Unit of competency details

HLT07 Version 4

HLT07 Version 5

Comments

HLTTH302C Provide equipment support in an acute care environment

HLTTH302D - Provide equipment support in an acute care environment

Unit updated in V5.

ISC upgrade changes to remove references to old OHS legislation and replace with references to new WHS legislation. No change to competency outcome.

Descriptor 

This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required with the provision of equipment support to meet the needs of the client and surgical team in an operating suite

Application 

Work will be performed within a prescribed range of functions, generally within a team environment, involving known routines and procedures

All activities are carried out in accordance with organisation policies, procedures and infection control guidelines

Employability Skills 

This unit contains Employability Skills

Elements define the essential outcomes of a unit of competency.

The Performance Criteria specify the level of performance required to demonstrate achievement of the Element. Terms in italics are elaborated in the Range Statement.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Ascertain equipment requirements of the operating list

1.1 Consult with relevant operating team members and reference material to determine equipment required

1.2 Use basic knowledge of surgical procedures to assist and identify the needs of operating teams

2. Select and use appropriate equipment

2.1 Locate relevant equipment and check to ensure that it is complete, clean and ready for use

2.2 Position equipment in accordance with set up procedures

2.3 Notify basic equipment faults to appropriate staff according to organisation policy and procedure

2.4 Clean and store equipment safely

This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level required for this unit.

Essential knowledge:

The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively do the task outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage the task and manage contingencies in the context of the identified work role

This includes knowledge of:

• Relevant Australian hospital standards, regulations and guidelines
• Relevant WHS legislation and infection control codes of practice, enterprise policies and procedures
• Safety and environmental aspects related to workplace operation and manual handling, including workplace hazards
• Theatre policy and procedures guidelines
• Theatre protocols
• Types of theatre attire and purpose of personal protective clothing

Essential Skills:

It is critical that the candidate demonstrate the ability to:

• Complete all activities accurately and in a timely and safe manner
• Complete correct set-up and positioning of theatre equipment for a variety of surgical procedures
• Comply with enterprise requirements, WH&S legislation, infection control, manual handling procedures and relevant health regulations
• Effectively coordinate required processes
• Ensure work is completed systematically with attention to detail without damage to equipment
• Liaise effectively with theatre staff and provide appropriate equipment as requested
• Use correct theatre handling equipment procedures

continued ...

Essential skills (contd):

In addition, the candidate must be able to effectively do the task outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage the task and manage contingencies in the context of the identified work role

This includes the ability to:

• Carry out all work according to safe working guidelines
• Handle equipment safely
• Liaise effectively with theatre staff and provide appropriate equipment as requested
• Solve problems including the ability to use available resources and prioritise workload
• Take into account opportunities to address waste minimisation, environmental responsibility and sustainable practice issues
• Undertake equipment set-up procedures
• Undertake specialist cleaning processes for theatre equipment
• Use literacy support available in the workplace which may range from having access to support or assistance from expert/mentor/supervisor, to having no communication supports available
• Use numeracy skills include the ability to complete basic arithmetic calculations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and recording numbers
• Use oral communication skills as required to fulfil job roles in a safe manner and as specified by the organisation, including skills in:

• asking questions
• providing clear information
• listening to and understanding workplace instructions
• clarifying workplace instructions when necessary
• literacy in English or a community language, depending on client group and organisation requirements

• Use reading and writing skills as required to fulfil job roles in a safe manner and as specified by organisation at a level of skill that may range from the ability to understand symbols used in WHS signs to reading and interpreting manufacturers' instructions for equipment, workplace safety pamphlets or procedure manuals to reading labels and handling chemicals such as cleaning fluids

EVIDENCE GUIDE 

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate this competency unit:

• The individual being assessed must provide evidence of specified essential knowledge as well as skills
• Consistency of performance should be demonstrated over the required range of situations relevant to the workplace
• Where, for reasons of safety, space, or access to equipment and resources, assessment takes place away from the workplace, the assessment environment should represent workplace conditions as closely as possible

Context of and specific resources for assessment:

• Equipment
• Infection control procedures
• Workplace health and safety guidelines
• Theatre policy and procedure guidelines
• Other organisation policies and procedures
• Duties statements and/or job descriptions

Method of assessment

• Observation of work activities providing equipment support in an operating theatre environment
• Observation of simulation and/or role play providing equipment support in an operating theatre environment
• Discussion of physical and/or behavioural contingency scenarios involving duty of care
• Authenticated transcripts of relevant education/training courses/
• Recognition of relevant life/work experience
• Written assignments/projects or questioning should be used to assess knowledge
• Authenticated reports of experience in providing equipment theatre support services (Documentation associated with performance reviews, supervisor/co-ordinator evaluations of work performance)
• Training records associated with OH Safety training, Orientation/Induction Training, Safe Manual Handing, Universal infection control procedures
• Case study and scenario as a basis for discussion of issues and strategies to contribute to best practice

Access and equity considerations:

• All workers in the health industry should be aware of access and equity issues in relation to their own area of work
• All workers should develop their ability to work in a culturally diverse environment
• In recognition of particular health issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, workers should be aware of cultural, historical and current issues impacting on health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
• Assessors and trainers must take into account relevant access and equity issues, in particular relating to factors impacting on health of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and communities

RANGE STATEMENT 

The Range Statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Add any essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts.

Equipment requirements will depend upon:

• Personal preference of medical staff
• Availability of equipment
• Client assessment
• Case complexity and speciality area eg general, vascular, ophthalmic, gynaecology
• Manual handling requirements
• Equipment will vary between hospitals due to the above considerations

Equipment may include:

• Furniture
• Electrical
• Positioning aids
• Cylinders
• Operating tables
• Positioning accessories
• Electro-surgical equipment
• Lasers
• Gas cylinders/regulators
• Microscopes
• Endoscopic monitors and tower systems
• Suction units
• Monitoring devices
• Warming equipment
• Audio visual equipment
• Lights
• Orthopaedic equipment
• Tourniquet
• Mechanical lifter

Reference material may include but is not limited to:

• Operating list
• Preference cards
• Manuals

Operating teams may include:

• Nursing staff
• Anaesthetists
• Surgeons
• Other support staff