| Physical therapy students must have the knowledge and skills to function in a variety of classroom and clinical situations. Students matriculating and graduating from the Department of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences must meet the technical standards of the academic program and not pose a threat to the well-being of patients or themselves. Candidates for admission and admitted students must continually demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodation, the ability to perform at least the functions listed below to complete their physical therapy education. - Practice in a manner that ensures the safety of the patient/client, self and others.
- Practice in an ethical, legal and responsible manner.
- Demonstrate effective expressive and receptive communication (verbal, nonverbal and written) with all individuals including students, faculty, patients, clients, families, care givers, practitioners, consumers, payers, and policy makers.
- Recognize the psychosocial impact of dysfunction and disability and integrate the needs of the patient and family, including cultural needs, into the plan of care.
- Analyze and synthesize information and apply principles of logic and scientific inquiry to the practice of physical therapy within a specified time frame.
- Select and perform appropriate physical therapy examination and evaluation procedures, establish a working diagnosis, formulate a prognosis and implement appropriate interventions in a timely manner for individuals with actual or potential movement dysfunction to achieve desired outcomes.
- Appropriately document the delivery of clinical physical therapy services and administration, education, and research.
- Apply standard precautions and cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
- Critically self-assess performance and implement plans for professional growth and development.
- Demonstrate professional behaviors in all interactions with patients/clients, families, caregivers, health care providers, students, faculty, consumers, and payers.
- Demonstrate emotional health, flexibility, coping skills, and the ability to adapt to change.
- Respond well in emergency situations.
- Tolerate physically and psychologically taxing workloads: Demonstrate the strength, mobility, coordination and equilibrium sufficient to provide general and therapeutic care to any adult or pediatric patient, including heavy or immobile patients.
- Demonstrate auditory, visual and tactile abilities sufficient to monitor and assess health needs of patients/clients.
It is Northwestern University policy to ensure that no qualified student with a disability is denied the benefits of, excluded from participation, or otherwise subjected to discrimination in any University program or activity. In response to a request made by a qualified student with a disability, the University will arrange, at no cost to the student, for the provision of educational auxiliary aids, including sign-language interpreters and/or real-time captioners, note takers, readers, and tutors determined by the University to be necessary to afford such student the opportunity for full participation in University programs.
If any candidate needs assistance with regard to any disability, the candidate must notify the Director of Services for Students with Disabilities at 847.467.5530; TDD: 847.467.5533 so that the University can help obtain appropriate services. If a candidate feels that he or she has been discriminated against in the application process, the candidate needs to notify the Director of Northwestern’s Office of Equal Employment Opportunity, Affirmative Action, and Disability Services at 847.491.7461 | |
