Unit of competency
Modification History
Release |
Comments |
Release 1 |
This version was released in HLT Health Training Package release 3.0 and meets the requirements of the 2012 Standards for Training Packages. Significant changes to the elements and performance criteria. New evidence requirements for assessment, including volume and frequency requirements. Significant change to knowledge evidence. Supersedes HLTEN512B |
Application
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to contribute to the care of the person with an acute health problem by performing clinical nursing skills and interventions that support the person’s health care needs and assist them to regain optimal function and lifestyle.
This unit applies to enrolled nursing work carried out in consultation and collaboration with registered nurses, and under supervisory arrangements aligned to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia regulatory authority legislative requirements.
The skills in this unit must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State/Territory legislation, Australian/New Zealand standards and industry codes of practice.
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT |
PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
Elements define the essential outcomes |
Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Identify impact of acute health problems on a person, family or carer. |
1.1 Identify actual and potential health issues of the person presenting with an acute health problem using information from a preliminary health assessment and in discussion with relevant interdisciplinary health care team members. 1.2 Explain to the person, family or carer the potential physical and psychological impacts of acute health problems on daily living activities. 1.3 Identify the pathophysiology of the person’s underlying or presenting condition, and confirm with the person, family or carer. |
2. Contribute to planning care for a person with acute health problems. |
2.1 Contribute effectively to discussions about the care of the person with registered nurse and other members of the health team. 2.2 Gather information and accurately document and report changes in the person’s condition to appropriate interdisciplinary health care team members. |
3. Perform nursing interventions to support health care of a person with acute health problems. |
3.1 Assist in providing care for the person with a compromised airway including clearing of airways and interpreting health status using monitoring devices. 3.2 Provide care to the person requiring nutrition administered through a feeding tube or intravenous line. 3.3 Use critical thinking and problem-solving approaches in prioritising and modifying nursing interventions to reflect changes in the person’s condition. 3.4 Contribute to the person’s understanding of health care provided to assist them to regain optimal function through nursing interventions and health education. 3.5 Observe the person to identify any psychological support and care required due to the impact of acute health problems. 3.6 Ensure nursing interventions for pre- and post-procedure care for the person are in accordance with organisation policy and procedures. |
4. Contribute to pre- and post-operative nursing care of a person. |
4.1 Contribute to pre-operative nursing management of the person for specific surgical procedures. 4.2 Ensure pre-operative care takes into account the relationship between pre-operative care and post-operative complications. 4.3 Contribute to post-anaesthetic observation of the person following surgery including identifying deterioration when the person is not regaining consciousness. 4.4 Assist the person recovering from a range of anaesthesia to regain optimal health status, and take appropriate actions to reduce risks associated with immobility. 4.5 Promote the person’s post-operative comfort using pain management strategies and nursing care actions. |
5. Contribute to an emergency response in the acute care environment. |
5.1 Identify and confirm the roles and responsibilities of members of the emergency response team. 5.2 Prepare and check emergency equipment. 5.3 Identify emergency situations and respond to first aid requests from emergency response team, including accessing and preparing drugs used during advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation. |
Foundation Skills
The Foundation Skills describe those required skills (language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills) that are essential to performance.
Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.
Unit Mapping Information
No equivalent unit.
Links
Companion Volume implementation guides are found in VETNet - https://vetnet.gov.au/Pages/TrainingDocs.aspx?q=ced1390f-48d9-4ab0-bd50-b015e5485705