Required skills

Ability to

accurately prioritise animals for consultation as well as the ability to identify vital signs and apply first aid where necessary

differentiate between enquiries that can be handled by a veterinary nurse and those that need veterinarian intervention

follow clinic policies and procedures

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

use veterinary terminology pertaining to patient observations

use interpersonal skills to relate to communicate and negotiate with 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 skillslanguage 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 prepare veterinary medicines

use problemsolving skills to use available resources and prioritise tasks

Required knowledge

Knowledge of

basic first aid procedures

clinic policies and procedures

drugs applicable to each drug schedule and the regulations applicable in state or territory legislation

clinical signs of illness and disease

interview listening and questioning techniques

nutrition medication selftrauma pain and wound management and physiotherapy requirements

recognisable normal and abnormal vital signs

the physiology of the range of species handled by the clinic

the recognised stages of grieving and how to respond

veterinary terminology pertaining to the observations of patients

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

schedule appointments and attend to routine enquiries

coordinate clinic admissions in accordance with clinic policies and procedures for nonroutine surgeries and procedures

carry out triage procedures and apply animal first aid in accordance with required workplace health and safety procedures

provide veterinary nursing care including grief support to patients and clients

communicate effectively with the veterinarian and nurse and follow instructions

prepare patients for discharge provide clients with home care advice and discharge patients

The skills and knowledge required to coordinate patient admission and discharge 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 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 to a range of admission and discharge cases and the appropriate equipment andor 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 andor oral assessment of candidates required knowledge

observed documented and firsthand testimonial evidence of candidates application of practical tasks

simulation exercises that reproduce normal work conditions

thirdparty 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 eg literacy and numeracy demands and the needs of particular target groups eg 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

Appointments may include:

Schedule considerations may include:

Enquiries may be received by:

Triage procedures requires:

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

Personal protective equipment may include:

Animal first aidmeasures may include:

Grief support may be required:

Grief support appropriate action and industry recognised techniques may include:

Home care advice may include: