Course Title: Process reusable instruments and equipment in health work

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2013

Course Code: HWSS5711C

Course Title: Process reusable instruments and equipment in health work

School: 155T Vocational Health and Sciences

Campus: City Campus

Program: C3299 - Certificate III in Dental Assisting

Course Contact: Ms. Suzanne Dellas Fatone

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9341 1406

Course Contact Email: sue.fatone@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Nominal Hours: 30

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

This unit must be assessed after successful achievement of pre-requisite:

      HLTIN301C Comply with infection control policies and procedures

Course Description

This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required for workers in the health care setting to clean and sterilise reusable instruments and equipment and to maintain associated environments. All procedures must be carried out in accordance with current infection control guidelines, Australian and New Zealand Standards and the policies and procedures of the health care establishment.


All tasks must be carried out in accordance with State or Territory legislative requirements that affect work practices of the health care establishment and/or health care worker


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

HLTIN302C Process reusable instruments and equipment in health work

Element:

1. Prepare to clean used items

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Follow safe work practices and standard precautions at all times in accordance with legislative and workplace guidelines
1.2 Dispose of sharps and sharps debris into a container that meets Australian/New Zealand Standards at the point-of-use
1.3 Segregate and dispose of waste according to organisation and legislative requirements

Element:

2. Clean and dry used items

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Maintain work flow protocols in instrument reprocessing area
2.2 Prepare instruments for cleaning
2.3 Select and safely use appropriate cleaning agents
2.4 Use cleaning methods that avoid the generation of aerosols
2.5 Dry and inspect instruments for damage and remaining debris
2.6 Monitor the cleaning process

Element:

3. Prepare and pack items for sterilisation

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Open and unlock instruments with hinges or ratchets
3.2 Prepare instrument trays in accordance with workplace protocols
3.3 Package or wrap critical site instruments in a manner that prevents damage to delicate items
3.4 Place the appropriate chemical indicator into packages as required in accordance with current Australian/New Zealand Standards and workplace protocols
3.5 Label packs with the contents of the pack and batch control data as required in accordance with current Australian/New Zealand Standards and workplace protocols
3.6 Seal wrapped trays with sterilizer indicator tape as required in accordance with current Australian/New Zealand Standards and workplace protocols

Element:

4. Sterilise loads

Performance Criteria:

4.1 Operate the steriliser safely and in accordance with manufacturer instructions, legislative guidelines and workplace protocols
4.2 Monitor each sterilising cycle and record the details as specified in current Australian/New Zealand Standards
4.3 Maintain records for each sterilising cycle as required in accordance with current Australian/New Zealand Standards and workplace protocols
4.4 Unload the steriliser on the completion of the drying cycle to ensure sterility of items
4.5 Follow criteria for release of processed items as specified in current Australian/New Zealand Standards
4.6 Store sterile packs to maintain sterility in accordance with workplace protocols

Element:

5. Maintain sterilising equipment

Performance Criteria:

5.1 Clean and check sterilisers routinely as required in accordance with current Australian/New Zealand Standards and workplace protocols
5.2 Follow the preventive maintenance program as established by the workplace in conjunction with manufacturer or maintenance contractor
5.3 Monitor the sterilising cycles at the intervals specified in current Australian/New Zealand Standards


Learning Outcomes


1.1 Follow safe work practices and standard precautions at all times in accordance with legislative and workplace guidelines
1.2 Dispose of sharps and sharps debris into a container that meets Australian/New Zealand Standards at the point-of-use
1.3 Segregate and dispose of waste according to organisation and legislative requirements

2.1 Maintain work flow protocols in instrument reprocessing area
2.2 Prepare instruments for cleaning
2.3 Select and safely use appropriate cleaning agents
2.4 Use cleaning methods that avoid the generation of aerosols
2.5 Dry and inspect instruments for damage and remaining debris
2.6 Monitor the cleaning process

