Essential Functions of a PET Student

Essential functions are those considered to be necessary or fundamental to performance of a job. In postsecondary education, the student’s job is to learn and participate in an academic environment and the clinical environment as well. The student, with or without reasonable accommodation, must possess these essential functions.

Physical Demands

Sit on a chair.
Push and pull routinely.
Be able to make color distinctions.
Lift 20-50 pounds occasionally and 10-25 pounds frequently.
Be independently mobile within a building and between buildings.
Travel to and from clinical placements, fieldtrips, and assigned locations off campus.
Show sufficient balance to protect and assist patient(s).
Demonstrate strength, agility, and flexibility to manipulate and position a patient.
Have endurance and attention to actively engage in 7 hours of patient treatment or classroom activities each day, 4 days a week.
Reach and grasp overhead, in front of the body, to the sides and down.
Demonstrate fine motor coordination/dexterity to be able to grasp, handle, hold, cut, push, pull, and feel.
Identify and respond to changes in temperature in modalities and in the patient.
Work in confined spaces such as assisting patients in a bathroom or working in an office with several people.
Have full use of hands, wrists, shoulders, and work standing on feet 80% of the time.
Distinguish audible sounds.

Communication Skills

Audibly communicate with clarity in person to exchange accurate information on a one-to-one basis, in a small group, large classroom setting, or large group.
Produce at least one method of legibly written communication in standard and organized English such that 80 words can be produced in 20 minutes.
Use therapeutic communication: attending, clarifying, coaching, and facilitating, and using and responding to nonverbal communication.
Communicate effectively, efficiently and appropriately with peers, faculty, supervisors, other professionals, patients, and their significant others.
Demonstrate sufficient observational skills to collect data on patient performance, and assure patient safety during treatment activities.

Personal Traits

Work within clinical environments, which involve exposure to persons with physical and mental disabilities; and to pain, grief, death, stress, communicable diseases, blood and body fluids, toxic substances, noxious odors and irritating particles.
Work with a diverse patient population including persons of various ages, ethnic, racial, religious, alternative lifestyle, and socioeconomic backgrounds without prejudice or repulsion.
Conduct oneself in accordance with professional ethics.
Exhibit teamwork skills and a spirit of cooperation and respect for peers, faculty, supervisors and other professionals, patients and their significant others.
Work around others and alone.
Modify behavior/performance in the classroom or the clinic after feedback from the instructor or clinical supervisor.
Show problem-solving ability sufficient to organize and complete multiple tasks accurately and within assigned periods.
Independently initiate routine job tasks.
Respond independently and quickly to an emergency.
Demonstrate competency in clinical judgment and safety precautions.
Maintain poise and flexibility in stressful or changing conditions.
Deal with abstract and concrete variables, define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
Interpret instructions furnished in oral, written, diagrammatic or schedule form.
Carry out detailed, simple to complex written or oral instructions.
Comprehend medical records, documents, evaluations, manuals, journals, instructions in use and maintenance of equipment, safety rules, and procedures.
Interact compassionately and effectively with the sick or injured.