About this course

Gain knowledge about food allergy and how to manage patients with food allergy on the ward.

Who this course is for

• Assistants in nursing
• Non-clinical support staff (personal service assistants/patient care assistants or otherwise named)
• Clinical assistants
• Administrative staff such as ward clerks, admission clerks and receptionists
• Lifestyle and activity staff
• Volunteers

Course modules and learning outcomes

There are four units in this All about Allergens course. Learning outcomes are assessed with short end of unit quizzes and a longer final assessment.

Unit 1: Food allergy overview

• Understand food allergy and the consequences of serving the wrong food to a patient with food allergy.
• Be aware of the roles and responsibilities of the patient with food allergy (or their guardian), nursing and ward support staff, dietetics and the food service department.
• Know the difference between a food allergy, a food intolerance and coeliac disease.
• Be able to list the common food allergens in Australia.
• Know what an allergic reaction might look like.

Unit 2: Hospital duty of care

• Understand what the law states about providing food to patients with food allergy and providing the right information about those foods.
• Understand food labelling laws in Australia for packaged and unpackaged foods.
• Demonstrate knowledge of reading food labels and identifying food allergens on a label.
• Understand Precautionary Allergen Labelling statements and what these mean for patients with food allergy.

Unit 3: Practical management of food allergy on the ward (Part 1)

• Understand how to document a patient’s allergies on admission and follow hospital processes.
• Be aware of allergy medications that patients might bring into the hospital with them.
• Be aware of a usual meal ordering processes for patients with food allergy.
• Apply risk management strategies to minimise the risk for patients with food allergy.

Unit 4: Practical management of food allergy on the ward (Part 2)

• Identify and implement strategies on the ward to ensure that the right meal or fluid is given to the right patient.
• Understand the importance of following hospital processes when preparing foods for patients on the ward or providing mid-meal and after-hours snacks.
• Understand how to report incidents related to food allergy.

Course length

This course takes approximately 40 minutes to 1 hour.

Your progress is saved along the way, so you can stop and come back to the course at any time. It is recommended you complete the course within 2 weeks.

How often to undertake this course 

You should undertake this training at least every 2 years.

Latest version

All about Allergens for Hospitals: Ward support staff (released 4 March 2023)

To start this course Register or enrol

Older versions

All about Allergens for Hospitals: Ward support staff (released 20 September 2020 | superseded 4 March 2023)