Unit of competency Outline
Date retreived
22/07/2026 7:27 PM AWST
22/07/2026 7:27 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.
Practise in the cardiovascular nursing environment
Practise in the cardiovascular nursing environment
Unit of competency
National Code
HLTEN610B
HLTEN610B
State Code
D8235
D8235
TGA Status
Replaced
Replaced
DTWD Status
Replaced
Replaced
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
21/07/2011
Field of Education
060301 - General Nursing
Original Release Date
21/07/2011
Nominal Hours
60
Description
DescriptorThis competency unit describes the skills and knowledge required to apply the principles of cardiovascular nursing care, building on existing skills to enable the Enrolled/Division 2 nurse to provide holistic nursing care. Enrolled/Division 2 nurses use a range of complex nursing interventions to assist clients and their significant others to attain and maintain optimal cardiovascular health
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Determine health status of clients with acute and/or chronic cardiovascular conditions
- 1.1 Apply understanding of the pathophysiology of the presenting/underlying cardiovascular condition
- 1.2 Identify client nursing care needs commonly associated with cardiovascular impairment
- 1.3 Initiate holistic health assessment and collect accurate client information in accordance with health unit policy
- 1.4 Evaluate and interpret client's cardiac function and communicate to the health care team
- 1.5 Use a range of assessment tools relevant to client health care requirements
- 1.6 Identify significant alterations in client health status
- 1.7 Ascertain possible factor/s impacting on client health status.
- 1.8 Identify client (and/or identified significant other/s) knowledge regarding cardiovascular conditions, self management and individual treatment regime
2. Contribute to multi-disciplinary health care team in caring for client/s with cardiovascular impairment
- 2.1 Interact appropriately with emergency service personnel, referring agencies and other hospital department staff
- 2.2 Work with an understanding of the role of specialist nursing and medical services in the care of clients with chronic cardiovascular conditions
- 2.3 Collaborate with community agencies in partnership with the client (and identified significant other/s with client consent), to maintain continuity of care
- 2.4 Identify factors relevant to client situation, giving consideration to the physical, psychological, social and economic impacts
- 2.5 Review data collected and communicate to relevant members of the health care team
3. Plan nursing care for clients with acute and/or chronic cardiovascular conditions
- 3.1 Ensure nursing care plan reflects specific cardiovascular care requirements in accordance with health unit policy
- 3.2 Ensure care plan reflects client's current nursing needs and nursing actions designed to maximise cardiovascular function and minimise potential complications
- 3.3 Apply understanding of risk management principles in planning client care
- 3.4 Ensure planned care and therapeutic interventions aim to assist client/s to achieve optimal health outcomes
- 3.5 Identify client requirements for health promotion and education aspects of the nursing care plan in conjunction with client and significant other/s
- 3.6 Regularly review plan of care and modify to reflect changes in client condition
4. Perform complex nursing interventions to assist clients to attain and maintain optimal cardiovascular health
- 4.1 Prioritise nursing interventions according to client needs
- 4.2 Modify nursing interventions using critical thinking and problem solving approaches, to reflect changes in client condition
- 4.3 Update nursing interventions, including health promotion and/or education, to assist client and identified significant other/s to achieve expected outcomes
- 4.4 Monitor nursing interventions, review those that fail to address client needs and revise in consultation/collaboration with the health care team
- 4.5 Implement health teaching plans for the client experiencing cardiovascular impairment (and identified significant other/s) with health care team support
- 4.6 Ensure appropriate pre-, intra- and post- cardiovascular diagnostic procedures are undertaken in line with organisation policies and procedures
- 4.7 Ensure medication administration is based on sound knowledge of principles of drug actions and side effects in accordance with health unit policies and procedures
5. Evaluate effectiveness of nursing interventions and planned care for clients with acute and/or chronic cardiovascular conditions
- 5.1 Evaluate responses of client and identified significant other/s to nursing interventions, and modify and document in accordance with health unit policy
- 5.2 Ensure client, and significant other/s where indicated, are aware of community resources available to them and how to access them
- 5.3 Assess client understanding of their condition, medications and therapeutic regimes prior to discharge
- 5.4 Evaluate client acceptance of specific health promotion initiatives prior to discharge
- 5.5 Assess and review understanding of identified significant other/s in relation to current condition of client and their ongoing management
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.
