Elements and Performance Criteria

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 and material may include:
EEG machine; digital, analogue, portable, standard, ambulatory, video and audio
Polygraphic equipment; ECG, EMG, EOG machines, respiration, movement and tremor monitors
Electrodes eg caps, disc, mushroom
Head box
Photic stimulator
Chair
Bed
Additional - accessories, toys, other stimuli
Gels
Electrode pastes
Tape measure
Video cassette recorder and camera
Resuscitation equipment


Environment may include:
Neurophysiology department
Wards
Operating theatre
Private neurologist’s rooms
Intensive care units


Client details may include:
Referral letter/request
Reason for study/referral
Medical history
Address and telephone number
Date of birth and age
Medications
Client’s presenting condition
Date of test
Date of previous test
In care client/out of care client
Clients’ expectations
Test requested
Referring doctor address and telephone number


Clients must include:
Neonates
Infants
Children
Adolescents
Adults
Elderly



Client medical history may include:
Event/s leading to referral
Cardiac disorder
Respiratory disorder
Vascular disorder
Neurological disorder
Infectious diseases
Epilepsy type and frequency, and date of last seizure
Psychiatric and behavioural disorders
Developmental disorder
Metabolic disorder
Medications


Action in response to client’s medical history may include:
Omission of activation procedure/s
Additional activation procedure
Alteration of EEG procedure time


Personal protective equipment may include:
Gloves
Mask
Goggles
Gown


Other monitoring equipment may include:
ECG monitor
Respiration
Actogram
EMG
Oximetry
Movement sensors


Integrity of electrodes must include:
Ground
Reference
Active


Additional validation techniques must include:
Touch test (of electrodes)
Exchange electrodes
Replace electrodes
Low, and of similar value, impedances


Techniques applied must include:
Montages
Derivations
Sensitivity
Filter
Display speed
Activations


Accessory equipment used for activation procedures must include:
Photic stimulator and strobe light


Accessory equipment used for activation procedures may include:
Sleeping accessories, bed, covers, pillows, conducive environment
Blowing implements
Strobe light
Pattern stimulator
Reading material
Other - as appropriate to client history


Causes of changes throughout procedure must include:
EEG findings
Clinical events
Equipment
Environmental
Client’s physiological and psychological state



Complications and severe reactions may include:
Seizure
Cardio-respiratory arrest


Abnormal EEG patterns which require immediate medical attention must include:
Continuous spiking or spike and wave
Hypsarrhythmic EEG
Frequent sub clinical seizure pattern
Status epilepticus
EEG finding consistent with infectious or reportable diseases/conditions eg Herpes Encephalitis, Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease (CJD) or CJD variant
Burst suppression and /or isoelectric EEG
Unilateral abnormality
Other conditions which may endanger the health and well being of the client


Information provided to client’s and carer’s may include:
Appropriate follow up period with referring doctor to obtain results
Risks of injury to client following procedure i.e. following sedation and/or sleep deprivation, and prior to follow up with Neurologist i.e. driving, swimming, riding bicycles, bathing

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
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
Consistency of performance should be demonstrated over the required range of situations relevant to the workplace


Context of and specific resources for assessment:
Relevant organisation policy, guidelines, procedures and protocols


Method of assessment
Clinical skills involving direct client care are to be assessed initially in a simulated clinical setting (laboratory). If successful, a second assessment is to be conducted during workplace application under direct supervision
Observation of work activities when performing electroencephalography (EEG)
Observation of simulation and/or role play when performing electroencephalography (EEG)
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
Questioning, written assessments/projects, e-learning can be used to assess knowledge
Authenticated reports of experience in performing electroencephalography (EEG) (Documentation associated with performance reviews, supervisor/co-ordinator evaluations of work performance)
Training records associated with first aid, OH Safety 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:
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 should be assessed in conjunction with:
HLTAP401B Confirm physical health status
Holistic assessment practice with other health services units of competency is encouraged