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Follow the links below to find material targeted to the unit's elements, performance criteria, required skills and knowledge

Elements and Performance Criteria

  1. Work as part of the multidisciplinary health care team for the client requiring neurological rehabilitation
  2. Clarify the impact of client's neurological rehabilitation on the client and/or their family
  3. Contribute to planning appropriate care for the client with a neurological dysfunction
  4. Implement care plan for the client with a neurological dysfunction
  5. Assist to evaluate the outcomes of planned nursing actions for the client with a neurological dysfunction.

Required Skills

This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level required for this unit

Essential knowledge

The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively do the task outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit manage the task and manage contingencies in the context of the identified work role

This includes knowledge of

Admission and discharge process

Age specific requirements eg older adult young adult paediatric client

Anatomy and physiology

Anatomy and physiology specific to neurological dysfunction

Client rights and responsibilities

Clinical manifestations of neurological conditions

Community and In hospital Services available for neurological dysfunction clients

Demographics of neurological dysfunction population and impact on health system

Diagnostic tests and their meanings

Emergency and first aid management of complications of neurological conditioninjury

Emergency and first aid management of neurological conditioninjuries

Health illness continuum

Health teaching

Legal and ethical issues related to practice

Medical terminology

Occupational Health and Safety legislation

Organisation policy and procedure

Participating as a member of the health care team

Pathophysiology of clinical manifestations of neurological conditions

Phases of care for neurological dysfunction clients

Philosophy underpinning neurological dysfunction management

Reflective practice

Essential skills

It is critical that the candidate demonstrate the ability to effectively do the task outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit manage the task and manage contingencies in the context of the identified work role

This includes the ability to

Apply clinical nursing skills to address

acute care and intensive care needs of neurological dysfunction clients

pain management needs

pressure area care needs

rehabilitative care needs of neurological dysfunction clients

Apply professional standards of practice

ANMC code of conduct

ANMC code of ethics

ANMC national EnrolledDivision nurse competency standards

stateterritory Nurse Regulatory Nurses Act

stateterritory Nursing and Midwifery Regulatory Authority standards of practice

scope of nursing practice decision making framework

Apply principles of documentation to document planned nursing interventions

Apply principles of rehabilitation

Ensure maintenance of skin integrity

Maintain effective symptom management

Maintain evidence based practice in line with current literature and work of professional bodies associated with neurological dysfunction

Manage administration of medications as per jurisdictional and legal requirements

Recognise and address appropriately religious and cultural needs of client and significant others

Recognise and address needs of client and significant others in relation to grief and loss

Evidence Required

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 prior to assessment in the workplace

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 assignmentsprojects

Case study and scenario as a basis for discussion of issues and strategies to contribute to best practice

Questioning verbal and writing

Role playsimulation

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 andor Torres Strait Islander clients and communities


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 may include:

Client and their significant others

Medical staff

Nursing staff

Social workers

Physiotherapists

Occupational therapists

Speech pathologists

Dietitian

Prosthetists

Podiatrists

Drug and alcohol services

Emergency services including - Ambulance, Royal Flying Doctor Service, Care Flight

Community services

Transitional rehabilitation services

Health care settings may include:

Hospital - private or public

Day clinic

Long stay centres

Short stay centres

Medical clinic

Aged care

Respite centres

Community

Paediatric environments

Neurological conditions includes:

Increased intracranial pressure

Altered state of consciousness

Deficits due to cardiovascular disease

Transient ischaemic attacks

Results of intracranial surgery

Headaches

Brain tumours

Intracranial infection

Intracranial aneurisms

Multiple sclerosis

Parkinson's disease

Huntington's disease

Alzheimer's disease

Neuromuscular disease (eg: myasthenia Gravis, muscular dystrophies)

Convulsive disorders

Head injuries

Spinal injuries

Cranial nerve disorders

Disorders of the peripheral nervous system (eg peripheral neuropathies, Guillain-Barré Syndrome)

Assessment of impact of dysfunction include:

Performance of activities of daily living

Loss or limitation to physical function

Accompanying trauma and injuries

Impact on sexuality, relationships, self image, body image

Grief and loss

Loss of vocation

Coping mechanisms

Personal and community support mechanisms

Level of communication

Maintenance/improvement of quality of life

Maintenance/improvement of lifestyle

Impact of secondary disease processes

Plans of care could include:

Nursing care plans

Clinical pathways

Treatment plans

Medical notes

Rehabilitation

Community referrals

Health teaching

Discharge plans

Rehabilitation plans

Specific nursing interventions/ clinical skills may include:

Foundation nursing interventions - competency NRS001

Complex nursing interventions - competency NRS007

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

Wound care

Skin care including - assessment and management of skin care

Health teaching in relation to client care needs

Pain management

Manual handling

Coordination of clinical care

Application of specific prosthetic devices

Assessment of oxygen saturation levels

Management of intravenous therapy

Management of blood product infusions

Rehabilitative care practices

Emergency resuscitation skills

Evaluation of planned care includes:

Level of independence in performance of activities of daily living

Access and use of community support services

Participation in rehabilitation programs

Self management of symptoms