CHS163 Manage Emergency Situations

Overview

This standard is about management of emergency situations that require immediate response.  This will include resuscitation and life support interventions for individuals who may be experiencing failure or deterioration of critical bodily function or other life-threatening conditions.  The importance of patient consent and do not resuscitate status applies to any situation in which emergency resuscitation is required. This standard is applicable to a wide range of health contexts and roles in emergency, primary and secondary care.  It may include patients in conscious or unconscious state. Users of this standard will need to ensure that practice reflects up to date information and policies. Version No 1

Knowledge and Understanding

You will need to know and understand:

1. Your own level of competence, authority and knowledge in relation to the management of emergency situations  and your appropriate response for emergency situations within your scope of practice
2. Signs and symptoms of potential or actual failure or deterioration of bodily function and other potentially life-threatening conditions
3. The risks associated with emergency procedures and how to manage these
4. Types and correct use of personal protective equipment and clothing and their importance
5. How to manage the privacy and dignity of individual’s who are in a life-threatening situation and in both conscious and unconscious states
6. Protocols and procedures for resuscitation and emergency response, including those relating to valid consent
7. The location of and access to emergency life support equipment
8. The range of emergency medical equipment and devices, their purpose and correct use and their application to a range of situations
9. How to work effectively with team members and colleagues to deliver an effective emergency response
10. The importance of communicating with individuals and relevant carers in a manner that is consistent with their level of understanding, culture, background and preferred ways of communicating
11. Methods and techniques for reassuring individuals and relevant carers who have experienced an emergency situation
12. The importance of infection control and management within the clinical context
13. Precautions for infection control and health and safety in relation to the management of emergency situations
14. How to recognise faults or malfunctioning of relevant medical equipment and devices
15. Action to be taken in the event that an emergency response is unsuccessful
16. How and from whom to seek additional support and advice to manage an emergency situation
17. The importance of applying standard precautions and the potential consequences of poor practice
18. The importance of safe decontamination or disposal of used medical equipment, devices and resources in accordance with national and local policies and manufacturers’ instructions
 
19. The importance of maintaining accurate and timely records of emergency procedures
20. The current European and National legislation, national guidelines, organisational policies and protocols in accordance with Clinical Governance which affect your work practice in relation to managing emergency situations
21. Your responsibilities and accountability in relation to the current European and National legislation, national guidelines and local policies and protocols and Clinical Governance

Performance Criteria

You must be able to do the following:

1. work within your level of competence, responsibility and accountability and respond in a timely manner to meet individual’s needs
2. respect the privacy, dignity and confidentiality of the individual throughout the emergency procedure
3. identify the nature and potential cause(s) of the emergency situation and remove risks of further occurrence or harm to yourself or others
4. respond with suitable degree of urgency to assist or resolve the emergency situation
5. confirm that valid consent for resuscitation has been given if this is required
6. check airways, breathing and cardiac output and raise appropriate alarms to ensure sufficient support is available to manage the emergency situation
7. position and support individuals , medical equipment or medical devices to optimise the effectiveness of the emergency procedure
8. ensure effective infection control at all times
9. evaluate the physiological parameters of the individual, and determine the most appropriate action to resolve immediate threat to life
10. administer the appropriate emergency response, avoiding additional harm or injury to the individual as far as possible in accordance with clinical governance
11. monitor effects of action taken on patient’s physiological status until the situation has been effectively resolved or a decision made to stop
12. record full details of the emergency situation immediately and in line with protocols and procedures
13. report pertinent issues to relevant personnel
14. ensure you maintain the confidentiality of information in accordance with information governance

Additional Information

This National Occupational Standard was developed by Skills for Health. This standard links with the following dimension within the NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework (October 2004): Dimension: Core 3 Health, Safety and Security