Assessor Resource

HLTAHW406B
Work with medicines

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: March 2024


This unit includes supporting the client's option to use traditional Aboriginal medicines, taking a medicines history, interpreting medicine orders and supporting clients in the use of medicines

The unit also addresses the skills and knowledge required to calculate correct doses, administer and store medicines

It is acknowledged that some Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Workers at this level may need to undertake these functions, whilst others may need to apply the knowledge and skill to their role in supporting and/or advising clients

This competency unit is available only within the context of qualifications at Certificate IV level or higher in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care

This unit describes the competencies required to work with medicines in line with legislative, regulatory and organisation requirements in a multi-disciplinary team with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients

You may want to include more information here about the target group and the purpose of the assessments (eg formative, summative, recognition)

Prerequisites

Not Applicable


Employability Skills

This unit contains Employability Skills




Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

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 of assessment:

The individual being assessed must provide evidence of specified essential knowledge as well as skills

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

Conditions of assessment:

This unit includes skills and knowledge specific to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander culture

Assessment must therefore be undertaken by a workplace assessor who has expertise in the unit of competency or who has the current qualification being assessed and who is:

Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander him/herself

or:

accompanied and advised by an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person who is a recognised member of the community with experience in primary health care

Context of assessment:

Competence should be demonstrated working individually, under supervision or as part of a primary health care team working with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients

Assessment should replicate workplace conditions as far as possible

Related units:

This unit may be assessed independently or in conjunction with other units with associated workplace application


Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assingnment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)


Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

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:

Application of universal precautions in the administration of medicines

Basic understanding of medication commonly used in daily role, and effects on the body

Correct techniques for medicine administration for adults and children, including:

dividing scored tablets

swallowing tablets and capsules

reconstituting and administering correct volumes of mixtures

administering intramuscular and sub-cutaneous injections

use of metered dose aerosols and spacer devices

use of nebulisers, installation of ear/eye drops and eye ointment

use of dosette box

Federal and State legislation relating to the control, storage and dispensing of drugs and medication

Legislative and regulatory requirements for labelling, storage and safe disposal of medicines

Methods of medicine administration for adults and children, including:

oral

intramuscular and sub-cutaneous injection

intravenous injections and infusion

topical application (creams, ointments, eye and ear drops)

Occupational health and safety issues

Organisational policies and procedures relating to drugs and medications

Requirements of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)

Signs of anaphylaxis and methods of management

Special considerations in use of medicines, including:

pregnancy and lactation

renal failure

anti-coagulant therapy

potential drug interactions

Types of locally available/used traditional bush medicines and their benefits

Essential skills:

It is critical that the candidate demonstrate the ability to:

Support clients in the choice, use and obtaining access to medicines in line with own role

Use underpinning knowledge of medicines and associated skills as a basis for decision-making in relation to health assessment, education, planning and monitoring clients' health status

Work independently and consistently in delivering primary health care services to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients

Work with medicines specifically in line with organisation procedures and within the relevant jurisdictional legislative framework

In addition, the candidate must be able 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:

Administer medications safely, by appropriate methods observing universal precautions and in line with organisation, legal and regulatory requirements

Calculate correct quantities of medications in line with specified dosages to address client needs

Consult and communicate with clients

Maintain records in appropriate manner

Provide clear and accurate information and instruction to clients on the use of medicines

Take into account opportunities to address waste minimisation, environmental responsibility and sustainable practice issues

Understand, interpret and ensure accurate application of:

prescriptions for medicines

dispensing instructions

manufacturer's storage instructions

medicine disposal requirements

client health records

Use MIMS and other medication references and resources, such as standing orders, guidelines and Consumer Medicines Information

Use published medication references and resources to:

check written orders for medicines

identify medicines by their generic and/or brand names

identify potential drug interactions

identify special precautions and contraindications

check terms and abbreviations commonly used in prescribing and administering medications

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.

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

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

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

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

Workplace procedures in the administration of medicines must include:

Observance of universal precautions

Doses of medicine to be checked with other appropriate health staff prior to administration

Use of approved product information sources, such as MIMS, CARPA, Australian Medicines Handbook and/or other reference sources for medicines information to be consulted

Reference to National Medicines Policy and Quality Use of Medicines

Powdered medicine to be reconstituted as a mixture according to manufacturer's instructions

Scored tablets to be split as required to make up a specified dose

Medicines for injection to be drawn up to the specified dose using sterile procedures and according to manufacturer's instructions

Medicine for nebulised inhalation to be correctly measured out and administered using an electronic nebuliser

Following accepted best practice, such as using spacers and/or nebulisers rather than inhalers

Instruction in self-administration of medicines may include:

