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Evidence Guide: ACMVET509A - Manage veterinary nursing procedures

Student: __________________________________________________

Signature: _________________________________________________

Tips for gathering evidence to demonstrate your skills

The important thing to remember when gathering evidence is that the more evidence the better - that is, the more evidence you gather to demonstrate your skills, the more confident an assessor can be that you have learned the skills not just at one point in time, but are continuing to apply and develop those skills (as opposed to just learning for the test!). Furthermore, one piece of evidence that you collect will not usualy demonstrate all the required criteria for a unit of competency, whereas multiple overlapping pieces of evidence will usually do the trick!

From the Wiki University

 

ACMVET509A - Manage veterinary nursing procedures

What evidence can you provide to prove your understanding of each of the following citeria?

Supervise nursing support for veterinary procedures

  1. Available nursing staff are co-ordinated to support veterinary activities, as required.
  2. Animal first aid measures to sustain life and minimise pain, are supervised as required.
  3. Preparation of a range of materials and equipment is coordinated in anticipation of need.
  4. Nursing staff assistance in a range of medical and surgical veterinary procedures is supervised.
  5. Nursing staff support to monitor and communicate anaesthetic depth and patient vital signs during general anaesthesia is coordinated.
  6. Nursing staff requirements for post-operative procedures are co-ordinated.
Available nursing staff are co-ordinated to support veterinary activities, as required.

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Animal first aid measures to sustain life and minimise pain, are supervised as required.

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preparation of a range of materials and equipment is coordinated in anticipation of need.

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nursing staff assistance in a range of medical and surgical veterinary procedures is supervised.

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nursing staff support to monitor and communicate anaesthetic depth and patient vital signs during general anaesthesia is coordinated.

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nursing staff requirements for post-operative procedures are co-ordinated.

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Organise, monitor and document referral requests, procedures and follow-up processes

  1. Referral veterinarian or other health care professional and/or service are notified regarding reason for referral, in accordance with clinic procedures and referring veterinarian’s instructions.
  2. Transfer of copies of client records and referral information is arranged.
  3. Clients are advised of referral procedures and provided with copies of relevant documentation.
  4. Referrals are documented in case notes.
  5. Referral veterinarian patient case report outcomes and required after care is documented in case notes.
Referral veterinarian or other health care professional and/or service are notified regarding reason for referral, in accordance with clinic procedures and referring veterinarian’s instructions.

Completed
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Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Transfer of copies of client records and referral information is arranged.

Completed
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Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clients are advised of referral procedures and provided with copies of relevant documentation.

Completed
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Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Referrals are documented in case notes.

Completed
Date:

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Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Referral veterinarian patient case report outcomes and required after care is documented in case notes.

Completed
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Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Manage hospitalised patients

  1. Specific veterinary instructions for the care of hospitalised patients are implemented in line with veterinary treatment plans.
  2. Nursing care of hospitalised patients is co-ordinated according to veterinary treatment plans.
  3. Infection control policies and procedures are developed and implemented in line with workplace health and safety and biosecurity requirements.
  4. Nursing procedures are carried out in accordance with veterinary directions.
  5. Hospital rounds are conducted with attending veterinarian and to ensure effective nurse handovers and appropriate rostering of nursing staff.
Specific veterinary instructions for the care of hospitalised patients are implemented in line with veterinary treatment plans.

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nursing care of hospitalised patients is co-ordinated according to veterinary treatment plans.

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Infection control policies and procedures are developed and implemented in line with workplace health and safety and biosecurity requirements.

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nursing procedures are carried out in accordance with veterinary directions.

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hospital rounds are conducted with attending veterinarian and to ensure effective nurse handovers and appropriate rostering of nursing staff.

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monitor the maintenance of accurate records

  1. Clinic policies and procedures for maintaining appropriate documentation of hospitalised patients is confirmed with nursing staff.
  2. Clinic policies and procedures for recording and communicating patient status and progress to other staff and owners is confirmed with nursing staff.
  3. A range of clinic policies and procedures are developed and implemented in order to facilitate nursing activities.
  4. Nursing policies and procedures are reviewed in order to improve patient outcomes and customer service.
Clinic policies and procedures for maintaining appropriate documentation of hospitalised patients is confirmed with nursing staff.

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clinic policies and procedures for recording and communicating patient status and progress to other staff and owners is confirmed with nursing staff.

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A range of clinic policies and procedures are developed and implemented in order to facilitate nursing activities.

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nursing policies and procedures are reviewed in order to improve patient outcomes and customer service.

