Unit of competency Outline
Date retreived
23/07/2026 12:18 AM AWST
23/07/2026 12:18 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.
Practise in the critical care environment
Practise in the critical care environment
Unit of competency
National Code
HLTEN607B
HLTEN607B
State Code
D8232
D8232
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 unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to practise more effectively and efficiently within the critical care environment
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Apply theoretical concepts and principles in development of a nursing care plan
- 1.1 Work with an understanding of the pathophysiology of presenting/underlying critical care condition
- 1.2 Address common nursing needs associated with clients in the critical care environment
- 1.3 Initiate holistic health assessment and collect accurate client information in accordance with health unit policy
- 1.4 Evaluate and interpret the client's nursing care needs 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 Clarify the knowledge of client (and/or identified significant other/s) regarding client condition, self management and individual treatment regime
- 1.9 Work with an understanding of the psychosocial needs of clients in critical care environment
2. Contribute to multi-disciplinary health care team in caring for clients in the critical care environment
- 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 in the critical care environment
- 2.3 Collaborate with multi-disciplinary team 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 in consultation/collaboration with the health care team
- 3.1 Ensure nursing care plan reflects specific critical 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 their physical 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 in critical care to attain and maintain optimal 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 Perform nursing interventions, including health promotion and/or education, to assist clients and 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 Ensure appropriate pre-, intra- and post-diagnostic procedures are undertaken in line with organisation policies and procedures
- 4.6 Ensure medication administration is based on sound knowledge of principles of drug actions and side effects in accordance with health unit policies and procedures
- 4.7 Recognise the rights and responsibilities of the critical care client
- 4.8 Act as an advocate for the client and their family.
- 4.9 Respect individual culture and religious practice for the critical care client
5. Evaluate effectiveness of nursing interventions and planned care for clients in critical care
- 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
- 5.6 Document responses to planned nursing actions
- 5.7 Recognise the legal and ethical issues involved in aged care practice
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.
Multidisciplinary health care team members could include:
Medical staff
Nursing staff
Social workers
Physiotherapists
Occupational therapists
Speech pathologists
Dietitian
Prosthetists
Clients may include:
Adult
Older adult
Significant others
Child
Adolescent
Actual and potential problems may include:
Respiratory failure
Increased intracranial pressure
Altered state of consciousness
Hypercapnia
Inability to clear secretions
Inability to cough
Aspiration
Shortness of breath
Electrolyte imbalance
Fluid overload
Reduced CO2
Hypoxia/Hypoxaemia
Chest pain
Cerebral Vascular Accident
Vessel occlusion
Pneumothorax
Pacemaker lead displacement
Arrhythmia
Allergy
Nursing interventions may include:
Physical assessment - Chest auscultation, Pulse oximetry, respiratory rate, pulse rate, blood pressure, sedation score, past medical history, accessory muscles
Changing invasive drains
Assisting with the insertion of invasive drains
Administration of medication
Take blood from an arterial line for blood gas analysis
Instruction in and encouragement of deep breathing and coughing exercises including passive and active exercises
Pain assessment and management
Spirometry
Administration of non-invasive ventilation - CPAP and BiPAP
Oxygen administration
Tracheal suction via an ETT or Tracheostomy
Management of a client with a tracheostomy - tracheostomy dressing, client assessment
Management of elimination (urinary and bowel) needs including - insertion of indwelling catheters, irrigation of indwelling catheters
Management of permanent and temporary mechanical ventilation including suctioning and bagging
Disease processes may include:
Alterations in sensory function
Alterations in cardiac function
Alterations in respiratory function
Alterations in neurological function
Alterations in musculoskeletal function
Alteration in genitourinary function
Alteration in skin integumentary function
Alteration in endocrine Function
Alteration in renal function
Health promotion goals / outcomes may include:
Exercise
Nutrition
Weight Loss
Diabetes Management
Smoking Cessation
Hypertension Control
Stress Management
Post Menopausal
Alcohol&Drugs
Plans of care may include:
Nursing care plans
Clinical pathways
Treatment plans
Medical notes
Rehabilitation
Community referrals
Health teaching
Discharge plans
Rehabilitation plans
Legal and ethical issues include:
Rights and responsibilities
Consent
Power of attorney
Advanced care directives
Advocacy
Restraint
Ethical principles
Legislation affecting critical care clients
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.
Multidisciplinary health care team members could include:
Medical staff
Nursing staff
Social workers
Physiotherapists
Occupational therapists
Speech pathologists
Dietitian
Prosthetists
Clients may include:
Adult
Older adult
Significant others
Child
Adolescent
Actual and potential problems may include:
Respiratory failure
Increased intracranial pressure
Altered state of consciousness
Hypercapnia
Inability to clear secretions
Inability to cough
Aspiration
Shortness of breath
Electrolyte imbalance
Fluid overload
Reduced CO2
Hypoxia/Hypoxaemia
Chest pain
Cerebral Vascular Accident
Vessel occlusion
Pneumothorax
Pacemaker lead displacement
Arrhythmia
Allergy
Nursing interventions may include:
Physical assessment - Chest auscultation, Pulse oximetry, respiratory rate, pulse rate, blood pressure, sedation score, past medical history, accessory muscles
Changing invasive drains
Assisting with the insertion of invasive drains
Administration of medication
Take blood from an arterial line for blood gas analysis
Instruction in and encouragement of deep breathing and coughing exercises including passive and active exercises
Pain assessment and management
Spirometry
Administration of non-invasive ventilation - CPAP and BiPAP
Oxygen administration
Tracheal suction via an ETT or Tracheostomy
Management of a client with a tracheostomy - tracheostomy dressing, client assessment
Management of elimination (urinary and bowel) needs including - insertion of indwelling catheters, irrigation of indwelling catheters
Management of permanent and temporary mechanical ventilation including suctioning and bagging
Disease processes may include:
Alterations in sensory function
Alterations in cardiac function
Alterations in respiratory function
Alterations in neurological function
Alterations in musculoskeletal function
Alteration in genitourinary function
Alteration in skin integumentary function
Alteration in endocrine Function
Alteration in renal function
Health promotion goals / outcomes may include:
Exercise
Nutrition
Weight Loss
Diabetes Management
Smoking Cessation
Hypertension Control
Stress Management
Post Menopausal
Alcohol&Drugs
Plans of care may include:
Nursing care plans
Clinical pathways
Treatment plans
Medical notes
Rehabilitation
Community referrals
Health teaching
Discharge plans
Rehabilitation plans
Legal and ethical issues include:
Rights and responsibilities
Consent
Power of attorney
Advanced care directives
Advocacy
Restraint
Ethical principles
Legislation affecting critical care clients
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| C9238 | HLTEN607A | Practise in the critical care environment | Unit of competency |
Replaced By
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| AVZ96 | HLTENN021 | Apply nursing practice in the critical care setting | Unit of competency |
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| D111 | HLT61107 | Advanced Diploma of Nursing (Enrolled/Division 2 nursing) | Qualification |