Elements and Performance Criteria

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.


Knowledge of nutritional medicines means:
Nutritional medicine philosophy
first do no harm
identify and treat the causes
treat the whole person as an individual
prevention is better than cure
educate the client
the healing power of nature
Nutritional medicine principles
empiric - respect for nutritional and natural medicine philosophy, tradition and empirical observation
natural - natural is always preferable
individuality - individuals have a unique interaction with their nutritional environment
Nutritional medicine practice
diet as therapy (health maintenance, therapeutic diets, dietary modification)
therapeutic application of special and functional foods (food as medicine)
cultural dietary perspectives
therapeutic&preventive aspects of fasting/detoxification
nutrient supplementation
individual unique dietary needs
Behavioural and lifestyle strategies


Specialised nutritional medicine treatment includes:
Using a high level of nutritional medicine knowledge to enable extrapolation of case study information to new cases
Using research based evidence including literature reviews and critical assessment of research, as a tool in providing treatment
Knowledge and understanding of nutritional medicine treatment of potential conditions/disease states of particular groups in society with specific needs
Applying recommending, dispensing or prescribing diets, foods as medicine, supplements and vitamins
All treatment or care delivered meets the requirements of relevant legislation and regulations
Collaborating with or referring to other health care professionals as required


Factors which interfere with the effectiveness of treatment may include:
Other medical treatment being undertaken
Client physical and psychological readiness and/or wellness
Cultural factors
Contraindications to treatment
Post treatment activity
Client capability of implementing treatment plan (e.g. dietary changes, dosage maintenance)


Responses to reactions may include:
Adjusting treatment accordingly
Seeking appropriate expertise
Discussing reaction with the client
Adhering to clinic guidelines for response to accidents and emergencies
Using of First Aid procedures according to St Johns, Australian Red Cross or other appropriate First Aid training
Accessing local emergency services


Consent for treatment refers to:
Informed consent according to the local and national regulations and legal guidelines
Treatment is given to minors/wards of state when only parent/guardian is present


Response to enquiries may include:
Providing (or directing to) information material
Answering questions
Following up with further information
Providing of referrals


The treatment plan may include:
Prescription of nutritional supplements and vitamins
Dispensing of extemporaneous preparations


Assessment of client health may include:
Antenatal, birth and post natal period information, apgar score, birth weight and feeding method and frequency
Family history, maternal and paternal
Growth and growth patterns
Height, weight and head circumference measurements
Changes in the pattern of growth over a series of measurements
Recognise major milestones in development
Relate the major milestones in personal and social skills fine motor skills, general motor skills and language development to a simplified standard milestone chart


Life stages refers to:
Neonate (birth to 28 days)
Children
Adolescence (puberty to adulthood)
Adulthood
Old Age
Pregnancy and post natal period for women
Peri-menopausal and post menopausal state for women

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 the workplace or a simulated workplace (defined as a supervised clinic) is essential for assessment of this unit
Assessment may contain both theoretical and practical components and examples covering a range of clinical situations
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
Assessment of sole practitioners must include a range of clinical situations and different client groups covering at minimum, age, culture and gender
Assessment of sole practitioners must consider their unique workplace context, including:
interaction with others in the broader professional community as part of the sole practitioner's workplace
scope of practice as detailed in the qualification and component competency units
holistic/integrated assessment including:
working within the practice framework
performing a health assessment
assessing the client
planning treatment
providing treatment


Context of and specific resources for assessment:
Resources essential for assessment include:
an appropriately stocked and equipped clinic or simulated clinic environment
an appropriated stocked nutritional medicine dispensary
relevant texts journals or medical manuals
relevant paper-based/video assessment instruments
appropriate nutritional software and on line resources
skilled assessors


Method of assessment
Observation in the work place
Practical demonstration
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.
Clinical skills involving direct client care are to be assessed initially in a simulated clinical setting. If successful, a second assessment is to be conducted during workplace application under direct supervision.
Oral questioning, discussion and explanation of technique
Role play simulation
Client treatment logbooks


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


Related units:
This unit should be assessed in conjunction with the following related units:
HLTCOM404C Communicate effectively with clients
HLTNUT607B Provide the nutritional medicine treatment