Technical Standards
Students admitted to the Northern Arizona Physician
Assistant Program must possess the capacity to complete the entire curriculum
in order to achieve the Master of Physician Assistant Studies degree.
This curriculum requires demonstrated proficiency in a
variety of cognitive, affective and psychomotor skills. Therefore, all students admitted to the
Physician Assistant Program must possess the following abilities and
expectations.
- Students must be able to observe and participate
in all demonstrations and experiments in the basic sciences, including computer
assisted instruction.
- Students must be able to learn to analyze,
synthesize, problem solve, and reach diagnostic and therapeutic judgments.
- Students must have sufficient use of the senses
of vision, hearing and smell necessary to directly perform a physical
examination as well as psychomotor abilities to allow the performance of all
skills/tests in the physical exam. Students must be able to perform inspection,
palpation, auscultation and percussion.
- Students must be able to relate to patients and
establish an empathetic, professional and effective relationship with patients.
- Students are expected to be able to communicate
the results of the examination to the patient and to their colleagues with
accuracy, clarity, and efficiency.
- Students are expected to possess the ability to
work collaboratively with all members of the health care team.
- Students are expected to be able to learn and
perform laboratory tests and diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.
- Students are expected to be able to display
appropriate judgment in the assessment and treatment of patients. In addition,
students must be able to learn and demonstrate the ability to recognize
limitations in their knowledge, skills and abilities and to seek appropriate
assistance with their identified limitations.
- Students must be able to learn to respond with
precise, quick, and appropriate action in emergency situations.
- Students
are expected to be able to accept criticism and adopt appropriate modifications
in their behavior.
- Students
are expected to possess perseverance, diligence, and consistency to complete
the physician assistant curriculum and enter into the practice of medicine as a
certified and licensed physician assistant.
If you have any questions regarding these
standards or your ability to meet these standards, you should contact the Program Director.