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 is forsymptomsduration of symptomsother existing health conditionsif the customer has seen the doctor latelyinsulin or other diabetes medication being used by the customerif the customer is registered under the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS) when the customer last had foodassessing:customer responses to questionsown confidence that the product or service requested by the customer or envisaged by the pharmacy assistant is right for the customer’s condition and requirements. |
Customer requirements may include: | a single blood glucose testassistance with blood glucose testinghome testing equipment or products insulin regular blood glucose monitoring at intervals as advised by a doctor. |
Triggers for referral to a pharmacist must include: | customer is:a child under 2an aged personpregnant or breastfeedingtaking other medicinescustomer has:had the complaint for some timeother health conditions, such as asthma or high blood pressureused the product before but is not satisfied with its efficacyrequested a large quantity of one or more medicinescustomer appears to be:sick angryconfused dissatisfieduncertainunder the influence of drugs or alcoholpharmacy assistant is unsure and needs confirmation of the medicine selected, even if the product has been requested by namerequest for Pharmacist Only Medicine. |
Customer may include people: | from a range of social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds and with varying mental and physical abilitiesvisiting the pharmacy, contacting the pharmacy by phone, or in their own homewith special needs, such as:the elderlyinfantswho are:drug or alcohol affectedemotionally unstablementally unstablephysically unwell. |
Diabetes types and related conditions may include: | type 1 diabetes or insulin dependent diabetestype 2 diabetes or noninsulin dependent diabetesgestational diabeteshyperglycaemia or higher than normal blood sugar levelshypoglycaemia or lower than normal blood sugar levels. |
Regular intervals may include: | before:breakfast (for fasting reading)lunchdinnertwo hours after a mealbefore rigorous exerciseif feeling unwell. |
Prepare for blood glucose testingmay include: | methods and equipment for disinfectiontaking the customer to a designated testing areawashing handswearing personal protective equipment, such as glovessetting up equipment, including:digital blood glucose testing equipmentadhesive bandagesalcohol wipessharps containerloading a trigger lancet device with a disposable lancet. |
Alternative selected areamay include: | forearmthighpalm of hand. |
Pharmacy blood glucose testing recordmay include: | pharmacy identification and telephone numbera customer copy and duplicate pharmacy file copy with the following content: customer’s name and addressdate fasting or not fastinginsulin amounts test timeblood glucose level relevant notes regarding individual customer circumstances that may have impacted on the reading. |
Use, care and maintenancemay include: | caring for strips, such as:storing them in a dry placereplacing the cap immediately after usechecking that the use-by date is validoperating equipment according to product manufacturer’s instructions, such as:switching on and setting the digital metermatching disposable lancets to machineswiping down equipment with alcohol wipeschecking equipment calibration replacing batteries in the digital meterloading the trigger lancet device loading the test strip into the testing metersafely disposing of used lancets. |
Common reasons for inaccurate readings may include: | using the wrong strip for the digital meterusing strips that have expired or been stored incorrectlyusing the machine incorrectlynot washing hands before testingincorrect calibration or set-up of the digital meterlow battery levels in the digital meter. |
Personal blood glucose record may include: | day, month and time of dayinsulin amounts used test times and blood glucose levels for each testcomments. |
Conditions relating to supply may include: | federal and state or territory legislationindustry codes of practice, standards and guidelinesthe application of NDSS benefits for registered customers pharmacy protocols and procedures relating to the sale of diabetesrelated medicines and products, aids and equipment. |
Diabetes-related products, aids, test kits and equipment may include: | insulin syringes penslancetsprescribed diabetic medicinesblood glucose monitoring machines, reagent stripsurine glucose testing kits. |
Relevant sourcesmay include: | Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) website and phone linepharmacistmanufacturer informationproduct brochures and leaflets supplied by a pharmacistself-care and health-care informationwebsite of support organisations, such as Diabetes Australia. |
Specialist services and practitioners may include: | doctorsdiabetic educatorspharmacistsupport organisations, such as Diabetes Australiaother health-care specialists. |