Application
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to test blood glucose, record levels, recommend appropriate home blood glucose testing equipment and assist customers with diabetes management information. 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.Question and actively listen to confirm customer needs. 1.3.Explain features of initial and repeat blood glucose testing services. 1.4.Identify and act on triggers for referral to pharmacist. |
2. Test blood glucose levels. | 2.1.Follow organisational procedures for testing blood glucose. 2.2.Explain limitations of single test as accurate indicator and suggest regular monitoring. 2.3.Select quiet and comfortable area and clearly explain testing procedure to customer. 2.4.Prepare and use testing equipment according to manufacturer instructions. 2.5.Apply lancet to inside of customer fingertip or alternative area. 2.6.Trigger lancet, hold blood against test strip loaded into monitor and wait for monitor to register blood glucose reading. 2.7.Read test results, enter accurate and complete information on testing record and refer to pharmacist for verification. 2.8.Provide confirmed record to customer and file copy. 2.9.Dispose of used lancets and strips according to safety requirements. |
3. Support use of home blood glucose testing equipment. | 3.1.Follow organisational procedures for supplying home blood glucose testing equipment. 3.2.Identify and recommend equipment appropriate to customer needs and clearly explain its features. 3.3.Demonstrate use, care and maintenance of digital home blood glucose testing equipment and confirm customer understanding. 3.4.Provide information on common reasons for inaccurate readings. 3.5.Show customer how to keep a blood glucose record. |
4. Provide information on diabetes management. | 4.1.Encourage customer to take and record regular blood glucose readings and report to their doctor. 4.2.Provide and process key information on the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS). 4.3.Source, review and provide customers with information on lifestyle, self-care practices and availability of specialist services that support diabetes 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 on diabetes and specialist support services from two different sources
test blood glucose on four different occasions
recommend and demonstrate home blood glucose testing equipment to two different customers, providing clear and accurate information on each of the following:
directions for product use
care and maintenance of home blood glucose testing equipment
methods to avoid inaccurate readings at home
format, content and use of customer personal blood glucose records
lifestyle and self-care practices
National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS)
specialist services that support diabetes management.
Evidence of Knowledge
Demonstrated knowledge required to complete the tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit:
sources of information on diabetes 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 materials
key features of the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS):
eligibility
products that fall under NDSS
how to record customer purchases
how to submit a claim for NDSS
types of diabetes and common symptoms:
type 1 diabetes
type 2 diabetes
gestational diabetes
hyperglycaemia
hypoglycaemia
health conditions that can result from diabetes
how insulin works in the human body, at a basic level of understanding
common lifestyle factors that can contribute to or exacerbate diabetes conditions and methods of self-care to address these
key terminology, jargon and common abbreviations relevant to diabetes, for:
health conditions resulting from diabetes
testing and recording blood glucose levels
pharmacy and home blood glucose testing equipment
pharmacy product range of home blood glucose testing equipment:
location
different types
features and uses
ways to avoid inaccurate readings at home
care and maintenance
format, content and use of:
pharmacy blood glucose testing records
customer personal blood glucose records
sources and format of product, lifestyle and self-care information:
manufacturer product support materials:
Consumer Medicines Information (CMI)
product leaflets, brochures, booklets
internet sites
health-care fact sheets
pharmacy manuals
reputable health education internet sites; government and not-for profit organisations
role boundaries and responsibilities of pharmacy assistants, and circumstances which require and trigger referral to a pharmacist
organisational procedures for testing blood glucose and supplying home blood glucose testing equipment:
questions that must be asked to collect information about customer needs
identifying and acting on triggers for referral to a pharmacist, including eligibility for Diabetes MedsCheck
maintaining privacy and confidentiality of customer information
recording and maintaining readings and requirements for pharmacist verification
safe handling and disposal of sharps.
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
pharmacy blood glucose testing equipment and consumables:
digital blood glucose testing monitor
disposable lancets and trigger devices
test strips
adhesive bandages
alcohol wipes
sharps disposal containers
large pharmacy yellow sharps bin
personal protective equipment used for testing blood glucose and handling sharps
commercial product range of home blood glucose testing equipment:
digital blood glucose testing monitors
disposable lancets and trigger devices
test strips
urine glucose testing kits
templates for:
pharmacy blood glucose testing records
customer personal blood glucose records
customer brochures and leaflets providing information on:
directions for product use
care and maintenance of equipment
lifestyle and self-care practices
National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS)
specialist services that support diabetes management
organisational procedures for testing blood glucose and supplying home blood glucose testing 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.
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. | |
Numeracy skills to: | work with numerical concepts about blood glucose levels. |
Technology skills to: | use online information systems to search for information. |
Sectors
Community Pharmacy
Competency Field
Health Care Support