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. |