NZQA Expiring unit standard
24860 version 2
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Title
Demonstrate knowledge of the management of traumatic head and
spinal injury patients in an ambulance context
Level
5
Purpose
Credits
4
This unit standard is intended for people who are working in an
ambulance context, and who are responsible for developing
management plans for patients, making appropriate decisions
and who need to be able to do this independently.
People credited with this unit standard are able to:
˗ demonstrate knowledge of the gross structures and
functions of the head and spine, for an ambulance context;
˗ demonstrate knowledge of traumatic head injury and spinal
injury, and their signs and symptoms, for an ambulance
context; and
˗ develop a management plan for a patient with a traumatic
head injury and a patient with a spinal injury in an
ambulance.
Classification
Emergency Services > Ambulance
Available grade
Achieved
Entry information
Critical health and
safety prerequisites
Prerequisite: Unit 24849, Conduct a patient assessment in an
ambulance context, or demonstrate equivalent knowledge and
skills.
Explanatory notes
1
Definitions
Ambulance context – situations where emergency care is delivered in a variety of
pre-hospital environments. Pre-hospital environments refer to any situation in which
people require medical assistance outside of a controlled medical environment, such
as a medical centre. These pre-hospital environments include situations both in and
away from an ambulance vehicle.
Best practice – for the purposes of this standard is a clinical technique or
methodology that has proven to be most effective at delivering a desired outcome
and is actively promoted across the ambulance and/or emergency care sector.
Clinical procedures – the written procedures particular to each ambulance service
and endorsed by Ambulance New Zealand.
The Skills Organisation
SSB Code 100401
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA Expiring unit standard
24860 version 2
Page 2 of 4
Standing orders – written instructions issued by a medical practitioner that authorise
individuals engaged in the delivery of health services to supply and administer certain
medicines without a prescription in circumstances specified in the instruction.
2
References
Health and Disability Commissioner (Code of Health and Disability Services
Consumers’ Rights) Regulations 1996;
and all subsequent amendments and replacements.
3
Range
Performance in relation to the elements in this unit standard is to comply with current
clinical procedures and/or standing orders and/or current best practice
and be appropriate to the patient’s condition.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Demonstrate knowledge of the gross structures and the functions of the head and spine,
for an ambulance context.
Evidence requirements
1.1
The gross structures of the head and brain are located and described according
to their functions.
1.2
The gross structures of the spine are located and described according to their
functions.
Outcome 2
Demonstrate knowledge of traumatic head injury and spinal injury, and their signs and
symptoms, for an ambulance context.
Evidence requirements
2.1
Traumatic brain injury is described according to the pathophysiology.
Range
includes but is not limited to – open, closed, compression,
concussion.
2.2
Spinal injury is described according to the pathophysiology.
2.3
Traumatic maxillofacial injury is described according to the pathophysiology.
2.4
Signs and symptoms of traumatic brain injury are described.
2.5
Signs and symptoms of spinal injury are described.
2.6
Signs and symptoms of maxillofacial injury are described.
The Skills Organisation
SSB Code 100401
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA Expiring unit standard
24860 version 2
Page 3 of 4
Outcome 3
Develop a management plan for a patient with a traumatic head injury and a patient with a
spinal injury in an ambulance context.
Evidence requirements
3.1
The general management steps for a patient with traumatic head injury are
described.
3.2
The general management steps for a patient with spinal injury are described.
3.3
Specific therapies used in the management of a patient with traumatic head
injury are described.
Range
3.4
oxygen, pain relief.
Specific therapies used in the management of a patient with spinal injury are
described.
Range
oxygen, spinal immobilisation, pain relief.
3.5
A management plan for a patient with traumatic head injury is developed,
explained, and justified.
3.6
A management plan for a patient with spinal injury is developed, explained, and
justified.
Replacement information
Unit standards 24859 and 24860 have been replaced by
unit standard 29416.
This unit standard is expiring. Assessment against the standard must take place by
the last date for assessment set out below.
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process
Version Date
Last Date for Assessment
Registration
1
22 August 2008
31 December 2019
Review
2
21 April 2016
31 December 2019
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference
0003
This CMR can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA,
before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses
of study leading to that assessment.
The Skills Organisation
SSB Code 100401
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA Expiring unit standard
24860 version 2
Page 4 of 4
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by
NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and
which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that
applies to those standards.
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies
to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR). The
CMR also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing
to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors
and assessors, and special resource requirements.
The Skills Organisation
SSB Code 100401
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016