Assessor Resource

ACMVET408A
Coordinate and perform theatre routines

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: March 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 preparing, cleaning and maintaining theatre and equipment as well as preparing personnel for the performance of surgical procedures.

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 surgery and organise surgery schedules

prepare surgical packs and routine surgical sites

prepare and gown theatre personnel, including self

maintain equipment, instruments, materials and supplies

clean, maintain and store theatre instruments, equipment, materials and supplies

complete post-operative theatre routines

communicate effectively with the veterinarian and follow instructions.

The skills and knowledge required to coordinate and perform theatre 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).


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:

assist the veterinarian safely and effectively as directed and work as part of a team

clean and sterilise surgical equipment as required

complete post-operative theatre procedures

recognise, respond to and assist with emergencies

supervise the preparation of surgery schedules, including the preparation of the surgical environment and relevant staff

use, and record the use of, chemicals and medicines in accordance with relevant state or territory legislation

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 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 operate equipment

use problem-solving skills to prioritise tasks and coordinate theatre routines.

Required knowledge

Knowledge of:

animal anatomy and physiology related to medical and surgical nursing routines

aseptic technique

clinic policies and procedures, including workplace health and safety

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

possible requirements of the surgeon during operations

range of routine surgical instruments and equipment used in preparation and theatre areas

relevant state or territory legislative requirements for animal welfare

safe work practices

sterilisation techniques, including the operation of autoclaves and an awareness of alternative sterilisation techniques, including gamma irradiation, ethylene oxide and chemical sterilisation and their associated health hazards

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.

Surgery schedule considerations may include:

sterile and non-sterile

body cavity invasive or superficial

orthopaedic

orthodontic

soft tissue

presence of infection

parturition

species of animal and the arrival of emergencies.

Preparation of surgical packs may require:

procedures that may include:

elective surgery

trauma repair

orthopaedic surgery

reconstructive surgery

tumour removal

preparation may include:

identifying which packs are required for which procedures, grouping them for each patient and adding extra requirements, such as scalpel blades and suture materials.

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.

Staff preparation routines may include:

task allocations and timetabling

the exposure of junior staff to the range of surgical procedures carried out in the clinic.

Appropriate dressing may include:

surgical gowns, caps, masks, boots and gloves

optical aids

theatre clothing.

Instruments, equipment and supplies may include:

instruments:

air-powered and electrical powered equipment

bone chucks

bone plates and screws

clamps

forceps

needle holders

retractors

scalpels

scissors

suture materials

anaesthetic equipment and supplies:

anaesthetic machine

anaesthetic trolleys

filters

gas cylinders

incubators

masks

re-breathing bags

scavenging system

soda lime and canisters

tubes

vaporisers

equipment that may be required for:

anaesthetic monitoring

cryosurgery

diathermy

suction

supplies:

catheters

drains

laparotomy sponges

needles and sutures

prostheses

swabs

syringes.

Theatre debris and disposable equipment may include:

contaminated swabs

excised tissue

needles

sharps

syringes.

Theatre and preparation supplies may include:

anaesthetic supplies

bone pins and other orthopaedic equipment

consumables and disposables

emergency drugs

intravenous fluids

sterile scrubbing brushes

surgical cloves

suturing material

theatre caps.

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
Surgery schedules are prepared and prioritised in consultation with the veterinarian and theatre nurse. 
Accurate patient histories are collated and prepared in accordance with clinic policy. 
Surgery programs are facilitated in cooperation with the supervising veterinarian. 
Surgical packs are prepared for scheduled procedures as instructed. 
Routine surgical site preparation procedures are coordinated in accordance with the veterinarian's instructions occupational health and safety (OHS) requirements. 
Staff preparation routines are carried out in accordance with clinic policy. 
Anaesthetic equipment is checked for correct operation in accordance with manufacturers' specifications. 
Veterinarian, theatre personnel and self are appropriately dressed in accordance with clinic policy. 
Theatre debris and disposable equipment are safely disposed of in accordance with legislative requirements. 
Instruments are cleaned and sterilised in accordance with clinic policies and procedures. 
Instruments are grouped according to type and usage and stored after use. 
Equipment and supplies are maintained in accordance with clinic policy. 
Equipment maintenance procedures are implemented to ensure machines are functional and operational. 
Gowns and drapes are sterilised in accordance with clinic policies and procedures. 
Theatre cleaning personnel are organised in accordance with clinic policy. 
Theatre and preparation room supplies are verified in accordance with clinic policy. 
Theatre is restored to a fully stocked condition in accordance with clinic policy. 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

ACMVET408A - Coordinate and perform theatre routines
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

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:


Assessment Record Sheet

ACMVET408A - Coordinate and perform theatre routines

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

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

Date: