Physical Requirements & Safety

Physical Requirements

Maintain established health and physical capabilities: (also may be required for retention at the discretion of the faculty). After admission into the program, the department will provide a health form to be completed by a licensed physician, physician's assistant, or nurse practitioner.

• Vision capabilities:
  1. Normal or corrected refraction within the range of 20/20 to 20/60
  2. Able to distinguish color shade changes
•  Auditory capabilities:
  1. Possess normal or corrected hearing ability within the 0 to 45-decibel range
• Tactile capabilities:
  1. Possess in at least one hand the ability to perceive temperature change and pulsation and to differentiate between various textures and structures
  2. Recognize an object by touching and handling
• Language capabilities:
  1. Possess the ability to verbally communicate
• Minimal motor capabilities:
  1. Grasp securely with two functional upper limbs
  2. Push and/or pull moveable objects weighing 100-150 lbs
  3. Lift at least 25 lbs. without assistance
  4. Stand for long periods of time
  5. Walk without the assistance of canes, crutches, walkers, and/or humans
  6. Reach above shoulders and below the waist
  7. Twist, bend, stoop/squat, and move quickly
• Mental health:
  1. Possess the ability to adapt to the environment, function in everyday activities, and cope with stressors
• Freedom from transmittable disease as documented by:
  1. Negative PPD and/or chest x-ray within the immediate past 12 months
  2. Rubella and rubeola antibody test (titer values that indicate immunity) documentation of MMR (Rubella, Rubeola and Mumps) vaccine
  3. Hepatitis B Vaccine series
  4. Varicella zoster live-virus vaccine or serologic evidence of immunity
  5. Tdap (Tetanus-Diphtheria-Pertussis) vaccine
  6. Immunization as recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the U.S. Public Health Service, the Committee on Infectious Disease of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Maintain current certification in basic life support for health care providers (CPR) by the American Heart Association.
• Clinical education is a mandatory component of the programs. Due to accreditation requirements of the clinical education centers, students are likely to be required to obtain a criminal background check and/or undergo drug testing prior to acceptance to the clinical assignment. The student is responsible for the incurred cost. Any student who fails acceptance to the clinical assignment will be unable to complete the program.
• Completion of the MR safety screening form.

Note: The MR system has a very strong magnetic field that may be hazardous to individuals entering the MR environment if they have certain metallic, electronic, magnetic, or mechanical implants, devices, or objects. To perform/assist with MR procedures on patients, students must initially undergo the same screening procedures as patients in order to enter the scan room. If any of the above is applicable, contact imaging@moreheadstate.edu.

Magnetic Resonance Safety Protocols

The establishment of thorough and effective screening procedures for patients and other individuals is one of the most critical components of a program that guards the safety of all those preparing to undergo magnetic resonance (MR) procedures or enter the MR environment. An important aspect of protecting patients and individuals from MR system-related accidents and injuries involves understanding the risks associated with the various implants, devices, accessories, and other objects that may cause problems in this setting. This requires constant attention and diligence to obtain information and documentation about these objects in order to provide the safest MR setting possible. The faculty at Morehead State University wants to provide the students and patients with a safe clinical environment. Therefore, the program requires students to complete the MR safety screening form prior to acceptance into the program. This form must be completed by a qualified practitioner. Contact kh@moreheadstate.edu with any questions or concerns.

The student must provide documentation of meeting the program's health and physical requirements. The student must keep these records current for the duration of the program. Students who do not maintain these requirements will not be allowed to progress (see Academic Policy on Progression). In the event that the student has a foreign object (i.e., ferrous material, implants, surgical clip, insulin pump, etc.) located in or on their body after admission, it is the student's responsibility to notify program officials. After notification to program officials, a qualified healthcare practitioner must complete another MR Safety Screening Process to ensure student and personnel safety. 

Magnetic Resonance Student Safety Screening Form