Assessor Resource

ACMVET403A
Perform clinic pathology procedures

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: April 2024


This Unit applies to a veterinary nurse working under supervision of a veterinarian in a veterinary clinic or similar practice. In addition to legal and ethical responsibilities, all Units of Competency in the ACM10 Animal Care and Management Training Package have the requirement for animals to be handled gently and calmly. The individual is required to exhibit appropriate care for animals so that stress and discomfort is minimised.

This Unit of Competency covers the process of collecting biological samples and performing pathology procedures. The integrity of the sample must be maintained in accordance with veterinarian instructions when conducting clinic examinations and in preparing consignments to diagnostic laboratories.

You may want to include more information here about the target group and the purpose of the assessments (eg formative, summative, recognition)

Prerequisites

Nil.

Employability Skills

This Unit contains employability skills.



Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this Unit

The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this Unit must be relevant to workplace operations and satisfy all of the requirements of the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge and the range statement of this Unit. Assessors should ensure that candidates can:

prepare equipment, slides and patients for examination

take a range of samples for testing

perform basic laboratory tests and record results

provide support for post-mortem examinations

communicate effectively with the veterinarian

maintain accurate records.

The skills and knowledge required to perform clinic pathology procedures must be transferable to a range of work environments and contexts and include the ability to deal with unplanned events.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment of this Unit is to be largely practical in nature and will be most appropriately assessed in a veterinary practice or in a situation that reproduces normal work conditions.

There must be access in either situation to the appropriate equipment and/or resources to enable the candidate to demonstrate competence.

Method of assessment

To ensure consistency of performance, competency should be demonstrated, to industry defined standards, on more than two occasions over a period of time in order to cover a variety of circumstances, patients, cases and responsibilities and over a number of assessment activities.

The assessment strategy must include practical skills assessment. Suggested strategies for this Unit are:

written and/or oral assessment of candidate's required knowledge

observed, documented and first-hand testimonial evidence of candidate's application of practical tasks

simulation exercises that reproduce normal work conditions

third-party evidence

workplace documentation

portfolio.

This Unit may be assessed in a holistic way with other Units of Competency relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role.

Guidance information for assessment

Assessment methods should reflect workplace demands (e.g. literacy and numeracy demands) and the needs of particular target groups (e.g. people with disabilities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women, people with a language background other than English, youth and people from low socioeconomic backgrounds).

Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assingnment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)

Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

Required skills

Ability to:

apply veterinary terminology pertaining to cases

dispose of clinical and other waste correctly and safely

handle cleaning agents safely and apply appropriate cleaning techniques

label, identify, transport and store specimens correctly

provide effective support to the veterinarian during procedures

recognise, respond to and assist with emergencies

use personal protective clothing correctly

use literacy skills to read, select and implement policies and procedures, including workplace health and safety, infection control and other clinic policies and procedures; implement sequenced written instructions; and record samples for testing accurately and legibly

use oral communication skills/language required to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation, including negotiating and questioning techniques, active listening, acknowledging and responding to a range of views and asking for clarification from the veterinarian

use numeracy skills required to prepare samples correctly

use problem-solving skills to use available resources efficiently

use interpersonal skills to work with others and relate to people from a range of cultural, social and religious backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities

work as part of a team and in close working arrangements with the supervising veterinarian.

Required knowledge

Knowledge of:

animal anatomy and physiology related to clinic pathology procedures

biological sample collection methods and procedures, appropriate biological sampling sites and relevant industry laboratory techniques and procedures

clinic policies and procedures, including workplace health and safety requirements

normal ranges for a range of pathology procedures

pathological procedures and equipment in line with job responsibility level

range of pathology procedures and the requirements each procedure has for sample preparation, handling and transport

quality assurance pathology procedures.

The range statement relates to the Unit of Competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Pathology equipment may include:

biopsy punch

in-house diagnostic equipment

microscopes

needles

refractometer

slides

syringe

tissue forceps, scalpels, knives and scales.

Workplace health and safety risks when working with animals may include:

animal bites, kicks, scratches and crush injuries

biological hazardous waste and sharps disposal

handling of chemicals and medicines

gas leakage

inhalation of aerosol particles

intraocular contamination

manual handling, including carrying, lifting and shifting

needle pricks and cuts from other sharps

release of infective agents (animal and human)

slippery or uneven work surfaces

zoonoses.

Samples taken may include:

blood

faeces

gram stain smear

hair samples

milk

saliva

semen

skin scrapings

tissue (skin and scale)

urine

vomitus

wound material.

Laboratory tests may include:

blood tests:

activated clotting time

biochemistry

blood gases

cross-match

differential cell count

haematocrit

haematology

pH

platelet numbers

serum electrolytes and chemistries

total serum protein

urea nitrogen

white cell count

microscopic examination of samples

parasite counts

urinalysis and cytological evaluation of urine and body cavity fluids.

Pathology tests may include:

tests for antigens and antibodies, and internal or external parasites.

Equipment used during a post-mortem may include:

cleaning equipment trolleys

knives and needles

necropsy saw

scales

specimen containers

surgical instruments.

Samples may include:

blood or faecal samples

stained or unstained slides for microscopic examination

tissue stored in formaldehyde.

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Pathology equipment is cleaned, maintained and prepared for use in accordance with manufacturers' instructions. 
Patient is prepared for sampling procedure as instructed and in accordance with workplace health and safety requirements. 
Samples are taken as directed and placed in correctly labelled containers. 
Slides are prepared for microscopic examination. 
Patient and sample details are recorded. 
Sample transfer to laboratory is facilitated as instructed. 
Laboratory test results are received, recorded and reported to the veterinarian. 
Haematological and blood chemistry tests are performed using specific laboratory equipment. 
Clinic pathology tests are performed as directed by the veterinarian. 
Test results are recorded in clinic patient record and communicated to the attending veterinarian. 
Supervising veterinarian is notified of death and details are recorded. 
Equipment and animal are prepared for post-mortem as instructed. 
Samples for pathological examination are stored and labelled. 
Post-mortem debris and biological wastes are disposed of in accordance with legislative requirements. 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

ACMVET403A - Perform clinic pathology procedures
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

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Assessor name:

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Assessment Record Sheet

ACMVET403A - Perform clinic pathology procedures

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

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Student signature:

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