Is a Nursing Career Right for You?

Important considerations about your background, health, abilities and risks

Background and criminal history check

The responsibilities of a nurse are very important and the necessary trust of patients and the employing health-care agency is paramount to successfully performing the duties. Therefore, student placement at a clinical site/agency assumes that the applicant is able to successfully pass the rigors of a background investigation and criminal history check. Students are responsible for all costs associated with a criminal background check.

While it is not the policy of Northern Michigan University's School of Nursing to validate or ensure these prerequisite qualities in our majors, federal guidelines for many agencies mandate that the clinical site/agency may perform background checks. Therefore, each nursing student is advised that the site/agency may perform background investigation on students who are placed in their clinical site/agency. The nature and scope of the background investigation is the prerogative of the specific agency and is in accordance with federal or state guidelines mandating the background check. Lack of consent may disallow a student from being placed at that clinical site/agency and may prohibit the student from progressing in the nursing program.

Practical nurses must be licensed by the state(s) in which they plan to work. Persons making application for licensure are screened for criminal records and/or convicted felonies. If you have a criminal record, you should consider seeking individual legal counsel as to the possibility of being ineligible for licensure prior to applying for admission to the program.

Environmental exposures and risks

Student practical nurses are exposed to a variety of substances within the work environment such as occasional fluctuations in temperature and electromagnetic radiation. Exposure to blood and other body tissue and fluids, dust, electrical hazards, loud or unpleasant noises and occasional high humidity or wetness are the norm. Practical nursing students are also exposed to many latex products - avoidance of latex in clinical training of health occupation students is not possible. An individual with a latex allergy who is starting career training is advised to select a career outside the health occupations.

Physical and mental aptitudes

Nursing is an occupation which involves daily contact with individuals and requires ability to perform a wide variety of activities. Many hospitals require a physical examination, laboratory testing and x-rays prior to hiring an individual to rule out pre-existing conditions which could cause problems in performing the expected duties. If you have any condition which might impair your ability to perform the activities listed below, you might wish to reconsider this career path

These are core performance standards for nurses and for admission and progression in Northern's nursing programs:.

Core Performance	Standard	Examples of Necessary Activities
Communication	Communication abilities sufficient for interaction with others in verbal and written form	Explain treatment procedures, initiate health teaching, document and interpret nursing actions and client responses
Mobility	Physical abilities sufficient to move from room to room and maneuver in small spaces	Move around in client rooms, work spaces and treatment areas, administer cardio-pulmonary procedures.
Motor Skills	Gross and fine motor abilities sufficient to provide safe and effective nursing care.	Calibrate and use equipment, position clients, administer medications orally and parenterally
Hearing	Auditory ability sufficient to monitor and assess health needs .	Hears monitor alarms, emergency signals, auscultatory sounds, cries for help.
Visual	Visual ability sufficient for observation and assessment necessary in nursing care.	Observes client responses; recognizes subtle physical changes.
Tactile	Tactile ability sufficient for physical assessment and performance of skilled nursing activities.	Performs palpation, functions of physical examination and/or those activities related to therapeutic nursing interventions, e.g. insertion of a catheter.

The School of Nursing does not review individual cases as to the medical and/or legal suitability of a student. However, we do wish to have prospective students informed of performance standards and practice considerations prior to making an investment of time and money in the program.