Unit of competency Outline
Date retreived
22/07/2026 5:34 PM AWST
22/07/2026 5:34 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.
Provide assistance in anaesthetic related procedures
Provide assistance in anaesthetic related procedures
Unit of competency
National Code
HLTAN507D
HLTAN507D
State Code
WD057
WD057
TGA Status
Replaced
Replaced
DTWD Status
Replaced
Replaced
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
06/08/2014
Field of Education
060301 - General Nursing
Original Release Date
06/08/2014
Nominal Hours
97
Description
DescriptorThis unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to provide assistance to the anaesthetist in anaesthetic related procedures
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Prepare client and equipment for anaesthetic related procedure
- 1.1 Check anaesthetist's requirements
- 1.2 Select equipment and materials and prepare correctly and safely in accordance with infection control and other relevant guidelines
- 1.3 Document anaesthetic accountable items
- 1.4 Check individual needs of the client and complete action to meet those needs
- 1.5 Provide assistance to the anaesthetist as directed to position the client for the procedure
- 1.6 Take all necessary precautions to prevent cross-infection and avoid adverse events
- 1.7 Check surgical requirements that may impact on the anaesthetic procedure
2. Monitor the performance of equipment and materials used
- 2.1 Ensure equipment is in working order and service records are current
- 2.2 Ensure warning devices are switched on, tested and are registering that the equipment is safe
- 2.3 Observe equipment and materials whilst in use and take immediate action if fault develops to avoid danger to equipment, clients and staff
- 2.4 Follow established procedures to rectify faulty equipment and materials
- 2.5 Check sterility of equipment and materials
- 2.6 Maintain standby presence
3. Provide assistance to the anaesthetist to complete the anaesthetic related procedures
- 3.1 Provide assistance to the anaesthetist as required throughout the procedure
- 3.2 Check client's physiological parameters when required or as directed by anaesthetist
- 3.3 Identify, validate and report deviations from acceptable limits of the client's physiological parameters to the medical practitioner
- 3.4 Report signs of client discomfort, distress or adverse reaction to the anaesthetist in line with consistent practice and procedures
- 3.5 Provide assistance to dress and secure invasive device into position in line with consistent practice and procedure
- 3.6 Utilise personal protective equipment in accordance with standard precautions
- 3.7 Correctly position and calibrate transducers
4. Restore equipment and environment at completion of procedure
- 4.1 Clean, disinfect or sterilise equipment in accordance with infection control guidelines and manufacturer's instructions
- 4.2 Manage faulty equipment in accordance with organisation policies and procedures and manufacturer's guidelines.
- 4.3 Dispose of disposable items in accordance with waste management policies
- 4.4 Handle soiled linen in accordance with infection control guidelines
- 4.5 Restock consumables
- 4.6 Clean and restore the environment
- 4.7 Dispose of waste safely and in accordance with infection control policy or organisation policies and procedures.
5. Assist with connection/ disconnection of client to/from ventilation equipment
- 5.1 Select ventilation equipment and materials and prepare correctly and safely and in accordance with infection control and other relevant guidelines
- 5.2 Set ventilation modes and parameters and ensure warning devices are switched on, tested and are registering that the equipment is safe.
- 5.3 Observe equipment whilst in use and take action immediately if fault develops to avoid danger to equipment, clients and staff
- 5.4 Follow established procedures to rectify faulty equipment
- 5.5 Check client's physiological parameters when required or as directed by anaesthetist
- 5.6 Identify, validate and report deviations from acceptable limits of physiological parameters to the medical practitioner
- 5.7 Signs of client discomfort, distress or adverse reaction are reported to the Anaesthetist in line with consistent practice and procedure
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 must include:
Neonates
Infants
Children
Adolescents
Adults
Elderly
Pregnant women
Impaired
Traumatised
Unconscious
Immuno-compromised
Ventilated
Anaesthetic related procedures must include:
Vascular 'Cut Downs'
Blood patch
Pain Management procedures
12 Lead ECG
Spinal Cord Monitoring
Peripheral Ultrasonic Devices
Transoesophageal Echocardiograph (TOE)
Cell Salvage (including Autologous Growth Factor (AGF) and Platelet Sequestation)
Autotransfusion
Balloon Pump
Intracranial Pressure Monitoring
Ventilation Changes
External Pacing
Anaesthetist's requirements may include:
Client details e.g. age, weight, gender, health status, problems anticipated
Procedure to be undertaken
Equipment and materials for procedure
Equipment and materials must include:
Relevant drugs
Antiseptic solution
Tapes and dressing materials
Trolleys
Chairs
Sandbags
Linen protectors and bundles
Ventilators/breathing equipment
Specialist Sterile procedure pack
Specialty/procedural disposable packs
Sterile field setup
Machines/equipment relevant to procedures
Sutures
Swabs
Needles
Syringes
Electrodes and Gel
Transducers
Tourniquets
Catheters
Fluid
Suction consumables
Infusion sets
Underwater drain
Equipment must include:
Monitoring equipment
Infusion equipment
Ventilator
Physiological parameters
Temperature
Circulation
Respiration
Oxygenation
Neuro-muscular function
Level of consciousness
Arterial blood gases
Haemoglobin levels
Coagulation times
Personal protective equipment may include:
