Unit of competency Outline

Date retreived
22/07/2026 7:09 PM AWST

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Apply nursing practice in the hyperbaric environment

Apply nursing practice in the hyperbaric environment

Unit of competency
National Code
HLTENN059
State Code
ODI73
TGA Status
Current
DTWD Status
Approved
Current Release Number
2.00
Current Release Date
02/07/2021
View on TGA
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
29/10/2021
Field of Education
060301 - General Nursing
Original Release Date
29/10/2021
Nominal Hours
70
Description
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to provide nursing care to a person undergoing hyperbaric treatment in a hospital or specialised facility with a hyperbaric chamber or unit.Enrolled nurses working in hyperbaric nursing hold and apply specialised in-depth knowledge, integrate theory and practice, and make reliable clinical assessments and judgements.This unit applies to enrolled nurses, registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA), seeking specialisation in enrolled nurse work that is carried out in consultation and collaboration with registered nurses, and under direct or indirect supervisory arrangements aligned to the NMBA regulatory authority legislative requirements.The skills in this unit must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State/Territory legislation, Australian Standards and industry codes of practice.No occupational licensing, certification or specific legislative requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Work in the hyperbaric environment.
  • 1.1. Identify roles and responsibilities of members of the multidisciplinary health care team in the hyperbaric environment.
  • 1.2. Identify potential and actual hazards in the hyperbaric environment and observe workplace health and safety requirements in own practice.
  • 1.3. Identify rationale for pre-hyperbaric treatment safety checklists and participate in pre-hyperbaric treatment safety processes.
  • 1.4. Identify potential causes of emergencies associated with the hyperbaric chamber and hyperbaric treatment and use methods to prevent emergencies.
  • 1.5. Apply requirements of the hyperbaric chamber and locate main oxygen valve for situations and emergencies where the valve needs to be shut off.
  • 1.6. Set up hyperbaric chamber equipment for treatments and solve problems during hyperbaric treatments.
  • 1.7. Identify actual and potential contraindications to hyperbaric therapy for the person undergoing hyperbaric treatment and the multidisciplinary health care team.
  • 1.8. Undertake annual hyperbaric medical and promote requirement with colleagues.
2. Contribute to comprehensive and specific assessment for hyperbaric treatment.
  • 2.1. Perform nursing assessment using resources and tools specific to the hyperbaric unit in line with organisational policies and procedures.
  • 2.2. Identify possible physical and psychological complications of hyperbaric treatment including contraindications based on findings of the assessment.
  • 2.3. Evaluate physical, psychological and social impacts of hyperbaric treatment with the person, families and carers and ensure their knowledge is sufficient for informed consent.
  • 2.4. Identify where acuity of a person exceeds own knowledge, skill or assessed competence and consult with multidisciplinary health care team.
3. Perform nursing interventions in the hyperbaric environment.
  • 3.1. Apply strategies for managing anxiety during hyperbaric therapy.
  • 3.2. Monitor and manage drainage tubes including interventions related to suction in the hyperbaric chamber at depth and at surface.
  • 3.3. Apply principles related to hyperbaric oxygen therapy when setting up and managing breathing system in the hyperbaric chamber.
  • 3.4. Perform wound management and record wound response to hyperbaric therapy and report to the multidisciplinary health care team.
  • 3.5. Respond to hyperbaric emergencies and toxicity in line with organisational policies and procedures.
  • 3.6. Analyse and problem solve to propose and implement nursing interventions to reflect changes in the condition in consultation with registered nurse.
  • 3.7. Evaluate nursing interventions and identified outcomes against evidence-based best practice in hyperbaric nursing care.
No information
No information
Replaces
State Code National Code Title Type
AVZ90 HLTENN027 Apply nursing practice in the hyperbaric environment Unit of competency
State Code National Code Title Type
BGW6 HLT64121 Advanced Diploma of Nursing Qualification