Unit of competency

Modification History

Not applicable.

Application

This unit of competency describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to recognise the main medication categories and their actions in the treatment of gastrointestinal and nutritional disorders so as to dispense medication to patients who suffer from these disorders.

This unit applies to hospital or health services pharmacy assistants and technicians working under the supervision of an authorised person.

The skills in this unit must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State or Territory legislation, Australian standards and industry codes of practice.

No occupational licensing, certification or specific legislative requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

Pre-requisite Unit

Nil

Competency Field

Pharmacy

Unit Sector

Health

Elements and Performance Criteria

Foundation Skills

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

Assessment requirements

Modification History

Not applicable.

Performance Evidence

Evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit in the context of the job role, and:

• prepare and dispense gastrointestinal and nutritional medication on at least 10 occasions to at least 10 patients, including:

• researching and sourcing information
• screening, assessing and providing basic medication discharge information and instructions to patients regarding the use of gastrointestinal or nutritional medications
• referral of enquiries outside scope of practice to the pharmacist
• confirmation of medication dispensing with an authorised person

• perform the activities outlined in the performance criteria of this unit during a period of 240 hours of work related to hospital or health services pharmacy support in a clinical workplace environment. These 240 hours may be applied collectively across all units of competency that include the requirement for workplace hours for the purposes of assessment.

Knowledge Evidence

Demonstrated knowledge required to complete the tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit:

• information about gastrointestinal and nutritional disorders including:

• common causes of gastrointestinal and nutritional disorders
• uses and limitations of medication dispensed to patients in the treatment of gastrointestinal and nutritional disorders
• common adverse reactions of medication dispensed to patients in the treatment of gastrointestinal and nutritional disorders
• conditions or adverse reaction to medication that require referral to a trained health care professional
• relevant legislation, regulations and ethical codes relating to medication dispensing

• standard pharmaceutical references, including:

• Australian Medicines Handbook (AMH)
• Australian Pharmaceutical Formulary Handbook (APF)
• Monthly Index of Medical Specialities (MIMS) or AusDI Advanced
• Micromedex

• relevant National, State or Territory regulatory and legislative requirements
• legal responsibilities of providers of health care in relation to confidentiality, patient rights, duty of care and implications of negligence
• limitations of own work role including identification and referring of issues outside scope of practice to an authorised person
• Work Health and Safety (WHS) policies, guidelines and symbols and their relevance to dispensing medication
• key aspects of the following gastrointestinal disorders, including:

• GORD
• dyspepsia
• peptic ulceration
• diarrhoea
• constipation
• haemorrhoids
• anal fissures
• pathophysiology

• common nutritional disorders, including:

• vitamin and mineral deficiencies
• intolerances
• gluten
• lactose
• glucose
• metabolic disorders

• aims of treatment
• therapeutic options, including:

• pharmacological
• non-pharmacological

• routes of administration used to treat common gastrointestinal conditions, including:

• tablets
• capsules and oral liquid
• cream or ointment
• oral
• topical

• legal scheduling of each of the common medication used to treat common gastrointestinal conditions
• information that should be conveyed to patients, including:

• generic and brand names of the medication
• intended purpose and expected action or duration of treatment

• administration advice or how to take the medication:

• special directions
• dose timing in relation to food
• what to do if dose is missed
• how to store medication
• how to dispose medication

• legal and ethical requirements, National, State or Territory, including:

• codes of conduct
• duty of care and implications of negligence
• privacy, confidentiality and disclosure
• records management

• rights and responsibilities of workers, employers and patients.

Assessment Conditions

Skills must be demonstrated in the workplace with the addition of simulations and scenarios where the full range of contexts and situations have not been provided in the workplace.

Assessment must ensure access to:

• use of suitable facilities, equipment and resources including access to:

• relevant legislation, regulations and guidelines
• medicine information and resources on gastrointestinal and nutritional disorders

• authorised person with whom to consult.

Assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisations’ requirements for assessors.

Links

Companion Volume implementation guides are found in VETNet - https://vetnet.gov.au/Pages/TrainingDocs.aspx?q=ced1390f-48d9-4ab0-bd50-b015e5485705