Google Links
Follow the links below to find material targeted to the unit's elements, performance criteria, required skills and knowledge
Elements and Performance Criteria
Performance Evidence
Knowledge Evidence
The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the work role. This includes knowledge of:
communication strategies that underpin assessment and communication with the person and other health professionals, including:appropriate modes of communication for the information being provided range of interviewing skills information technology and health technologies to capture clinical data for responsive coordination and dissemination to relevant members of the interdisciplinary health care team factors for consideration when communicating with people with:communication-related disabilities mental health conditionspharmacological and alcohol addiction or misuseadverse behavioural responses to unfamiliar environmentsperson under stress due to situations to themselves or others such as trauma, death and life threatening situationsadvanced concepts underpinning human maintenance systems including immunity and homeostasis imbalance causing physical changes associated with:acidosis/alkalosisdiabetes (hypoglycaemia, hyperglycaemia)nutirition and hydration/dehydrationcancer treatmentthermostasis (thermoregulation)infectionspoisoningsepsisclinical assessment techniques and tools used in a head-to-toe physical body examination:inspection – uses of the sense of sight to identify specific characteristics of the individual palpation – utilises use of the sense of touch to determine physical signs.percussion – use of tapping on an individual's body to evaluate location and density of underlying structures.auscultation – listening to sounds created by the body using stethoscopeprocesses for the neurological examination of the sensory function and motor responses including:cranial nervesinspection, looking for subtle weakness e.g. tremors, pronator driftgait abnormalities including scissors, spastic, stoppage and waddlingstance including posture, lordosis, kyphosis and scoliosismuscular response and muscle strengthdermatomes and related spinal nervesperipheral neuropathiessensory function testing: light touch, pain sensation, temperature, proprioception and tactile localisationstereognosis and graphaesthesiaRomberg testdeep tendon reflexes including how to position a person and use of reflex hammer and comparing left and right side responses superficial reflexes such as abdominal and cremasteric reflexesprocesses for respiratory system examination includingrespirations – breathing effort, chest pain associated with breathing, movement of the rib cage for symmetrical or diaphragmatic breathing patternauscultation – systematic approach to determine if underlying lung tissue is filled with fluid, air or solid material checking lung fields for bilateral adventitious noises percussion sounds including:resonant: heard over the lung fields - air filled spaces- very hollow soundtympany: heard over the gut area- duller sound- like tapping on a watermelondull: heard over bony areas- little transmission of soundprocesses for checking heart sounds including:aortic, pulmonic, Erbs Point, tricuspid and mitral heart soundsSound1 represents closure of the atrioventricular (mitral and tricuspid) valves during the beginning of systoleSound 2 represents closure of the semilunar valves (aortic and pulmonic) valves during the end of systole and beginning of diastoleprocesses for chest and abdomen examination including:inspection – described by location (quadrant) visible abdominal masses, and the movement of the chest and abdominal wall auscultation (for abdomen auscultation is before palpation and percussion) – detection of normal and altered bowel sounds in abdomen, bubbling; rubbing; grating; crackling or vascular bruitspalpation and percussion – depth of palpation (superficial or deep) using the fingertip or flat of the hand for examination of the abdomen for crepitus of the abdominal wall, for any abdominal tenderness, rebound tenderness or for abdominal masses processes for peripheral vascular system examination including:inspection – colour of limbs (including when legs are hanging over the edge of the bed), hair loss, ulcers, scars and muscle wasting, lateral side foot and in-between toes upper limb pulse – subclavaian, carotid, brachial, radial, ulnar and capillary refill time lower limb pulse – aorta, femoral, popliteal, posterior tibial, doralis pedis and anterior tibialpalpation of the amplitude of arterial pulses bounding, brisk diminished, absent or unable to palpate checking peripheral pulse and apical pulse for consistencyAllens test to determine patency of the radial and ulnar arteries processes for skin, hair and nails examination including:colour, texture, turgor, warmth, moisture distribution, the presence of any lesions or scarsclubbing of the nail beds can be indicative of pulmonary diseasereduced hair distribution on the lower legs can be indicative of cardiovascular disease (check with individual if they use hair removal treatments)effects of intrinsic factors (such as age, health) and extrinsic factors (such as environment, medications) on person’s condition how to interpret common blood test results and their meanings as indicators of a health condition or illness including:AlbuminArterial Blood Gas (ABG)Blood Sugar Level (BSL), haemoglobin A1CBlood Urea Nitrogen (BUN)CalciumCardiac Enzymes (CE)CholesterolCoagulation Studies (Coags)Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR)Electrolytes (EUC) (Sodium/Potassium/Chloride Urea/Creatinine)Full Blood Count (FBC)High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL)IronLow-Density Lipo-protein (LDL)MagnesiumPhosphorusTriglyceridesThryoid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)Uric acidhow to recognise subtle changes in a person’s condition through knowledge of a person’s patterns of responses and comparing responses over periods of time principles for recognising a deteriorating patient and raising issues of concern about a person’s deteriorationsocio-economic, physiological, emotional and physical variables related to clinical presentation of a person.