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.
Appointments may include:
regular consultations
non-routine surgical procedures
support and home or farm visits.
Schedule considerations may include:
clinic policy
staff availability
other resource requirements and case priorities.
Enquiries may be received by:
electronic/email
phone, fax, written and counter enquiries.
Triage procedures requires:
recognising and responding to emergencies and prioritising cases.
Workplace health and safety risks when working with animals may include:
animal bites, kicks, scratches and crush injuries
biological hazardous waste and sharps disposal
handling of chemicals and medicines
gas leakage
inhalation of aerosol particles
intraocular contamination
manual handling, including carrying, lifting and shifting
needle pricks and cuts from other sharps
release of infective agents (animal and human)
slippery or uneven work surfaces
zoonoses.
Personal protective equipment may include:
forearm and foot protection
gowns
gloves
masks.
Animal first aidmeasures may include:
establish airway
provide oxygen
control haemorrhage
support injured or broken limbs
support the veterinarian in CPR procedures.
Grief support may be required:
as a result of owner anxiety for an animal's condition or treatment or the loss or euthanasia of an animal.
Grief support appropriate action and industry recognised techniques may include:
verbal assurance and communication
provision of grief hotline details and literature (e.g. brochures)
providing advice on burial or cremation decisions
follow-up contact and support.
Home care advice may include:
bandage care
exercise considerations
immediate housing requirements
nutrition
medication and physiotherapy requirements
pain and wound management
prevention of self-trauma.

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:
schedule appointments and attend to routine enquiries
coordinate clinic admissions in accordance with clinic policies and procedures for non-routine surgeries and procedures
carry out triage procedures and apply animal first aid in accordance with required workplace health and safety procedures
provide veterinary nursing care, including grief support, to patients and clients
communicate effectively with the veterinarian and nurse and follow instructions
prepare patients for discharge, provide clients with home care advice and discharge patients.
The skills and knowledge required to coordinate patient admission and discharge 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 of this Unit is to be practical in nature and will be most appropriately assessed in a veterinary practice or in a situation that reproduces normal work conditions.
There must be access to a range of admission and discharge cases and the appropriate equipment and/or resources to enable one to demonstrate competence.
Method of assessment
To ensure consistency of 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
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).