gross motor function. |
2 |
Student demonstrates the ability to perform gross motor skills to function within scope of practice. |
3 |
Justification of inherent requirement: |
4 |
Adjustments should facilitate functional effectiveness, safety of self and others and a capacity to provide appropriate care. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the Disability Advisor. |
5 |
Exemplars: |
FINE MOTOR
Level |
Inherent requirements statements |
1 |
Nursing is a profession that requires manual dexterity and fine motor skills. |
2 |
Student demonstrates the ability to use fine motor skills to provide safe effective care. |
3 |
Justification of inherent requirement: |
4 |
Adjustments should facilitate functional effectiveness, safety to self and others and a capacity to provide appropriate care. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the Disability Advisor. |
5 |
Exemplars: |
SUSTAINABLE PERFORMANCE
Level |
Inherent requirements statements |
1 |
Nursing practice requires both physical and mental performance at a consistent and sustained level. |
2 |
Student demonstrates: |
3 |
Justification of inherent requirement: |
4 |
Adjustments must ensure that performance is consistent and sustained over a given period. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the Disability Advisor. |
5 |
Exemplars: |
*Developed from: Johnson, A., Allan,T., Phillips,K., Azzopardi,T., Dickson,C., Goldsmith,M & Hengstberger-Sims, C. (2011). Inherent Requirements of Nursing Education (IRONE), UWS School of Nursing & Midwiferyand Student Equity & Disability Services.
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