Elements and Performance Criteria

The Range of Variables explains the range of contexts within which the performance and knowledge requirements of this unit may be assessed. The scope of variables chosen in training and assessment may depend on the work contexts.

What is meant by anaesthesia?
Anaesthesia refers to the use of a drug administered for medical or surgical purposes that induces total loss of sensation.

Which anaesthetic agents and anaesthetic equipment may be used in this context?
Commonly used anaesthetic agents may include halothane, isoflurane, methoxyflurane, ketamine and ketamine combination anaesthesia.
Anaesthetic equipment and supplies could include filters, soda lime and canisters, gas cylinders, vaporisers, anaesthetic machines, scavenging systems, tubes, masks, incubators, anaesthetic trolleys and re-breathing bags.
Relevant State / Territory drugs and poisons acts must be complied with.

What surgical instruments and equipment may be used in this context?
Surgical instruments and equipment commonly used may include needle holders, needles, sutures, forceps, scalpels, resection clamps and scissors.

What is involved in maintaining an aseptic environment?
Sterile drapes, gloves, gowns, equipment, swabs of betadine or alcohol and positive pressure airflow.

What type of OHS issues would be relevant in this context?
Animal care within animal technology has a range of associated risks from bites, envenomation, kicks or scratches. All duties should reflect an awareness of and a respect for these risks.
The handling of anaesthetic agents, chemicals and appropriate monitoring and scavenging systems requires extra care to ensure safe work practices are maintained.
The use of equipment, including its use in difficult areas, requires extra care to ensure safe work practices are maintained.
Safe work practices are used in packaging and handling loads including animals and equipment. Appropriate safe handling techniques are used to reduce muscle load on exertion.
Some animal technology facilities may expose personnel to risks such as zoonoses, release of infective agents (both animal and human) and chemical spillage. Procedures to reduce the spread of disease to humans and other animals may include incident reporting, cleaning, the removal of waste and spillage, the containment or elimination of risk, the use of personal protective clothing and equipment and seeking advice from supervisors.

What is involved in a pre-anaesthetic evaluation?
Pre-anaesthetic evaluations may include animal health checks including general health and condition, respiration, temperature, heart rate and weight.

What is involved in preparing an animal?
Preparing animals for anaesthesia may include clipping, shaving, preoperative scrubbing routines, the aseptic preparation of injection sites and applying restraining devices such as muzzles, rearing bits, head collars, halters or hobbles.
Further preparation may extend to the administration of necessary premedication, intubation, the insertion of intravenous or urinary catheters and the preparation of equipment and materials for intravenous infusions under veterinarian supervision.

What pre-anaesthetic and preoperative medication may be administered?
Pre-anaesthetic and preoperative medication may include the use of tranquillisers, sedatives, analgesics and antibiotics.

Which institutional protocols, policies and procedures must be complied with?
Standard operating procedures, OHS procedures, Animal Ethics Committee (AEC) and safety committee procedures, policies and procedures and industry-recognised standards.

What is the Animal Ethics Committee (AEC)?
An Animal Ethics Committee is a committee constituted in accordance with the terms of reference and membership laid down in the Australian code of practice for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes.

Which relevant legislative requirements must be complied with?
Relevant legislative requirements that must be complied with include the 'Australian code of practice for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes', related State / Territory legislation for animal welfare, prevention of cruelty to animals, animal protection and animal research and relevant State / Territory drugs and poisons legislation.

What methods may be used to induce an animal in anaesthesia?
Anaesthetics may be induced through gaseous and injectable preparations and may also include intermittent positive pressure ventilation.

What is monitored and maintained in animals?
Animals are monitored for depths of anaesthesia, respiration, temperature and heart rate. Animals are monitored during anaesthesia to ensure that they are maintained at the appropriate depth level.

What possible anaesthetic emergencies could be encountered
Anaesthetic emergencies may include an animal going into shock, respiratory distress, hypothermia or hyperthermia.

What are examples of basic surgery that may be performed in this context?

Implantation of mini-pumps or catheters, embryo insertion or ovarian transfer or vasectomy of common laboratory animals.

What sort of post-operative anaesthesia procedures may be completed?
Extubation, continued monitoring of vital signs, positioning of patient recumbency in consideration of recovery phase and surgical site and adjustment of intravenous fluid therapy rates as directed by the surgeon.

What sort of abnormalities may be encountered?
Post-operative abnormalities in wounds and surgical sites may include haemorrhage or other exudation, swelling and self-trauma. Other abnormalities could include delayed recovery, cold extremities, low body temperature, pale mucous membranes, increased heart rate, increased respiratory rate or abdominal distension.

What are the critical aspects of evidence required for this unit of competency as a whole?
The critical requirements that are valuable for this unit of competency as a whole are listed below.

Assessment must confirm one's ability to:

prepare facilities, personnel and equipment including anaesthetic equipment, anaesthetic agents and surgical instruments and equipment
prepare animal and carry out pre-anaesthetic and preoperative evaluation
comply with institutional protocols, policies and procedures, Animal Ethics Committee (AEC) requirements and relevant legislative requirements
induce, monitor and maintain an animal in anaesthesia
perform basic surgical procedures
recognise and respond to emergencies during and after anaesthesia and surgery
provide post-anaesthetic and post-operative care
maintain appropriate records
clean, maintain and store facilities and equipment as required.

