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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. Elements define the essential outcomes.
2. Assist clients to make informed choices on renal replacement therapy
   • Provide information on renal failure and renal replacement therapy options to clients with chronic renal failure and their families, in consultation with the health care team
   • Identify and provide to clients appropriate health education resources on renal disease dialysis and transplantation
   • Provide information and practical assistance to renal clients who need to travel to distant referral centres for assessment, treatment or training
   • Support current and potential future dialysis ‘helpers’ with information and practical assistance in their role
   • Ensure client access to specialist nephrology care
3. Measure hydration status of renal dialysis clients
   • Obtain history of shortness of breath or postural dizziness
   • Measure ‘wet’ or ‘dry’ weight and compare with ideal body weight
   • Elicit physical signs of fluid overload
   • Interpret client weight, blood pressure and other clinical signs to determine hydration status
   • Revise ideal body weight estimates in consultation with senior staff
   • Document assessments in accordance with organisational policies and procedures
4. Undertake routine pathology testing for dialysis clients
   • Provide information on routine dialysis tests to clients in plain language
   • Collect blood specimens and complete pathology request forms according to standard protocols
   • Interpret routine test results and give basic client feedback
   • Refer abnormal test results to medical staff for action
5. Support renal clients to access and use medicines wisely
   • Provide clients with plain language information on mechanisms of action, dosing and common side-effects of medicines commonly used in dialysis care
   • Identify potential drug interactions, special precautions, contraindications and side-effects and refer to a medical practitioner
   • Administer medicine by oral and intramuscular routes in accordance with medicine orders, organisation policies and procedures and legal frameworks
   • Support and monitor client adherence to medicines regimen
   • Provide assistance with supply of medicines and use of dose administration aids according to client needs
   • Keep records of chronic medicines supply and administration in accordance with organisation policies and procedures

Performance Evidence

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:

provided information, guidance and support to at least three clients and their families in relation to health management options and issues for clients with chronic renal failure by:

recognising situations requiring immediate or urgent action

working with other members of multidisciplinary team to ensure actions determined in the client’s care plan are carried out and documented

carrying out mathematical calculations for renal dialysis clients. This includes:

identifying differences between weight measures

calculating doses

measuring medication

communicating effectively with clients, care team and referral agencies. This includes:

interpreting test results

explaining test results to clients

documenting information on client care plans

making timely and appropriate referrals, and providing accurate and relevant details to clients and referral agencies

holistically evaluating impact of renal dialysis treatment on client’s physical, mental and emotional condition and behaviour

monitoring outcomes of renal dialysis treatment and medication regimes

administering medicines by oral and intramuscular routes

contributing to evaluation of client’s prescribed treatment/care plan.

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Knowledge Evidence

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:

basic anatomy and physiology of the renal system

common causes of chronic renal failure

underlying environmental and social factors contributing to high rates of renal disease in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities

management principles for common co-morbidities (including diabetes, high blood pressure, hyperlipidaemia)

factors that can slow decline of renal function

key aspects of microbiology relevant to peritoneal, blood and skin infection in renal disease

pathophysiology of chronic renal failure, including:

fluid retention and pulmonary oedema

electrolyte balance and hazards of high potassium

calcium metabolism and renal bone disease

anaemia

signs and symptoms of uraemia and fluid retention

meaning and interpretation of common pathology tests for chronic renal failure and dialysis

haemodialysis technology – theory, machine components, terminology, infrastructure requirements, risks and benefits

peritoneal dialysis – theory, terminology, procedures, risks and benefits

different types of renal dialysis units and their function

nutritional considerations for renal dialysis clients

medicines in common use in management of chronic renal failure including basic mechanisms of action, precautions and side-effects

organisation policies and procedures.

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