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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. Identify customer needs.
  2. Test blood pressure.
  3. Provide advice on blood pressure testing equipment and services.
  4. Provide blood pressure management and self-care information where required.

Required Skills

Required skills

communication skills to

interact with the customer to

ask questions to identify and confirm requirements

provide information

confirm understanding

explain pharmacy blood pressure testing services to customers

recommend and supply blood pressure testing equipment

provide advice on lifestyle selfcare practices specialist services and practitioners

refer to the pharmacist for checking and followup on blood pressure readings

use language and concepts appropriate to cultural differences

use and interpret nonverbal communication

learning skills to maintain currency of knowledge about blood pressure testing equipment

literacy skills to

follow pharmacy protocols and procedures

interpret product and selfcare information

use specialist information and services to support the management of blood pressure

planning and organising skills to organise work to meet customer service requirements

teamwork skills to operate as part of a pharmacy team providing relevant information and seeking advice from a pharmacist and other pharmacy staff as required

technical skills to

perform blood pressure testing procedures

use equipment for home blood pressure monitoring

technology skills to access and use information systems required by the role

Required knowledge

common factors that can contribute to or exacerbate blood pressure and related lifestyle and selfcare information

pharmacy protocols and procedures relating to

collecting information from customers

collecting and supplying information to an agent acting on behalf of a customer

identifying and acting on triggers for referral to a pharmacist

providing blood pressure testing services

respecting and protecting customer privacy

supplying blood pressure medicines aids and equipment

product and health condition terminology relating to blood pressure including

systolic blood pressure

diastolic blood pressure

sphygmomanometer

monitoring equipment that may be of assistance to customers managing blood pressure health conditions

personal role boundaries and responsibilities and circumstances under which referral to a pharmacist is required

sources of information and specialist services relating to blood pressure

use care and storage requirements for aids and equipment

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

Overview of assessment

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

Evidence of the ability to

demonstrate use care and maintenance of blood pressure testing equipment to customers

perform blood pressure testing services according to pharmacy protocols and procedures

provide information to customers in ways appropriate to customer needs and demonstrate appropriate techniques to confirm understanding

recognise and act on situations or requests requiring referral to a pharmacist

recommend and sell blood pressure testing equipment to customers

refer to relevant sources of information to assist the customer and maintain personal currency of knowledge

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure that competency is

observed by the assessor or the technical expert working in partnership with the assessor as described in the assessment guidelines

demonstrated across a range of customers over sufficient time to include handling of a range of contingencies

demonstrated in a real or simulated pharmacy environment which may include customer interruptions and involvement in other related activities normally expected in the pharmacy

Assessment must ensure access to

a range of real or simulated customers with different requirements

pharmacy protocols and procedures

state or territory legislation and guidelines where appropriate

relevant documentation such as

blood pressure testing product and service information

selfcare and lifestyle advice

Method 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 the candidate in the workplace

performing blood pressure testing

demonstrating use care and maintenance of blood pressure testing equipment to customers

recommending and selling blood pressure testing equipment to a range of customers

advising on lifestyle and selfcare practices

written or oral questions appropriate to the language and literacy level of the learner to test relevant underpinning knowledge

role plays to confirm communication skills to meet diverse customer requirements

review of portfolios of evidence and thirdparty workplace reports of onthejob performance

Guidance information for assessment

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


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.

Pharmacy protocols and procedures may include:

interacting with the customer to establish:

who the product or service is for

symptoms

duration of symptoms

other existing health conditions

blood pressure medications being used by the customer

cold and flu medications currently being used

customer level of physical activity immediately before presenting for testing

caffeinated drinks consumed immediately before presenting for testing

assessing:

customer responses to questions

own confidence that the product or service requested by the customer or envisaged by the pharmacy assistant is right for the customer’s symptoms.

Customer requirements may include:

a single blood pressure test

home testing equipment

regular blood pressure monitoring at intervals advised by a doctor.

Triggers for referral to a pharmacist may include:

customer who is:

a child under 2

an aged person

pregnant or breastfeeding

taking other medicines

customer who has:

had the complaint for some time

other health conditions, such as asthma and diabetes

used the product before but is not satisfied with its efficacy

customer appears to be:

sick

angry

confused

dissatisfied

uncertain

under the influence of drugs or alcohol

pharmacy assistant is unsure and needs confirmation of the medicine selected, even if the product has been requested by name

request for Pharmacist Only Medicine.

Customermay include people:

from a range of social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds and with varying mental and physical abilities

visiting the pharmacy, contacting the pharmacy by phone, or in their own home

with special needs, such as:

the elderly

infants

who are:

drug or alcohol affected

emotionally unstable

mentally unstable

physically unwell.

Blood pressure testing instrument may include:

mercury (aneroid) sphygmomanometer

electronic digital sphygmomanometer.

Pharmacy blood pressure testing record may include:

pharmacy identification and telephone number

a customer copy and duplicate pharmacy file copy with the following minimum content:

customer’s name and address

date of test

blood pressure measurement, including systolic blood pressure over diastolic blood pressure

pulse

indication that the reading suggests:

level is within normal limits

level is above normal range on this occasion and warrants customer consultation with a doctor to have blood pressure checked

level is very high on this occasion and an immediate doctor consultation is strongly recommended

pharmacist authorisation signature

relevant notes regarding individual customer circumstances that may have impacted on the reading, such as:

being upset

being in a rush.

Use, care and maintenance may include:

attaching cuff line to machine

checking machine calibration

cleaning and storing machine and cuff attachment

demonstrating use of:

on and off switch

start switch

interpreting the screen display, including:

systolic blood pressure reading

diastolic blood pressure reading

pulse

locating and attaching cuff to patient’s arm

replacing battery

taking a test reading.

Self-testing strategiesmay include:

avoiding the following behaviour that can cause blood pressure to rise in the two hours before taking the reading:

drinking caffeinated drinks, such as tea, coffee or cola

smoking

being relaxed and comfortable when taking a reading by:

selecting a comfortable place without distractions, such as TV or music

relaxing for at least five minutes before taking the reading

developing a good technique for attaching the cuff

following machine instruction steps

standing for at least two minutes before testing, when doctor requests a reading while standing

where possible, measuring blood pressure under the same conditions, at about the same time of day, in the same manner each time

taking at least two readings on each occasion.

Personal blood pressure record chart may include:

date and time

comments that may be useful to the doctor, such as just woke up, resting, taken medication, etc.

pulse

diastolic blood pressure

systolic blood pressure.

Conditions relating to supply may include:

federal and state or territory legislation

industry codes of practice, standards and guidelines

pharmacy protocols and procedures relating to the sale of blood pressure medicines and products, aids and equipment.

Relevant sources may include:

Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) website and phone line

pharmacist

manufacturer information

self-care and health-care information

product brochures and leaflets supplied by a pharmacist

website of support organisations, such as Heart Foundation.

Lifestyle and self-care practices may include:

achieving or maintaining ideal body weight

being physically active

carrying a list of medicines and doses

decreasing salt intake

limiting alcohol intake

quitting smoking

taking prescribed blood pressure medication at the same time each day

using a weekly pill box.