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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. |
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Cultural respect | This competency standard supports the recognition, protection and continued advancement of the inherent rights, cultures and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples It recognises that the improvement of the health status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people must include attention to physical, spiritual, cultural, emotional and social well-being, community capacity and governance Its application must be culturally sensitive and supportive of traditional healing and health, knowledge and practices |
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Community control | Community participation and control in decision-making is essential to all aspects of health work, and the role of the health worker is to support the community in this process |
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Supervision | Supervision must be conducted in accordance with prevailing state/territory and organisation legislative and regulatory requirements References to supervision may include either direct or indirect supervision of work by more experienced workers, supervisors, managers or other health professionals A person at this level should only be required to make decisions about clients within the organisation's standard treatment protocols and associated guidelines |
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Legislative requirements | Federal, state or territory legislation may impact on workers' practices and responsibilities. Implementation of the competency standards should reflect the legislative framework in which a health worker operates. It is recognised that this may sometimes reduce the application of the Range of Variables in practice. However, assessment in the workplace or through simulation should address all essential skills and knowledge across the Range of Variables Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health workers may be required to operate in situations that do not constitute 'usual practice' due to lack of resources, remote locations and community needs. As a result, they may need to possess more competencies than described by 'usual practice circumstances' Under all circumstances, the employer must enable the worker to function within the prevailing legislative framework |
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An accurate history may include: | History of the presenting problem (character, severity and duration of symptoms) Client concerns and beliefs regarding their problems Past medical history, including use of alcohol, tobacco and other substances Medicines being taken Allergies Family and community circumstances, including identifying environmental health factors that may contribute to client's health problems Basic dietary information, including diet history to determine food and drink intake |
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Related health care providers may include: | Personnel internal to the service provider External health care providers Other service providers |
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Client information may include: | Significant ongoing health problems Current medications Clinical progress notes relevant to the presenting problem Record of allergies Current support mechanisms |
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Standing orders/written care protocols include: | Written guidelines or orders that support the clinical assessment and management of presenting health problems (e.g. CARPA) |
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Medical equipment (to beused) includes: | Thermometers Stethoscopes Peak expiratory flow rate meters Eye scope (ophthalmoscope) Scales Blood glucose testing units Blood pressure testing unit (sphygmomanometer) Eye chart (Snellen or Bailey-Lovie chart) Tape measure (or stadiometer) for measuring height Length mat (for babies) Ear scope (otoscope) Metered dose inhalers and spacers and nebulisers |
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Additional medical equipment that must berecognisedincludes: | Haemoglobin testing equipment ECG machine Spirometer (lung function tester) Tympanometer (middle ear function) Audiometer (hearing tester) Resuscitation equipment Retinal camera Audiology equipment |
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Vital signs include: | Temperature Pulse Blood pressure Respiratory rate Blood sugar level |
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Non-clinical factors responsible for abnormal readings may include: | Failure to properly shake down a mercury thermometer Effect of ingestion of hot or cold beverage on oral temperature measurement Differences in temperature measurements taken at sites (i.e. oral, axillary, ear) Effect of exertion and anxiety on pulse rate and blood pressure Impact of cuff size on the accurate measurement of blood pressure Faulty equipment Failure to correctly calibrate equipment Impact of environmental factors on equipment Effect of food and drink on blood sugar reading |
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Common health conditions to be recognised include: | Upper respiratory tract infection Acute and chronic suppurative otitis media Hay fever Tension headache Constipation Uncomplicated gastroenteritis Impetigo (school sores) and boils Scabies Fungal skin infection Mild asthma Nappy rash Poor dental health (gingivitis, cavities, tooth loss, pain) Overweight and obese adults and children Poor growth in infants and children |
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Clinical features suggesting potentially serious health problems include: | The 'unwell child' Features suggesting dehydration Chest pain, productive cough, haemoptysis, breathlessness or fast breathing Pelvic pain, pain passing urine or blood in the urine Abdominal tenderness or unexplained abdominal pain Fever among high risk persons (infants, elderly and clients with chronic disease, valvular heart disease or past rheumatic fever) Fever with features that might indicate serious infection (eg: abdominal pain, urinary symptoms, headache, productive cough, skin infection) Wounds or sores that are deep, extensive, on the face or on the extremities of clients with diabetes Unexplained weight loss Heavy vaginal bleeding Bleeding or pain in pregnancy |
