Application
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to check functioning of equipment, implement routine and planned equipment maintenance, and maintain the supply of anaesthetic supplies. It also covers the evaluation of new equipment.
The unit applies to anaesthetic technicians working in any hospital or day surgery setting.
The skills in this unit must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State/Territory legislation, Australian/New Zealand standards, and industry codes of practice.
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
Elements define the essential outcomes | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element |
1. Check functioning and conduct routine maintenance | 1.1 Check availability of minimum equipment requirements as per Australia New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA) policy guidelines 1.2 Perform safety checks 1.3 Ensure anaesthetic equipment is functioning correctly and rectify any routine problems 1.4 Clean and safely store equipment 1.5 Report hazardous, damaged or faulty equipment and arrange repairs 1.6 Disassemble and clean anaesthetic equipment 1.7 Dispose of disposable/single use items |
2. Maintain adequate stock levels of anaesthetic consumable items | 2.1 Access and interpret stock documentation, store and rotate stock, check stock levels and take action to maintain supply 2.2 Communicate unavailability of stock to relevant personnel 2.3 Identify when to withdraw and dispose of stock in compliance with health hazard notices and environmental protection authority 2.4 Dispose of expired stock safely in accordance with legislative requirements 2.5 Ensure product disclosure information, technical data sheets and material safety data sheets are available and referenced as required |
3. Implement planned maintenance | 3.1 Identify maintenance procedures and appropriate documentation 3.2 Maintain anaesthetic and monitoring equipment 3.3 Complete regular servicing in accordance with scope of own role 3.4 Complete accurate maintenance documentation and escalate to relevant personnel any issue 3.5 Review maintenance records and update |
4. Arrange repairs of anaesthetic equipment | 4.1 Identify anaesthetic equipment faults and place safety hazard label on anaesthetic equipment 4.2 Complete repair request documentation and give to relevant personnel for actioning 4.3 Complete routine and minor anaesthetic equipment repairs |
5. Orientate staff to anaesthetic and monitoring equipment | 5.1 Provide instruction on anaesthetic equipment to other members of the multidisciplinary team 5.2 Provide in-service training on anaesthetic equipment to other members of the multidisciplinary team |
6. Evaluate anaesthetic and monitoring equipment for purchase | 6.1 Develop evaluation criteria and documentation for equipment being considered for trialling or purchase in consultation with the anaesthetist 6.2 Apply agreed criteria to evaluation and provide recommendations for purchase 6.3 Provide feedback to companies on products under development, as requested |
Evidence of Performance
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 legislation, industry standards & code of practice, manufacturer’s guidelines and organisation procedures to maintain the standard and supply of anaesthetic equipment and supplies for at least one facility, including:
routine cleaning and care
planned maintenance and servicing
arranging repairs
testing for functionality and safety, including ANZCA level 2 and level 3 check of the anaesthetic machine
provided in service training on at least one piece of equipment
evaluated one piece of equipment
Evidence of Knowledge
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:
types of anaesthetic equipment and consumables required:
medications, forms and other consumables
anaesthetic airway, breathing, infusion monitoring devices
emergency equipment
non-disposable equipment
areas that require anaesthesia related equipment and consumables:
anaesthetic and emergency trolleys
induction room and/or store rooms
anaesthetic machines
set-up & safety checks, principles & limitation of operation, features/functions and safe use of anaesthetic and monitoring equipment, including their service schedule, storage, disassembly and cleaning requirements, including:
anaesthetic machine and components, including:
alarms and measurement devices
suction and scavenger
ventilator
bulk and local gas supply equipment
vaporisers
breathing systems/circuits and attachments
airway and breathing equipment including:
fibreoptic, video and other intubation aids
consumables
breathing circuits and portable ventilators
invasive and no-invasive monitoring equipment
emergency equipment
thermoregulation equipment
infusion and rapid infusion equipment
tourniquets and exsanguinators
antithromboembolitic
diathermy
routine problems that occur with different types of equipment and how to rectify within own scope
principles of physics and measurement as it relates to anaesthetic practice, including:
thermodynamics
gas laws
fluid dynamics
potentiometry
optics
transducers
vaporisation
ultrasound
basic electronic components and their function
legal and ethical considerations (national, state/territory) for management of equipment and consumables, and how these are applied in organisations:
codes of practice
duty of care
infection prevention and control
records management
rights and responsibilities of workers and employers
work role boundaries – responsibilities and limitations
work health and safety (WHS):
electrical safety requirements for equipment
gas safety
Assessment Conditions
Skills must have been demonstrated in the workplace or in a simulated environment that reflects workplace conditions. The following conditions must be met for this unit:
use of suitable facilities, equipment and resources, modelling of industry operating conditions, including presence of situations requiring problem solving in non-routine situations
Assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.
Foundation Skills
The Foundation Skills describe those required skills (language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills) that are essential to performance. |
Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency. |