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 facilities, personnel and equipment including anaesthetic equipment and anaesthetic agents in accordance with institutional policies and procedures and OHS requirements

prepare animals and carry out pre-anaesthetic evaluations

monitor and maintain animals in anaesthesia and provide post-anaesthetic care

recognise and respond to anaesthetic and post-anaesthetic emergencies

maintain facilities and record treatments.

The skills and knowledge required to prepare for and monitor anaesthesia in animals 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

All activities and procedures must be performed in accordance with animal welfare legislation, ethical and approved project protocols under supervision of a senior or more experienced staff member.

Assessment of this unit is to be practical in nature and will be most appropriately assessed in an animal technology research facility.

There must be access to a range of research animals as well as relevant information, 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 one occasion over a period of time in order to cover a variety of circumstances, cases and responsibilities, and over a number of assessment activities.

The assessment strategies 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.

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).

Required skills

apply first aid techniques and provide basic animal care

complete relevant work-related documents

calculate dose rates of anaesthetic and other medications and verify with supervisor

comply with project protocols or report problems or concerns to workplace supervisor or project manager in accordance with workplace protocols and procedures

confirm the identity of animals and procedures to be undertaken

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

evaluate behaviour, vital signs, symptoms and other objective measures that may indicate animal health is at risk

identify and locate animal structures, tissues and organs relevant to administration and monitoring of induction of anaesthesia

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

use equipment and materials correctly and in accordance with manufacturers' specifications

literacy skills to read, interpret and follow institutional policies and procedures, including OHS, infection control and waste management; follow sequenced written instructions; record accurately and legible information collected; and select and apply procedures for a range of tasks

oral communication skills/language to fulfill the job role as specified by the organisation, including questioning, active listening, asking for clarification and seeking advice from supervisor

numeracy skills to estimate, calculate and record routine workplace measures

interpersonal skills to work with and relate to people from a range of cultural, social and religious backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities

problem-solving skills to address emergency situations or other issues within scope of responsibilities

use safe manual handling techniques and/or equipment

use safe waste handling and disposal procedures

verify dose rates and identify precautions in application or administration of anaesthetic and other medications.

Required knowledge

anatomical terminology

anatomical structures, tissues and organs relevant to the induction and monitoring of animals under anaesthetic

animal anaesthetic emergencies and appropriate responses

animal first aid techniques

biohazards in the workplace of significance to animals and humans

characteristics of healthy, sick or distressed animals

communication procedures and systems, and technology relevant to the organisation and the individual's work responsibilities

indicators of normal and undesirable responses to anaesthetic and related medications

information that should be documented for the administration of anaesthetic and related substances

methods and equipment used to monitor animals during anaesthesia

methods used to anaesthetise animals in animal technology workplaces

methods used to measure, interpret and record objective measure of animal health

organisational policies and safe work procedures, including OHS and emergency procedures

physiological features of animals related to the application of anaesthesia and related medications

relevant codes of practice, including the Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes

relevant state or territory legislation and regulations relating to the practice of veterinary science, OHS, animal welfare, research and waste disposal

safe animal handling techniques and procedures

terminology used to describe anaesthetic processes, equipment, materials and physiological responses

types of non-surgical or tissue collection procedures used in animal technology facilities that require the use of anaesthetics and related medications

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

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.

Anaesthesia refers to:

the use of a drug administered for medical or surgical purposes that induces total loss of sensation.

Equipment may include:

anaesthetic machines

masks and gloves

needles

oxygen cylinders

syringes.

Anaesthetic and monitoring equipment may include:

anaesthetic equipment and supplies:

anaesthetic trolleys

filters

gas cylinders

incubators

masks

re-breathing bags

scavenging systems

soda lime and canisters

tubes

vaporisers

anaesthetic monitoring equipment:

intubation and carbon dioxide.

Pre-anaestheticevaluation may involve:

health checks:

general health and condition

heart rate

respiration

temperature

weight.

Preparing animals for anaesthesia will involve:

applying restraining devices:

halters

head collars

hobbles

muzzles

rearing bits

aseptic preparation of injection sites

clipping

pre-operative scrubbing routines

shaving

further preparation under veterinary supervision may extend to:

administration of necessary premedication

intubation and the insertion of intravenous or urinary catheters

preparation of equipment and materials for intravenous infusions.

OHS risks associated with administering anaesthesia and monitoring animals may include:

allergic reaction of animal to substances

animal bites, kicks, scratches, crush injuries

biological hazardous waste and sharps disposal

contamination of samples

cross-contamination between project classified clean and dirty animals

escape of animals and subsequent threat to safety of humans and other animals

haemorrhage, oedema and other tissue damage

handling of chemicals and medicines

inhalation of aerosol particles

intraocular contamination

manual handling, including carrying, lifting and shifting

maintaining body temperature and other vitals for life

needle pricks and cuts from other sharps

not being able to reach target tissue

potential injuries to humans during capture, handling and transport processes

release of infective agents (animal and human)

reaction to collection leading to shock

slippery or uneven work surfaces

transmission of zoonotic diseases.

Methods used to induce an animal in anaesthesia may include:

gaseous and injectable preparations:

intermittent positive pressure ventilation.

Institute protocols may include:

AEC and safety committee procedures

industry recognised standards

institutional policies and standard operating procedures

OHS procedures.

Possible anaesthetic emergencies may include:

an animal going into:

hypothermia or hyperthermia

respiratory distress

shock.

Post-anaesthetic monitoring of animals may include:

measurement of temperature, pulse and respiration manually or via monitors attached to animals

observations of behaviour:

allergic reaction

bleeding

loss of nervous system control

loss/regaining consciousness depending on procedures used

symptoms of shock.