Unit of competency Outline
Date retreived
23/07/2026 9:34 AM AWST
23/07/2026 9:34 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.
Work in the nursing profession
Work in the nursing profession
Unit of competency
National Code
HLTEN401B
HLTEN401B
State Code
D8197
D8197
TGA Status
Replaced
Replaced
DTWD Status
Replaced
Replaced
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
24/08/2012
Field of Education
060301 - General Nursing
Original Release Date
24/08/2012
Nominal Hours
65
Description
DescriptorThis unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to practise as a nursing professional with clients across the lifespan in a range of health care environments, such as acute care, community care, mental health, aged care, medical / surgical
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Apply the principles of primary health care delivery
- 1.1 Work with an understanding of the historical development of health care
- 1.2 Work with an understanding of the levels of health care provided in the Australian health care system
- 1.3 Apply the principles of primary health care and the philosophical framework supporting primary health care system
- 1.4 Identify the potential risks for the implementation of primary health care
- 1.5 Work with an understanding of the role of the Enrolled/Division 2 nurse and the collaborative role of other health care professionals in the delivery of primary health care
- 1.6 Establish appropriate relationships with other members of the health care team within each health care environment
- 1.7 Interact effectively with allied health team members
2. Apply the principle of wellness
- 2.1 Reflect in own work practice appropriate application of wellness and illness models of care within the Australian health care system
- 2.2 Apply the wellness model of care appropriately in relation to people with disabilities.
- 2.3 Identify health care issues that may require nursing care
3. Work in the context of professional nursing practice
- 3.1 Work with an understanding of the historical and current perspectives of the nursing profession and nurse education
- 3.2 Work with an awareness of the critical aspects and historical development of each nursing environment
- 3.3 Incorporate theoretical concepts and information related to nursing into nursing practice
- 3.4 Work with an understanding of the role of relevant professional nursing bodies
- 3.5 Work within the principles and parameters of nursing practice
- 3.6 Assist in organisation's audit and accreditation processes
4. Handle issues arising in health care
- 4.1 Respond to death as an aspect of the life span
- 4.2 Support clients, their family and carers through the grief and bereavement process as appropriate
- 4.3 Identify resources to assist client, family and carers in relation to grief
- 4.4 Work with an awareness of a range of classifications of disability and their major causes
- 4.5 Implement nursing care for clients with disabilities
- 4.6 Design a learning program for an individual with a disability
5. Contribute to professional work team
- 5.1 Contribute effectively as a member of a multidisciplinary team implementing care plans in each health care area
- 5.2 Use a journal or similar tool to examine and document reflective nursing practice
- 5.3 Contribute to achieving effective team work and supportive group dynamics when working with health care colleagues
6. Participate in professional skills development
- 6.1 Identify, access and undertake available options for professional skill development
- 6.2 Participate in and respond appropriately to performance review processes
- 6.3 Reflect on own nursing practice to identify areas for skill development to enhance performance
- 6.4 Identify and participate in professional organisations
- 6.5 Identify sources of employment opportunities
- 6.6 Outline the interview process and materials required for an employment application
7. Apply the Scope of Nursing Practice Decision Making Framework
- 7.1 Apply jurisdictional requirements relating to Scope of Practice Framework
- 7.2 Reflect Scope of Practice within the Enrolled/Division 2 nurse role
- 7.3 Adapt to different requirements of the role of the Enrolled/Division 2 nurse within each health care environment
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.
Professional nursing bodies include:
Nurse Regulatory Authority
Professional organisations such as:
Royal College of Nursing, Australia (RCNA)
Industrial bodies, such as:
Australian Nursing Federation (ANF)
Health Services Union of Australia (HSUA)
Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council (ANMC)
Primary health care delivery includes:
Levels of health care in Australia
Models of primary health care
Community participation
Equity and access to health care
Responsiveness to needs of local populations
Philosophical frameworks for primary health care
Roles of health team members in primary health care
Professional development strategies may include:
Coaching/mentoring and/or supervision
Formal and informal learning programs/courses
On the job/off the job training
Career planning/development
Workplace skills assessment/learning needs analysis
Personal studies
Professional development opportunities may include:
In-service programs
Workshops
Seminars
Conference attendance
Special group forums
On-line (computer based)
Undergraduate/postgraduate courses
Sources of employment opportunities may include:
Newspaper
Internal memo
Internet/intranet
Professional journal
Employment agency
Word of mouth
Self promotion
Interview process may include:
Preparation
Presentation
Punctuality
Personality
Articulate
Positive body image
Honesty
Feedback
Health care environments could include but not restricted to the following areas:
Aged care
Palliative care
Paediatric
Mental health
Community health
Disability
Medical
Surgical
Day surgery
Maternity care
Operating suite
Cardiac care
Clinical data could include:
Resident classification schedule
Nursing care plans
Clinical pathways
Treatment plans
Medical notes, nursing notes, ie. integrated notes
Manual and electronic storage systems
Flow charts
Self assessment strategies may include:
Setting goals
Journal writing
Reflective learning principles
Professional development activities
Performance appraisal
Evaluating own performance
Self disclosure
Common terms associated with human behaviour may include:
Perception
Sensation
Emotion
Motivation
Achievement
Affect
Mood
Factors that influence health related behaviour may include:
Physiological
Psychological
Economic
Educational
Geographical
Environmental
Social
Culture
Gender
Age
The underpinning values and philosophies of the health care unit may include:
A holistic and consumer-centred approach
Community education
Delivery of appropriate services
Commitment to meeting the needs and upholding the rights of consumers
Commitment to empowering the consumer
Encouragement of personal growth and development toward recovery and wellness
Cultural and linguistic differences may include:
The needs of Indigenous Australians
The needs of people from non-English speaking backgrounds
Social variable such as social attitudes, sensitivity to sexuality
Emotional expression
Communication techniques eg. questioning
Common terms associated with death and dying may include:
Bereavement
Grief
Grieving
Loss
Anger
Depression
Bargaining
Denial
Acceptance
Spirituality
Widows
Widowers
Permanence
Universality
Irreversibility
Funeral rites
Theories
Afterlife
Reincarnation
Burial rituals
Law of Karma
Icons
Rosary
Meditation
Embalm
Prayer(s)
Last rites
Anointing of the sick
Sacrament
Mecca (North-west of Perth)
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.