Gown
Gloves
Mask
Protective eyewear
Apron
Ventilation Equipment and Materials
Types of ventilators
Invasive airway devices
Breathing circuits, valves, masks and connectors
Heat and moisture exchanger
Humidifier
Filter
Water traps
Temperature monitors
Nebulisers
Gas sampling lines
Suction devices
Gas blenders for specific gas therapy
Bellows
Scavenging
CO2 absorbant
Vapourisers
O2 therapy equipment (including neonatal head box)
Manual resuscitators
Ventilation modes and parameters
Pressure control ventilation
Simultaneous intermittent ventilation
Positive end expiratory pressure
Continuous positive airway pressure
Intermittent positive pressure ventilation
Rate
Volume
Pressure
Time cycles
Alarm limits
Spontaneous
Percentage oxygen
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 must include:
Neonates
Infants
Children
Adolescents
Adults
Elderly
Pregnant women
Impaired
Traumatised
Unconscious
Immuno-compromised
Ventilated
Anaesthetic related procedures must include:
Vascular 'Cut Downs'
Blood patch
Pain Management procedures
12 Lead ECG
Spinal Cord Monitoring
Peripheral Ultrasonic Devices
Transoesophageal Echocardiograph (TOE)
Cell Salvage (including Autologous Growth Factor (AGF) and Platelet Sequestation)
Autotransfusion
Balloon Pump
Intracranial Pressure Monitoring
Ventilation Changes
External Pacing
Anaesthetist's requirements may include:
Client details e.g. age, weight, gender, health status, problems anticipated
Procedure to be undertaken
Equipment and materials for procedure
Equipment and materials must include:
Relevant drugs
Antiseptic solution
Tapes and dressing materials
Trolleys
Chairs
Sandbags
Linen protectors and bundles
Ventilators/breathing equipment
Specialist Sterile procedure pack
Specialty/procedural disposable packs
Sterile field setup
Machines/equipment relevant to procedures
Sutures
Swabs
Needles
Syringes
Electrodes and Gel
Transducers
Tourniquets
Catheters
Fluid
Suction consumables
Infusion sets
Underwater drain
Equipment must include:
Monitoring equipment
Infusion equipment
Ventilator
Physiological parameters
Temperature
Circulation
Respiration
Oxygenation
Neuro-muscular function
Level of consciousness
Arterial blood gases
Haemoglobin levels
Coagulation times
Personal protective equipment may include:
Gown
Gloves
Mask
Protective eyewear
Apron
Ventilation Equipment and Materials
Types of ventilators
Invasive airway devices
Breathing circuits, valves, masks and connectors
Heat and moisture exchanger
Humidifier
Filter
Water traps
Temperature monitors
Nebulisers
Gas sampling lines
Suction devices
Gas blenders for specific gas therapy
Bellows
Scavenging
CO2 absorbant
Vapourisers
O2 therapy equipment (including neonatal head box)
Manual resuscitators
Ventilation modes and parameters
Pressure control ventilation
Simultaneous intermittent ventilation
Positive end expiratory pressure
Continuous positive airway pressure
Intermittent positive pressure ventilation
Rate
Volume
Pressure
Time cycles
Alarm limits
Spontaneous
Percentage oxygen
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 workplace performance is essential for assessment of this unit
Consistency of performance should be demonstrated over the required range of situations relevant to the workplace
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
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
Context of and specific resources for assessment:
Resources essential for assessment include:
access to appropriate workplace where assessment can take place
simulation of realistic workplace setting for assessment
relevant organisation policy, guidelines, procedures and protocols
Method of assessment
Observation in the work place
Evidence gathered from clinical work environment
Written assignments/projects or questioning should be used to assess knowledge
Case study and scenario as a basis for discussion of issues and strategies to contribute to best practice.
Questioning - verbal and written
Role play/simulation
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
Related units:
This unit can be assessed independently, however holistic assessment practice with other health services units of competency 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
Observation of workplace performance is essential for assessment of this unit
Consistency of performance should be demonstrated over the required range of situations relevant to the workplace
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
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
Context of and specific resources for assessment:
Resources essential for assessment include:
access to appropriate workplace where assessment can take place
simulation of realistic workplace setting for assessment
relevant organisation policy, guidelines, procedures and protocols
Method of assessment
Observation in the work place
Evidence gathered from clinical work environment
Written assignments/projects or questioning should be used to assess knowledge
Case study and scenario as a basis for discussion of issues and strategies to contribute to best practice.
Questioning - verbal and written
Role play/simulation
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
Related units:
This unit can be assessed independently, however holistic assessment practice with other health services units of competency is encouraged
Replaces
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| D5758 | HLTAN507C | Provide assistance in anaesthetic related procedures | Unit of competency |
Replaced By
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| AVA79 | HLTANA006 | Assist with clinical procedures used in anaesthesia | Unit of competency |
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| J103 | HLT50612 | Diploma of Paramedical Science (Anaesthesia) | Qualification |