How to swallow tablets and capsules

How to correctly use a metered dose aerosol inhaler and spacer device

How to instil eye drops

Medication refers to:

Treatments using drugs or remedies

Medicine refers to:

Any substance used in treating or alleviating the symptoms of a disease or injury

Commonly used medication may include:

Medications as outlined in protocol manuals and in accordance with workplace policies and legislative requirements

Traditional bush medicines

The effects of medications may include:

Intended outcomes eg. relieves pain, removes infection

Adverse reactions that must be recognised and appropriate action taken (refer if required), including:

cease administration of medication

management of anaphylactic shock reaction as per organisation protocols

referral to appropriate authority

documentation of event

highlight allergy in client file

Medication history may include:

Past medication history

Recent medication history

Drug allergies or adverse reactions

Client records, including dental records

Family history

Compliance history

Concurrent medications

Significant others may include:

Members of family

Carers

Any person with the right to speak for the client

Senior Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Workers

Nurses

Medical officers and dental personnel

Key members of the community

Government and non-government organisations

Relevant documentation may include:

Client notes

Files

Specialist reports

Referrals

Reports from other professionals

Pathology reports

Records of medications may be maintained:

Verbally to supervisor

In writing

On audio (or video) tape

Legislative requirements may include:

Commonwealth, State and Territory laws, regulations and directions, as determined by workplace requirements

Schedules 1 - 8 of the Drugs and Poisons Act.

Drug storage and disposal requirements

Relevant information to be provided and explained to clients includes:

When and how to take /use

Medication side effects

Length of treatment

Drug interactions

Consequences of non-compliance

Informed consent may be given:

Verbally or written

By client or appropriate carer

Workplace policies and procedures may include:

Clinical protocol manuals

Imprest lists

Occupational health and safety guidelines

Organisational/workplace procedure manuals

Infection control guidelines

Legislation

Methods of medication administration may include:

Topical

Oral

Intramuscular injections (IMI)

Subcutaneous injections (SCI)

Inhalations

Dosettes

Z track

Intradermal injection

Eye drops

Appropriate dispensing and administration must include:

The 6 'Rights' of administration:

right route

right person

right dose

right medication

right time

right documentation

Application of universal precautions

Medication side effects and contraindications may include:

Anaphylaxis

Contraindications

Special precautions

Drug interactions

Universal precautions include:

Standard procedures for infection control

Confidentiality as it applies to community/organisation

Workplace policy and procedures for clinical practice

Correct usage of clinical equipment

Correct disposal techniques for wastes/sharps as per workplace policies and procedures

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Consult client/significant others for medication history and allergies 
Review relevant documentation 
Identify options and contraindications of commonly used medications and discuss with client, prescriber and significant others 
Maintain appropriate records of client medication in line with organisation requirements 
Receive written and verbal orders and instructions for medications, document them and, if required, correctly interpret them 
Consult medical practitioners and other senior health staff if required to clarify medication instructions 
Check written and verbal medication instructions against published medicines information resources 
Identify potential drug interactions and refer to an appropriate person (eg. prescriber) 
Recognise special precautions and contraindications to use of particular medicines and refer to an appropriate person 
Identify traditional/bush medicines commonly used in the local community 
Support and promote the role of traditional healers and traditional/bush medicines as an adjunct to western medical treatment 
Identify generic and brand names of medicines used commonly in Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander primary health practice, using reference sources as required 
Provide information to clients on mechanisms of action, dosing and common side effects 
Provide Consumer Medicines Information (CMI) and explain to clients as required 
Instruct clients in self-administration of medicines 
Support clients to question proposed medical treatments to clarify the purpose, action and any issues relating to medication 
Obtain feedback from client to determine their understanding of information provided 
Support clients, where appropriate, to obtain prescription medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) 
Administer medications by appropriate methods, observing universal precautions and in line with organisation, legal and regulatory requirements 
Correctly identify medicine dosage in standard treatment manual or calculate mathematically 
Measure out specified doses of medicine accurately as required in tablet, capsule, mixture and solution form 
Give injections correctly and safely 
Identify adverse events (eg. allergic reactions) related to medication and take appropriate action in line with standard protocols 
Accurately fill, check and label medicine administration aids in line with statutory requirements 
Fully document administration of medicines and maintain records in line with organisation, legal and regulatory requirements 
Store medicines securely in an approved medicines store in line with manufacturer's organisation, legislative and regulatory requirements 
Dispose of medicines in a safe and timely manner in line with organisation, legislative and regulatory requirements 
Correctly apply cold chain transport for medication requiring refrigeration 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

HLTAHW406B - Work with medicines
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

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Assessor name:

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Assessment Record Sheet

HLTAHW406B - Work with medicines

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

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