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contribute to professional development

  1. Links with veterinary nurses and other relevant allied healthcare professionals are established.
  2. Personal professional development opportunities are identified and used to plan skills and knowledge enhancement.
  3. Changes in veterinary nursing procedures and techniques are monitored and reported to others.
  4. Case presentations and/or literature reviews are presented to others in a public/peer setting.
  5. Skills and knowledge are transferred to new contexts.
Links with veterinary nurses and other relevant allied healthcare professionals are established.

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Personal professional development opportunities are identified and used to plan skills and knowledge enhancement.

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Changes in veterinary nursing procedures and techniques are monitored and reported to others.

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Case presentations and/or literature reviews are presented to others in a public/peer setting.

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Skills and knowledge are transferred to new contexts.

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessed

Teacher: ___________________________________ Date: _________

Signature: ________________________________________________

Comments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Instructions to Assessors

Evidence Guide

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:

recognise, communicate and respond to abnormal patient vital signs and anaesthetic complications

co-ordinate hospital admissions and discharges

supervise, roster and co-ordinate nursing staff in support of veterinary activities

develop and implement infection control and workplace health and safety and biosecurity procedures

demonstrate cardiopulmonary resuscitation

assist in a range of veterinary procedures

carry out a range of nursing procedures

manage nursing care of hospitalised patients and patients in quarantine or isolation

ensure the maintenance of accurate records

develop, implement and review nursing policies and procedures in veterinary practice

identify opportunities to contribute to the veterinary practice knowledge base and improve existing practices and procedures within scope of job responsibilities

prepare and present case studies and/or literature reviews to others.

The skills and knowledge required to manage veterinary nursing procedures must be transferable to a range of work environments and contexts and include the ability to deal with unplanned events.

It is highly recommended that learners perform work placement in another approved veterinary practice or training workplace in order to gather further evidence of competence and demonstrate the transferability of skills and knowledge outcomes.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment of this Unit is to be practical in nature and must be assessed in a veterinary practice in order to gain exposure to sufficient caseload.

There must be access to a veterinary clinic or animal hospital, a range of companion animals as well as the appropriate equipment, resources and documentation 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 an extended period of time, by preparing for a range of procedures, providing peri-operative nursing care and managing the hospitalisation of more complicated cases on a regular basis.

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

case study analysis

role plays

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).

Required Skills and Knowledge

Required skills Include:

Ability to:

apply problem solving skills to use available resources and anticipate veterinarians’ requirements

communicate effectively with veterinarian, other professionals, staff and clients using appropriate communication strategies and terminology whilst complying with practice protocols

co-ordinate and/or carry out a range of veterinary nursing procedures including:

accurately monitoring, recording and recognising abnormal vital signs

administering/maintaining fluid therapy including blood products under veterinary direction

administering medications under veterinary direction by intravenous means, including use of fluid pumps

monitoring, cleaning and sterilising medical and surgical equipment, as required

performing emergency cardiopulmonary resuscitation on companion animals

placing intravenous and urinary catheters

demonstrate empathy with animals

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

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

employ self-management skills to:

comply with policies and procedures

consistently evaluate and monitor own performance

seek learning opportunities

manage veterinary nursing procedures through effective supervision and co-ordination of clinic nursing staff

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

record use of chemicals and medicines according to prescribed legislative requirements

record patient details accurately and legibly

use literacy skills to:

read, select and implement policies and procedures, including workplace health and safety, infection control and other clinic policies and procedures

complete relevant workplace documentation

prepare general information, reports and papers according to target audience

read and understand a variety of texts

use numeracy skills to monitor patient vital signs and calculate drug doses and fluid rates

use safe manual handling techniques and/or equipment

use safe waste handling and disposal procedures

use strategies to clarify, verify and confirm information and instructions.

Required knowledge includes:

Knowledge of:

accurate identification of surgical instruments

anaesthetic risks

animal nutrition and husbandry

blood, blood types and transfusion medicine

clinical signs of sepsis and wound breakdown

clinical signs of shock

common infectious diseases

commonly used anaesthetic agents, planes and stages of anaesthesia and anaesthetic equipment

critical care and intensive nursing routines

emergency procedures including CPR

fluid therapy

principles of animal welfare and ethics

quarantine of patients and infection control measures in an isolation facility

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

waste disposal.

Range Statement

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.

Animal first aid measures

Animal first aid measures include:

DR ABC (Danger, Response, Airway, Breathing, CPR)

perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)

control haemorrhage

wound management

treatment of shock.

Materials and equipment

Materials and equipment include but are not limited to:

automatic processor

anaesthetic machines

drains

drapes

dressings and bandages

electrocautery

electrocardiograph (ECG)

endoscope

formalin pot

intravenous and urinary catheters

intravenous fluid pump

otoscope

pins

splints

surgical instruments

suture material

swabs

tubes

ultrasound

X-ray.

