Unit of competency Outline
Date retreived
22/07/2026 8:09 PM AWST
22/07/2026 8:09 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 respiratory nursing environment
Practise in the respiratory nursing environment
Unit of competency
National Code
HLTEN609B
HLTEN609B
State Code
D8234
D8234
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 addresses the principles of respiratory nursing care, building upon existing skills to enable the Enrolled/Division 2 nurse to provide holistic nursing care to a group of clients with respiratory impairment
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Determine the health status of client with acute and/or chronic respiratory conditions
- 1.1 Apply understanding of the pathophysiology of the presenting/underlying respiratory condition
- 1.2 Identify client nursing care needs commonly associated with respiratory impairment
- 1.3 Initiate holistic health assessment and collect accurate client information in accordance with health unit policy
- 1.4 Evaluate, interpret and communicate client respiratory function to the health care team
- 1.5 Use a range of assessment tools relevant to client 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 respiratory conditions, self management and individual treatment regime
2. Contribute to multi-disciplinary health care team in caring for clients with respiratory 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 respiratory conditions
- 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 for clients with acute and/or chronic respiratory conditions
- 3.1 Ensure nursing care plan reflects specific respiratory 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 respiratory 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 client to attain and maintain optimal respiratory 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 respiratory problems (and identified significant other/s) with health care team support
- 4.6 Ensure appropriate pre-, intra- and post-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 respiratory 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 Evaluate responses of client and identified significant other/s to health promotion and education and modify and document in accordance with health unit policy
- 5.3 Ensure client, and significant other/s where indicated, are aware of community resources available to them and how to access them
- 5.4 Assess client understanding of their condition, medications and therapeutic regimes prior to discharge
- 5.5 Evaluate client acceptance of specific health promotion initiatives prior to discharge
- 5.6 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.
Multidisciplinary health care team members could include:
Medical staff
Nursing staff
Social workers
Physiotherapists
Occupational therapists
Speech pathologists
Dietitian
Prosthetists
Special health requirements include:
Nutritional disorders
Health perceptions
Separation from family
Psychomotor dysfunction
Respiratory conditions may include:
Asthma
COAD
Pulmonary oedema
Pneumonia
Emphysema/bronchiotisis
Bronchitis (acute and chronic)
Asthma
Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Lung cancer
Cystic fibrosis
Heamo/pnuemothorax
Surgical procedures
TB
PE
Sleep Apnoea
Actual and potential problems may include:
Hypoxia
Respiratory failure
Hypercapnia
Inability to clear secretions
Inability to cough
Inability to protect airway
Aspiration
Shortness of breath
Nursing interventions may include:
Respiratory assessment - Chest auscultation, Inspection, Pulse oximetry, respiratory rate, pulse rate, blood pressure, sedation score, past medical history, accessory muscles, SOB degree
Changing pleural drains
Assisting with the insertion of pleural drains
Administration of respiratory medication - nebulised, oral
Take blood from an arterial line for blood gas analysis
Instruction in and encouragement of deep breathing and coughing 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
Health promotion goals / outcomes may include:
Effective gas exchange
Protection of own airway
Re-inflation of lungs
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
Special health requirements include:
Nutritional disorders
Health perceptions
Separation from family
Psychomotor dysfunction
Respiratory conditions may include:
Asthma
COAD
Pulmonary oedema
Pneumonia
Emphysema/bronchiotisis
Bronchitis (acute and chronic)
Asthma
Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Lung cancer
Cystic fibrosis
Heamo/pnuemothorax
Surgical procedures
TB
PE
Sleep Apnoea
Actual and potential problems may include:
Hypoxia
Respiratory failure
Hypercapnia
Inability to clear secretions
Inability to cough
Inability to protect airway
Aspiration
Shortness of breath
Nursing interventions may include:
Respiratory assessment - Chest auscultation, Inspection, Pulse oximetry, respiratory rate, pulse rate, blood pressure, sedation score, past medical history, accessory muscles, SOB degree
Changing pleural drains
Assisting with the insertion of pleural drains
Administration of respiratory medication - nebulised, oral
Take blood from an arterial line for blood gas analysis
Instruction in and encouragement of deep breathing and coughing 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
Health promotion goals / outcomes may include:
Effective gas exchange
Protection of own airway
Re-inflation of lungs
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| C9240 | HLTEN609A | Practise in the respiratory nursing environment | Unit of competency |
Replaced By
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| AVZ94 | HLTENN023 | Apply nursing practice in the respiratory care setting | Unit of competency |
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| D111 | HLT61107 | Advanced Diploma of Nursing (Enrolled/Division 2 nursing) | Qualification |