3.1 Open and unlock instruments with hinges or ratchets
3.2 Prepare instrument trays in accordance with workplace protocols
3.3 Package or wrap critical site instruments in a manner that prevents damage to delicate items
3.4 Place the appropriate chemical indicator into packages as required in accordance with current Australian/New Zealand Standards and workplace protocols
3.5 Label packs with the contents of the pack and batch control data as required in accordance with current Australian/New Zealand Standards and workplace protocols
3.6 Seal wrapped trays with steriliser indicator tape as required in accordance with current Australian/New Zealand Standards and workplace protocols

4.1 Operate the steriliser safely and in accordance with manufacturer instructions, legislative guidelines and workplace protocols
4.2 Monitor each sterilising cycle and record the details as specified in current Australian/New Zealand Standards
4.3 Maintain records for each sterilising cycle as required in accordance with current Australian/New Zealand Standards and workplace protocols
4.4 Unload the steriliser on the completion of the drying cycle to ensure sterility of items
4.5 Follow criteria for release of processed items as specified in current Australian/New Zealand Standards
4.6 Store sterile packs to maintain sterility in accordance with workplace protocols

5.1 Clean and check sterilisers routinely as required in accordance with current Australian/New Zealand Standards and workplace protocols
5.2 Follow the preventive maintenance program as established by the workplace in conjunction with manufacturer or maintenance contractor
5.3 Monitor the sterilising cycles at the intervals specified in current Australian/New Zealand Standards


Details of Learning Activities

  • Facilitator led class room discussion and demonstration
  • Study Guide
  • Written assessment
  • Workplace assessment
  • On the job workbased training


Teaching Schedule

Mapping of teaching as follows;

  • 4 hours - day 4, block 2 - Facilitator led power point lecture and demonstration including WHS when reprocessing instruments, the difference between sterilization & disinfection, the steps of successful reprocessing of instruments, operation & management of an ultrasonic cleaning unit, types and cycles of steam sterilizers, wet load management. Activity (small group) designing an efficient reprocessing area in dental practice.
  • 3 hours - day 5, block 2 - Facilitator led demonstration in simulation sterilizing room including performance testing of class B steam sterilizer cycles, chemical indicators use and types, load release, tracking of instruments, steam sterilizer maintenance & record keeping, biological testing (simulated demonstration) Scenario based small group revision activity on various aspects of instrument reprocessing.
  • 5 hours - Self managed research/learning using Study Guide
  • 1.5 hours day 4, block 3 - Written assessment
  • 1.5 hours - Post Block 4 but prior to student’s end RMIT enrolment date - workplace assessment in this unit of competence - observation of the student in the workplace
  • 15 hours on the jonb workbased training
  • Total Nominal Hours = 30 hours


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

Bird. D. & Robinson D (2011) Torres & Ehrlich Modern Dental Assisting, 10th Ed. W.B.
ADA Guidelines for Infection Control second edition, 2012


References


Other Resources

Other Resources
RMIT Blackboard www.rmit.edu.au via MY RMIT Progran C3299

References
RMIT online learning Hub www.rmit.edu.au/online
Library www.rmit.edu.au/library
Australian Standards AS/NZS 4815 (2006), Document available at http://www.standards.com.au

Australian Dental Association Vic Branch (2005) Systematic Operating Procedures A manual for infection control and operational safety for the dental practice. http://www.adavb.com.au/
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for all chemicals, medicaments and materials used at your dental practice
Journals, Brochures, Pamphlets, Periodicals, Newspapers
 


Overview of Assessment

Assessment will include demonstration of underpinning skills and knowledge, assessment activities may include quizzes, project work, demonstration of skills through practical observation (simulated/workplace environment) and written work.


Assessment Tasks

 

ASSESSMENT TASKS AS FOLLOWS:

  • Written Assessment - 50% weight
  • Workplace Assessment - on the job observation - 50% weight 
  • Total weight of assessment = 100%

 

 Plagiarism
 

RMIT University requires that you present only YOUR work for assessment. Plagiarism is a form of cheating. It is the presentation of the work or idea of another person without appropriate referencing, as though it is your own.
Plagiarism is NOT acceptable. Penalties can include charges of academic misconduct, cancellation of results and exclusion from your course.

