Unit of competency Outline
Information current as of
20/10/2026 5:30 PM AWST
20/10/2026 5:30 PM 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.
Perform basic clinical procedures
Perform basic clinical procedures
Unit of competency
National Code
HLTDEFHC407C
HLTDEFHC407C
State Code
WD115
WD115
TGA Status
Replaced
Replaced
DTWD Status
Deleted
Deleted
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
Original Release Date
07/05/2012
Nominal Hours
0
Field of Education
060301 - General Nursing
Description
DescriptorThis unit covers the competency required to perform basic clinical procedure for a client as part of a treatment plan or as part of a health promotion program
General notes
N/A
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Prepare for clinical procedure
- 1.1 Assess environment for suitability to conduct a clinical procedure
- 1.2 Establish sterile field in accordance with aseptic principles and infection control if required
- 1.3 Select and assemble equipment, consumables and documentation in accordance with health care practitioner's instructions/preferences, organisation policy, procedures and manufacturer's specifications
- 1.4 Arrange equipment in order of use
- 1.5 Ensure emergency equipment and procedures are in place and ready for use
- 1.6 Use personal protective equipment as required
2. Prepare client for clinical procedure
- 2.1 Explain clinical procedure clearly and simply to the client to clarify its purpose and process
- 2.2 Give client the opportunity to ask questions and discuss concerns
- 2.3 Gain informed consent from client in accordance with clinical guidelines, organisation policies and procedures
- 2.4 Assure and maintain confidentiality of client information
- 2.5 Prepare client in accordance with health care practitioner's instructions, organisation policies and procedures
3. Perform clinical procedure
- 3.1 Follow personal hygiene and infection control procedures to reduce risk of infection in accordance with organisation policy, procedures and manufacturer's specifications
- 3.2 Use equipment and consumables safely and in accordance with the needs of the procedure and the maintenance of sterility
- 3.3 Conduct clinical procedures in accordance with clinical guidelines, organisation policies and procedures
- 3.4 Ensure personal movement around a sterile field conforms with aseptic principles to avoid contamination of the sterile field
- 3.5 Rectify any contamination of sterile field
- 3.6 Realise unsuccessful procedures and refer and or seek assistance
- 3.7 Monitor client for complications during the procedure
- 3.8 Respond to emergency situations in accordance with health care practitioner's instructions, organisation policies and procedures
4. Conclude clinical procedure
- 4.1 Explain outcomes of clinical procedure clearly and simply to the client
- 4.2 Record outcomes in a way that can be interpreted readily by others and according to clinic guidelines, organisation policies and procedures
- 4.3 Clean and/or dispose of equipment and consumables in accordance with manufacturers' requirements and infection control policy
- 4.4 Store equipment and consumables in accordance with organisation policy and procedures
- 4.5 Make arrangements for client review and document according to clinical guidelines, organisation policies and procedures
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.
Clinical procedures may include:
Establishing intravenous infusion access
Performing basic sterile wound dressing and bindings
Performing eye irrigation
Removing wound sutures and staples
Shortening and removing wound drains
Apply and remove plaster casting (short arm/short leg)
Apply preventative sports strapping (ankle/thumbs/fingers)
Environment is assessed may include:
Adequate lighting
Health care practitioner's specified needs
Suitable climate
Suitable client privacy
Equipment may include:
Axillary crutches/forearm crutches
Plaster oscillating saws
Plaster spreaders
Plaster shears
Bowl and clinical containers
Dressing instruments
Dressing trolley
Examination bed
Pen light torch
Surgical lighting
Consumables may include:
Alcohol cleansing wipes
Bandages and dressing application aids
Cotton buds
Disposable gloves
Examination gowns
Goggles/protective eyewear
Half-sheet for draping
Hazard bags for infection control
Instrument cleaning supplies
Irrigation solution
Ophthalmic irrigation solution
Pre-packed commercial dressing packs
Sharps containers
Sterile gauze
Stitch cutter/staple remover
Wound dressings
Confidentiality of client information may be ensured by:
Adherence to Privacy Act
Information disclosed to an appropriate person consistent with the responsibility of this position
Legal and ethical requirements
Secure location for written records
Treatment room with privacy
Personal hygiene and infection control procedures may include:
Australian and state standards and legislation
Industry standards
Organisation procedures
Standard precautions such as hand washing procedures
Direct instructions from supervisor
Clinical guidelines, organisation policies and procedures may include:
Clinical standards (state and national)
Industry professional bodies
Industry standards (state and national)
Organisation
Privacy Act
Relevant state/territory WHS bodies
Preparing the client may include:
Correctly positioning
Performing surgical cleanse of the area
Performing a surgical prep
Removing clothing
Removing dressings and bindings
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.