Clients may include:
Adult
Older adult
Significant others
Child
Adolescent
Health care setting may include:
Acute care facilities
Respite or rehabilitation facilities
Private or public hospitals
Medical clinics or practices
Community health clinics or centres
Aged care settings
Multidisciplinary health care team members could include:
Nurses
Doctors
Allied health professionals
Community or volunteer staff
Administration staff from a variety of organisations
Clients and their families
Cardiovascular conditions may include:
Congestive Cardiac Failure
Acute Pulmonary Oedema
Pulmonary Embolism
Arrhythmia - VT, VF, Asystole, Symptomatic brady and tachycardia, AF
Congenital Heart Defects - accessory pathways, septal defects, tetralogy of Fallot, dextracardia
Ischaemic Heart Disease - Angina and Myocardial Infarction
Heart Valve Dysfunction
Sub-Acute Bacterial Endocarditis
Pericarditis
Acute Chest Pain
Cardiomyopathy
Carotid Stenosis
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Peripheral Vascular Disease
Deep Vein Thrombosis
Cardiovascular procedures may include
R and L Heart Catheters
PTCA (with or without stent)
Pacemaker (temporary or permanent)
CAVG
Mitral Valvotomy
Electrophysiology studies (with or without ablation)
ICD
Cardioversion
Heart Transplant Care
Echocardiogram
Exercise stress test
Nuclear medicine scans
TOE
Hyper/Hypo tension
Pericardiocentesis
AAA repair
Varicose veins
Amputations
Actual and potential problems may include:
Electrolyte imbalance
Fluid overload
Reduced CO2
Hypoxia/Hypoxaemia
Chest pain
Structural heart damage
Sepsis
Haemorrhage
Neurovascular damage
Cerebral Vascular Accident
Vessel occlusion
Pneumothorax
Pacemaker lead displacement
Arrhythmia
Allergy
Exercise Intolerance
Health promotion goals / outcomes may include:
Exercise
Nutrition
Weight Loss
Diabetes Management
Smoking Cessation
Hypertension Control
Stress Management
Post Menopausal
Alcohol and Drugs
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.
Clients may include:
Adult
Older adult
Significant others
Child
Adolescent
Health care setting may include:
Acute care facilities
Respite or rehabilitation facilities
Private or public hospitals
Medical clinics or practices
Community health clinics or centres
Aged care settings
Multidisciplinary health care team members could include:
Nurses
Doctors
Allied health professionals
Community or volunteer staff
Administration staff from a variety of organisations
Clients and their families
Cardiovascular conditions may include:
Congestive Cardiac Failure
Acute Pulmonary Oedema
Pulmonary Embolism
Arrhythmia - VT, VF, Asystole, Symptomatic brady and tachycardia, AF
Congenital Heart Defects - accessory pathways, septal defects, tetralogy of Fallot, dextracardia
Ischaemic Heart Disease - Angina and Myocardial Infarction
Heart Valve Dysfunction
Sub-Acute Bacterial Endocarditis
Pericarditis
Acute Chest Pain
Cardiomyopathy
Carotid Stenosis
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Peripheral Vascular Disease
Deep Vein Thrombosis
Cardiovascular procedures may include
R and L Heart Catheters
PTCA (with or without stent)
Pacemaker (temporary or permanent)
CAVG
Mitral Valvotomy
Electrophysiology studies (with or without ablation)
ICD
Cardioversion
Heart Transplant Care
Echocardiogram
Exercise stress test
Nuclear medicine scans
TOE
Hyper/Hypo tension
Pericardiocentesis
AAA repair
Varicose veins
Amputations
Actual and potential problems may include:
Electrolyte imbalance
Fluid overload
Reduced CO2
Hypoxia/Hypoxaemia
Chest pain
Structural heart damage
Sepsis
Haemorrhage
Neurovascular damage
Cerebral Vascular Accident
Vessel occlusion
Pneumothorax
Pacemaker lead displacement
Arrhythmia
Allergy
Exercise Intolerance
Health promotion goals / outcomes may include:
Exercise
Nutrition
Weight Loss
Diabetes Management
Smoking Cessation
Hypertension Control
Stress Management
Post Menopausal
Alcohol and Drugs
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
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 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
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| C9241 | HLTEN610A | Practise in the cardiovascular nursing environment | Unit of competency |
Replaced By
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| AVZ93 | HLTENN024 | Apply nursing practice in the cardiovascular care setting | Unit of competency |
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| D111 | HLT61107 | Advanced Diploma of Nursing (Enrolled/Division 2 nursing) | Qualification |