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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. Assess impact of chronic kidney disease (CKD) on the person and their educational needs
   • Maintain current knowledge of CKD and associated pathophysiology and apply to each clinical manifestation
   • Identify common problems and complications associated with CKD and focus on the person’s specific contributing factors when assessing impact on that person
   • Discuss with the person the psychosocial impact of CKD on their activities of daily living
   • Ascertain and respect person person’s needs related to their lifestyle, social context and emotional and spiritual choices
   • Communicate effectively with the person, family or carer and members of the interdisciplinary health care team
   • Clarify the educational needs of the person in terms of stages of the disease, required care and self-management strategies
   • Provide support to the person, family or carer in an open and non-judgemental way and within scope of own work role and responsibilities, to ensure they have the freedom to discuss spiritual and cultural issues related to the impacts of CKD
3. Contribute to providing education to the person with CKD
   • Provide information and resources to the person, family or carer on the aetiology and pathophysiology of the stages of CKD, within scope of work role and responsibilities
   • Update own knowledge and provide the person with relevant information to assist in maintaining their health status and slowing disease progression
   • Provide information and support to the person to assist them to establish and maintain an appropriate diet
   • Provide the person with access to appropriate health education resources on CKD and renal replacement therapy
   • Support the person to access information about treatment options in different stages of the disease, so that they can make informed treatment choices
   • Communicate effectively with the person, family or carer to clarify the person’s needs related to care, including end-of-life discussion, and refer the person to appropriate members of the interdisciplinary health care team
   • Contribute to advance care planning or directives in consultation with the interdisciplinary health care team to identify and meet the changing needs of the person, and changes in advance care planning or directives
4. Contribute to determining the health status of the person with CKD
   • Perform holistic primary health care assessment of the person in consultation and collaboration with the registered nurse
   • Monitor health status of the person to identify disease progression and report changes, referring the person to others where appropriate within scope of work role and organisation policy and procedures
   • Identify possible psychosocial impacts of CKD in discussions with the person and, if required and within scope of work role and organisation policy and procedures, refer the person, family or carer for counselling or assistance
   • Assess the psychosocial impact of palliative care on the person’s family or carer
   • Consult with the interdisciplinary health care team to contribute to effective care planning for the person with CKD
5. Assist the person to develop self-management strategies
   • Assist the person to adhere to care management strategies and their medical management regime for CKD to maintain optimal health

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:

implemented nursing care plans for 3 people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in consultation and collaboration with interdisciplinary team in the workplace

provided follow-up care or 3 people with CKD, evaluating their health status and providing relevant health information to meet individual needs in consultation and collaboration with interdisciplinary team in the workplace or in a simulated environment.

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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:

applied anatomy and physiology of the renal system and clinical manifestations and associated pathophysiology of acute kidney injury (AKI) and Stages 1 to 5 of CKD

underlying environmental and social factors contributing to CKD in the general population in Australia and to the higher rates experienced within Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities

CKD conditions including risk factors:

diabetic nephropathy

glomerulonephritis

hypertensive nephropathy

polycystic kidney disease

reflux nephropathy

kidney stones

clinical manifestations of CKD including:

hypertension

anaemia

bone disease

cardiovascular disease

impaired immunity

electrolyte imbalance

fluid imbalance

complications and impact of CKD including:

uraemic breath

unusual or metallic taste

anorexia

nausea and vomiting

lethargy

change in urination

confusion

pain

increase in depression

stages in grief and loss

sexual dysfunction

general malaise

cardiovascular events

infections

uraemic frost

pruritus

restless leg syndrome

screening and prevention of CKD

immunity and the importance of vaccinations

changing educational needs of the person as CKD progresses

assessment of renal function and diagnostic procedures including:

common pathology tests to diagnose and monitor CKD and their interpretation

interventional and investigational procedures used in the diagnosis and the management of CKD

management of CKD including:

factors that can slow the progression and changes across the continuum of CKD

management principles for various clinical manifestations of CKD and associated co-morbidities

meaning and interpretation of health check results for a person with CKD

medicines in common use in health management of a person with CKD including basic mechanism of action, precautions, contraindications and side effects

nutritional considerations for a person with CKD

treatment options (including theory, terminology, procedures, risks and benefits) for a person with CKD including renal replacement therapies such as peritoneal dialysis (PD) and haemodialysis (HD)

psychosocial impacts

social needs:

disability support

family support

transport to appointments

accommodation

relevant organisations associated with palliative care and advance care planning

self-management strategies for a person with CKD, including knowledge the person requires and ways to foster a lifelong commitment to:

healthy life style

exercise

renal diet

fluid requirements

medication regime

care of dialysis access

recognising progressive symptoms of CKD

vaccination regime

diabetes care

cardiovascular disease care

dental care

optometry and ophthalmic care

skin care.

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