Unit of competency Outline
Date retreived
22/07/2026 7:57 AM AWST
22/07/2026 7:57 AM AWST
Whilst all efforts are made to provide accurate and timely information from the relevant source/documentation, please be aware that the information supplied may not be the most current version. The accuracy of the detail has not been confirmed by the Department and therefore should not be relied upon without first confirming the contents.
Provide intra-operative equipment and technical support
Provide intra-operative equipment and technical support
Unit of competency
National Code
HLTTH406D
HLTTH406D
State Code
WD310
WD310
TGA Status
Replaced
Replaced
DTWD Status
Replaced
Replaced
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
30/06/2014
Field of Education
060301 - General Nursing
Original Release Date
30/06/2014
Nominal Hours
100
Description
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to provide equipment and technical support during operative procedures
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Monitor the performance of equipment used
- 1.1 Observe equipment to ensure correct operation
- 1.2 Switch on warning devices and ensure that it is registering that the equipment is safe
- 1.3 Ensure gas, electrical, vacuum supplies are adequate for procedure at hand and/or back-up supply is available
- 1.4 Observe equipment whilst in use and, if a fault develops, take immediate action to avoid danger to clients, staff and equipment
- 1.5 Follow established procedures to rectify faulty equipment
2. Attach and detach client attachments as required
- 2.1 Use personal protective equipment
- 2.2 Select appropriate client attachments and ensure equipment is attached safely and securely to appropriate sites
- 2.3 Re-position client attachments during theatre procedures as required
- 2.4 Safely detach client attachments when no longer required with minimum risk of damage to client, staff or equipment
- 2.5 Provide counter-traction during orthopaedic and plastic procedures and manipulations as directed
3. Connect irrigation as directed
- 3.1 Select correct irrigation for operative procedure under the guidance of the surgical medical staff in correct sequence as required
- 3.2 Check irrigation type, sterile integrity and expiry date
- 3.3 Connect irrigation to sterile giving set using correct aseptic techniques
- 3.4 Change irrigation using aseptic techniques
- 3.5 Communicate the volume, type and number of irrigation bags to scout nurse
- 3.6 Dispose of used irrigation bags/giving sets according to organisational policy and procedures
4. Adjust surgical equipment
- 4.1 Turn on/off surgical equipment under the guidance of medical staff and within manufacturers guidelines
- 4.2 Connect surgical equipment to electrical, vacuum, gas supply as required, and in accordance with standard operating procedures
- 4.3 Adjust surgical equipment settings to suit the surgical medical staff and in consultation with anaesthetic medical staff as required and within manufacturers guidelines
- 4.4 Communicate readings to surgical/anaesthetic medical staff as required
- 4.5 Communicate alarms/warnings, abnormal readings and equipment usage times to medical staff as required
- 4.6 Use aseptic techniques to pass sterile equipment/lines from the surgical team and connect to surgical equipment
- 4.7 Disconnect /reconnect surgical equipment, move and adjust during medical emergencies, repositioning of client and/or change of surgical procedure under the guidance of medical and nursing staff.
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 may include:
Endoscopic equipment
Diathermy
Arthroscopic equipment
Lasers
Monitors and camera tower
Printers videos
Lithoplast
Lithoclast/lithotripter
Saws/drills
Orthopaedic surgical equipment
Microscopes
Gas cylinders
Warming equipment
Tourniquet
Insufflator/laparoflater/hystroflator
Electrical and air-powered equipment
Calf compressors/stimulators
Cavitron ultrasonic surgical aspirator
Cryogen
Headlights
Light sources
Smoke evacuators
Suction equipment
Stealth/medrex
Operating table and attachments
Exsanguinators
Electro-surgical unit
Anti-embolus equipment
Suction
Light Sources
Lithoclast/lithotripter
Operating lights
Air/electric power sources for drills/saws
Phacoemulsification machine
continued ...
Equipment may include:(contd)
Resuscitation cot/porta cot
Smoke evacuators
Fire extinguisher
Single lens reflect/digital cameras
Gel pads
Ultracision
Fluid management systems
Optical tracking devices
Cell saver
Warming equipment
Drains
Catheters
Intravenous lines
Intravenous pressure bags
Client attachments may include:
Anti-embolism equipment
Diathermy earth-plate and lead
Traction devices
Zimmer knee splints
Charnley pillow
Ted stockings
Tourniquets
Personal protective equipment may include:
Gown
Gloves
Mask
Protective eyewear
Apron
Lead Gown
Sterile equipment/lines may include:
Irrigation lines
Drill/saw/reamer electrical cords/hoses
Insufflator/hystroflator/laporaflator gas tubing
Suction tubing
Mono-polar/bi-polar diathermy/phaco leads
Book-walter retractor
Camera lead
Light source fibre-optic cord
Endoscopic shaver cord
Traction devices
Smoke evacuators
Cranial arc leads
Probe leads
Surgical team may include:
Registered nurses
Enrolled nurses
Surgeon
Anaesthetist
Other medical practitioner
Perfusionist
Other operating theatre staff
Surgical equipment may include
Phacoemulsification machine
Endoscopic equipment
Diathermy
Arthroscopic equipment
Operating chairs
Operating tables and accessories
Positioning aids and equipment
Lasers
Monitors and camera tower
Theatre lights
Printers videos
Lithoclast/lithotriptor/lithoplast
Saws/drills
Orthopaedic surgical equipment
Orthopaedic frames
Microscopes
Warming equipment
Tourniquet
Insufflator/laparoflator/hystroflator
Electrical and air-powered equipment
Calf compressors/stimulators
CUSA
Cell saver
Cryogen
Headlights
Light sources
Smoke evacuators
Suction equipment
Stealth/medrex
Operative procedure may include:
General, regional and local anaesthetic
Interventional radiology
General surgery
Gastro-intestinal
Ear, nose and throat
Gynaecology
Obstetrics
Orthopaedics
Vascular
Urology
Oral, dental and maxillofacial
Cardiothoracic
Neurosurgery
Plastics and reconstructive
Trauma/emergency surgery
Ophthalmic surgery
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 may include:
Endoscopic equipment
Diathermy
Arthroscopic equipment
Lasers
Monitors and camera tower
Printers videos
Lithoplast
Lithoclast/lithotripter
Saws/drills
Orthopaedic surgical equipment
Microscopes
Gas cylinders
Warming equipment
Tourniquet
Insufflator/laparoflater/hystroflator
Electrical and air-powered equipment
Calf compressors/stimulators
Cavitron ultrasonic surgical aspirator
Cryogen
Headlights
Light sources
Smoke evacuators
Suction equipment
Stealth/medrex
Operating table and attachments
Exsanguinators
Electro-surgical unit
Anti-embolus equipment
Suction
Light Sources
Lithoclast/lithotripter
Operating lights
Air/electric power sources for drills/saws
Phacoemulsification machine
continued ...
