Elements and Performance Criteria

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.


Common disorders/conditions may include:
Musculoskeletal disorders/conditions
Skin disorders/conditions
Cardiovascular disorders/conditions
Respiratory system disorder/condition
Gastrointestinal disorder/condition
Ear disorder/condition
Eye disorder/condition
Nervous system disorder
Endocrine disorder/condition
Urinary system disorder/condition
Reproductive system disorder/condition


Common gastrointestinal disorders/conditions may include:
Adhesions/appendicitis/paralytic ileus/peritonitis
Bowel obstruction
Carcinoma
Cholelithiasis/cholecystitis
Cirrhosis/hepatitis
Constipation
Dietary intolerance disorders
Diarrhoea
Diverticulitis
Fistula/haemorrhoids/anal fissure
Gastritis/gastroenteritis/peptic ulcer
Hernia
Inflammatory bowel diseases/irritable bowel syndrome
Pancreatitis
Stoma (long term ostomy sites)
Stomatitis


Common terminology associated with gastrointestinal disorders/conditions may include:
Dyspepsia
Malaena/diarrhoea
Impaction/constipation
Nausea/vomiting
Nasogastric tube/percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube (PEG)
Intravenous therapy/parenteral nutrition
Barium studies/biopsy
Endoscopy/gastroscopy
Colonoscopy/sigmoidoscopy
Liver function test (LFT)
X-ray, ultrasound and scan
Cholangiogram


Specific nursing interventions associated with gastrointestinal disorders /conditions may include:
PEG tube feeding
Nasogastric tube feeding
Removal of nasogastric tube
Application of colostomy/ileostomy appliance
Faeces specimen collection


Drugs commonly used for gastrointestinal disorders/conditions may include:
Antacids/antiemetics/anti-ulcer drugs
Absorbents/antiflatulents
Digestive enzymes
Antidiarrheals
Laxatives/aperients


Common musculoskeletal disorders/conditions may include:
Osteoarthritis
Septic arthritis/rheumatoid arthritis
Back pain
Bursitis
Fracture
Gout
Soft tissue injury/trauma
Osteomyelitis/osteoporosis


Terminology associated with common musculoskeletal disorders/conditions may include:
Amputation
Ankylosis
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Casts
Degenerative
Fixation - internal/external
Inflammatory
Prosthesis/splints
Strains/sprains
Tendinitis
Traction
Fractures


Common skin conditions and terminology may include:
Acne
Bacterial skin infections
Basal cell carcinoma/squamous cell carcinoma
Burns
Carbuncle/furuncle
Cysts
Dermatitis/eczema/psoriasis
Excoriation/abrasion
Keloid
Malignant melanoma
Neoplasm - malignant and benign
Papules/pustules/vesicles
Parasitic infections/infestations
Pruritis
Scabies
Ulcer
Urticaria


Common cardiovascular disorders may include:
Angina pectoris
Atherosclerosis/arteriosclerosis
Aneurysm
Coronary artery disease/congestive cardiac failure (CCF)
Hypertension
Myocardial infarction
Peripheral vascular disease (PVD)
Pulmonary oedema
Deep vein thrombosis


Terminology associated with common cardiovascular disorders/conditions may include:
Cardiac arrhythmias
Embolus/thrombus
Ischaemia/infarction
Phlebitis
Stenosis
Hypertensive/hypertensive
Bypass
Cardiac Doppler/cardiac function stress test/stress testing
Cardiac echogram/ECG
Scan/Ultrasound/x-ray
Angioplasty
Cardiac catheterisation/Cardiac artery bypass
Varicose veins
Infarction
Grafts
Serum enzymes
Oedema
Daily weight


The role of the Enrolled/Division 2 Nurse in Cardiopulmonary resuscitation may include:
Identification of cardiac arrest
Call for help
Commence CPR
Assist medical aid as directed
Contribute to documentation
Emotional and physical support of other clients
Seek debriefing


Common medications may include:
Antihypertensives
Anticoagulants
Anti arrhythmic
Vasodilators
Calcium channel blockers
Digoxin
Narcotic analgesics
Quinine sulphate


Common respiratory system disorders/conditions may include:
Asthma
Bronchitis
Carcinoma
Chronic Obstructive Airways Disease/Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease/Chronic Airways Limitation
Emphysema
Haemothorax/pneumothorax
Legionnaires
Pneumonia/pleurisy
Pulmonary embolus/embolism
Tuberculosis
Upper respiratory tract infection
Viral influenza


