ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Perform oral examination

1.1. Extra and intraoral examination of the conscious patient is performed.

1.2. Patient is restrained and positioned for the subsequent examination and anaesthetic induction.

1.3. Anaesthesia is monitored and the patient is supported.

1.4. Extra and intraoral examination of the patient is conducted under anaesthesia.

1.5. Findings identified during examinations are recorded and reported to the surgeon.

2. Complete dental chart

2.1. Patient details and current home dental care are recorded.

2.2. Recognised encoded system is used under the direction of the surgeon.

2.3. Pre-treatment pathology and graphic treatment plan are recorded as directed by the surgeon.

2.4. Post-treatment dentition is recorded as directed by the surgeon.

3. Perform dental prophylaxis under veterinary supervision

3.1. Routines are carried out and theatre equipment is provided to the veterinarian as instructed.

3.2. Personal protective equipment is fitted and worn in accordance with clinic policy.

3.3. Teeth are cleaned and polished using techniques and equipment in accordance with Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) Dental Policy and Guidelines.

3.4. Dental instruments and equipment are cleaned, maintained and stored according to manufacturer's specifications and clinic policies and procedures.

3.5. Post-operative patient management programs are completed in accordance with the veterinarian's instructions.

4. Assist in the performance of a simple extraction under veterinary supervision

4.1. Routines are carried out and theatre equipment is provided to the veterinarian as instructed.

4.2. Personal protective equipment is fitted and worn in accordance with clinic policy.

4.3. Assistance is provided for simple extractions using techniques and equipment in accordance with clinic policy.

4.4. Dental instruments and equipment are cleaned and stored in accordance with clinic policies and procedures.

4.5. Post-operative patient management programs are completed in accordance with the veterinarian's instructions.

Required skills

Ability to:

observe accurately and report concisely on animal condition and health

provide advice to owners

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, equipment maintenance and presentation, 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 complete charts, calculate dosages and monitor anaesthesia

use problem-solving skills to use available resources and prioritise tasks

use recognised dental encoded system (e.g. modified triadan number system and symbols)

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

Required knowledge

Knowledge of:

anatomy of oral cavity, including teeth, bone, gums and related basic embryology

AVA Dental Policy and Guidelines

good knowledge and understanding of homecare advice to reduce dental and gingival disease, including dietary recommendations, appropriate oral-care products and procedures available and the principles and practice of daily brushing

instruments and equipment required to perform a dental prophylaxis under general anaesthetic

instruments and equipment required for simple teeth extractions

maintenance of serviceability of instruments and equipment where required in sharp and/or lubricated condition

workplace health and safety and animal welfare legislative requirements and codes of practice

personal protective equipment required

techniques for performing dental prophylaxis and assisting with simple extractions

workplace hygiene standards, disinfectants, cleaning agents, cleaning techniques and cleaning equipment and materials, packing and autoclave surgical and dental equipment.

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:

implement clinic policies and procedures, including workplace health and safety

handle and restrain a range of patients (animals)

communicate effectively with the veterinarian and clients

observe, record and report on animals' condition and health

perform extra and intraoral examinations on conscious and anaesthetised patients

carry out techniques for dental prophylaxis, i.e. examining, charting, scaling (cleaning and polishing) and assisting with simple extractions

complete post-operative patient management programs in accordance with veterinarian's instructions.

The skills and knowledge required to carry out veterinary dental nursing procedures 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 practice 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).

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.

Workplace health and safety risks associated with veterinary nursing practice include:

animal bites, kicks or scratches

biological hazardous waste and sharps disposal

handling of chemicals and medicines

gas leakage

inhalation of aerosol particles

intraocular contamination

manual handling and shift loading

needle pricks and cuts from other sharps

release of infective agents (animal and human)

zoonoses.

Findings that may be observed during examinations may include:

acquired

developmental

inflammatory

metabolic

nutritional

tumours.

Encoded system is used to:

record the presence and condition of individual teeth and the condition of the gums and oral cavity (e.g. modified triadan number system and symbols).

Dental prophylaxis involves:

the oral examination in the conscious and anaesthetised patient

sub- and supra-gingival tooth scaling and polishing

development of a home care plan.

Personal protective equipment may include:

eyewear

gloves

gowns

masks.

Cleaning and polishing involves:

removing calculus

supra-gingival and sub-gingival scaling

teeth polishing.

Equipment used for cleaning and polishing may include:

dental machine (veterinary nurse may or may not use all components, but must be able to set up for veterinary use) which usually includes:

air compressor

air flush

ultrasonic scaler

water flush

hand-held instruments:

scalers, curettes and dental forceps

ultrasonic scaler

rubber polishing cups and polish

paste and toothbrush.

Simple extraction refers to:

non-surgical removal of broken or diseased single rooted teeth.

Techniques and equipment used for simple extractions include:

manual extraction using dental elevator and dental extraction forceps.

Post-operative patient management programs may include:

discharge instructions

oral hygiene advice

short and long-term home care programs for preventative dental health and medications.