ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Prepare for emergency response

1.1. Equipment, personnel and the environment for specific emergency scenarios are prepared and tested for viability and performance.

1.2. Critical care team is provided with clear policies and procedures for emergencies.

1.3. Practice drills for the critical care team are provided for all clinic staff.

1.4. In-house training sessions are prepared and delivered using clinic policies and procedures.

1.5. State of preparedness is maintained for emergency response.

2. Assist with the preparation of emergency and critical care protocols

2.1. Assessment of systems is conducted, including workplace health and safety requirements, and a performance appraisal is recorded.

2.2. Improved response procedures are developed in consultation with the supervising veterinarian.

2.3. Clinic policies and procedures for the treatment of emergencies are developed in consultation with the supervising veterinarian.

Required skills

Ability to:

apply and monitor anaesthesia, fluid therapy and radiographic and imaging routines relating to emergency and critical care routines

coordinate a team in an emergency environment

employ safe and environmentally responsible organisational systems and procedures when working with and handling animals

maintain the highest standard of hygiene and infection control at all times to reduce the risk of infection and cross-infection

respond to emergency situations that may result from specific clinical conditions

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 and oral 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 veterinarian, and acknowledging and responding to a range of views

use numeracy skills to test emergency 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 and calculate adequate supplies within emergency station

use safe manual handling techniques and/or equipment

use safe waste handling and disposal procedures

use written skills to prepare emergency and critical care protocols.

Required knowledge

Knowledge of:

animal physiology and anatomy

critical care procedures

drugs and their administration

emergency situations that may result from specific clinical conditions

equipment and resources required in an emergency station

fluid therapy

radiographic and imaging routines

principles of animal welfare and ethics

relevant state or territory legislation and regulations relating to the practice of veterinary science, workplace health and safety and animal welfare

relevant state or territory legislation covering the use of therapeutic and controlled substances

resuscitation procedures and practices

safe work practices

workplace hygiene standards, disinfectants and sterilisation, cleaning agents, cleaning techniques and cleaning equipment and materials.

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:

organise self, clinic personnel and necessary resources for the emergency work environment

instruct clinic personnel in mental and physical preparedness for emergencies

develop practical and efficient work protocols in consultation with supervising veterinarian and others.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment of this Unit is to be practical in nature and must be assessed in a veterinary hospital or specialist veterinary clinic where an extensive range of emergency and specialised critical care procedures are performed.

There must be access to the appropriate emergency and specialised critical care equipment and/or resources to enable one to demonstrate competence.

Method of assessment

To ensure consistency of performance, competency should be demonstrated by preparing for an extensive range of emergency responses on a regular basis over a period of time.

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

case study analysis

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.

Emergency and critical care procedures may include:

medical emergencies

trauma:

abdominal

chest

head and respiratory

road traffic accident

surgical (thoracic and abdominal)

haematological (disseminated intravascular coagulopathy) resulting in blood transfusions

septic (systemic inflammatory response syndrome) relating to:

organ dysfunction

toxin recognition

management of topical and ingested toxins

advanced critical care and intensive care monitoring (post-surgical).

Equipment and resources required for an emergency response may include:

antidotes

blood components

CPR equipment

fluids

mobile crash trolleys

monitors

respiratory resuscitation equipment

restraints (physical and chemical)

wall charts.

Training sessions may include:

drill sessions

role instructions

simulated emergency situations

team building activities

triage protocols.

Workplace health and safety safe work practices include:

applying appropriate manual handling techniques when packaging and handling loads, including animals and equipment

hazard identification and risk minimisation:

handling, use, storage, transport and disposal of chemicals

handling and disposal of biological wastes

following personal and workplace hygiene procedures

using infection control procedures to minimise risks associated with:

zoonoses

release of infective agents (both animal and human)

blood or chemical spillage

gas leakages

using machinery and equipment in accordance with manufacturers' instructions

using personal protective equipment:

animal handling gauntlets

boots

caps and gowns

goggles

protective masks

safety gloves