Application
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to access and prepare medications, fluids, blood and blood products prescribed by the anaesthetist, to monitor client responses.
The unit applies to anaesthetic technicians working under the direction of, and in consultation with, an anaesthetist 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. Access medications | 1.1 Access medications when directed by anaesthetist or other health professional 1.2 Follow legal and organisation procedures to obtain drugs 1.3 Identify indication of medication |
2. Prepare medications for administration | 2.1 Read client records for information that may impact medication administration 2.2 Communicate details from client records to anaesthetist or health professional 2.3 Accurately measure, calculate and confirm medication dosages as directed by health professional and in accordance with requirements for specific medications 2.4 Aseptically prepare and correctly label intravenous drugs 2.5 Program infusion device and confirm program with second authorised person 2.6 Safely dispose of waste and sharps |
3. Monitor and record client responses | 3.1 Identify adverse client responses and report to anaesthetist 3.2 Recognise and respond to acute and delayed adverse reactions to drugs within role of responsibility 3.3 Accurately record responses |
4. Store medications | 4.1 Secure, restock and store medications according to law and health care environmental policy 4.2 Identify and dispose of date expired medications 4.3 Complete accurate drug documentation |
5. Prepare for and administer intravascular fluid, blood or blood products | 5.1 Access and select intravascular solution, blood or blood product according to prescription 5.2 Confirm selected solution is fit for use 5.3 Select infusion set, connectors and/or filters 5.4 Assemble equipment and materials and prime in an aseptic manner ready for use 5.5 Program equipment according to prescription and confirm client identity with another authorised person 5.6 Administer and monitor infusion and infusion site 5.7 Store infusion equipment and solutions correctly |
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:
accessed, prepared and monitored medications, fluids, blood and blood products in accordance with legislation and the organisation’s medication and delegation policies and practice under the supervision of a health professional on at least 10 different occasions
administered crystalloids, colloids, blood & blood products
programmed infusion devices at least twice
set up rapid infusion device at least twice
prepared drugs for administration via each of the following routes at least twice:
inhalational
intravenous
intramuscular
oral
subcutaneous
topical
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:
legal and ethical considerations (national, state/territory) for the handling and administration of medications, and how these are applied in organisations:
approved drug and fluid abbreviations
Australian and New Zealand scheduling for drugs and poisons
Australian and New Zealand Society of Blood Transfusion guidelines (ANZSBT)
codes of practice
records management requirements
storage
work role boundaries – responsibilities and limitations
rights and responsibilities of workers, employers and clients
work health and safety (WHS)
pharmacology for drugs commonly used in anaesthesia, including:
sources of drugs (natural/endorphins/synthetic)
drug nomenclature (chemical/generic/brand names)
drug classifications
common abbreviations
pharmacodynamics - drug receptor interactions/dose-response relationships/therapeutic index
pharmacokinetics (ADME) absorption/distribution/metabolism/excretion
pharmacotherapeutics
adverse drug reactions and interactions
toxicity/toxicology
drug administration routes:
enteral medication – endotracheal, sublingual, buccal, rectal, vaginal, urethral
parenteral medication - intravenous, intramuscular, intraosseous, intracardiac, intraarticular, intrauterine, intrathecal, subcutaneous, intra-arterial, inhalational
topical medication - subcutaneous, transnasal, transdermal, ocular, inhalational, aural
formulations, including
wafers
tablets
lozenges
capsules
elixir
suspension
solutions
creams
major drug groups used in anaesthesia - presentation, formulation, indication, mode of action, system of delivery and administration routes, precautions, side effects, contraindications and adverse reactions, storage requirements, factors influencing drug actions, dosage variations for different types of clients for all of the following:
inhalational induction agents
intravenous induction agents
analgesics
non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID)
anti-emetics
muscle relaxants
respiratory medications
anticoagulants
local anaesthetics
antibiotics
cardiovascular medication, including diuretics
electrolytes
drugs used in the management of the following conditions (which may complicate or co-exist with anaesthesia):
adrenal dysfunction
anaphylaxis
angina
bronchospasm
cardiac arrest
cardiac arrhythmias
congestive heart failure
coagulopathies
deep vein thrombosis
endocrine dysfunction
hypoglycaemia
hypotension
hyperglycaemia
hypertension
pulmonary oedema/embolism
raised intracranial/intra-ocular pressure
respiratory depression/compromise
stroke
seizure
uterine atony
methods of drug preparation, including:
dilutions
reconstitutions
factors to consider when calculating medication dosages including:
calculation formulae
calculation of dosages of injectable drugs (liquid, solid, unit dosages)
flow rate drops per minute
flow rate millilitres per hour
duration of infusion
paediatric dosage calculations (body weight, surface area, age related dose reduction)
geriatric dosage calculations (body weight, surface area and age)
methods of storage and handling of medication
equipment for administration of medications, including:
volumetric pumps
syringe drivers
consumables
infusion products and equipment:
rapid infusers
warming devices
burettes
infusion sets and attachments
blood and blood products
crystalloids
colloids
massive transfusion protocol
emergency medical management of anaphylaxis and adverse drug/fluid reactions
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, including:
manufacturer’s instructions
organisation policies and procedures
MIMS
Australian & New Zealand Society of Blood Transfusion (ANZSBT)
Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA)
medications
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. |