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Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Elements define the essential outcomes
2. Prepare to clean used items
   • Follow safe work practices and infection prevention and control in accordance with legislative and workplace guidelines
   • Sort reusable medical devices and safely dispose of single use devices
   • Segregate and dispose of waste according to organisation and legislative requirements
   • Disassemble reusable medical devices and equipment for cleaning and disinfection according to manufacturer’s instructions
3. Clean and dry used items
   • Maintain work flow protocols in reprocessing area
   • Interpret safety data sheet (SDS) and select required cleaning products
   • Select cleaning processes based on manufacturer’s recommendations and evaluation of reusable medical devices construction and composition
   • Use cleaning methods that avoid the generation of aerosols
   • Make accurate calculations for the preparation of cleaning chemicals
   • Dry and inspect reusable medical devices for cleanliness and damage
4. Prepare and pack items for sterilisation
   • Open and unlock reusable medical devices with hinges or ratchets
   • Prepare instrument trays in accordance with workplace protocols
   • Package or wrap reusable medical devices in a manner that prevents damage to delicate items
   • Use chemical indicator according to standards
   • Pack, secure and label sterile barrier systems (SBS) to comply with aseptic removal principles
5. Sterilise loads
   • Interpret and apply manufacturer recommendations for cleaning and checking of steriliser and accessory equipment.
   • Correctly use the numerical and other features of the steriliser and operate in accordance with manufacturer instructions
   • Assign cycle and batch control number and complete documentation.
   • Load steriliser to ensure sterilant contact and according to standards
   • Remove sterilised load immediately on completion of cycle
   • Follow criteria for release of processed items considering manual task risk factors
6. Comply with quality management requirements
   • Interpret and adhere to operational monitoring and testing, performance qualification and maintenance of sterilisers and associated equipment
   • Comply with documentation requirements for sterilisation cycles, batch control and load release
   • Report and document all steriliser faults, malfunction and load non-conformance
   • Store documentation in accordance with organisation 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:

followed organisation procedures, work processes, safe manual handling requirements and national standards for the reprocessing of reusable medical devices on at least 3 occasions

operated and monitored reprocessing equipment on at least 1 occasion

identified and responded to routine process and maintenance problems and variations

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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:

roles and responsibilities of those involved in reprocessing in different health contexts

safe work practices, standard precautions and organisation protocols for the reprocessing and storage of reusable medical devices

risk factors associated with manual tasks and safe manual handling techniques

key aspects of Spauldings classification

safe work practices and standard precautions when handling and disposing of sharps

manual instrument cleaning techniques

procedures for use of:

steam sterilisers

thermal washer-disinfector

water and air pressure guns

automated lubrication device

drying cabinet

hermetic heat sealers

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