This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level required for this unit

Essential knowledge

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

Advanced knowledge of medical terminology

Allopathic drugs their classifications usage and side effects

Community resources and support services

Contraindications of treatment

Drug abuse signs consequences treatment and community resources available

Drug interactions with herbal medicines

Groups of herbs and how to distinguish between them

Legal and ethical considerations in treating clients with herbal remedies

Lifestyle factors relevant to treatment of specific conditions and diseases

Major herbs with respect to their use for general symptoms psychological and physiological indications

Medical reports and diagnostic procedures

Methods of preparing treatment and management plans knowledge and understanding

Minor herbs in respect to their most important indications

Pharmaceutical and herbal medicines used in pregnancy and breast feeding

Pharmaceutical and herbal medicines used to treat disorders of each system of the body

Pharmacodynamics of pharmaceutical and herbal medicines and the theory of drug action factors modifying drug effect and dosage drug toxicity and toxicology

Possible obstacles to cure

Remediestreatments and dosages used to treat particular conditions

Supplementary measures in the management of the conditionsystem eg dietary considerations and exercise

The correct preparations required for specific treatment

The interaction of treatments with foods other herbs nutritional supplements and drugs

The possible responses to treatments

Essential skills

It is critical that the candidate demonstrate the ability 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 the ability to

Access and interpret uptodate information on herbal medicines and practices

Access and understand reference material on the effects of current conventional drug therapies and their withdrawal

Apply methods of treating and managing disease process of each system using nutritional medicine

Apply methods of treating and managing disease process of each system using nutritional medicine

Demonstrate communication and negotiation skills

Demonstrate consideration of the impact of client vitality on selected treatments

Demonstrate interpersonal and questioning skills

Dispense remediestreatments

Identify treatment options and establish treatment regimes

Prepare treatment plans

Prescribe herbal medicines according to the timeframe appropriate to the client condition and the herbs selected and to the dosage recommended for the clients age

Provide advice

Take into account opportunities to address waste minimisation environmental responsibility and sustainable practice issues

Understand and discuss medical reports and other data relevant to the case

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria Required Skills and Knowledge the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate this competency unit

The individual being assessed must provide evidence of specified essential knowledge as well as skills

Observation of performance in the workplace or a simulated workplace defined as a supervised clinic is essential for assessment of this unit

Assessment may contain both theoretical and practical components and examples covering a range of clinical situations

Consistency of performance should be demonstrated over the required range of situations relevant to the workplace

Where for reasons of safety space or access to equipment and resources assessment takes place away from the workplace the assessment environment should represent workplace conditions as closely as possible

Assessment of sole practitioners must include a range of clinical situations and different client groups covering at minimum age culture and gender

Assessment of sole practitioners must consider their unique workplace context including

interaction with others in the broader professional community as part of the sole practitioners workplace

scope of practice as detailed in the qualification and component competency units

holisticintegrated assessment including

working within the practice framework

performing a health assessment

assessing the client

planning treatment

providing treatment

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Resources essential for assessment include

an appropriately stocked and equipped clinic or simulated clinic environment

relevant texts or medical manuals

documented processes to enable the access and interpretation of up to date information

relevant assessment instruments

skilled assessors

Method of assessment

Practical demonstration and observation in the work place

Written assignmentsprojects

Practical assignments

Case study and scenario as a basis for discussion of issues and strategies to contribute to best practice

Oral questioning and discussion

Role play simulation

Explanation of treatment plan preparations

Research work

Clinical skills involving direct client care are to be assessed initially in a simulated clinical setting laboratory If successful a second assessment is to be conducted during workplace application under direct supervision

Access and equity considerations

All workers in the health industry should be aware of access and equity issues in relation to their own area of work

All workers should develop their ability to work in a culturally diverse environment

In recognition of particular health issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities workers should be aware of cultural historical and current issues impacting on health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

Assessors and trainers must take into account relevant access and equity issues in particular relating to factors impacting on health of Aboriginal andor Torres Strait Islander clients and communities

Related units

This unit should be undertaken after or in conjunction with units

HLTCOMC Communicate effectively with clients

HLTCOM404C Communicate effectively with clients

HLTNUTB Apply a nutritional diagnostic framework

HLTNUT603B Apply a nutritional diagnostic framework

HLTNUTB Manage work within a clinical nutritional framework

HLTNUT604B Manage work within a clinical nutritional framework

Therapeutic principles of nutritionalmedicine refers to:

Contraindications to treatment and possible complicating factors may include:

Treatments may include:

Client compliance refers to:

Discrepancies may include:

Practitioner responsibilities may include:

Client responsibilities may include:

Treatment evaluation strategies may include: