Application
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to work as part of the emergency care team in an emergency care environment such as a hospital emergency department, primary health care service or mobile hospital service.
Enrolled nurses working in emergency care need to hold and apply specialised in-depth knowledge, effectively integrate theory and practice, and make reliable clinical assessments and judgements.
This unit applies to enrolled nurses, registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, seeking specialisation in enrolled nurse work that is carried out in consultation and collaboration with registered nurses and under direct or indirect 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 specify the level of performance required to demonstrate achievement of the Element. |
1. Work as part of emergency health care team | 1.1 Identify own role in providing emergency care and the contributions made by emergency services personnel, referring agencies, the hospital and others in the emergency care team 1.2 Provide nursing care to the person in response to trauma and under emergency care conditions, supporting the emergency care team 1.3 Work effectively in the emergency health care team to foster positive group dynamics with other health care professionals 1.4 Identify and clarify emergency care needs of the person and discuss problems and complications with the person and their family or carer, as appropriate and within scope of practice 1.5 Undertake appropriate pre-, intra- and post-diagnostic procedures in line with organisation policy and procedures and within scope of practice 1.6 Assist in preparing the person for transport to another health care facility to meet their needs for further medical treatment or services 1.7 Recognise potential and actual emergency situations and take action in accordance with organisation policies and procedures and scope of practice 1.8 Record treatment provided to the person and their response to provided emergency care |
2. Contribute to quality and safety of emergency nursing care. | 2.1 Re-prioritise emergency care activities rapidly when in changing or changed circumstances as directed by the registered nurse 2.2 Identify potential or actual risks when providing emergency care and participate in organisation risk assessment identification and risk management processes 2.3 Use critical thinking and problem-solving approaches to propose actions and implement nursing interventions, in consultation with registered nurse 2.4 Identify when the acuity of a person is beyond own skills and knowledge and promptly consult with registered nurse and relevant interdisciplinary health care team |
3. Actively promote improvement and advancement of emergency nursing | 3.1 Document outcomes of care and communicate findings to other members of the emergency care team in accordance with organisation policy 3.2 Evaluate nursing interventions provided and consider identified outcomes against evidence-based best practice in emergency care nursing 3.3 Seek out opportunities and participate in professional development, acquiring knowledge to guide own practice and acting as a resource for colleagues 3.4 Recognise symptoms of stress and professional burnout in self, peers and colleagues, and refer to appropriate services within organisation policies and procedures and scope of practice |
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
worked as part of the emergency health care team in the workplace providing emergency nursing interventions for each of the following conditions:
bleeding from multiple injury sites
respiratory distress
unstable musculoskeletal injury
head, neck or spinal injuries
person with diabetes who has hypoglycaemia or hyperglycaemia
uncontrolled vomiting, diarrhoea and dehydration
confusion and aggressive behaviour
provided advanced resuscitation on a simulation manikin and administered emergency medications according to organisation policy and procedures in a simulated environment
conducted 2 specific activities in the workplace or simulated environment to support quality and promote safe innovations in emergency nursing to an emergency team based on knowledge acquired through own professional development and learning
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:
role of members participating in an emergency care team
emergency care and first aid principles
the following - sufficiently in-depth and specialised to make considered judgements and to make a professional contribution to the emergency care team:
anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology of musculoskeletal injuries and head, neck and spinal injuries
hypovolemic shock
poisonings and substance misuse
febrile convulsions and epilepsy
abusive and behaviour issues from injury or substance misuse
respiratory distress
emergency medical conditions
interpretation of the following pathology and diagnostic tests:
blood tests commonly taken in emergency situations
skeletal X-rays
Computerised Tomography (CT) scans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans
Electrocardiogram (ECG).
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 including:
airway management equipment
dressing packs and wound dressings
oxygen therapy equipment, oxygen cylinder, masks and tubing
splints
cervical collar
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 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.