The PTS training and assessment system for shock (2: Matching the NZQA level)

Unit standard 6402 is a level 2 unit standard. NZQA levels describe the knowledge and skills learners must show to achieve a certification. They also set an upper limit of knowledge and skills to ensure we don’t pitch our training and assessment at a level that is higher than the unit standard is designed for.

The applicable descriptors of knowledge, skills, and application of knowledge and skills are as follows:

Knowledge

• Basic factual or operational knowledge of a field of work or study

Skills

• Apply known solutions to familiar problems
• Apply standard processes relevant to the field of work or study

Application

• General supervision
• Requiring some responsibility for own learning and performance
• Collaborating with others

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The PTS training and assessment system is designed to ensure we are training and assessing at the right NZQA level. Here is a brief summary of how we achieve that:

The knowledge we deliver in the pre-course learning (self-directed learning and online learning), our Quick Reference Guide and by the trainer in the classroom is basic factual or operational knowledge. For knowledge on shock this means that we keep it simple and focus on identifying that the person is seriously ill or at risk of deterioration, rather than diagnosing shock. We give learners enough knowledge so that they understand the reasons behind the first aid response but don’t give them any more knowledge than they need to have.

The skills we teach our learners are simple steps they can apply again and again. By framing shock integrated with deterioration and the seriously ill person, learners learn that the same simple steps apply to many problems. Throughout the practical session (supported by their pre-course learning), these problems become familiar and so do the solutions they apply. We emphasise that context is key but give our learners the confidence to recognise the relevant patterns of signs that call for the known first aid response to shock.

Learners’ application of knowledge and skills in a classroom happens under general supervision by you. While they are expected to demonstrate their knowledge and skills, they do so within a supportive environment in which you and their peers guide, correct and encourage them until they can confidently achieve the set tasks. They get time to practice placing a person into the stable side position and to go through the steps of providing first aid for a person in shock. If a learner does not successfully complete an assessment on the first go, we don’t tell them they failed. We tell them that they have not yet completed the task, provide them with feedback and give them another opportunity to be successful. Throughout the practical session learners collaborate and learn that this is what happens in real life emergency situations. Especially for the treatment of shock there are lots of tasks that can be shared and performed as a team, so the reality of first aid emergency perfectly matches the unit standard level.

In conclusion, the PTS training and assessment system is designed to provide the resources and learning environments that meet the unit standard levels and reflect real life first aid emergencies. At times achieving both is a careful balance.

We don’t expect you to understand this in all detail; however, we do expect you to understand and reflect in your practical session delivery that:

“If you train and assess as designed, you are developing confident first aiders”

Training and assessing as designed also ensures that you are compliant with the wide range of compliance standards we are held to; however, we understand and encourage that the best motivation for you is your learners.

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