Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to provide clinical nursing skills for a person with complex needs and to contribute to complex nursing interventions using critical thinking and problem-solving.
This unit applies to enrolled nursing work carried out in consultation and collaboration with registered nurses, and under supervisory arrangements aligned to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia regulatory authority legislative requirements.
The skills in this unit must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State/Territory legislation, Australian/New Zealand standards and industry codes of practice.
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
Elements define the essential outcomes | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Perform nursing interventions to assist a person with complex needs. | 1.1 Perform nursing interventions based on the person’s predetermined plan of care. 1.2 Undertake nursing interventions demonstrating respect for the person’s dignity and cultural diversity. 1.3 Encourage the person to assist by undertaking aspects of their own care during care interventions. 1.4 Consider the person’s physical, emotional and psychosocial needs when performing nursing interventions. |
2. Contribute to the nursing care of people with common disorders and conditions | 2.1 Provide nursing care to the person appropriate to the management of complex conditions. 2.2 Observe, report and document the person’s reactions and responses to the provided care management and medication. 2.3 Refer promptly to the registered nurse any reactions, responses or variations from the normal or unexpected outcomes, including concern for the deteriorating person. |
3. Use critical thinking to improve care quality. | 3.1 Monitor own thinking constantly in relation to own clarity, precision, accuracy, consistency, logic and significance of care, in order to correct oneself when appropriate in the context of caring for a person. 3.2 Identify possible nursing interventions for a person with complex needs, based on health information and clinical presentation. 3.3 Raise the issue with the registered nurse where the nursing interventions are at odds with an already prescribed course of action by multidisciplinary team. 3.4 Explain clearly the reasoning behind specific decisions and actions being taken in the context of the health care of the person. 3.5 Identify areas for quality improvement including to organisation processes in the care of a person with complex needs. |
Evidence of Performance
The candidate must show evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the job role. There must be evidence that the candidate has:
undertaken nursing work in accordance with Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia professional standards of practice, codes and guidelines
analysed, planned and evaluated the health care of 3 people using health information and clinical presentation to determine possible nursing interventions, in consultation with a registered nurse in the workplace
performed interventions in the workplace or in a simulated environment, specific to care of a person with complex needs including:
monitoring of neurological observations to recognise a deteriorating person
recording of 12 lead electrocardiogram (ECG)
removal of indwelling catheter
performing blood specimen collection (venepuncture)
emptied and changed 1 urinary drainage bag in the workplace.
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the work role. This includes knowledge of:
common disorders and conditions, and the correct terminology for:
musculoskeletal disorders and conditions
skin disorders and conditions
cardiovascular disorders and conditions
respiratory system disorders and conditions
gastrointestinal disorders and conditions
ear disorders and conditions
eye disorders and conditions
nervous system disorder
endocrine disorders and conditions
urinary system disorders and conditions
reproductive system disorders and conditions
diagnostic tests for diagnosis of common conditions and disorders of body systems including:
incentive spirometry and peak flow
recording a 12 lead electrocardiogram (ECG)
monitoring oxygen saturation levels
collecting specimens, including blood
how to perform the following nursing interventions:
assisting a person to don anti-embolic stockings
caring for drainage tube systems associated with tubes and drains inserted into the body
emptying and changing ostomy bag
emptying and changing a urinary drainage bag
providing care of suprapubic catheter
inserting and removing indwelling catheters (IDC) including insertion for male and female genitourinary anatomy
applying isolation nursing practices
inserting and removing nasogastric tubes (NG)
feeding through nasogastric tubes (NG) and percutaneous feeding tube
performing blood specimen collection (venepuncture)
mediation, negotiation and conflict resolution as associated with nursing intervention principles for recognising a deteriorating person
referral options and resources available in community and health care settings
critical thinking, including its characteristics and the differences between critical thinking, creative thinking and problem-solving
resources for the Core Standards for nurses who support people with a disability (NSW Family and Community Services)
Working with People with Chronic and Complex Health Care Needs
nursing interventions associated with reproductive and urinary system disorders and conditions including conditions which require a bladder washout.
Assessment Conditions
Skills must have been demonstrated in the workplace or in a simulated environment as specified in the performance evidence. The following conditions must be met for this unit:
use of suitable facilities, equipment and resources in line with the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council’s Standards including:
12 lead ECG monitoring device
neurological assessment equipment
organisation policy and procedures on which the candidate bases the planning
modelling of industry operating conditions including access to real people for simulations and scenarios in enrolled nursing work.
Assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.
In addition, assessors must hold current registration as a registered nurse with Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.
Foundation Skills
The Foundation Skills describe those required skills (language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills) that are essential to performance.
Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.