Application
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to practise as a nursing professional within the Australian health care system, providing health care across the lifespan of people in a range of health and community care services or environments.
This unit applies to enrolled nursing work carried out in consultation and collaboration with registered nurses, and under supervisory arrangements aligned to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia regulatory authority legislative requirements.
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. Apply principles and knowledge of nursing practice to work in a health care system. | 1.1 Apply principles of primary health care and the wellness principles to own work role. 1.2 Identify and access appropriate agencies to facilitate positive health outcomes. 1.3 Take into account socio-cultural and social influences and factors that impact health and illness. 1.4 Apply knowledge of political and economic impacts on health care delivery. 1.5 Apply knowledge of non-western approaches to health care, and their place in contemporary nursing practice. 1.6 Apply strategies within own work role to maintain standards of care within the contemporary health care system. 1.7 Maintain knowledge of current health issues impacting clinical practice and health policy development. |
2. Identify and discuss funding sources for health care in Australia. | 2.1 Access and interpret information to increase own awareness of appropriate sources of funding for health care services. 2.2 Discuss information on health care service funding sources and health-related insurances with the person, family or carer. |
3. Identify and respond to factors and issues affecting health in Australia. | 3.1 Identify factors that may affect health for a range of people and groups. 3.2 Recognise risk factors and social circumstances applying to the health of people, and refer the person to appropriate health professionals. 3.3 Identify existing health services that support current health issues facing people in Australia. 3.4 Identify and evaluate the effectiveness of available community health promotional strategies. 3.5 Promote understanding of the person’s emotional and social wellbeing. |
4. Work in the context of professional nursing practice. | 4.1 Describe the historical development and current perspectives of the nursing profession. 4.2 Maintain current knowledge of nursing theorists, and incorporate theoretical concepts related to nursing care into nursing practice. 4.3 Describe the role of relevant professional nursing bodies. 4.4 Work within the principles and parameters of nursing practice. 4.5 Follow organisation procedures that comply with audit and accreditation processes. 4.6 Apply jurisdictional requirements relating to Scope of Practice Framework. 4.7 Adapt to different requirements of the role of the enrolled nurse within health care environments. |
5. Contribute to professional work team. | 5.1 Establish collaborative relationships in the delivery of health care in accordance with the role of the enrolled nurse, working with the registered nurse and other health care professionals. 5.2 Examine and document reflective nursing practice. 5.3 Contribute to achieving effective team work and supportive group dynamics when working in interdisciplinary team. |
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:
undertaken nursing work in accordance with Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia professional practice standards, codes and guidelines
during at least 1 clinical work placement, worked effectively in the context of professional nursing practice including:
performing 5 different professional interactions to demonstrate adaptation to nursing role and application of knowledge of nursing practice
reflecting on the 5 professional interactions and identifying how nursing practice contributed to the person’s health outcome.
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:
health and illness issues facing people who have come from countries other than Australia
health insurance-related organisations and their roles in the Australian health care system
health issues and impacts for health care delivery for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
historical and current perspectives of the nursing profession
development and historical context of the Australian health care system, current health service models and State/Territory standards of care
range of health care environments and the roles of the interdisciplinary health care team and personnel associated with health service delivery
themes that impact health and illness for people from Australia and other countries, including environment, cultural barriers and community acceptance
social, political and economic impacts on health care delivery including funding sources and constraints on services and resource allocation
overall structure, strengths and weakness of the Australian health care system, with emphasis on the local area
current issues which impact health policy development
how health and illness factors impact a person
principles and philosophical framework of primary health care
principles of wellness and illness, and models of care and non-western approaches to health care
roles of regulatory authorities, industrial and professional bodies:
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, including knowledge of the enrolled nurse competency standards for practice, and professional practice standards, codes and guidelines
Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation.
Assessment Conditions
Skills must have been demonstrated in the workplace with the addition of simulations and scenarios where the full range of contexts and situations cannot be provided in the workplace. The following conditions must be met for this unit:
use of suitable facilities, equipment and resources in line with the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council’s Standards
modelling of industry operating conditions including access to real people for simulations and scenarios in enrolled nursing work.
Assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.
In addition, assessors must hold current registration as a registered nurse with Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.
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.