National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. Functional Ability Categories and Representative Activities/Attributes

Gross Motor Skills
Move within confined space
Sit and maintain balance
Stand and maintain balance
Reach above shoulders (e.g., IV poles)
Reach below waist (e.g., plug electrical appliance into wall outlets)

Fine Motor Skills
Pick up objects with hands
Grasp small objects with hands (e.g., IV tubing, pencil)
Write with pen or pencil
Key/type (e.g., use a computer)
Pinch/pick or otherwise work with fingers (e.g., manipulate a syringe)
Twist (e.g., turn objects/knobs using hands)
Squeeze with finger (e.g., eyedropper)

Physical Endurance
Stand (e.g., at client side during surgical or therapeutic procedure)
Sustain repetitive movements (e.g., CPR)
Maintain physical tolerance (e.g., work entire shift)

Physical Strength
Push and pull 25 pounds (e.g., position clients)
Support 25 pounds of weight (e.g., ambulate client)
Lift 25 pounds (e.g., pick up a child, transfer a client)
Move light objects weighing up to 10 pounds (e.g., IV poles)
Move heavy objects weighing from 11-50 pounds
Defend self against combative clients
Carry equipment/supplies
Use upper body strength (e.g., perform CPR, physically restrain a client)
Squeeze with hands (e.g., operate fire extinguisher)

Mobility
Twist
Bend
Stoop/squat
Move quickly (e.g., response to an emergency)
Climb (e.g., ladders/stools/stairs)
Walk

Hearing
Hear normal speaking level sounds (e.g., person-to-person report)
Hear faint voices
Hear faint body sounds (e.g., blood pressure sounds, assess placement of tubes)
Hear in situations when not able to see lips (e.g., when masks are used)
Hear auditory alarms (e.g., monitors, fire alarms, call bells)

Visual
See objects up to 20 inches away (e.g., information on a computer screen, skin conditions)
See objects up to 20 feet away (e.g., client in a room)
See objects more than 20 feet away (e.g., client at the end of hall)
Use depth perception
Use peripheral vision
Distinguish color (e.g., color codes on supplies, charts, bed)
Distinguish color intensity (e.g., flushed skin, skin paleness)

Tactile
Feel vibrations (e.g., palpate pulses)
Detect temperature (e.g., skin, solutions)
Feel differences in surface characteristics (e.g., skin turgor, rashes)
Feel differences in size, shapes (e.g., palpate vein, identify body landmarks)
Detect environmental temperature (e.g., check for drafts)

Smell
Detect odors from client (e.g., foul smelling drainage, alcohol breath, etc.)
Detect smoke
Detect gases or noxious smells

Reading
Read and understand written documents (e.g., policies, protocols)

Arithmetic Competence
Read and understand columns of writing (e.g., flow sheets, charts)
Read digital displays
Read graphic printouts (e.g., EKG)
Calibrate equipment
Convert numbers to and/or from the Metric System
Read graphs (e.g., vital sign sheets)
Tell time
Measure time (e.g., count duration of contractions, etc.)
Count rates (e.g., drips/minute, pulse)
Use measuring tools (e.g., thermometer)
Read measurement marks (e.g., measurement tapes, scales, etc.)
Add, subtract, multiply and/or divide whole numbers
Compute fractions (e.g., medication dosages)
Use a calculator
Write numbers in records

Emotional Stability
Establish therapeutic boundaries
Provide client with emotional support
Adapt to changing environment/stress
Deal with the unexpected (e.g., crisis)
Focus attention on tasks
Monitor own emotions
Perform multiple responsibilities concurrently
Handle strong emotions (e.g., grief)

Analytical Thinking
Transfer knowledge from one situation to another
Process information
Evaluate outcomes
Problem solve
Prioritize tasks
Use long term memory
Use short-term memory

Critical Thinking
Identify cause-effect relationships
Plan/control activities for others
Synthesize knowledge and skills
Sequence information

Interpersonal Skills
Negotiate interpersonal conflict
Respect differences in clients
Establish rapport with clients
Establish rapport with co-workers

Communication Skills
Teach (e.g., client/family about health care)
Explain procedures
Give oral report (e.g., report on client’s condition to others)
Interact with others (e.g., health care workers)
Speak on the telephone
Influence people
Direct activities of others
Convey information through writing (e.g., progress notes)