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Potentially serious or complicated health conditions to be referred may include: | Serious infections (pneumonia, blood poisoning, meningitis, endocarditis, kidney infection) Cancers (lung, bowel, throat, breast, leukaemia, prostate) Heart disease (heart attack, angina&heart failure) Asthma and chronic obstructive lung disease Sexually transmitted infections (gonorrhoea, chlamydia, syphilis, HIV/AIDS, warts, genital herpes, pubic lice) Pregnancy complications (miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, placental abruption) Surgical causes of abdominal pain (appendicitis, pancreatitis, biliary colic, renal stones, gall stones) Stroke, spinal cord injury, intra-cerebral bleeding |
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Clinical assessment must include all assessments relevant to job role. These may include: | Assessment for signs and symptoms of serious underlying causes of fever, including: general appearance (the 'unwell child') history of pain, respiratory symptoms, urinary symptoms or abdominal symptoms history of diabetes, rheumatic fever or valvular heart disease respiratory rate and pulse rate urinalysis examination of skin for infection examination of ears and throat Urine specimen collection using multi-reagent sticks and including: mid-stream urine collection first pass urine collection paediatric bag collection Simple abdominal examination, including: locating site of tenderness simple tests for peritoneal inflammation presence of abdominal masses Simple peripheral nerve examinations, including: testing extremities (hands, feet) for light touch and sharp sensation visible wasting of hand muscles grip strength and finger abduction Assessment of adult height/weight (body mass index) and waist circumference using correct equipment Ear examinations, use of otoscope to identify abnormal appearance of tympanic membrane and/or ear canal Basic oral health assessment, including: visual inspection of oral cavity, teeth and gums palpation of gums and jaw-line for tenderness identification of common dental variations from normal continued ... |
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Clinical assessment may include: (continued) | Clinical assessment of eye problems, including: lid eversion use of fluorescein staining identification of the signs and symptoms of trachoma, using the WHO simplified trachoma grading system screening for diabetic retinopathy Visual acuity testing, including: Snellen or Bailey-Lovie chart E-chart counting fingers light perception Examination of children for signs of trachoma Respiratory assessments, including: measurement of adult, child and infant respiratory rates measurement of peak expiratory flow rate (adult, child) recognition of signs of respiratory distress spirometry oximetry Blood sugar level (BSL) tests (for clients with diabetes) and blood glucose level (BGL) tests (to diagnose clients with diabetes) Examination of extremities, including: feet of people with diabetes are examined for protective sensation, ulcers, calluses, infections, nail condition and peripheral circulation extremities of clients with Hansen's disease are examined for ulceration and infection Peripheral circulation problems. Assessment of infant and child growth, including: Measure, document and plot weight and height and Body Mass Index (BMI) (for children over 2 years) Measure, document and plot head circumference Measure haemoglobin Compare growth with major developmental milestones and identify potential delayed growth Identify overweight and obesity Identify possible causes of delayed growth Identify symptoms of pregnancy and calculate expected date of delivery. Identify: abnormal post-natal conditions common or serious neonatal conditions. |
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Information to promote and maintain good health may include: | Summary of test results and readings Information on links between heart disease and smoking, diet and physical activity Information on management of uncomplicated gastrointestinal conditions, such as: constipation (i.e. eat more fibre, drink more water, appropriate use of laxatives) gastroenteritis (i.e. maintain fluid intake, eat according to appetite, continue breast-feeding, handwashing and infection control) indigestion and heartburn (e.g. trial of antacids, avoid late meals, identify other aggravating factors - alcohol, aspirin, anti-inflammatory medicines, smoking) food handling and storage. Information on causes of health problems, such as: ear problems (i.e. infection and relationship to poverty and crowding; traumatic and noise-induced deafness) skin infections (i.e. crowding; poor access to water; high levels of scabies infestation) Information on strategies to manage health problems, such as diabetes, including: physical activity, healthy diet (low fat, low sugar, high fibre carbohydrates, high vegetables and fruits), weight loss and foot care (e.g. appropriate footwear, regular foot self-care, ongoing review) use of medicines importance of regular health checks. Information on dental health, including: link between dental health and diet (i.e. consumption of simple sugars and developing dental caries; specific risks such as lolly-pops and baby bottle with sweet drinks or cow's milk; suckling on breast all night) chart showing oral assessment findings and teeth development good dental hygiene practices (regular brushing and use of dental floss) importance of regular dental checks, especially for clients with rheumatic heart disease |
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Signs of respiratory distress include: | Raised respiratory rate Raised pulse rate Increased respiratory effort (use of accessory muscles, inspiratory in-drawing of soft tissues) Inability to speak through breathlessness Anxiety |
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Presentations of common sexually transmitted infections include: | Male urethral discharge and/or dysuria Vaginal discharge Female pelvic pain Ulcerative genital disease Genital lumps |
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Reasons for testing urine include: | Screening for urine infection Screening for kidney disease Assessment of possible renal trauma Ante-natal care |
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Issues requiring mandatory notification may include: | Protection of children and others identified to be at risk Issues defined by jurisdictional legislation and/or regulatory requirements Issues specifically identified by the community or organisation policies |
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