Application
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to contribute to the care of a person with chronic health problems by performing nursing interventions that support the person’s needs and assist them in maintaining an optimal lifestyle.
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. Identify impact of chronic health problems on a person, family or carer. | 1.1 Identify the person’s chronic health problem and research possible impact of the condition on body systems and a person’s ability to perform daily living activities. 1.2 Seek information from the person, and as appropriate, with family or carer to confirm their understandings of the condition and its impact. 1.3 Identify current treatments and determine available resources and support services by seeking information from interdisciplinary health team or the person. 1.4 Identify community based care services that are available for the person with a need for restorative or rehabilitation care. 1.5 Actively involve the person in the development of strategies to self-manage their condition. |
2. Contribute to a coordinated service approach. | 2.1 Identify current contribution of other agencies and professionals in supporting the person. 2.2 Identify the level and type of contribution and support made by family or carer. 2.3 Identify and meet own role and responsibilities in communicating and reporting the person’s response to nursing interventions. 2.4 Respond to variations in the person’s needs in the context of a coordinated service approach. 2.5 Contribute to health education and evaluate the person’s understanding of their chronic health problems in consultation with interdisciplinary health 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
analysed health information and the clinical presentation of 1 person in the workplace or simulated environment to reach an accurate conclusion on possible nursing interventions related to their chronic health problems, in consultation with a registered nurse
performed nursing interventions in the workplace to contribute to the support of 2 people who have chronic health problems.
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:
broad context for chronic disease:
World Health Organisation (WHO) and other models of chronic disease
national health priorities for chronic disease
continuum of chronic disease
life variables that have an impact on health and well-being
impacts of chronic disease:
social
emotional
physical
psychological
financial
rehabilitation strategies, techniques and equipment used for chronic health conditions including:
physiotherapy
occupational therapy
hydrotherapy
Pilates
massage
art and music therapy
use of wheelchairs, scooters and walking aids
use of prosthetics
clinical manifestations of chronic disease or chronic health conditions including:
common sites for cancer development
chronic asthma
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
chronic pain including back pain
chronic renal failure
congestive heart failure
diabetes
eczema
incontinence
motor neurone disease
neurological injury
long-term unconsciousness
osteoarthritis
permanent and temporary tracheostomies
Parkinson’s disease
rheumatoid arthritis
stroke
systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
strategies to address and manage chronic disease in the relevant work context:
prevention
use of various treatments
principles of and practices for person-focused nursing practice
maintenance of positive life roles
enabling change of a person’s behaviour over time
stages of change, to establish readiness for attitudinal and behavioural change
palliative care
resources for the Core Standards for nurses who support people with a disability (NSW Family and Community Services)
Working with People with Chronic and Complex Health Care Needs Core Standard for Nurses
Person Centred Health Care Assessments and the Development of Health Care Plans Core standard for Practitioners.
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 accordance with the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council’s Standards including:
assessment data
progressive notes of a de-identified person’s medical history
organisation policy and procedures on which the candidate bases the planning
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 the 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.