SIRCHCS004 Test blood glucose and advise on equipment and services for diabetes management

Release: 1

SIRCHCS004 Test blood glucose and advise on equipment and services for diabetes management

Modification History

Not applicable.

Application

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to test blood glucose, record levels, recommend appropriate home blood glucose testing equipment and assist customers with diabetes management information. It requires the ability to identify and act on triggers for referral to a pharmacist for therapeutic advice.

This unit applies to pharmacy assistants working in community pharmacies. They work with some independence, under general supervision and guidance from others, but ultimately under the supervising pharmacist.

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

Pre-requisite Unit

SIRCINF001 Use pharmacy practices for infection control

Competency Field

Health Care Support

Unit Sector

Community Pharmacy

Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENTS	PERFORMANCE CRITERIA
Elements describe the essential outcomes.	Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.
1. Identify customer needs.	1.1.Follow organisational procedures to respect and protect customer privacy. 1.2.Question and actively listen to confirm customer needs. 1.3.Explain features of initial and repeat blood glucose testing services. 1.4.Identify and act on triggers for referral to pharmacist.
2. Test blood glucose levels.	2.1.Follow organisational procedures for testing blood glucose. 2.2.Explain limitations of single test as accurate indicator and suggest regular monitoring. 2.3.Select quiet and comfortable area and clearly explain testing procedure to customer. 2.4.Prepare and use testing equipment according to manufacturer instructions. 2.5.Apply lancet to inside of customer fingertip or alternative area. 2.6.Trigger lancet, hold blood against test strip loaded into monitor and wait for monitor to register blood glucose reading. 2.7.Read test results, enter accurate and complete information on testing record and refer to pharmacist for verification. 2.8.Provide confirmed record to customer and file copy. 2.9.Dispose of used lancets and strips according to safety requirements.
3. Support use of home blood glucose testing equipment.	3.1.Follow organisational procedures for supplying home blood glucose testing equipment. 3.2.Identify and recommend equipment appropriate to customer needs and clearly explain its features. 3.3.Demonstrate use, care and maintenance of digital home blood glucose testing equipment and confirm customer understanding. 3.4.Provide information on common reasons for inaccurate readings. 3.5.Show customer how to keep a blood glucose record.
4. Provide information on diabetes management.	4.1.Encourage customer to take and record regular blood glucose readings and report to their doctor. 4.2.Provide and process key information on the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS). 4.3.Source, review and provide customers with information on lifestyle, self-care practices and availability of specialist services that support diabetes management.

Foundation Skills

Foundation skills essential to performance in this unit, but not explicit in the performance criteria are listed here, along with a brief context statement.
Numeracy skills to:	work with numerical concepts about blood glucose levels.
Technology skills to:	use online information systems to search for information.

Unit Mapping Information

No equivalent unit.

Links

Companion Volume implementation guides are found in VETNet - https://vetnet.gov.au/Pages/TrainingDocs.aspx?q=ca051b1b-5101-4ec2-ac1c-49699303188d