Students admitted to the nursing, physician assistant or speech-language pathology program at Baldwin Wallace University must be able to meet the technical standards for health sciences. The highest priority is placed upon developing graduates who are competent, caring healthcare professionals who possess the skills of life-long learning needed to incorporate new knowledge and methods into their practice settings and to adapt to an ever-changing healthcare environment. Therefore, the following specific attributes are essential for admission, progression, and graduation from the programs in the School of Health Sciences:
- General
- Observational
- Communication
- Motor
- Intellectual and analytical
- Behavioral, emotional and social
The University endorses the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and will endeavor to provide reasonable accommodations for all students with documented disabilities while ensuring the academic integrity of its programs. Students with disabilities who are seeking accommodations should contact the Baldwin Wallace University Office of Accessible Education. Baldwin Wallace University does not discriminate in admission or treatment of students on the basis of disability.
General: The student is expected to possess functional use of the senses of vision, touch, hearing, taste and smell, so that data received by the senses may be integrated, analyzed, and synthesized in a consistent and accurate manner in order to gather significant information needed to effectively evaluate the stakeholders, which include patients, clients, and/or community members.
Observational: The student must have sufficient capacity to accurately observe and participate in the lecture hall, laboratory, clinical settings, field work and with stakeholders at a distance and close at hand, including nonverbal and verbal signals, to assess alterations in stakeholders in a variety of settings.
Communication: The student must able to communicate proficiently in both oral and written English language. The student must be able to use verbal and nonverbal communication to elicit, describe and perceive information from stakeholders and professionals across a variety of settings (i.e., classroom, clinical, medical, field work, etc.). Each student must have the ability to modify their communication style to meet the needs of stakeholders.
Motor: Based on the profession, the student must be able to perform gross and fine motor movements with sufficient coordination needed to assess and treat stakeholder populations. The student must develop the psychomotor skills reasonably needed to perform or assist with procedures, treatments, management and operation of diagnostic and therapeutic instrumentation/equipment utilized in the general and emergent care of stakeholders. The student must be able to maintain consciousness and equilibrium; have sufficient levels of postural control, neuromuscular control, and eye-to-hand coordination; and possess the physical and mental stamina to meet the demands associated with extended periods of sitting, standing, moving and physical exertion required for satisfactory performance in the classroom and field work settings.
Intellectual and Analytical: The student must be able to utilize problem-solving skills that are crucial to their area of practice within the Health Sciences. Problem solving involves the abilities to comprehend three-dimensional relationships and understand the spatial relationships of structures; to measure, calculate, reason, analyze and synthesize objective and subjective data; and to make decisions that reflect consistent and thoughtful deliberation and sound judgment. A student must have the capacity to read and comprehend research literature. Each student must demonstrate mastery of these skills and the ability to incorporate new information from peers, teachers and research literature to formulate sound judgment in stakeholder assessment and planning.
Behavioral, Emotional and Social: Flexibility, empathy, integrity, motivation, effective interpersonal skills and concern for others are personal attributes required of students in the Health Sciences. The student must possess the emotional health required for full utilization of their intellectual abilities, exercise of good judgment, prompt completion of all responsibilities in the classroom and field settings, and development of mature, sensitive and effective relationships with stakeholders and professionals. Each student must be able to effectively self-regulate emotional status within professional contexts in order to exercise stable, sound judgment and to complete assessment and interventional activities. The ability to establish rapport and maintain sensitive, interpersonal relationships with stakeholders from a variety of social, emotional, cultural and intellectual backgrounds is critical for practice within the fields. The student must be able to effectively manage stress, adapt to changing environments, display flexibility, graciously accept constructive criticism, and learn to function cooperatively and efficiently in the face of the uncertainties inherent within their area of practice.
