The technical standards for the Cedar Crest College School of Nursing outline the essential skills and competencies required for both undergraduate and graduate nursing students to provide high-quality, compassionate patient care. These standards emphasize the acquisition of both foundational and advanced knowledge in clinical reasoning, healthcare systems, and evidence-based practice. Undergraduate students must demonstrate the ability to synthesize information, communicate effectively, and apply clinical judgment in patient care. Graduate students build on these skills by integrating complex theoretical knowledge, analyzing data, and making informed, evidence-based decisions. Both levels require proficiency in using technology, patient-centered care, and maintaining professionalism and lifelong learning. Students must also be able to perform essential technical skills and procedures, with accommodation provided as necessary to support individual needs and ensure equitable access to meet these requirements. The College provides reasonable accommodations to students on a nondiscriminatory basis consistent with legal requirements as outlined in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments ACT (ADAAA) of 2008, and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. If you are an applicant with a disability who may require accommodations in our program, we encourage you to contact Student Accessibility Services at for a confidential consultation.

Undergraduate Program Technical Standards

1. Acquiring fundamental knowledge
The ability to learn in multiple settings, find information, and synthesize information into concepts and actions focused on the care of the recipient of nursing care. The ability to be a lifelong learner.

• Must have the ability to acquire and understand knowledge.
• Must have the ability to learn in a variety of educational settings (classroom, lab, clinical, individual or small group settings, seminars, online coursework, and physical demonstrations or with Virtual Reality programs)

2. Developing communication skills
Effective communication abilities with the recipient of nursing care and the healthcare team -including support individuals and non-health care team members.

• Must acquire the skills to effectively elicit or interpret information, medical history and other information pertinent to the care of the recipient of nursing care using one or more means (verbal, written, assisted -for example TTY, and/or electronic)
• Must acquire the skills to effectively convey information or interpretation of information to the recipient of nursing care and the health care team using one or more means (verbal, written, assisted, for example TTY, and or electronic)
• Must acquire the skills to effectively communicate/ collaborate in a team setting.

3. Interpreting data
The ability to assess and monitor health needs. The ability to observe and respond to health and illness.

• Must acquire the skills to demonstrate effective assessment and monitoring of conditions (health or illness) affecting/impacting the recipient of nursing care.
• Must acquire the skills to obtain and interpret information from assessments of the recipient of nursing care (such as respiratory, cardiac function, blood pressure, neurologic function etc.)
• Must acquire the skills to obtain and interpret information from a comprehensive assessment of the recipient of nursing care that may yield diagnostic representations of physiologic phenomena.
• Must acquire the skills to obtain and interpret assessments of the recipient of nursing care’s environment
• Must acquire the skills to obtain and interpret assessments of the recipient of nursing care’s responses to health across the continuum

4. Integrate knowledge to establish clinical judgement
The ability to make health care decisions grounded in critical thinking, evidence-based practices and problem solving for the recipient of nursing care in illness, health and across the continuum.

• Must acquire the ability to integrate aspects of assessment (performance, direct, interpretation) and evaluation (development, implementation) in the care of the recipient of nursing care.
• Must acquire the ability to utilize knowledge of clinical judgement, decision-making and critical thinking in multiple environments of nursing care.

5. Implementation and evaluation of nursing interventions
The ability to administer nursing interventions based on assessment data and a designated plan of care.

• Must acquire the skills for safe and accurate administration of medications
• Must acquire the skills for safe and accurate performance of procedures
• Must acquire the skills for safe and accurate provision of treatments/interventions.

6. Incorporating appropriate professional attitudes and behaviors in nursing education and practice.
Demonstration through behavior or interpersonal skills the characteristics of integrity, ethical conduct, accountability, interest, motivation, and concern for others.

• Must acquire interpersonal skills which allow for professional interactions with the recipient of nursing care.
• Must acquire interpersonal skills which allow for professional interaction with other health care team members
• Must acquire skills to be a change agent in health care by promoting new and necessary ways to provide quality health care and quality nursing care.

Approved 8.6.2025