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The PTA program requires prospective students to attest to meeting the essential functions listed below on their application to the PTA program.
Essentials Functions for a PTA Career
The PTA program requires prospective students to attest to meeting the essential functions listed below on their application to the PTA program.
Essential Functions are a list of skills that are expected of all physical therapist assistants and should serve as a guideline for professional expectations once the student is employed as a PTA. These essential functions include, but are not limited to, the following: Communication skills sufficient to teach others, explain procedures, interact with others, and convey information in writing.
- Obtain and report information verbally and in writing using the English language.
- Receive and respond to verbal and written communications in an appropriate and professional manner.
- Use of communication and sensory skills to convey and elicit information.
- Accurate perception of non-verbal information and cues in interpersonal encounters.
Physical ability is necessary as a PTA. A PTA must have physical mobility and strength sufficient to work with a variety of patient population. Physical requirements include but are not limited to:
- Fine motor skills sufficient to apply fine motor skills and hand dexterity to safely perform examination and therapeutic interventions.
- Frequently bend, twist, and stoop and occasionally crawl, climb, reach above shoulder level, and kneel.
- Having adequate balance in both standing and walking to be able to also support a patient with a disability.
- Being able to lift and carry up to 50 pounds independently.
- Pushing and pulling heavy or immobile patients – up to 100 pounds independently.
- Physical stamina sufficient to perform client care for entire length of clinical experience (6-8 hours).
Observation skills are necessary in healthcare. A PTA must be able to observe and monitor patients, caregivers, volunteers, and other medical staff. The essential observation functions require the use of senses. A PTA must be able to:
- Observe movement patterns, activities and behaviors.
- Observe signs related to physical status (e.g. vital signs, symmetry and condition of the skin, soft tissue & wounds)
- Observe signs related to behavioral status
- Read information in clinical environments such as patient medical record, diagnostic tests, dials, displays, and equipment related to patient care.
Behavioral and social attributes in a clinical setting means having the maturity and emotional health to fulfill all responsibilities. Essential behavioral and social functions include:
- Act in an ethical, legal, and responsible manner consistent with the Core Values and Professional Behaviors outlined by the American Physical Therapy Association.
- Engage in patient care to all patient populations including but not limited to children, adolescents, adults, vulnerable adults, or persons with developmental disability.
- Recognize and demonstrate respect for cultural, ethnic, ethical, and value differences among staff, patients, caregivers, and other health care professionals.
- Be able to handle stresses of dealing with physically and emotionally difficult situations, patients, or caregivers.
- Demonstrate flexibility and adaptability to changing situations and uncertainty.
- Emotional stability sufficient to assume responsibility/accountability for actions, provide client with emotional support, adapt to environmental stress, and monitor own emotions.
- Adhere to timeliness and attendance requirements.
Cognitive abilities are necessary for timely problem solving, safety judgment, and reasoning in a clinical setting. The essential cognitive functions include:
- Analytical thinking sufficient to transfer knowledge from one situation to another, problem solve, prioritize tasks, and use long-term and short-term memory.
- Critical thinking ability sufficient to exercise sound judgement through the sequencing of information and the identification of cause and effect relationships
- Assessing self-performance to continually improve professional skills and implement plans for professional growth and development.