What specific knowledge is needed to achieve the performance criteria?

Knowledge and understanding are essential to apply this unit in the workplace, to transfer the skills to other contexts and to deal with unplanned events. The knowledge requirements for this unit of competency are listed below and include:

a sound working knowledge of the Australian code of practice for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes and related State / Territory legislation
a sound working knowledge of State / Territory drugs and poisons legislation
a sound working knowledge of the process of obtaining approval from an Animal Ethics Committee (AEC)
a sound working knowledge of animal biology, anatomy and physiology
a sound working knowledge of the types of anaesthesia and their use within animal technology
a sound knowledge of a range of anaesthetic equipment including anaesthetic machines, vaporisers, cycle systems, tubing, re-breathing systems and scavenger systems
the principles of managing an anaesthetic overdose
a sound working knowledge of a range of surgical instruments, surgical equipment and a range of basic surgical procedures
institutional protocols, policies and procedures, including OHS
methods for suturing wounds and surgical sites
abnormalities that may occur in wounds and surgical sites.

What specific skills are needed to achieve the performance criteria?

To achieve the performance criteria, some complementary skills are required. These skills include:

ability interpret and apply the Australian code of practice for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes and related State / Territory legislation
ability to interpret and apply relevant State / Territory drugs and poisons legislation
ability to interpret and apply protocols set by the Animal Ethics Committee (AEC)
ability to use anaesthetic equipment and surgical instruments and equipment
ability to calculate doses and prepare anaesthetic agents
ability to administer anaesthetics to animals
ability to maintain accurate records
ability to follow OHS and institutional policies and procedures
ability to handle animals safely and ensure their health and wellbeing are maintained in accordance with institutional requirements
ability to prepare animals correctly for anaesthesia and surgical procedures
ability to monitor animals' vital signs during anaesthesia through to recovery
ability to recognise, respond to and assist with emergencies
ability to perform basic surgical procedures
ability to suture wounds and surgical sites
keen observation skills
literacy skills to read and implement institutional protocols, policies and procedures, including OHS; select and apply the procedures to perform a range of defined tasks; implement sequenced written instructions; and record patient details accurately and legibly
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
oral communication skills / language competence to fulfil the job role as specified by the institution including questioning techniques, active listening, asking for clarification, acknowledging and responding to a range of views
numeracy skills to prepare anaesthetic agents
problem-solving skills to use available resources, prioritise tasks and select, prepare and use facilities and equipment.

What are the specific resource implications for this unit of competency?
For valid assessment, one
an appropriate animal technology workplace that has a scientific establishment licence and access to an approved Animal Ethics Committee (AEC)
equipment and / or resources normally used in the workplace
animals
facilities, resources, equipment and personnel used for anaesthetic and surgical procedures
institutional protocols, policies and procedures
the 'Australian code of practice for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes' and related State / Territory legislation
relevant State / Territory drugs and poisons legislation.

What considerations should there be for consistency in performance?
To ensure consistency in one's performance, competency should be demonstrated on more than one occasion over a period of time in order to cover a variety of circumstances, procedures and responsibilities and, where possible, over a number of assessment activities.
The skills and knowledge required to

What considerations should there be for context of assessment?
Assessment for this unit of competency is to be largely practical in nature and will be most appropriately assessed in an animal technology workplace or an environment that reproduces normal work conditions.
In either situation, appropriate current licences must be held and there must be access to an approved Animal Ethics Committee (AEC).
There must be access in either situation to the appropriate equipment and / or resources to enable one to demonstrate competency. This would include access to animals, anaesthetic equipment, anaesthetic agents, surgical instruments and equipment as required for the anaesthetic and surgical procedure.

Are there other units of competency that could be assessed with this one?
This unit of competency
RUV3307A Prepare for and monitor anaesthesia in animals
PMLTEST305A Perform aseptic techniques

There are a number of processes that are learnt throughout work and life which are required in all jobs. They are fundamental processes and generally transferable to other work functions. Some of these are covered by the key competencies, although others may be added. The questions below highlight how these processes are applied in this unit of competency. Following each question a number in brackets indicates the level to which the key competency needs to be demonstrated where 0 = not required, 1 = perform the process, 2 = perform and administer the process and 3 = perform, administer and design the process.
Communicating ideas and information
Through discussions with facility personnel during anaesthetic and surgical procedures. (2)

Collecting analysing and organising information
By collecting and recording data before, during and after anaesthetic and surgical procedures. (2)

Planning and organising activities
By organising and planning anaesthetic and surgical procedures to meet research, Animal Ethics Committee (AEC) and institutional requirements. (2)

Working with others and in teams
By responding to emergencies during and after anaesthesia and surgery. (3)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
By accurately calculating doses for anaesthetic agents, analgesics and other supportive therapies. (3)

Solving problems
By planning the work schedule for anaesthetic and surgical procedures to ensure adequate resources are available. (2)

Using technology
By using anaesthetic monitoring equipment and recording data electronically. (2)