Veterinary procedures

Veterinary procedures may include but are not limited to:

abdominocentesis

arthrocentesis

cystocentesis

blood collection

express anal glands

general surgery for example soft tissue surgeries such as:

desexing

exploratory surgery

lump removals

induce anaesthesia

insert intravenous catheter

intubate patient’s airway

intravenous, subcutaneous or intramuscular injection

placement of nasogastric feeding tube

placement of nasal oxygen tubes

physical examination

thoracocentesis

urinary catheterisation

wound care or dressing.

Vital signs

Vital signs include:

temperature

pulse

respiration

mucous membrane colour

capillary refill time

femoral pulse

menace response

pupillary light response

deep pain sensation

withdrawal response

jaw tone

swallowing and palpebral reflex

monitoring of vital signs may include the use of:

electrocardiograph (ECG)

pulse oximeters

capnographs

oesophageal stethoscopes

blood pressure monitors.

Post-operative procedures

Post-operative procedures may include:

removal of endotracheal tube

keeping patient warm and comfortable

nursing observation

monitoring analgesia

wound care

fluid therapy

administration of veterinary medications

communication with owner

reporting progress to veterinarian/s.

Referral veterinarian or other health care professional and/or service

Referral veterinarian or other health care professional and/or service may include:

behavioural specialist

chemo and radiation specialists

complementary therapy practitioners

acupuncturist

chiropractor

massage therapist

naturopath

physiotherapist

veterinary dentist

farrier

medication manufacturer consultant

nutritionist

ophthalmologist

orthopaedic surgeon

plastic surgeon

trauma specialist.

Veterinary instructions

Veterinary instructions may include:

frequency of observations

vital signs to be recorded

drugs doses, routes of administration and frequency

recommended diet

housing

toileting

wound care

other nursing or administrative requirements as directed.

Treatment plans

Treatment plans comprise a list of diagnostic tests, medications and procedures recommended by the veterinarian in order to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of a patient.

Nursing care

Nursing care includes:

patient observation

patient monitoring

analgesia

fluid therapy

drug administration

wound management

maintenance of drains and tubes

nutrition

toileting

exercise

environmental enrichment

communication with veterinarian.

Infection control

Infection control means:

appropriate cleaning and disinfection regimes for equipment, housing, bedding etc

the housing or hospitalisation of patients with infectious disease away from other patients, in order to reduce the spread of infection

quarantine may involve an isolation facility and the use of specific nursing techniques and personal protective equipment to aid infection control.

Workplace health and safety

Workplace health and safety includes:

animal care for small, large and exotic animals has a range of associated risks from bites, kicks or scratches. All clinic duties should reflect an awareness of and a respect for these risks.

safe work practices include the packaging and handling of loads, including animals and equipment. Appropriate safe handling techniques are used to reduce muscle load on exertion.

the handling of chemicals and medicines in the clinic requires extra care to ensure safe work practices are maintained.

clinic activities also have inherent risks including gas leakage, zoonoses, release of infective agents (both animal and human), needle pricks, and cuts from other sharps and exposure to ionizing radiation.

biological hazardous waste and sharps disposal must be carried out in line with relevant workplace health and safety legislation.

Nursing procedures

Nursing procedures may include but are not limited to:

blood collection

express anal glands

induce anaesthesia

insert intravenous catheter

intubate patient’s airway

intravenous, subcutaneous or intramuscular injection

placement of nasogastric feeding tube

placement of nasal oxygen tubes

urinary catheterisation

wound care or dressing.

Hospital rounds

Hospital rounds involve:

case reviews performed by veterinary and nursing staff in the hospital ward.

hospital rounds usually consider treatment plans, patient progress and client communication.

Nurse handovers

Nurse handovers involve:

hospital rounds for nursing staff

effective transfer of information regarding the care and progress of hospitalised patients

ensuring appropriate rostering of clinical staff

nurse handovers should occur at shift changes to ensure continuity of patient care.

Clinic policies

Clinic policies may cover:

accessing and updating files

admission and discharge of patients

admittance of visitors

client privacy

compliance with relevant legislative requirements

guidelines for the sale of medicines and animal treatments (prescription and non-prescription)

information specific to the practice

recording information

security, confidentiality and privacy

type of information and advice that can be provided by staff.

Appropriate documentation

Appropriate documentation means:

admission and client consent forms

written estimates

hospital whiteboards

medical and hospital record

treatment plans

anaesthetic records

dental charts

submission forms

laboratory reports

computer records

discharge notes

client handouts and instructions.

Professional development opportunities

Professional development opportunities may include:

attending conferences and seminars

completing additional relevant training

conducting research and presenting results

participating in forums

presenting information to staff and or others

reading research papers

visiting other practices.