Application
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to advise on, trial, recommend and supply Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) equipment and provide ongoing support to customers who are self-managing medically diagnosed sleep apnoea. It requires the ability to identify and act on triggers for referral to a pharmacist for therapeutic advice.
This unit applies to pharmacy assistants working in community pharmacies. They work with some independence, under general supervision and guidance from others, but ultimately under the supervising pharmacist.
No occupational licensing, certification or specific legislative 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. Identify customer needs. | 1.1.Follow organisational procedures to respect and protect customer privacy. 1.2.Use questions and actively listen to confirm customer requirements for CPAP equipment. 1.3.Confirm customer has documented recommendations from sleep specialist. 1.4.Identify and act on triggers for referral to pharmacist. |
2. Hire trial CPAP equipment. | 2.1.Follow organisational procedures for hiring CPAP equipment. 2.2.Clearly explain equipment trial hire service and future purchase options and use questioning to confirm customer understanding. 2.3.Calculate hire costs and accurately complete CPAP equipment hire agreement, obtain customer signature and co-sign. 2.4.Supply signed copy to customer and file duplicate copy. 2.5.Clean, disinfect and store returned hire items. |
3. Provide CPAP equipment services. | 3.1.Follow sleep specialist recommendations and set CPAP trial equipment on auto. 3.2.Fit mask, explain and demonstrate use and hygienic maintenance of trial equipment. 3.3.Review mask comfort and machine readings after one week and adjust settings to mid-range of readings taken across the week. 3.4.Review trial at prearranged intervals and replace mask type to ensure effective operation and customer comfort. 3.5.Advise patient to return to treating sleep specialist for re-assessment and advice on adjusting settings where issues persist. |
4. Supply sleep apnoea products. | 4.1.Follow organisational procedures for supplying sleep apnoea products. 4.2.Recommend and supply CPAP equipment for customer purchase after trial period. 4.3.Identify and use opportunities to suggest companion products relevant to desired outcomes. 4.4.Explain and demonstrate use, care and maintenance of equipment. 4.5.Provide ongoing support and recommend strategies for customer to adjust to using CPAP equipment. 4.6.Supply replacement parts to customers. 4.7.Source and refer customers to current information on specialist services that support sleep apnoea management. |
Evidence of Performance
Evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit in the context of the job role, and:
access and interpret information about obstructive sleep apnoea and specialist support services from two different sources
respond to sleep specialist recommendations and demonstrate, fit, hire/sell Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) equipment to three different customers
supply and provide advice on use, care and maintenance of the following products:
CPAP machine
filters
humidifier
humidifier tank
masks
tubing
aids to maintain skin integrity on facial areas impacted by masks:
adhesive dressings
creams
provide information on specialist services that support obstructive sleep apnoea.
Evidence of Knowledge
Demonstrated knowledge required to complete the tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit:
sources of information on obstructive sleep apnoea and specialist support services:
federal, state or territory government health education internet sites
not for profit health councils
industry and professional publications
product manufacturer health education and product information materials
common types of sleep disorder breathing:
normal flow
narrowed flow
flow limitation with snoring
apnoea
physiological effects of sleep disorder breathing, at a basic level of understanding
common symptoms of obstructive sleep apnoea and other sleep disorder breathing conditions:
snoring
sleep arousal
poor quality sleep leading to:
daytime sleepiness, fatigue and tiredness
poor concentration
irritability and mood changes
common lifestyle factors that can contribute to sleep disorder conditions:
consuming alcohol prior to sleep
obesity
smoking
use of sedatives
key terminology, jargon and common abbreviations relevant to CPAP equipment, for:
health conditions for which equipment is used
equipment features
pharmacy product range of CPAP equipment:
location
different types
features and uses
fitting and adjustment methods
care and maintenance
format, content and use of sleep specialist recommendations
cleaning and disinfection techniques and cleaning products used for return hire items
role boundaries and responsibilities of pharmacy assistants, and circumstances which require and trigger referral to a pharmacist
organisational procedures for supplying CPAP equipment:
questions that must be asked to collect information about customer needs
identifying and acting on triggers for referral to a pharmacist
maintaining privacy and confidentiality of customer information
completing and filing equipment hire agreements
organisational CPAP equipment hire policy
format, content and use of hire agreements for CPAP equipment.
Assessment Conditions
Skills must be demonstrated in a pharmacy with designated front of pharmacy and dispensary areas. This can be:
an industry workplace
a simulated industry environment.
Assessment must ensure use of:
information technology hardware and software
online information systems
commercial product range of CPAP equipment and replacement parts:
filters
humidifier
humidifier tank
masks
tubing
aids to maintain skin integrity on facial areas impacted by masks:
adhesive dressings
creams
cleaning and disinfection products used for return hire items
sleep specialist recommendations
customer brochures and leaflets providing information on:
directions for product use
care and maintenance of aids and equipment
specialist services that support sleep apnoea management
organisational procedures for supplying CPAP equipment
organisational CPAP equipment hire policy
template hire agreements for CPAP equipment
customers with whom the individual can interact; these can be:
customers in an industry workplace who are served by the individual during the assessment process; or
individuals who participate in role plays or simulated activities, set up for the purpose of assessment, in a simulated industry environment operated within a training organisation.
Assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisation’s requirements for assessors, and:
have worked in the pharmacy sector for at least two years, OR
have worked as a specialist demonstrator with a CPAP equipment supplier.
Foundation Skills
Foundation skills essential to performance in this unit, but not explicit in the performance criteria are listed here, along with a brief context statement. | |
Reading skills to: | interpret unfamiliar and detailed documents which describe sleep specialist recommendations, product use and support services. |
Technology skills to: | use online information systems to search for information. |
Sectors
Community Pharmacy
Competency Field
Health Care Support