Decontamination of Reusable

Instruments and Equipment

Competency Tool
The Victorian Department of Health is making this document freely available on the internet for health
services to use and adapt to meet the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards of the
Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. Each health service is responsible for all
decisions on how to use this document at its health service and for any changes to the document. Health
services need to review this document with respect to the local regulatory framework, processes and
training requirements.

Decontamination of Reusable Equipment Competency Tool 1

The author disclaims any warranties, whether expressed or implied, including any warranty as to the
quality, accuracy, or suitability of this information for any particular purpose. The author and reviewers
cannot be held responsible for the continued currency of the information, for any errors or omissions, and
for any consequences arising there from.
Published by Sector Performance, Quality and Rural Health, Victorian Government, Department of Health

February 2014

Decontamination of Reusable Equipment Competency Tool 2

 Key: I – Independent S – Supervised A – Assisted M – Marginal D – Dependent (Refer ‘Bondy’ Rating Scale p.4)
Note: Shaded area indicates minimum criteria to meet clinical competency
ASSESSMENT ELEMENTS Participant Performance Standard
CRITERIA
Dirty  Obtain necessary equipment in preparation for I S A M D
instrument collection round
and
equipment  Uses PPE appropriately during collection round I S A M D
collection  Conducts hand hygiene in line with hospital policy I S A M D
round
 Documents pick up correctly I S A M D
 Assesses risks appropriately according to I S A M D
contamination and personal safety
Manual  Wears PPE appropriately I S A M D
washing
 Cleans work area as per schedule I S A M D
 Identifies instruments that require manual I S A M D
AS4187
washing
ACORN S16,
 Correctly prepares detergent solution as per I S A M D S22
requirements of the specific equipment
 Washes equipment thoroughly with consideration I S A M D
for risks that may cause damage e.g. power, fibre,
bending, etc
 Thoroughly rinses equipment with consideration I S A M D
for risks that may cause damage
 Performs Protein Residue check and explains the I S A M D
results
Washer  Check chemistry levels I S A M D
Disinfector
 Cleans exterior surfaces of washer disinfector I S A M D

 Remove filter plates and clean and replace I S A M D AS4187,

AS2945.
 Remove spray arms wash, check and replace I S A M D AS3836
 Performs pH test (ensure PPE is correct) I S A M D ACORN S16

 Demonstrates process for manual loading of I S A M D

washers
 Demonstrates process for loading of “Airglide I S A M D
system”
 Demonstrates process for isolating washers on I S A M D
“Airglide system”
 Demonstrates an understanding of the cycles I S A M D
available on this washer disinfector and their use

Decontamination of Reusable Equipment Competency Tool 3

ASSESSMENT ELEMENTS Participant Performance Standard
CRITERIA
 Loads the instrument trolley to minimise I S A M D
shadowing

 Loads the bowl set trolley to minimise shadowing

I S A M D

ASSESSMENT ELEMENTS Participant Performance Standard

CRITERIA Standard
Washer  Loads the anaesthetic trolley to minimise
I S A M D
Disinfector shadowing and ensure flushing of all lumens
(cont)
 Performs load check and reports results
I S A M D
 Performs soil residue check and reports results
I S A M D
Ultrasonics  Wears PPE appropriately
I S A M D

 Check chemistry levels AS4187,

I S A M D
AS2773
 Clean outside and chamber ACORN S16
I S A M D

 Castle and Elma: fills, adds detergent, degases and

I S A M D
conducts ceramic disk test
 Medisafe: alcohol wipes the sensor, conducts filter
I S A M D
maintenance and performs Lum check and
sonicheck as per schedule
 Demonstrates correctly loading all four ultrasonic
I S A M D
machines to maximise cleaning efficacy
 Demonstrates loading cannulated connections
I S A M D

 Specific EYE instruments: ensures sterile water is

I S A M D
used for final rinse as per instructions
Drying  Clean inside and outside
I S A M D
cabinets
 Demonstrate operating drying cabinets including AS4187,
I S A M D
checking temperature

Decontamination of Reusable Equipment Competency Tool 4

ASSESSMENT ELEMENTS Participant Performance Standard
CRITERIA Standard
 Demonstrates loading drying cabinets correctly for AS2773
I S A M D
effective drying ACORN S16

Staff member being assessed: _____________________________________________________________

Assessor: ____________________________ Signed (Assessor): ____________________________

(Please print name)

Date of Assessment: _______________________________

Standard Achieved: (please circle one) Competent (C) Not Yet Competent (NYC)

Comments (if required):

Decontamination of Reusable Equipment Competency Tool 5

Action Plan
Please document the agreed education plan and completion timelines for staff assessed as not yet competent:

Staff Member Name _______________________________________

Staff Member Signature _______________________________________

Decontamination of Reusable Equipment Competency Tool 6

Staff Member Ward _______________________________________

Educator Name _______________________________________

Educator Signature _______________________________________

Proposed Completion Date _______________________________________

Decontamination of Reusable Equipment Competency Tool 7

‘Bondy’ Rating Scale

Scale label Score Standard of procedure Quality of Level of

performance assistance
required

Independent 5 Safe Proficient No supporting

Accurate Confident cues required

Achieved intended Expedient

outcome
Behaviour is appropriate to
context

Supervised 4 Safe Proficient Requires

Accurate Confident occasional
supportive cues
Achieved intended Reasonably expedient
outcome
Behaviour is appropriate to
context

Assisted 3 Safe Proficient throughout Requires

most of performance frequent verbal
Accurate
when assisted and occasional
Achieved most objectives physical
for intended outcome directives in
Behaviour generally addition to
appropriate to context supportive cues

Marginal 2 Safe only with guidance Unskilled Requires

Not completely accurate Inefficient continuous
verbal and
Incomplete achievement of frequent physical
intended outcome directive cues

Dependent 1 Unsafe Unskilled Requires

Unable to demonstrate Unable to continuous
behaviour demonstrate verbal and
behaviour/procedure continuous
Lack of insight into physical directive
behaviour appropriate to cues
context

Decontamination of Reusable Equipment Competency Tool 8

References

Bondy, 1983

ACORN. (2012-2013). Standards for perioperative nursing including nursing roles, guidelines and position
statements. Adelaide: ACORN.

Bondy, K.N. (1983) Criterion-Referenced Definitions for Rating Scales in Clinical Evaluation. Journal of
Nursing Education, 22(9), 376-382

Bondy, K.N. (1984) Clinical Evaluation of student performance: the effects of criteria on accuracy and
reliability. Research in Nursing and Health, 7(1), 25-33.

AS 2773.1:1998, Australian Standard: Ultrasonic cleaners for health care facilities – non portable. Sydney:
Standards Australia.

AS 2773.2:1999, Australian Standard: Ultrasonic cleaners for health care facilities – benchtop. Sydney:
Standards Australia.

AS 2774:1985, Australian Standard: Drying cabinets for respiratory apparatus. Sydney: Standards Australia.

AS 2945 (Int):2002, Australian Standard: Batch type washers/disinfectors for health care facilities. Sydney:
Standards Australia.

AS/NZ 4187:2003, Australian/New Zealand Standard: Cleaning, disinfecting & sterilising reusable medical &
surgical instruments & equipment, & maintenance of associated environments in health care facilities.
Sydney: Standards Australia.

Decontamination of Reusable Equipment Competency Tool 9