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, instruments and materials and assist with medical procedures

prepare and restrain patients for procedures

prepare and calibrate equipment for specific clinic routines

assist veterinarian with procedure outcomes, including fluid therapy and catheterisation

care for patients during special procedures

communicate effectively with the veterinarian and clients

clean and store equipment and maintain accurate records.

The skills and knowledge required to carry out medical nursing routines 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 for this Unit is to be practical in nature and will be most appropriately assessed in a veterinary nursing workplace with access to the appropriate equipment and/or resources to enable one 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).

Required skills

Ability to:

apply safe work procedures in the use of equipment for medical procedures

assist the veterinarian safely, effectively and as directed

clean, sterilise and store appropriate equipment as required

ensure that equipment is regularly maintained and that the recommended handling procedures for endoscopic and laparoscopic probes, ultrasound transducers and electrocardiograms (ECGs) are carried out

employ keen observation skills

ensure fluid therapy requirements are undertaken and monitored

prepare animals correctly for medical procedures

recognise, respond to and assist with emergencies

use literacy skills to read, select and implement policies and procedures, including workplace health and safety, infection control and other clinic policies and procedures; coordinate patient admission and discharge; implement sequenced written instructions; and record patient details accurately and legibly

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

use numeracy skills required to calibrate and operate equipment

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

use problem-solving skills to use available resources, prioritise tasks and select, prepare and clean or sterilise instruments and equipment as directed

work closely with the supervising veterinarian and as part of a team.

Required knowledge

Knowledge of:

animal anatomy and physiology related to medical nursing routines

aseptic technique

legislative requirements and health regulations for the storage, use and disposal of chemicals and biological debris from veterinary procedures

relevant state or territory legislative requirements for animal welfare

safe work procedures

use, value and rationale of procedures, including endoscopic, electrocardiographic, laparoscopic and ultrasound procedures

use and value of fluid therapy

various medical procedures and the appropriate equipment

Veterinary Practitioner Acts and Regulations.

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.

Medical procedures may include:

small animal procedures:

cleaning ear pinna and ear canals

enemas

nail, beak or feather trimming

setting up, regulating and maintaining an intravenous drip for fluid therapy or blood transfusions

setting up and maintaining oxygen therapy

urinary catheterisation

large animal procedures:

administering general anaesthesia to horses

oral administration of electrolytes, pastes and drenches

providing hoof and leg care to horses

subcutaneous, intravenous or intramuscular injection

setting up, regulating and maintaining an intravenous drip for fluid therapy.

Patient preparation may include:

restraint

shaving and cleaning of target areas

application of an electro-conductive medium.

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.

Specific clinic routines may include:

aural lavage

catheterisation

ECG trace procedures

endoscopic and laparoscopic procedures

ultrasound and other common procedures.

Types of equipment requiring preparation may include:

ECG

endoscope

laparoscope

ultrasound

videoscope.

Medical procedure outcomes may include:

biopsies may be collected and labelled

details from endoscopic and laparoscopic procedures may be recorded

images may be reproduced in:

ECG trace

photographic form

printed paper format

video or digital format.

Outcomes of medical procedures may be recorded and stored:

electronically or as hard copy.