Application
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to treat abdominal and thoracic cavities on non-autopsied bodies to eliminate the presence of liquid or gaseous substances. It applies to embalming staff who work autonomously with a high level of responsibility, according to work health and safety, relevant legislation and workplace policies and procedures.
No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENTS | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Prepare to treat abdominal and thoracic cavities. | 1.1 Interpret body preparation documentation. 1.2 Prepare and use personal protective equipment. 1.3 Prepare mortuary area and appropriate mortuary instruments and equipment. 1.4 Identify organs of the body requiring cavity treatment. 1.5 Determine appropriate cavity treatment and volume of fluid, allowing for individual case characteristics. 1.6 Remove invasive and non invasive medical paraphernalia as required. |
2. Perform treatments. | 2.1 Determine trocar entry point for aspiration, make incision and insert trocar into abdomen using approved surgical techniques. 2.2 Aspirate upper body and thoracic areas, identifying organ placement and if any aspirated material would be expected from each. 2.3 Remove trocar and clean according to infection control practices. 2.4 Reinsert trocar into the abdomen and aspirate lower body and abdominal organs, identifying organ placement and if any aspirated material would be expected from each. 2.5 Inject correct volume of cavity fluid into aspirated regions. 2.6 Remove trocar and close entry point. 2.7 Evaluate effectiveness of aspiration and perform re-aspiration and re-injection if required. 2.8 Identify and manage hazards, complications and problems. |
3. Complete documentation and clean instruments, equipment and mortuary area. | 3.1 Complete case analysis report that includes reference to any complications that may have arisen and corrective actions taken. 3.2 Clean, disinfect or sterilise instruments and equipment. 3.3 Dispose of waste materials. 3.4 Store instruments and equipment and report faults. 3.5 Clean and disinfect mortuary area. |
Evidence of Performance
Evidence of the ability to:
identify treatment requirements through a pre-embalming case analysis and perform abdominal and thoracic cavity treatments using correct techniques and following work health and safety/occupational health and safety and infection control practices
prepare mortuary area and select and use the required instruments and equipment
clean, disinfect and sterilise the mortuary area, instruments and equipment at conclusion of the treatment
complete case analysis reports.
Evidence of performance of treating the abdominal and thoracic cavities of different cases on two or more occasions is required to demonstrate consistency of performance and ability to respond to different situations.
Evidence of Knowledge
Demonstrated knowledge of:
mortuary instruments and equipment used for treating abdominal and thoracic cavities and associated uses
techniques for body examination
organs relating to the abdominal and thoracic cavities and their treatment during the embalming process, including:
upper body and thoracic areas:
right atrium of the heart
right lung
left lung
thoracic cavity
lower body and abdominal organs:
abdominal cavity
viscera
alimentary canal
stomach
liver
small and large intestine
pancreas
spleen
gall bladder
blood vessels
appendix
bladder
kidneys
uterus
rectum
invasive and non
trocar insertion and suturing procedures
hazards, complications and problems that may be associated with abdominal and thoracic cavities treatment, including but not restricted to:
sharps injuries
needle stick injuries
blood splash
infection
chemical spill
wet area
workplace policies and procedures for treating abdominal and thoracic cavities
environmentally sound disposal methods for all types of waste and in particular for hazardous substances
funeral services industry parameters and protocols for dealing with the deceased, including social cultural and religious requirements considerations
federal, state or territory, and local government legislation and regulations relating to work health and safety/occupational health and safety, infection control and handling human remains.
Assessment Conditions
Skills must be demonstrated in a mortuary workplace:
using suitable equipment and resources, including:
deceased bodies requiring abdominal and cavity treatment
embalming equipment, instruments and chemicals including personal protective equipment
under industry operating conditions where there is:
integration of tasks with possible interruptions to work typical of the job role
speed and timing requirements that reflect commercial operating conditions
Assessors must satisfy the NVR/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.
In addition to mandatory requirements, assessors of this unit or at least one person in the assessment team must hold a Certificate IV in Embalming or equivalent.
Foundation Skills
This section describes those 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.
Sectors
Embalming
Competency Field
Mortuary Work and Embalming