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Elements and Performance Criteria

  1. Prepare to treat abdominal and thoracic cavities.
  2. Determine appropriate cavity treatment and volume of fluid, allowing for individual case characteristics.
  3. Treat abdominal and thoracic cavities.
  4. Complete documentation and clean up.

Required Skills

Required skills

problemsolving skills to identify and evaluate effectiveness of abdominal and cavity treatment procedures and take corrective action where required

literacy and numeracy skills to complete case analysis report and to mix and apply embalming chemicals

planning and organisational skills to conduct all procedures according to preembalming case analysis

selfmanagement skills to monitor own response to dealing with deceased bodies and take corrective action

Required knowledge

infection control practices and procedures

relevant workplace policies and procedures

anatomy physiology and postmortem changes

trocar insertion and surgical suturing procedures

body examination techniques

mortuary equipment instruments and materials

funeral services industry parameters and protocols for dealing with the deceased

broad working knowledge of relevant federal state or territory and local government legislation and regulations relating to OHS infection control and handling human remains

Evidence Required

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria required skills and knowledge range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package

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

Evidence of the following is essential

ability to identify treatment requirements through a preembalming case analysis and to perform abdominal and thoracic cavity treatments using correct techniques and following OHS and infection control practices

ability to prepare mortuary area and select and use the required instruments and equipment

the cleaning disinfecting and sterilising of the mortuary area instruments and equipment at conclusion of the treatment

completion of a case analysis report

knowledge of infection control practices

treating abdominal and thoracic cavities on multiple occasions to ensure consistency of performance and ability to respond to different situations

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure

demonstration of skills in a mortuary facility where deceased bodies may be safely prepared and appropriate mortuary lighting plumbing and ventilation requirements can be monitored and maintained

access to embalming equipment instruments and chemicals

access to deceased bodies requiring abdominal and cavity treatment including autopsied cases

access to personal protective equipment

Methods of assessment

A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge The following examples are appropriate for this unit

observation of candidate completing a range of abdominal and cavity treatment procedures

written or verbal questioning to assess knowledge and understanding of all OHS and infection control practices and procedures

review of portfolios of evidence and thirdparty workplace reports of onthejob performance by the candidate

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector workplace and job role is recommended for example

SIFMWKA Determine embalming requirements

SIFMWK013A Determine embalming requirements

SIFMWKA Treat the arterial system

SIFMWK014A Treat the arterial system.

Employability skills embedded in this unit should be assessed holistically with other relevant units that make up the skill set or qualification and in the context of the job role

Range Statement

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Mortuary instruments and equipment may include:

personal protective equipment

positioning devices

sterilisation equipment

sterilisation chemicals and solutions

portiboy

instruments and instrument tray

dressing table

disinfectant hand solution, paper towels and soap

pedestal lamps

first aid kit

aneurysm needle

bistoury knife

scalpels

scissors

separators

suture needles

needle holder

forceps

injection instruments, including:

gravity and bulb syringe

arterial tube

hand pump

centrifugal pump

stopcock

parietal needle

Y tube

embalming machine

drainage instruments, including:

drain tube

iliac drain tube

grooved director

angular spring forceps

aspirating instruments, including:

electric or motorised

autopsy aspirator

hydroaspirator

nasal tube aspirator

trocar

hydrovalve trocar

cavity fluid injectors

trocar buttons and applicator.

Workplace policies and procedures may include:

standard operating policies and procedures

standards and certification requirements

communication protocols

quality assurance procedures

OHS procedures, such as:

infection control procedures

manual handling procedures

material handling procedures, including hazardous or infectious materials

emergency procedures, including fire and accident procedures

security procedures.

Relevant legislation, regulations and codes of practice may include:

OHS

Anatomy Act

Human Tissue Act

Skin Penetration Act

Coroner's Act

Public Health Act

Environment Protection Act

local government regulations

funeral services industry code of practice

Worksafe Australia certification and standards.

Infection control practices may include:

universal precautions, including:

use of personal protective equipment

presumption that all blood and body fluids are infectious

covering exposed cuts and abrasions, particularly on workers' hands, with waterproof coverings prior to commencing work

immediate treatment of puncture wounds or abrasions

use of protective clothing when cleaning spillage of body fluids

checking for infectious and transmittable disease

sterilising apparatus and instruments

providing sterile storage areas for instruments

using disinfectants

safe removal and disposal of soiled and contaminated garments

safe ventilation

avoiding invasive procedures on bodies

immunisation

periodic X-rays

seeking medical advice

recording injury and incidence

reporting injury and incidence

providing first aid kit

performing first aid as necessary

labelling clothing.

Personal protective equipment may include:

disposable gloves

heavy duty gloves

barrier gown or suit

waterproof overshoes

waterproof aprons

splash proof masks

eye goggles

face visor

hair cover

filtered air supply:

negative air pressure

powered positive air supply.

Individual case characteristics may include:

standard case

medical intervention

organ donations.

Invasive and non-invasive medical paraphernalia may include:

pacemakers

electronic, nuclear and radioactive devices

colostomy closures

surgical drains.

Approved surgical techniques may include:

scalpel incision followed by insertion of trocar

correct suturing techniques to close incision.

Upper body and thoracic areas may include:

right atrium of the heart

right lung

left lung

thoracic cavity.

Lower body and abdominal organs may include:

abdominal cavity

viscera

alimentary canal

stomach

liver

small and large intestine

pancreas

spleen

gall bladder

blood vessels

appendix

bladder

kidneys

uterus

rectum.

Hazards, complications and problems may include:

sharps injuries

needle stick injuries

blood splash

infection

contagious disease, such as:

viral haemorrhagic fevers

Creutzfeldt-Jacob Disease

tuberculosis

HIV

chemical spill

putrefaction and tissue gas

wet area.

Case analysis report may include:

problems and complications

corrective action taken.