ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements define the essential outcomes

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1. Address the health care needs of an older person in contemporary aged care settings

1.1 Identify physical and psychological effects of ageing on the human body and apply insights when providing information and support to the older person

1.2 Recognise the significance of physical and psychosocial assessment when evaluating health of older people and maintain currency of own related knowledge

1.3 Identify funding arrangements and associated documentation requirements that impact aged care provision, and ensure funding and documentation requirements are met as applicable

1.4 Recognise crisis situations involving the older person and implement emergency management as required

1.5 Adjust communication strategies appropriately when communicating with an older person who has sensory loss

2. Manage an older person’s care using a person-centred approach to support continued independence

2.1 Use critical thinking and problem-solving approaches to prioritise and adapt nursing interventions to reflect changes in the person’s condition

2.2 Manage nursing workload according to a person’s needs and re-prioritise care activities for the person rapidly when circumstances change

2.3 Monitor own nursing interventions to ensure they support independence and person-centred care in collaboration with interdisciplinary health care team and the person

2.4 Undertake appropriate pre-, intra- and post-diagnostic procedures for the person in line with organisation policy and procedures

2.5 Identify and interpret rehabilitation principles that underpin appropriate nursing interventions for the older person and apply to nursing care as required

2.6 Identify the person’s understanding of their condition and current therapies and review their ability for self-management

2.7 Confirm the person’s condition, therapies and capacity for self-management with the family or carer where appropriate

2.8 Identify when the acuity of the older person is beyond own skills and knowledge and promptly consult with registered nurse and relevant interdisciplinary health care team members

3. Assess and respond to the needs of a person experiencing loss and grief

3.1 Identify the effects that experiencing grief and loss can have on a person’s physical, emotional, cognitive, behavioural, social and spiritual domains

3.2 Identify factors impacting or potentially impacting the person, family or carer’s experience of grief and loss

3.3 Encourage the person, family or carer experiencing loss or a complex grief reaction to verbalise their feelings, and provide support to them in that process

3.4 Facilitate and assist the interdisciplinary health care team to appropriately communicate adverse news to an older person, family or carer in line with organisation policies and procedures

4. Actively promote improvement and advancement of aged care nursing

4.1 Communicate outcomes and proposed actions to the registered nurse and use a collaborative approach for follow up with interdisciplinary team

4.2 Evaluate nursing interventions provided and consider identified outcomes against evidence-based best practice in aged care nursing

4.3 Recognise and monitor the symptoms of stress and professional carer burnout in self, peers and colleagues, and refer to appropriate services within organisation policies and procedures and scope of practice

4.4 Seek out opportunities and participate in professional development, acquiring knowledge to guide own practice and acting as a resource for colleagues