Essential Functions

Medical Laboratory Sciences Essential Functions

A student must be able to perform the following essential requirements to complete the activities necessary to participate in the Medical Laboratory Sciences program:

  1. Characterize the color, consistency and clarity of biological specimens or reagents.
  2. Employ a clinical grade binocular microscope to discriminate among fine differences in structure and color (hue, shading, and intensity) in microscopic specimens.
  3. Read and comprehend (English) text, numbers and graphs displayed in print and on a video monitor.
  4. Move freely and safely about a laboratory.
  5. Perform moderately taxing continuous physical work using proper body mechanics and ergonomics, often requiring prolonged sitting over several hours.
  6. Reach laboratory bench tops and shelves, patients lying in hospital beds or patients seated in specimen collection furniture.
  7. Maneuver phlebotomy equipment to collect laboratory specimens.
  8. Manual dexterity to manipulate laboratory equipment using proper ergonomics (i.e., pipettes, inoculating loops, test tubes) and adjust instruments to perform laboratory procedures.
  9. Manipulate an electronic keyboard to operate laboratory instruments and to calculate, record, evaluate, and transmit laboratory information.
  10. Read and comprehend technical and professional materials (i.e., textbooks, magazine and journal articles, handbooks and instruction manuals).
  11. Follow oral and written instructions in order to correctly perform laboratory test procedures.
  12. Effectively, confidentially, and sensitively converse with health care team members regarding laboratory tests.
  13. Communicate with faculty members, student colleagues, staff and other health care professionals orally and in a recorded format (writing, typing, graphics or telecommunications).
  14. Be able to manage the use of time and be able to systematize actions in order to complete professional and technical tasks within realistic constraints.
  15. Possess the emotional health necessary to effectively use her or his intellect to exercise appropriate judgment. The candidate must be able to provide professional and technical services while experiencing the stresses of task-related uncertainty (i.e., ambiguous test ordering, ambivalent test interruption), emergent demands (i.e., "STAT" test orders), and a distracting environment (i.e., high noise levels, complex visual stimuli).
  16. Be flexible, creative and adapt to professional and technical change.
  17. Recognize potentially hazardous materials, equipment and situations and proceed safely in order to minimize risk of injury to self and nearby personnel.
  18. Be honest, compassionate, ethical and responsible. The student must be forthright about errors or uncertainty. The student must be able to critically evaluate her or his own performance, accept constructive criticism and look for ways to improve (i.e., participate in continuing education activities). The student must be able to evaluate the performance of colleagues and professionals and tactfully offer constructive comments.

If you are unable to meet the Essential Functions, please contact the Program Director or Disability Resource Center to discuss needed accommodations.