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Registered Nursing Program Bachelor of Science Nursing BSN Requisite Skills and Abilities
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BSN Requisite Skills and Abilities

Bachelor of Science in Nursing Requisite Skills and Abilities

Requisite skills and abilities (RSAs) are those foundational skills and abilities that students in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing  program must be able to meet (with or without accommodation) in order to achieve the entry-level competencies for Registered Nurses in B.C.

The requisite skills and abilities are organized in seven categories:

  1. Cognitive
  2. Interpersonal
  3. Communication
  4. Behavioural
  5. Physical
  6. Sensory Perceptual
  7. Environmental

Please review these categories and consider if you are able to meet the fundamental requirements listed here.

Note on Accommodation for Disabilities: If you have concerns that you might need accommodation to meet one or more of the requisite skills and abilities, you will need to provide the following additional information:

  • Your reason for feeling you may not be able to meet the requisite skills and abilities, including your standing in a protected group (race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, religion, marital status, physical or mental disability, sex or sexual orientation).
  • Information from an expert about the limitation of the disability.
  • Assessment from the expert about whether or not you can meet the requisite skills and abilities with a accommodation (the expert should get a copy of this list).

While program requirements cannot be lowered, the College of the Rockies disabilities coordinator and Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program faculty will work with students to accommodate limitations to the point of undue hardship. This process will be as supportive and inclusive as possible.

1. Cognitive:

  • Remember information over a brief period of time.
  • Remember information from past experiences.
  • Problem-solve to develop professional judgment.
  • Reason to develop professional judgment.
  • Exercise critical inquiry skills to develop professional judgment.
  • Apply mathematical skills and abilities in order to:
  • Add, subtract, multiply and divide.
  • Calculate ratios, percentages and apply algebraic equations.

2. Interpersonal

  • Develop relationships and rapport with individuals and groups.
  • Recognize the needs of clients and colleagues.

3. Communication

  • Speak and understand spoken English well enough to avoid mixing up words and meanings.
  • Write and understand written English well enough to avoid mixing up words and meanings.
  • Recognize own non-verbal signals and interpret those received from others while considering individual difference in expression and associated meaning.

4. Behavioural

  • Manage own behaviour well enough to provide safe, competent and ethical nursing care.
  • Engage with self and others to create a safe environment.
  • Respond appropriately in situations that are stressful or that involve conflict.
  • React appropriately to giving and receiving physical touch and working in close proximity with a full range of clients.
  • Fulfill responsibility as part of a team.
  • Manage time appropriately.

5. Physical

Physical ability to perform each of the following requisites well enough to provide client care and participate in educational activities:

  • Stand and maintain balance
  • Bend
  • Manual dexterity
  • Reach
  • Move within limited spaces
  • Lift
  • Push and pull
  • Walk
  • Perform repetitive movements
  • Climb
  • Perform complex sequences of hand eye coordination
  • Carry objects

6. Sensory Perceptual

Ability to perceive with each of the following senses well enough to provide care and participate in educational activities:

  • Sight
  • Hearing
  • Touch

7. Environment

Ability to function in the presence of each of the following commonly encountered and unavoidable environmental factors:

  • Noxious smells
  • Noise
  • Disease agents
  • Chemicals
  • Unpredictable behaviour of others
  • Distractions

The CRNBC registered nurse entry-level competencies illustrate the rational connection of the RSA’s to the objective of preparing entry-level registered nurses who practice safely, competently and ethically. This objective may be achieved in various ways that may need to include creative accommodations based on assessment of individual capacities.