Professional nursing bodies include:
Nurse Regulatory Authority
Professional organisations such as:
Royal College of Nursing, Australia (RCNA)
Industrial bodies, such as:
Australian Nursing Federation (ANF)
Health Services Union of Australia (HSUA)
Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council (ANMC)
Primary health care delivery includes:
Levels of health care in Australia
Models of primary health care
Community participation
Equity and access to health care
Responsiveness to needs of local populations
Philosophical frameworks for primary health care
Roles of health team members in primary health care
Professional development strategies may include:
Coaching/mentoring and/or supervision
Formal and informal learning programs/courses
On the job/off the job training
Career planning/development
Workplace skills assessment/learning needs analysis
Personal studies
Professional development opportunities may include:
In-service programs
Workshops
Seminars
Conference attendance
Special group forums
On-line (computer based)
Undergraduate/postgraduate courses
Sources of employment opportunities may include:
Newspaper
Internal memo
Internet/intranet
Professional journal
Employment agency
Word of mouth
Self promotion
Interview process may include:
Preparation
Presentation
Punctuality
Personality
Articulate
Positive body image
Honesty
Feedback
Health care environments could include but not restricted to the following areas:
Aged care
Palliative care
Paediatric
Mental health
Community health
Disability
Medical
Surgical
Day surgery
Maternity care
Operating suite
Cardiac care
Clinical data could include:
Resident classification schedule
Nursing care plans
Clinical pathways
Treatment plans
Medical notes, nursing notes, ie. integrated notes
Manual and electronic storage systems
Flow charts
Self assessment strategies may include:
Setting goals
Journal writing
Reflective learning principles
Professional development activities
Performance appraisal
Evaluating own performance
Self disclosure
Common terms associated with human behaviour may include:
Perception
Sensation
Emotion
Motivation
Achievement
Affect
Mood
Factors that influence health related behaviour may include:
Physiological
Psychological
Economic
Educational
Geographical
Environmental
Social
Culture
Gender
Age
The underpinning values and philosophies of the health care unit may include:
A holistic and consumer-centred approach
Community education
Delivery of appropriate services
Commitment to meeting the needs and upholding the rights of consumers
Commitment to empowering the consumer
Encouragement of personal growth and development toward recovery and wellness
Cultural and linguistic differences may include:
The needs of Indigenous Australians
The needs of people from non-English speaking backgrounds
Social variable such as social attitudes, sensitivity to sexuality
Emotional expression
Communication techniques eg. questioning
Common terms associated with death and dying may include:
Bereavement
Grief
Grieving
Loss
Anger
Depression
Bargaining
Denial
Acceptance
Spirituality
Widows
Widowers
Permanence
Universality
Irreversibility
Funeral rites
Theories
Afterlife
Reincarnation
Burial rituals
Law of Karma
Icons
Rosary
Meditation
Embalm
Prayer(s)
Last rites
Anointing of the sick
Sacrament
Mecca (North-west of Perth)
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
Observation of application of skills and knowledge in the workplace or a simulated work environment is essential for assessment of this unit
Consistency of performance should be demonstrated over the required range of workplace situations and should occur on more than one occasion and be assessed by a registered nurse
Context of and specific resources for assessment:
This unit is most appropriately assessed in the clinical workplace by a registered nurse
Where, for reasons of safety, access to equipment and resources and space, assessment takes place away from the workplace, simulations should be used to represent workplace conditions as closely as possible
Method of assessment
Observation in the work place
Written assignments/projects
Case study and scenario as a basis for discussion of issues and strategies to contribute to best practice.
Questioning - verbal or written
Role play/simulation
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
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
Observation of application of skills and knowledge in the workplace or a simulated work environment is essential for assessment of this unit
Consistency of performance should be demonstrated over the required range of workplace situations and should occur on more than one occasion and be assessed by a registered nurse
Context of and specific resources for assessment:
This unit is most appropriately assessed in the clinical workplace by a registered nurse
Where, for reasons of safety, access to equipment and resources and space, assessment takes place away from the workplace, simulations should be used to represent workplace conditions as closely as possible
Method of assessment
Observation in the work place
Written assignments/projects
Case study and scenario as a basis for discussion of issues and strategies to contribute to best practice.
Questioning - verbal or written
Role play/simulation
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
Replaces
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| C9203 | HLTEN401A | Work in the nursing profession | Unit of competency |
Replaced By
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| AWA16 | HLTENN001 | Practise nursing within the Australian health care system | Unit of competency |
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| D096 | HLT51607 | Diploma of Nursing (Enrolled/Division 2 nursing) | Qualification |
| J108 | HLT51612 | Diploma of Nursing (Enrolled-Division 2 nursing) | Qualification |