Elements and Performance Criteria

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.

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).