Please note: It is also a disciplinary offence to allow your work to be plagiarised by another student. When signing the coversheet to submit your learning guide, you are declaring that the work is not plagiarised.


Assessment Matrix

 Please Note; Students may apply for Special Consideration as (per the information via the RMIT Hub @ http:/www.rmit.edu.au/students/special consideration if they believe their ability to complete Assessment for this Unit by the submission date has been affected by factors beyond their control. Special Consideration must be lodged prior to or within 48 hours of the scheduled assessment time or assessment submission date.

The application for Special Consideration is NOT granted automatically on application.

A student may want to seek further clinical experience outside their place of employment in order to achieve the required Learning Outcomes for Unit HLTIN302C ie. if the facility in which the student is employed does not provide access to a sterilization unit or bench top sterilizers the student may want to seek external experience to gain the required skills and knowledge in this learning outcome as per the Performance Criteria.

 

Assessment Matrix as follows;

  • Day 4, Block 3 - written assessment
  • Post Block 4 but prior to student’s RMIT end enrolment date workplace assessment

CA Competency Achieved for unit HLTIN302C as follows;

PX pass with a result of 70% or above for the written assessment
Post Block 4 but prior to student’s RMIT end enrolment date workplace assessment - achieveing a PX pass result

IMPORTANT INFORMATION -

Please note: The assessment result is final and a second opportunity for re-assessment will be NOT be provided unless the student has applied for and been granted Special Consideration as per RMIT Assessment Policy see www.rmit.assessmentpolicy.edu.au

Failure to complete this unit of competence will result in non-completion of the Certificate III Dental Assisting Program
 

Other Information

This unit of competency is delivered against current industry standards.

Students are required to support the learning outcomes for Unit HLTIN302C with work based experience and further self managed research to support positive outcomes in this Unit.

It is incumbent upon all students to be familiar with the current ADA Infection Control Guidelines Document 2012 or the most current version of this document.

The application of the industry standards expected in the reprocessing of instruments in dental practice by the student must be routine and consistent to support evidence of meeting the 5 Elements/Learning Outcomes for Unit HLTIN302C.

A student may feel it necessary to seek further clinical experience outside their place of employment in order to achieve the required Learning Outcomes for Unit HLTIN302C.

To undertake practical clinical evaluation and or assessment including workplace assessment students MUST present for the assessment process as follows:

Please note these are also WH&S requirements for clinical safety.

  • In appropriate clinical attire(no jeans or tracksuit pants, no bare midriff, no singlet tops)
  • Fully covered in leather(not suede) clinical footwear Hair to be contained by tying back or in appropriate hair cover.
  • No artificial fingernails to be worn
  • No nail varnish to be worn. The wearing of henna is acceptable.
  • Short, clean fingernails
  • No jewellery to be worn on the hands or wrists. Wedding rings or jewellery that cannot be removed for cultural reasons must be taped with an appropriate waterproof tape
  • All cuts/ skin abrasions on the hands or wrists must be covered with a waterproof dressing

A student that is non-compliant with any of the above requirements will not be permitted to undertake clinical evaluation or assessment at the scheduled time.

A Study Guide is available to all students enrolled in this unit of competency for access via RMIT Blackboard. Students are strongly encouraged to complete the study guide as it will support the development of skills and knowledge in this unit and will assist the student with the associated written and workplace practical assessment. The Study Guide is aligned directly with the desired learning outcomes of this unit of competency and as such will provide students with study direction.

Plagiarism

RMIT University requires that you present only YOUR work for assessment. Plagiarism is a form of cheating. It is the presentation of the work or idea of another person without appropriate referencing, as though it is your own.
Plagiarism is NOT acceptable. Penalties can include charges of academic misconduct, cancellation of results and exclusion from your course.

Please note: It is also a disciplinary offence to allow your work to be plagiarised by another student. When signing the coversheet to submit your learning guide, you are declaring that the work is not plagiarised.

 

Course Overview: Access Course Overview