Physical Therapist Assistant Department Essential Skills

Successful completion of the PTA Program requires the student to participate in and satisfy the clinical training component of the program.

Students are required to attend a total of four different clinical training experiences including, but not limited to, general hospital, skilled nursing facility, and orthopedic outpatient facility.

Participation in clinical training requires that the student have basic abilities that allow the student to perform successfully. Each student's right to participate in the clinical portion of the curriculum also is contingent upon compliance with the rules of the clinical facility. The clinical facility has the sole discretion to determine when its rules have been violated.

The student will be expected to perform satisfactorily in the following domains:

Physical

1. Assess patient/client status by visual, tactile and auditory methods.
2. Operate and monitor various types of electrical and mechanical therapeutic equipment and apply these safely to the patient/client.
3. Lift and move moderate weight, frequently lift and move heavier weights (in excess of fifty pounds) as may be required for safe transfers of patient/client.
4. Spend prolonged periods, of time walking, standing, sitting, bending as well as frequently crawling, reaching, pushing and pulling.
5. Communicate in both written and verbal formats essential information about patients, treatments, and status to physicians, co-workers, patients and families. This includes the ability to hear patient/client speech, the ability to read written orders with comprehension, the ability to effectively verbalize assessments of patient status and other information, and the ability to effectively use technology. 

Cognitive

1. Demonstrate the interpersonal skills necessary to regularly interact effectively with patients, patients'  families, physicians, co-workers and other facility personnel.
2. Demonstrate the organizational and time management skills necessary to carry out multiple treatment plans on a daily basis.
3. Make decisions and then act on the decisions based on assessment of a particular patient or situation, including emergency situations.
4. Take initiative and work independently yet recognize self limitations. Regularly accept guidance and supervision from superiors.
5. Read and make adjustments as necessary of various meters, scales and measuring devices.
6. Follow job-related logical thought processes.

Emotional/Psychological

1. Cope in an appropriate manner to common patient/clinically related stressful situations.
2. Exhibit flexibility in schedule in response to typical clinical/patient changes.
3. Respect professional and personal boundaries.