Unit of Competency Mapping – Information for Teachers/Assessors – Information for Learners

ACMVET414A Mapping and Delivery Guide
Nurse foals

Version 1.0
Issue Date: March 2024


Qualification -
Unit of Competency ACMVET414A - Nurse foals
Description This Unit of Competency covers the skills required to care for newborn foals during the neonatal period.
Employability Skills This unit contains employability skills.
Learning Outcomes and Application The work functions in this Unit are likely to be carried out under minimal supervision within industry guidelines. Candidates undertaking this Unit will require access to work experience and/or employment within an equine veterinary clinic or hospital.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.
Duration and Setting X weeks, nominally xx hours, delivered in a classroom/online/blended learning setting.
Prerequisites/co-requisites Nil
Competency Field
Development and validation strategy and guide for assessors and learners Student Learning Resources Handouts
Activities
Slides
PPT
Assessment 1 Assessment 2 Assessment 3 Assessment 4
Elements of Competency Performance Criteria              
Element: Assess and maintain health of neonatal foals
  • Neonatal foal behaviour and development (bonding) is observed and assessed.
  • Passive immune status of foal is assessed.
  • Foals at risk of developing illnesses are recognised.
  • Foals are restrained and handled for routine industry procedures.
       
Element: Assess foal growth and development to six weeks of age
  • Normal growth and development of foals is identified.
  • Common abnormalities in growth and development of foals are identified.
       
Element: Perform a physical examination of an equine neonate
  • Accurate history of foal is obtained and recorded.
  • A physical examination of foal is performed.
  • Examination findings are accurately recorded.
       
Element: Care for and handle sick or compromised foals
  • Caring procedures are carried out in accordance with workplace health and safety requirements and infection control protocols
  • Sick or compromised foal are caught, held and restrained.
  • Nursing assistance for compromised foals is provided.
  • Assistance is provided with assessment to determine if a foal requires special foal nursing and intensive care.
  • Foal maturity and dysmaturity is assessed.
       
Element: Provide initial care for critically ill foal
  • Initial resuscitation is implemented.
  • Temperature control for critically ill foal is provided.
  • Critically ill or compromised foals are fed in accordance with clinic policy.
  • Assistance to veterinarian before and during referral to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is provided.
       
Element: Identify the clinical signs of common foal diseases in the early neonatal period.
  • Symptoms of common foal diseases are identified.
  • Observations are recorded and reported.
       


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 competence 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:

safely handle and restrain healthy and ill or compromised foals

assess and maintain health of neonatal foals

perform a physical examination of a foal

care for ill or compromised foals

provide initial care for critically ill foals

follow workplace health and safety requirements, animal welfare rules and infection control protocols

accurately document and maintain appropriate records.

The skills and knowledge required to nurse foals 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 equine veterinary clinic or hospital with access to a range of mares and newborn foals and the appropriate equipment and/or resources to enable one to demonstrate competence.

Method of assessment

To ensure consistency in one's 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

case studies

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, assignment, 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 include:

Ability to:

analyse and solve problems using available information and resources including recording information and prioritising daily tasks

apply 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

communicate effectively to fulfil the job role including questioning, active listening, asking for clarification and consulting with or seeking advice from appropriate persons

comply with animal welfare legislation, animal care guidelines, state and territory veterinary surgeons or practitioners legislation and regulations

employ safe, humane and environmentally responsible organisational systems and procedures when working with, handling and restraining mares and foals

follow sequenced written instructions, record accurately and legibly information collected and select and apply procedures to a range of defined tasks

identify hazards and assess risks

measure parameters of health in foals

maintain appropriate records

maintain the highest standards of hygiene and infection control at all times to reduce the risk of infection and cross-infection considering zoonotic and exotic disease possibilities (biosecurity)

perform a physical examination of a foal

provide initial nursing care to impaired foals

recognise normal health, behaviour, growth and development in a healthy foal

read, understand and follow required policies and procedures, including workplace health and safety, infection control and waste management

recognise normal physical and behavioural signs in mares and foals

use numeracy skills to estimate, calculate and record routine and more complex workplace elements

use safe manual handling techniques and/or equipment

use safe, hygienic and environmentally friendly waste handling and disposal procedures

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

Required knowledge includes:

Knowledge of:

clinical signs of common foal diseases

normal health parameters for newborn foals

handling techniques for impaired foals

normal behaviour patterns for newborn foals

nutritional requirements and options for impaired foals

nursing techniques for impaired foals

principles and practices of infection control

principles and practices of routine care of hospitalised animals

principles of animal welfare

problems affecting newborn foals

procedures for providing care to critically ill foals

relevant legislation, regulations and codes of practice, including workplace health and safety, animal welfare and ethics, veterinary practices and waste disposal

workplace hygiene standards (biosecurity) including: disinfectants, cleaning agents and techniques, cleaning and appropriate disinfection or sterilisation of equipment, materials and personal protective equipment (PPE).