Clinical procedures may include:
Establishing intravenous infusion access
Performing basic sterile wound dressing and bindings
Performing eye irrigation
Removing wound sutures and staples
Shortening and removing wound drains
Apply and remove plaster casting (short arm/short leg)
Apply preventative sports strapping (ankle/thumbs/fingers)
Environment is assessed may include:
Adequate lighting
Health care practitioner's specified needs
Suitable climate
Suitable client privacy
Equipment may include:
Axillary crutches/forearm crutches
Plaster oscillating saws
Plaster spreaders
Plaster shears
Bowl and clinical containers
Dressing instruments
Dressing trolley
Examination bed
Pen light torch
Surgical lighting
Consumables may include:
Alcohol cleansing wipes
Bandages and dressing application aids
Cotton buds
Disposable gloves
Examination gowns
Goggles/protective eyewear
Half-sheet for draping
Hazard bags for infection control
Instrument cleaning supplies
Irrigation solution
Ophthalmic irrigation solution
Pre-packed commercial dressing packs
Sharps containers
Sterile gauze
Stitch cutter/staple remover
Wound dressings
Confidentiality of client information may be ensured by:
Adherence to Privacy Act
Information disclosed to an appropriate person consistent with the responsibility of this position
Legal and ethical requirements
Secure location for written records
Treatment room with privacy
Personal hygiene and infection control procedures may include:
Australian and state standards and legislation
Industry standards
Organisation procedures
Standard precautions such as hand washing procedures
Direct instructions from supervisor
Clinical guidelines, organisation policies and procedures may include:
Clinical standards (state and national)
Industry professional bodies
Industry standards (state and national)
Organisation
Privacy Act
Relevant state/territory WHS bodies
Preparing the client may include:
Correctly positioning
Performing surgical cleanse of the area
Performing a surgical prep
Removing clothing
Removing dressings and bindings
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 work
Where, for reasons of safety, space, or access to equipment and resources, assessment takes place away from the work context, the assessment environment should represent work conditions as closely as possible
Assessment must be conducted on the following clinical procedures on at least three occasions:
establishing intravenous infusion access
performing basic sterile wound dressing
performing eye irrigation
removing wound sutures or staples
Resource implications:
Assessment requires access to:
client requiring a clinical procedure
appropriate equipment to conduct the clinical procedure
relevant organisation policies, guidelines, procedures and protocols
relevant professional bodies' policies and guidelines on the performance of clinical procedures
manufacturers' specifications for the use and storage of equipment
Consistency in performance:
Competency should be demonstrated over time with a range of clinical assessments that could be expected in the workplace
Context of assessment:
Competency should be assessed in the workplace or in a simulated workplace. Procedure involving establishing intravenous infusion access is to be assessed on a human subject
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 may be assessed independently, but holistic assessment with other clinical units is encouraged
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 work
Where, for reasons of safety, space, or access to equipment and resources, assessment takes place away from the work context, the assessment environment should represent work conditions as closely as possible
Assessment must be conducted on the following clinical procedures on at least three occasions:
establishing intravenous infusion access
performing basic sterile wound dressing
performing eye irrigation
removing wound sutures or staples
Resource implications:
Assessment requires access to:
client requiring a clinical procedure
appropriate equipment to conduct the clinical procedure
relevant organisation policies, guidelines, procedures and protocols
relevant professional bodies' policies and guidelines on the performance of clinical procedures
manufacturers' specifications for the use and storage of equipment
Consistency in performance:
Competency should be demonstrated over time with a range of clinical assessments that could be expected in the workplace
Context of assessment:
Competency should be assessed in the workplace or in a simulated workplace. Procedure involving establishing intravenous infusion access is to be assessed on a human subject
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 may be assessed independently, but holistic assessment with other clinical units is encouraged
Replaces
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| D8167 | HLTDEFHC407B | Perform basic clinical procedures | Unit of competency |
