PCS7 Assist the registered practitioner in the delivery of perioperative patient care

Overview

This standard covers carrying out delegated care activities that are within your own sphere of competence to assist the registered practitioner in the delivery of perioperative patient care. This will involve assessment, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of perioperative patient care. Users of this standard will need to ensure that practice reflects up to date information and policies. Version 1

Knowledge and Understanding

You will need to know and understand:

1. the current European and National legislation, national guidelines, organisational policies and protocols in accordance with Clinical/Corporate Governance which affect your work practice in relation to assisting the registered practitioner in the delivery of perioperative patient care
2. your responsibilities and accountability in relation to the current European and National legislation, national guidelines and local policies and protocols and Clinical/Corporate Governance
3. the duty to report any acts or omissions in care that could be detrimental to yourself, other individuals or your employer
4. the importance of working within your own sphere of competence when assisting in the care of patients in the perioperative environment and seeking advice when faced with situations outside your sphere of competence
5. the principles of the care process
6. the meaning of a ‘professional approach’ in relation to patients, relatives, friends and staff within and outside the operating department team
7. the importance of applying standard precautions and the potential consequences of poor practice
8. specific care needs of the patients that you work with, for example, adults, pregnant women, children, people with learning difficulties, perioperative death, and how to meet those needs
9. the importance of taking patients’ expressed wishes and needs into account during the development of plans of care, and the situations in which it may not be possible to meet patients’ wishes
10. how a patient’s care needs may change according to the stage of the procedure, including pre-operative; operative; post-operative
11. the principles of patient advocacy, and effective ways of representing and safeguarding patients’ interests
12. the effect of anxiety on the emotional state and behaviour of patients and how to recognise signs of patient distress
13. methods of monitoring patients’ ongoing care needs, safety and wellbeing
14. methods of providing support and reassurance to patients who are undergoing clinical procedures
15. the care provided to patients who die during clinical procedures
16. sources of information and how to access and use them
17. collating and assessing information from a number of sources to determine patients’ care needs
18. methods for checking and confirming the accuracy, validity and reliability of information
19. how plans of care may vary for day case/in patients and non-scheduled, for example, emergency, trauma and non-elective patients
20. how to identify and access appropriate resources for the delivery of patient care
21. sources of information and advice that are available if there are any problems or uncertainty regarding plans of care
22. the importance of following agreed plans of care, and of reporting significant deviations from them
23. circumstances which may require plans of care to be revised
24. the purpose of providing feedback to the registered practitioner to assist in the evaluation of perioperative care plans
25. the process for revising perioperative plans of care
26. the importance of keeping accurate and up to date records
27. the importance of immediately reporting any issues which are outside your own sphere of competence without delay to the relevant member of staff
28. the reasons for recording care needs
29. methods and procedures for communicating perioperative plans of care to colleagues and patients
30. methods and procedures for working within a multi-disciplinary team in the assessment, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of perioperative care
31. how multi-disciplinary teams communicate effectively
32. requirements that colleagues have for specific information relating to all stages of perioperative care

Performance Criteria

You must be able to do the following:

1. apply standard precautions for infection prevention and control and other relevant health and safety measures
2. obtain information on the care needs of the patient from the appropriate sources, identifying when you need to confirm or clarify information and take the appropriate action
3. enable the patient to express their needs, beliefs and preferences
4. maintain:
1. confidentiality of patient information
2. the patient’s privacy and dignity as much as possible
5. identify when you are unsure of any aspect of the process, or one that is outside your current competence, and inform the registered practitioner why this part of the process has not been completed
6. collect sufficient valid and reliable information to assist the registered practitioner to assess the care needs of the patient and make clear, accurate and complete records of the care needs of the patient that you have identified
7. feedback information you have collected to the registered practitioner at the agreed time
8. agree delegated aspects of the perioperative care plan with the registered practitioner which are within your current competence
9. use the perioperative care plan to identify the timing/frequency of your activities to meet the identified care needs of the patient
10. provide care to the patient that is consistent with the agreed perioperative plan of care
11. explain your actions to the patient in a manner appropriate to their needs and abilities and confirm their agreement
12. answer any questions and concerns from the patient clearly and appropriately and pass on anything you are unable to deal with to the registered practitioner
13. promptly seek advice from the appropriate member of the care team where you have queries or difficulties in carrying out your delegated activities
14. record the outcomes of the activities you have carried out clearly, accurately and legibly in the correct documentation and sign and date each entry
15. monitor the effects of your activities and promptly identify, and report changes in the patient’s wellbeing/status to the relevant member of the care team and document in the care plan
16. assist in the review of the perioperative care plan

Additional Information

This National Occupational Standard was developed by Skills for Health. This standard has indicative links with the following dimensions and levels within the NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework (October 2004) Dimension: HWB6 Assessment and treatment planning