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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. Maintain sterile field
   • Conform with aseptic principles when moving around a sterile field to prevent contamination
   • Report personal and other staff breaches of aseptic principles to the relevant staff in accordance with organisation policy and procedures
3. Monitor equipment performance
   • Switch on warning devices and check correct operation
   • Check levels of gas, electrical and vacuum supplies are adequate for procedure and confirm back-up supply as required
   • Observe equipment while in use, recognise faults, and take immediate action to avoid danger to clients, staff and equipment in accordance with organisation policy and procedures
   • Follow established procedures to rectify faulty equipment
   • Complete accurate equipment documentation in accordance with organisation policy and procedures
4. Attach and detach equipment
   • Select and use appropriatepersonal protective equipment
   • Select appropriate client attachments and attach safely and securely to appropriate sites under the guidance of medical staff
   • Re-position client attachments during theatre procedures as required
   • Safely detach client attachments using techniques that minimise risk of damage to client, staff or equipment
   • Provide counter-traction during orthopaedic and plastic procedures and manipulations as directed
5. Connect irrigation
   • Select correct irrigation and sequencing for operative procedure under the guidance of the medical staff
   • Check information about irrigation type, sterile integrity and expiry date
   • Connect irrigation to sterile giving set using correct aseptic techniques
   • Change irrigation using aseptic techniques
   • Communicate the volume, type and number of irrigation bags to scout nurse
   • Dispose of used irrigation bags/giving sets according to organisational policy and procedures
6. Adjust surgical equipment
   • Handle surgical equipment under the guidance of medical staff and within manufacturer’s guidelines
   • Connect surgical equipment to electrical, vacuum, gas supply in accordance with standard operating procedures
   • Adjust surgical equipment settings in accordance with manufacturer’s guidelines under guidance of surgical and anaesthetic medical staff
   • Clearly communicate accurate readings to medical staff as required
   • Recognise and clearly communicate alarms/warnings, abnormal readings and equipment usage times to medical staff as required
   • Use aseptic techniques to pass sterile equipment/lines from the surgical team and connect to surgical equipment

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 established technical, infection control and safety procedures and instructions for equipment support in a range of different situations, including at least one of each of the following:

during emergencies

re-positioning

change of surgical procedure

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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:

scope of operating theatre technician role in working with equipment, including limitations

medico-legal implications in relation to the use of equipment by the technician in the operating suite environment

standard and additional infection control procedures that apply to:

the operating theatre environment

equipment within the operating theatre

types of surgical equipment, their purpose and specific hazards and precautions in relation to safety of client and staff, including:

electrical safety

settings of equipment

features and use of surgical equipment in relation to:

set up

assembly and connection

preparation for use

safe manual handling

irrigation equipment, its use and associated hazards

human anatomy and physiology in relation to client transfer and positioning, including:

normal and abnormal body positions

joint movement

features of body locations where equipment may need to be attached/detached

different positions required for operative procedures, associated risks, and how to position clients, including:

supine

prone

lateral

lithotomy

operating room air-conditioning and ventilation systems and their impact on the technician’s role and work practices

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