Health sciences programs have a societal responsibility to train competent graduates, healthcare providers and scientists who demonstrate critical judgment, extensive knowledge and well-honed technical skills. Students and graduates are engaging in a profession that requires the highest standards of ethical conduct, honesty and professionalism. NUNM students are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with the high ethical standards expected of professionals who may be required to assume responsibility for the life, health and well-being of others. Every student is expected to demonstrate a level of competence consistent with these professional responsibilities and NUNM has the right to discipline, suspend or expel, at any time, any student considered unfit for a career as a practitioner of naturopathic and/or Chinese medicine, in accordance with the policies and procedures set forth in in the university student handbook.
The technical standards define the essential functions that an applicant or student must be able to perform to be admitted to NUNM, progress satisfactorily through an NUNM program of study, and graduate.
To be qualified for health sciences programs at NUNM, those individuals must be able to meet both NUNM’s academic standards and the technical standards, with or without any reasonable accommodation as established by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Technical Standards for all Programs
For entry, participation and graduation from all NUNM academic programs, students must have/be able to:
- Communication Skills
- Communicate effectively, accurately and sensitively with all community members (including but not limited to faculty, administrators, staff, peers, patients and/or clients) both orally and in writing.
- Empathy Toward Diversity
- Recognize personal perspectives on cultural and personal identity, and the potential intersection with others’ cultural identities.
- Actively work to subjugate their own biases so as to act in the best interest of others.
- Flexibility
- Adapt to changing environments, display flexibility, and learn to function within the uncertainty inherent to situations encountered within diverse health sciences programs.
- Motor Skills
- Manipulate the equipment, instruments, apparatus and tools necessary to complete program requirements.
- Observation and Participation
- Observe demonstrations and participate in laboratory work, such as dissection of cadavers, and gross and microscopic examination of specimens.
- Personal Responsibility
- Admit errors and assume personal responsibility for mistakes.
- Respond to feedback, suggestions and criticism in a constructive manner and modify behavior appropriately.
- Physical Capability
- Tolerate physically taxing workloads, environments, schedules and/or travel. Function effectively in times of stress.
- Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking
- Solve problems and think critically to develop appropriate products and services.
- Acquire and synthesize information to develop and defend conclusions regarding observations and outcomes.
- Relationships
- Maintain professional, respectful, mature and compassionate relationships with all community members. Demonstrate concern for others.
- Maintain appropriate professional boundaries.
- Demonstrate the ability to express opinions, alternative points of view, and/or support or challenge others in a nonconflictual manner.
- Contribute effectively within a team, as well as individually.
- Self-Awareness
- Demonstrate self-awareness of one’s emotional state and reactions, and how they impact others.
- Practice appropriate strategies for effectively dealing with stress, uncertainty and conflict.
- Timeliness
- Respond and complete all assignments, duties and requests in a timely manner.
- Trustworthiness
- Maintain standards of honesty and integrity, including intellectual honesty.
Technical Standards for Clinical Programs
For entry, participation and graduation from NUNM’s programs that include a clinical component, students must meet the criteria listed above in addition to the following:
- Communication Skills
- Communicate effectively and efficiently with patients, their families and members of the healthcare team.
- During clinical training, obtain a medical history in a timely fashion, interpret nonverbal aspects of communication, and establish therapeutic relationships with patients.
- Record information accurately and clearly; and communicate effectively with other healthcare professionals in a variety of patient settings.
- Motor Skills
- Possess the capacity to perform physical examinations and diagnostic maneuvers.
- Respond to emergency situations in a timely manner and provide general and emergency care.
- Adhere to universal precaution measures and meet safety standards applicable to outpatient settings and other clinical activities.
- Observation
- Accurately observe patients and assess findings.
- Obtain a medical history and perform a complete physical examination in order to integrate findings based on these observations, and develop an appropriate diagnostic and treatment plan. These skills require the use of vision, hearing and touch, or the functional equivalent.
- Professional Responsibilities
- Demonstrate the ability to meet the ethical and legal standards of the profession.