Blood dyscrasias may include:
Anaemias
Leukaemia
Bleeding disorders
Thalassaemia


Terms associated with respiratory conditions:
Blood gases/pulse oximetry/oxygen saturation levels
Bronchoscopy/tracheostomy
Continuous Positive Airways Pressure (CPAP)
Cyanosis
Intercostal catheters/underwater seal drainage
Mechanical ventilation
Naso and oropharyngeal airway
Pulmonary function test/peak flow/spirometry
Scans/chest x-rays
Sputum/expectoration


Oxygen and aerosol therapies may include:
Oral and/or nasal suctioning
Nebuliser therapy
Metered dose inhalers
Spacers
Oxygen therapy
Nasal cannula/nasal catheter
Hudson mask/Venturi mask
Head box
Deep breathing and coughing
Postural drainage


Medications may include:
Bronchodilators
Expectorants
Cough suppressants
Steroids
Antibiotics
Anti-mucolytics
Topical anaesthetics
Oxygen


Common nervous system disorders/conditions may include:
Alzheimer's disease
Epilepsy/Peripheral neuropathy
Head injury/Meningitis/Encephalitis
Parkinson's disease
Cerebral palsy
Multiple sclerosis
Herpes zoster
Cerebrovascular accident
Transient ischaemia attack
Motor neuron disease/Guilliane-Barre syndrome


Common terminology associated with nervous system disorders/conditions may include:
Ataxia
Aura
Concussion/headache
Dyskinesia
Irritability/seizure
Intracranial pressure
Neuralgia
Confusion/orientation
Glasgow coma scale/neurological observations
Muscle tone
Hyperextension/reflex/atonic
Grand mal (clonic- tonic)/Petit mal
Electro encephalograph (EEG)
Sensory deficit/motor deficit
Photophobia
Spasm
Lumbar puncture/epidural/echoencephalography
Vestibular function test/myelogram
Cerebral atrophy
Dementia
Computerised Tomography (CT Scan)
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Paraplegia/quadriplegia/tetraplegia
Paraesthesia/phantom pain/referred pain


Specific nursing interventions associated with nervous system disorders /conditions must include:
Measure, record and monitor neurological observations


Drugs commonly used for nervous system disorders/conditions may include:
Analgesics/antipyretics
Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Anticonvulsants/antiparkinsonians
Cholinergics/anticholinergics
Steroids
Adrenergics/adrenergic blockers
Neuromuscular blockers/anaesthetics


Common eye disorders/conditions/terminology may include:
Blepharitis/corneal ulcer
Cataracts/glaucoma
Colour blindness
Conjunctivitis/iritis
Ectropion/entropion
Flash burns
Foreign body to eye
Intraocular lens implant
Jaundice
Macular degeneration
Myopia/hyperopia/presbyopia/hemianopia
Ophthalmology
Refractive examination/ophthalmoscopic examination
Retinal detachment/retinal neuropathy
Strabismus/nystagmus
Tonometry/optical
Trachoma
Trauma to eye
Visual acuity/visual field


Specific nursing interventions associated with eye disorders /conditions may include:
Eye toilet
Application of eye pad
Administration of eye drops


Drugs commonly used for eye disorders/conditions may include:
Miotics/mydriatics
Beta blockers
Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors
Antibiotics
Ophthalmic vasoconstrictors/artificial tears
Diuretics


Specific nursing interventions associated with endocrine disorders /conditions must include:
Blood glucose level monitoring
Subcutaneous administration of insulin
Administration of oral glycaemics


Specific nursing interventions associated with reproductive/urinary system disorders /conditions must include:
Mid-stream specimen of urine
24-hour urine collection/bladder washout
Removal of indwelling urethral catheter
Contraceptives
Catheter specimen of urine


Drugs commonly used for reproductive system disorders/conditions may include:
Hormone replacement
Antibiotics
Antifungal drugs
Neoplastic drugs


Advocacy skills include:
Freedom of informed choice
Access to services
Personal safety and security
Rights and needs relating to culture
Freedom from discrimination
Rights and needs related to holistic care practices
Appropriate terminology


Advocacy on behalf of client may be to:
Management
Other staff
Other agencies
Family/carer/community
Other health services/professionals/government departments


Advocacy may include:
Meeting the needs in the context of organisation requirements
Awareness of potential conflict between client's needs and organisation requirements.

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 performance in a work context 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 or in a simulated clinical work environment and under the normal range of clinical environment conditions
Assessment should replicate workplace conditions as far as possible
Simulations may be used to represent workplace conditions as closely as possible
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 and 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


Related units:
This unit is recommended to be assessed in conjunction with the following related competency units:
HLTAP501B Analyse health information
HLTEN509B Apply legal and ethical parameters to nursing practice
HLTEN502B Apply effective communication skills in nursing practice