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Function
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Requirement
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Examples of Tasks for
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Vision
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Adequate to ensure the safety of self and others in the classroom and clinical settings.
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- Students must be able to identify fine-tipped instrumentation from two feet.
- Demonstrate sufficient visual ability to look through lumens for contamination with or without corrective lenses and while wearing protective eyewear.
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Hearing
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Adequate to allow effective communication with patients and others in person and by electronic means, and to ensure the safety of self and patients.
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- Students must be able to differentiate demands from the surgical team while there is background monitors, equipment, and other conversations within the operating room without the use of reading lips due to PPE mask requirements.
- Hear and understand muffled or low-pitched communication without visualization of the communicator’s mouth/lips and within 20 feet.
- Hear activation/warning signals on equipment.
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Tactile Sensory
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Adequate to allow effective evaluation and therapeutic intervention related to patient care, and to ensure the safety of self and others in providing care.
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- Students must be able to pick up, attach, and deliver instrumentation single-handedly. Flex Endo Reprocessing requires students to become ambidextrous and use their non-dominant hand without breaks in asepsis.
- Detecting odors sufficient to maintain environmental safety and patient needs.
- Be free of reportable communicable diseases and chemical abuse.
- May be required to demonstrate immunity to measles, rubella, rubeola, tuberculosis, and hepatitis A/B, or be vaccinated against these diseases, including the influenza vaccination during the season if facility commands.
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Gross motor strength and coordination
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Adequate to ensure the safety of self and others in class, and lab sessions and clinical activities.
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- Pass the assessment test of donning surgical attire, understand the requirements for such attire in a reprocessing department, is tolerable of the attire for 15 minutes while standing.
- Students must be able to stand without breaks or use assistive devices for 6-hour increments or longer without breaking sterile technique during endoscope processing. Students must also be able to lift and hold instrument trays that can weigh up to 30 pounds over a ten-foot area.
- Stand, bend, stoop, and/or sit for long periods of time in one location with minimum/no breaks.
- Lift a minimum of 30 pounds.
- Refrain from nourishment or restroom breaks for up to 6 hours.
- Ambulate/move around without assistive devices.
- Assist with, and/or lift, move, position, and manipulate, with or without assistive devices, the patient who is unconscious.
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Fine motor strength and coordination
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Adequate to allow mastery of activities requiring detailed movements.
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- Students must be capable of holding laparoscopic cameras, and various endoscopes. Reprocessors also must recognize cavitation or contamination in narrow, dark holes and spacing within instrumentation.
- Manipulate instruments, supplies, and equipment with speed, dexterity, and good eye-hand coordination.
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Critical Thinking ability
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Adequate to allow mastery of basic course content and to demonstrate sound judgment in simulated and real-life surgical situations.
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- Demonstrate physical dexterity using endoscopes.
- Students must think quickly when a washer or disinfector malfunctions. Flexible endoscope reprocessors must have the ability to act quickly in times of emergent patient care. Students must also understand the required equipment, supplies and instrumentation necessary to gather for surgical procedures they are assigned.
- Demonstrate the ability to anticipate and function while in stressful situations.
- Possess short- and long-term memory sufficient to perform tasks such as, but not limited to, mentally tracking surgical supplies, and equipment.
- Make appropriate judgment decisions.
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Interpersonal skills
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Adequate to allow establishment of effective working and/or therapeutic relationships with patients, surgeons, and professionals.
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- Flexible endoscope reprocessors must be able to negotiate stressful and critical conversations in times of stress without losing focus on the needs of the patient and surgical team.
- Demonstrate the use of positive coping skills under stress.
- Demonstrate calm and effective responses, especially in emergency situations.
- Exhibit positive interpersonal skills in inpatient, staff, and faculty interactions.
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Communication
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Adequate to allow completion of course work and effective verbal and written communication with patients, families, communities, peers, and others.
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- Students must have the ability to communicate quickly and professionally with the surgical team to relay needed items for effective and safe patient care.
- Communicate and understand fluent English both verbally and in writing.
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