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.

Health of neonatal foals

Indicators of normal behaviour for neonatal foals may include, but is not limited to:

blinking, sitting up, suckling reflex, attempts to rise, stand and walk, search for udder, suckling mare, awareness of immediate surroundings, defecation, urination

Assessment requirements include:

measuring colostrum quality

determining the level of antibodies or immunoglobulins (IgG) in the colostrum

Risk factors to be aware of include:

unwell dam

difficult foaling

not meeting any of the normal newborn foal parameters

failure of transfer of passive immunity.

Restraint

Restraint methods include those:

appropriate for healthy neonates

appropriate for ill neonates

restraint with mare (manually or crush)

restraint without mare (manually or crush)

Procedures requiring restraint may include, but are not limited to:

application of umbilical stump treatment

administration of an enema

drawing blood for IgG test

physical examination.

Growth and development

Aspects of foal growth and development that should be assessed include:

growth rate

weight gain

limb conformation

illness

dam’s condition and ability to produce milk.

Physical examination

Factors assessed in a physical examination of the equine neonate may include, but are not limited to:

recording history of the foal including:

details of the foaling

details of any prior illness in the mare

details of foals behaviour post foaling

any vital signs recorded post foaling

any clinical pathology results for the foal such as: IgG, blood work, swabs

measuring vital parameters such as: temperature, pulse, respiration and mucous membranes

assessing general health such as: eyes, mouth, navel, nostrils, ribs and limbs

monitoring normal behavioural routines demonstrated by foal such as: sleeping, rising and suckling, urinating and defecating.

Infection control protocols

Routine industry standard infection control procedures may include:

practising aseptic techniques in all possible areas and maintaining strict hygiene protocol

monitoring and maintaining equipment

preparing and maintaining individual inventories for each patient

accurately labelling and recording samples taken

following strict isolation protocol in all cases where infection and/or contagion is suspected

observing and practising strict personal antiseptic protocol.

Nursing assistance

Nursing assistance may be required to:

restrain a foal

teach a weak foal to rise

provide temperature support such as:

warming with specialist care blankets, hot water bottles, limb and body covers

cooling with fans, alcohol wash, iced water

move a compromised foal

provide limb support

provide respiratory support

provide nutritional support.

Assessment to determine if a foal requires special foal nursing and intensive care

Factors that may be assessed include:

foal physical examination

foal maintenance behaviour

foaling history.

Initial care for critically ill foal

Initial care may include, but is not limited to:

respiratory support

temperature support

feeding of appropriate cases

safe transport to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Common foal diseases

Common foal diseases likely to be encountered include, but are not limited to:

meconium retention

neonatal syndrome

septicaemia

neonatal maladjustment syndrome

localised infections

neonatal seizures

infectious and non-infectious diarrhoea

gastroduodenal ulcers

haemolytic disease (NI)

ruptured bladder

septic arthritis (joint ill)

umbilical problems

congenital and genetic disorders

hypoglycaemia

rhodococcus equi.

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
Neonatal foal behaviour and development (bonding) is observed and assessed. 
Passive immune status of foal is assessed. 
Foals at risk of developing illnesses are recognised. 
Foals are restrained and handled for routine industry procedures. 
Normal growth and development of foals is identified. 
Common abnormalities in growth and development of foals are identified. 
Accurate history of foal is obtained and recorded. 
A physical examination of foal is performed. 
Examination findings are accurately recorded. 
Caring procedures are carried out in accordance with workplace health and safety requirements and infection control protocols 
Sick or compromised foal are caught, held and restrained. 
Nursing assistance for compromised foals is provided. 
Assistance is provided with assessment to determine if a foal requires special foal nursing and intensive care. 
Foal maturity and dysmaturity is assessed. 
Initial resuscitation is implemented. 
Temperature control for critically ill foal is provided. 
Critically ill or compromised foals are fed in accordance with clinic policy. 
Assistance to veterinarian before and during referral to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is provided. 
Symptoms of common foal diseases are identified. 
Observations are recorded and reported. 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

ACMVET414A - Nurse foals
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

ACMVET414A - Nurse foals

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: