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. |
Surgical procedures may include: | procedures for both small and large animals, including orthopaedic, ophthalmic and soft tissue defined surgical procedures, including diathermy and cryosurgery. |
Pre-operative care advice may include: | fasting and limited fluid intake. |
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. |
Sourcing surgical packs may include: | identifying which packs are required for which procedures grouping packs for each patient and adding extra requirements, such as: bandaging equipment scalpel blades suture materials. |
Pre-operative processes may include but are not limited to: | weighing patients noting patient's previous experience with general anaesthetic accessing blankets, protective gloves and anaesthetic boxes aseptic preparation of operating areas and injection sites selecting appropriate endotracheal tubes preparing correct quantities of anaesthetic agents under veterinary supervision administering necessary premedication, medication and analgesia under veterinary supervision. |
Animal preparation may include: | applying restraining devices: muzzles, rearing bits, head collars, halters or hobbles clipping, shaving and pre-surgical skin preparation routines further preparation under veterinary supervision may extend to: administration of necessary premedication, intubation and the insertion of intravenous or urinary catheters preparation of equipment and materials for intravenous infusions. |
Use and types of analgesics may include: | administration of analgesics may be used for the provision of: pre-emptive analgesia inter-operative analgesia post-operative analgesia analgesia types administered by the veterinarian or under veterinary supervision: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory narcotic and other analgesics. |
Sterile assistance may include: | nurse may be required to scrub-up, glove, cap and gown in order to provide sterile equipment in a sterile field. |
Routines may include: | adjustment of lights, equipment and the patient as directed by the surgeon presentation, alignment and exposure of the surgical site as directed by the surgeon presentation of sterile packs, individual instruments, equipment and suturing materials receiving, preparation and dispatch of pathological samples under veterinary supervision. |
Types of anaesthesia may include: | gaseous and injectable preparations intermittent positive pressure ventilations. |
Pain and vital signs monitoring and recording may include: | audible, visual or measured signs of pain: arching back behavioural changes biting and kicking displacement of bones elevated temperature increased respiration increased vocalisation withdrawal of affected limbs straining trembling and changes in normal physiology vital signs and reflexes monitored under anaesthesia: blood pressure pulse rate and quality respiratory rate and effort rectal temperature pulse oximetry and blood gases anaesthesia depth capillary refill time palpebral reflex heart rate mucous membrane colour pedal withdrawal reflex. |
Emergency procedures related to anaesthesia may be required for: | anaesthetic emergencies haemorrhage hypothermia or hyperthermia respiratory distress shock. |
Post-operative anaesthesia procedures may include: | continued monitoring of vital signs extubation monitoring wounds, bandages and surgical sites for any abnormalities positioning of patient recumbency in consideration of recovery phase and surgical site and adjustment of intravenous fluid therapy rates as directed by the surgeon. |
Abnormalities may include: | post-operative abnormalities in wounds and surgical sites: haemorrhage or other exudation swelling and self-trauma other abnormalities: cold extremities delayed recovery increased heart rate increased respiratory rate or abdominal distension low body temperature pale mucous membranes. |
Post-operative patient management procedures may include: | care and continued monitoring of vital signs and observation of abnormalities prior to an animal's release advice to the owner, in line with veterinarian's instructions, regarding administering medicine, general care and follow-up treatment and/or follow-up visits. |