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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. Contribute to the interdisciplinary health care team in caring a person with respiratory impairment
   • Work with the health care team, consulting with the registered nurse and team members in providing nursing care to the person with respiratory impairment
   • Evaluate, interpret and communicate person’s respiratory function to relevant members of the health care team
   • Identify physical, psychological, social and economic factors relevant to the person’s health care status, and the outcomes of planned care
3. Assist a person in maintaining optimal respiratory health
   • Identify factors impacting a person’s respiratory status and re-prioritise care activities for the person rapidly when circumstances change
   • Participate in risk assessment identification and risk management processes for the person with complex respiratory impairment
   • Support the person, and family or carer as required, during pre-, intra- and post-diagnostic procedures, providing accurate information on the procedures
   • Identify responses of the person, family or carer to nursing interventions and their understanding of how to manage the respiratory impairment after discharge
   • Provide the person, family or carer with information about available community resources, and how to access them
   • Identify when the acuity of a person is beyond own skills and knowledge and promptly consult with registered nurse and relevant interdisciplinary health care team
4. Actively promote improvement and advancement of respiratory nursing care
   • Make appropriate proposals for nursing interventions in consultation with registered nurse to promote improved outcomes for the person and their condition
   • Evaluate nursing interventions provided and consider identified outcomes against evidence-based best practice in respiratory care nursing
   • Evaluate responses of the person, family or carer to health promotion and education resources, and continuously improve promotions and resources based on feedback
   • Seek out opportunities and participate in professional development, acquiring knowledge to guide own practice and acting as a resource for colleagues

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:

undertaken nursing work in accordance with Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia professional practice standards, codes and guidelines

performed the following nursing care interventions on no fewer than 3 people in a respiratory care setting in the workplace:

care of an arterial line

positive airway pressure (CPAP) and bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP)

care of permanent and temporary mechanical ventilation including suctioning and bagging

tracheal suction via an endotracheal tube (ETT)

assisted with the insertion or removal of pleural and intercostal drains

administered oxygen based on interpretation of oximetry readings or blood gas analysis in consultation with registered nurse

in undertaking the above, use advanced communication skills and medical terminology to communicate effectively with the person, family or carer, and the registered nurse and other health professionals to record or report the person’s outcomes.

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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:

respiratory anatomy, physiology and pathology, sufficiently in-depth and specialised to make considered judgements and to make a professional contribution to respiratory nursing care

respiratory conditions including:

acute respiratory distress syndrome

asthma

bronchitis, bronchiolitis, bronchiectasis (acute and chronic)

chronic obstructive airway disease

cystic fibrosis

emphysema

heamothorax

lung cancer

pulmonary oedema

pneumonia

pulmonary Embolism (PE)

pnuemothorax

sleep Apnoea

tuberculosis (TB)

actual and potential problems from respiratory conditions including:

aspiration

hypoxia

hypercapnia

inability to clear secretions

inability to cough

inability to protect airway

respiratory failure

shortness of breath

potential nursing interventions related to respiratory conditions including:

administration of non-invasive ventilation, CPAP and BiPAP

assisting with insertion and removal of pleural drains

care of an arterial line and interpretation of blood gas analysis

care of a person with a tracheostomy

tracheostomy dressing

tracheal suction via an endotracheal tube (ETT) or tracheostomy

interpreting the results of oximetry readings

respiratory assessment:

chest auscultation

inspection

pulse oximetry

respiratory rate

pulse rate

blood pressure

sedation score

past medical history

accessory muscles in use when breathing

degree of shortness of breath (SOB)

interpreting results of spirometry testing

surgical procedures for respiratory conditions.

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