Equipment may include:(contd)
Resuscitation cot/porta cot
Smoke evacuators
Fire extinguisher
Single lens reflect/digital cameras
Gel pads
Ultracision
Fluid management systems
Optical tracking devices
Cell saver
Warming equipment
Drains
Catheters
Intravenous lines
Intravenous pressure bags
Client attachments may include:
Anti-embolism equipment
Diathermy earth-plate and lead
Traction devices
Zimmer knee splints
Charnley pillow
Ted stockings
Tourniquets
Personal protective equipment may include:
Gown
Gloves
Mask
Protective eyewear
Apron
Lead Gown
Sterile equipment/lines may include:
Irrigation lines
Drill/saw/reamer electrical cords/hoses
Insufflator/hystroflator/laporaflator gas tubing
Suction tubing
Mono-polar/bi-polar diathermy/phaco leads
Book-walter retractor
Camera lead
Light source fibre-optic cord
Endoscopic shaver cord
Traction devices
Smoke evacuators
Cranial arc leads
Probe leads
Surgical team may include:
Registered nurses
Enrolled nurses
Surgeon
Anaesthetist
Other medical practitioner
Perfusionist
Other operating theatre staff
Surgical equipment may include
Phacoemulsification machine
Endoscopic equipment
Diathermy
Arthroscopic equipment
Operating chairs
Operating tables and accessories
Positioning aids and equipment
Lasers
Monitors and camera tower
Theatre lights
Printers videos
Lithoclast/lithotriptor/lithoplast
Saws/drills
Orthopaedic surgical equipment
Orthopaedic frames
Microscopes
Warming equipment
Tourniquet
Insufflator/laparoflator/hystroflator
Electrical and air-powered equipment
Calf compressors/stimulators
CUSA
Cell saver
Cryogen
Headlights
Light sources
Smoke evacuators
Suction equipment
Stealth/medrex
Operative procedure may include:
General, regional and local anaesthetic
Interventional radiology
General surgery
Gastro-intestinal
Ear, nose and throat
Gynaecology
Obstetrics
Orthopaedics
Vascular
Urology
Oral, dental and maxillofacial
Cardiothoracic
Neurosurgery
Plastics and reconstructive
Trauma/emergency surgery
Ophthalmic surgery
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:
Access to appropriate workplace where assessment can take place
Simulation of realistic workplace setting for assessment
Relevant organisational policy, guidelines, procedures and protocols
Method of assessment
Observation of work activities when providing intra-operative equipment and technical support
Observation of simulation and/or role play when providing intra-operative equipment and technical support
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 when providing intra-operative equipment and technical support (Documentation associated with performance reviews, supervisor/coordinator evaluations of work performance)
Training records associated work health and safety (WHS) 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:
Workers should have an understanding of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander culture and history and an ability to work with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and communities
Assessors and trainers must have a knowledge of and take into account the influence of cultural and historic factors relating to health for those working with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and communities
Related units:
This unit can be assessed independently, however holistic assessment practice with other health services units of competency is encouraged
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:
Access to appropriate workplace where assessment can take place
Simulation of realistic workplace setting for assessment
Relevant organisational policy, guidelines, procedures and protocols
Method of assessment
Observation of work activities when providing intra-operative equipment and technical support
Observation of simulation and/or role play when providing intra-operative equipment and technical support
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 when providing intra-operative equipment and technical support (Documentation associated with performance reviews, supervisor/coordinator evaluations of work performance)
Training records associated work health and safety (WHS) 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:
Workers should have an understanding of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander culture and history and an ability to work with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and communities
Assessors and trainers must have a knowledge of and take into account the influence of cultural and historic factors relating to health for those working with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and communities
Related units:
This unit can be assessed independently, however holistic assessment practice with other health services units of competency is encouraged
Replaces
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| D8537 | HLTTH406C | Provide intra-operative equipment and technical support | Unit of competency |
Replaced By
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUZ58 | HLTTHE003 | Provide intra-operative equipment and technical support | Unit of competency |
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| J084 | HLT42012 | Certificate IV in Operating Theatre Technical Support | Qualification |