Manage clinical environments and resources for use during healthcare activities
Overview
This standard is about the management of clinical environments for healthcare activities. This includes preparing for an individual's healthcare intervention, treatment or therapy and ensuring that the clinical environment is appropriately cleaned, cleared and ready for its next intended use.
This standard is applicable to a wide range of health contexts and roles in emergency, primary and secondary care.
Users of this standard will need to communicate effectively to meet individuals' needs and wishes and work in line with health and safety legislation, policy and practices.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
P1. identify and agree the roles and responsibilities of yourself and others in managing environments and resources for use during healthcare activities
P2. ensure infection prevention methods and personal protective equipment are used at all times
P3. ensure all essential resources are available in advance of planned healthcare activities and report any shortfalls
P4. check and confirm that all resources are in a suitable, safe condition for the activity to be carried out
P5. check that relevant equipment and medical devices are functioning within required parameters prior to use
P6. handle resources safely in accordance with organisational procedures
P7. prepare resources in the appropriate manner and time for the activity to be carried out in accordance with any organisational requirements
P8. make sure that environmental conditions within the immediate environment are set to appropriate levels to maintain individual comfort throughout the activity
P9. clean re-useable items after use and make them safe prior to storage in accordance with organisational procedures
P10. return unused and surplus resources to the correct location for storage
P11. monitor available levels of consumable materials used in clinical activities and replenish and replace in accordance with protocols
P12. dispose of waste in accordance with organisational procedures
P13. complete all relevant documentation required for environment and resource management during healthcare activities.
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
K1. how to access and interpret all relevant work instructions, legislation, guidelines, policies, procedures and protocols needed to manage environments and resources for use during healthcare activities.
K2. the scope and limitations of your own competence, responsibilities and accountability as it applies to your job role
K3. specific procedures for reporting issues which are beyond your competence, responsibilities and accountability
K4. the hazards and risks which may arise during the execution of your work role and how you can minimise these
K5. the importance of applying standard infection control precautions to the preparing of environments and the potential consequences of poor practice
K6. what is and is not a sterile field and how the correct level of cleanliness may be achieved for the healthcare activity, the individual and the setting
K7. the purpose and use of relevant associated medical equipment, devices and resources
K8. how to check if medical equipment, devices and resources are fit for purpose
K9. the importance of selecting, preparing and setting out essential resources safely, efficiently and in accordance organisational procedures
K10. the types of essential resources which are sensitive to environmental changes and how this affects their storage and use
K11. the environmental conditions appropriate for the type of healthcare activity to be undertaken and how to make appropriate adjustments to meet requirements
K12. the procedures and techniques associated with the preparation, maintenance and cleaning of the environment and resources used for specified healthcare activity
K13. the importance of ensuring that clinical environments are appropriately cleaned and ready for the next use
K14. key factors that influence the readiness of clinical environments for use in healthcare activities
K15. how to dispose of waste in accordance with organisational procedures
K16. how to complete and safely store all relevant documentation in accordance with organisational requirements