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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. Provide health information, support and care after birth for women, infants and families
   • Perform maternal and infant physical assessment and record observations of mother and infant in line with standard protocols and organisational guidelines
   • Provide information and support for self-care and wellbeing in the postnatal period
   • Provide advice on routine care of the newborn to mothers and refer as appropriate and within organisational guidelines and/or procedures
   • Implement strategies to establish and support breastfeeding
   • Discuss with the client the importance of nutrition, exercise, rest, sleep and support with domestic tasks and care of family in the immediate postnatal period
   • Identify minor postnatal problems for mother and newborn and provide appropriate advice
   • Identify potentially serious health conditions for mother and newborn and refer to senior health staff
   • Provide information on contraceptive options
   • Deliver, implement and monitor care in the postnatal period as per standard treatment protocols and in accordance with legislative guidelines
   • Undertake immediate care in response to at-risk situations
   • Observe and support maternal-infant attachment
3. Organise and evaluate maternal health programs
   • Maintain registers of women undergoing postnatal care according to organisational policies and procedures
   • Keep schedules of participation in postnatal care and use to organise continuing care for women
   • Organise and/or provide reminders, transport and other assistance to attend care according to women’s needs
   • Provide support to other staff participating in provision of postnatal care
   • Maintain referral and communication networks with medical staff, specialist obstetricians, midwives, allied health staff, birthing facility staff and female community Elders
   • Keep statistics on attendance for antenatal care and birthing outcomes and use to evaluate maternal health programs

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:

delivered postnatal health care for at least five clients, including:

conducting comprehensive health checks related to postnatal and infant health

providing treatment, medicine and other health care services appropriate to postnatal and infant health in a safe and effective manner and within guidelines

providing information, guidance and support to clients and their families with postnatal and/or infant health issues

monitoring the outcomes of postnatal and infant health care services and making any required revisions to services, care plans or information provided

recognising situations requiring immediate or urgent action, and implementing appropriate procedures

implementing strategies to support breastfeeding

discussing the importance of nutrition, exercise, rest and sleep

identifying minor postnatal problems for mother and newborn

communicating effectively with client to:

obtain information from client

provide advice and information on self-care, wellbeing, routine care of newborns and contraceptive options

discuss postnatal and infant health care issues

recording all observations of mother and/or newborn according to organisation procedures

maintaining registers of mothers undergoing postnatal care, keeping schedules of participation and statistics on attendance

supporting mothers and babies to attend follow-up appointments for health services

supervised at least one staff member participating in postnatal care.

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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:

key aspects of anatomy/physiology, pharmacology, pathology and basic microbiology relevant to postnatal and infant health

knowledge of microbiology relevant to postnatal and infant health and prevention of infection or cross infection

postnatal nutritional needs of women and infants, including support of breastfeeding and other nutritional needs of the infant

health conditions, obstetric problems and associated issues related to postnatal and infant health

strategies to:

improve maternal and neonatal health in the community

address clients presenting with postnatal problems

coordinate provision of optimum level of maternal health service delivery

postnatal medical problems requiring referral

effective postnatal care practices for mother and baby

relevant assessment methods and use of associated equipment and testing procedures

relevant treatments, medicines and associated care services available

risks and contraindications associated with relevant treatments and medication

relevant evaluation criteria for monitoring effectiveness of specific postnatal and infant health management program

organisation policies and procedures, generally, and in particular relating to client confidentiality

role of the Aboriginal Health Worker in counselling and health education

vaccination schedules

minor and major complications of pregnancy and required treatments

realistic expectation of client condition during monitoring of progress.

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