Application
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to perform nursing interventions to support the social and emotional wellbeing and nursing care needs of the older person in both acute care settings and residential care 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. Respond to the health requirements of an older person. | 1.1 Apply knowledge in own practice of age-related physical changes and transitions and the psychosocial needs of the person and their family or carer. 1.2 Identify possible age-related effects of drugs and medications on the person and make adjustments as required in consultation with registered nurse. 1.3 Identify age-related pathophysiological disorders and how they may affect the person and their family or carer. 1.4 Communicate effectively and appropriately with the person, including making adjustments for people who have sensory impairments. 1.5 Perform preventive health assessment of the person to identify their needs in providing preventive care, in consultation and collaboration with a registered nurse. 1.6 Adapt work practices to reflect knowledge of theories of ageing and apply best practice care guidelines for older people. 1.7 Develop and implement strategies to ensure companionship and social inclusion in consultation with the person. 1.8 Recognise signs that indicate the person has, or may develop, an oral health problem. 1.9 Identify and respond to signs of distress or behaviours of concern, especially in a person unable to communicate their symptoms or concerns. |
2. Contribute to the care plan for an older person. | 2.1 Assess the person’s health status in consultation and collaboration with registered nurse and using assessment tools specific to the aged care environment. 2.2 Document and report health findings according to organisation procedures. 2.3 Assist the person to identify their abilities and limitations in capacity for self-care. 2.4 Contribute to development of the person’s nursing care plan within the context of the health care setting and organisation policy and procedures. 2.5 Ensure the person, and the family or carer as appropriate, understand the implications of the person’s admission into the health care facility. 2.6 Discuss with the person, family or carer possible impacts of age-related pathophysiological disorders including impact on the person’s capacity to perform daily living activities. 2.7 Document responses to nursing interventions, and report changes and concerns to a registered nurse. |
3. Apply nursing practice in the aged care environment. | 3.1 Identify external factors and common stereotypes associated with ageing and how these can adversely impact the older person. 3.2 Consider in own practice the impact of complex issues involved in aged care, including impacts on family or carer. 3.3 Consider own values, attitudes and beliefs towards ageing and the older person, and monitor own performance to ensure all interventions are conducted appropriately and within scope of practice of the enrolled nurse. 3.4 Promote health maintenance with the older person and provide relevant information on available community services for the person, family or carer. |
4. Identify requirements and address issues in aged care nursing practice. | 4.1 Identify legal requirements and possible ethical issues and other issues of concern in aged care practice, including possible signs of elder abuse. 4.2 Ensure own work practice accords with legal requirements, is ethical and supports the rights and dignity of the older person and their family or carer. 4.3 Advocate for the person, their family or carer as required within own role parameters and organisation policies and procedures. 4.4 Observe and respond appropriately to physical, emotional and mental signs of stress in the person. 4.5 Provide care for the deceased person using standard precautions and in accordance with organisation policy and procedures. 4.6 Provide support and comfort for grieving family or carer within own role parameters. |
5. Use strategies that relate to the progressive and variable nature of dementia. | 5.1 Identify the nature of dementia and use appropriate treatments and nursing interventions when working with the person with dementia. 5.2 Provide activities appropriate to the gender, culture and age of the person with dementia, reflecting their individual likes and dislikes. 5.3 Use a range of strategies, such as validation strategies, instructed activities and reorientating therapy to relieve distress and agitation in the person with dementia. |
6. Develop and implement strategies to minimise impact of challenging behaviours. | 6.1 Observe the person and document their behaviours and relevant environmental factors to assist in determining triggers contributing to challenging behaviour. 6.2 Consider potential impact the behaviours may have on the person and others in determining an appropriate response. 6.3 Implement best practice strategies that minimise the impact of behaviours, in consultation with the registered nurse and in accordance with organisation policies and procedures. |
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 2 older people to reach an accurate conclusion on possible nursing interventions related to their care, in consultation with a registered nurse
performed nursing interventions and monitored nursing care for 1 older person with dementia and 1 older person with a physical disability.
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:
the potential impacts of dual or multiple diagnoses on identification and prioritisation of the older person’s needs
chronic age-related health problems
continence care
how to care for a deceased person
oral hygiene for a partial or fully edentulous person including:
care of dental prosthetics
screening for oral health conditions
soft tissue care
counselling and support services and resources in the aged care environment and wider community
difference between end-of-life care and palliative care
functional assessment tools for assessing older people
limitations and legal ramifications of physical, chemical and psychological restraint
legal and ethical issues and considerations, and assessment tools relevant to the older person, including but not limited to:
advance care directives
Aged Care Act 1997 (Cwlth)
Aged Care Funding Instrument (ACFI)
carers recognition legislation
aged care risk classification system
Code of ethics for nurses in Australia and the Code of professional conduct for nurses (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia)
Residential Care Quality Assessment (ResCareQA)
nature of dementia as a progressive neurological condition, and strategies and nursing interventions that can be used with people with dementia
primary health care and services for the older person
stereotypes and influences on ageing
strategies to respond to challenging behaviour including:
distraction such as reminiscing, walking and listening to music
behaviour modification
physical triggers for behaviour including pain and not wearing the prescribed hearing aids or alternative listening devices
complementary therapies
the importance of a safe, physical, social and emotional environment for all older people, and particularly for people with dementia
theories of ageing including:
biological theories
psychosocial theory
disengagement theory
social exchange theory
wear and tear theory
activity theory
physiology of the ageing process as it relates to disease processes including in relation to:
sensory function
cardiac function
respiratory function
neurological function
musculoskeletal function
genitourinary function
endocrine function
renal function
sensory function
oncological disorders
skin integrity.
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:
dentures and dental prosthetics
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 a 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.