Elements and Performance Criteria
- Elements define the essential outcomes
- Respond to the health requirements of an older person.
- Apply knowledge in own practice of age-related physical changes and transitions and the psychosocial needs of the person and their family or carer.
- Identify possible age-related effects of drugs and medications on the person and make adjustments as required in consultation with registered nurse.
- Identify age-related pathophysiological disorders and how they may affect the person and their family or carer.
- Communicate effectively and appropriately with the person, including making adjustments for people who have sensory impairments.
- Perform preventive health assessment of the person to identify their needs in providing preventive care, in consultation and collaboration with a registered nurse.
- Adapt work practices to reflect knowledge of theories of ageing and apply best practice care guidelines for older people.
- Develop and implement strategies to ensure companionship and social inclusion in consultation with the person.
- Recognise signs that indicate the person has, or may develop, an oral health problem.
- Identify and respond to signs of distress or behaviours of concern, especially in a person unable to communicate their symptoms or concerns.
- Contribute to the care plan for an older person.
- Assess the person’s health status in consultation and collaboration with registered nurse and using assessment tools specific to the aged care environment.
- Document and report health findings according to organisation procedures.
- Assist the person to identify their abilities and limitations in capacity for self-care.
- Contribute to development of the person’s nursing care plan within the context of the health care setting and organisation policy and procedures.
- Ensure the person, and the family or carer as appropriate, understand the implications of the person’s admission into the health care facility.
- Discuss with the person, family or carer possible impacts of age-related pathophysiological disorders including impact on the person’s capacity to perform daily living activities.
- Document responses to nursing interventions, and report changes and concerns to a registered nurse.
- Apply nursing practice in the aged care environment.
- Identify external factors and common stereotypes associated with ageing and how these can adversely impact the older person.
- Consider in own practice the impact of complex issues involved in aged care, including impacts on family or carer.
- Consider own values, attitudes and beliefs towards ageing and the older person, and monitor own performance to ensure all interventions are conducted appropriately and within scope of practice of the enrolled nurse.
- Promote health maintenance with the older person and provide relevant information on available community services for the person, family or carer.
- Identify requirements and address issues in aged care nursing practice.
- Identify legal requirements and possible ethical issues and other issues of concern in aged care practice, including possible signs of elder abuse.
- Ensure own work practice accords with legal requirements, is ethical and supports the rights and dignity of the older person and their family or carer.
- Advocate for the person, their family or carer as required within own role parameters and organisation policies and procedures.
- Observe and respond appropriately to physical, emotional and mental signs of stress in the person.
- Provide care for the deceased person using standard precautions and in accordance with organisation policy and procedures.
- Provide support and comfort for grieving family or carer within own role parameters.
- Use strategies that relate to the progressive and variable nature of dementia.
- Identify the nature of dementia and use appropriate treatments and nursing interventions when working with the person with dementia.
- Provide activities appropriate to the gender, culture and age of the person with dementia, reflecting their individual likes and dislikes.
- Use a range of strategies, such as validation strategies, instructed activities and reorientating therapy to relieve distress and agitation in the person with dementia.
- Develop and implement strategies to minimise impact of challenging behaviours.
- Observe the person and document their behaviours and relevant environmental factors to assist in determining triggers contributing to challenging behaviour.
- Consider potential impact the behaviours may have on the person and others in determining an appropriate response.
- Implement best practice strategies that minimise the impact of behaviours, in consultation with the registered nurse and in accordance with organisation policies and procedures.