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.
Surgery schedule considerations may include:
sterile and non-sterile
body cavity invasive or superficial
orthopaedic
orthodontic
soft tissue
presence of infection
parturition
species of animal and the arrival of emergencies.
Preparation of surgical packs may require:
procedures that may include:
elective surgery
trauma repair
orthopaedic surgery
reconstructive surgery
tumour removal
preparation may include:
identifying which packs are required for which procedures, grouping them for each patient and adding extra requirements, such as scalpel blades and suture materials.
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.
Staff preparation routines may include:
task allocations and timetabling
the exposure of junior staff to the range of surgical procedures carried out in the clinic.
Appropriate dressing may include:
surgical gowns, caps, masks, boots and gloves
optical aids
theatre clothing.
Instruments, equipment and supplies may include:
instruments:
air-powered and electrical powered equipment
bone chucks
bone plates and screws
clamps
forceps
needle holders
retractors
scalpels
scissors
suture materials
anaesthetic equipment and supplies:
anaesthetic machine
anaesthetic trolleys
filters
gas cylinders
incubators
masks
re-breathing bags
scavenging system
soda lime and canisters
tubes
vaporisers
equipment that may be required for:
anaesthetic monitoring
cryosurgery
diathermy
suction
supplies:
catheters
drains
laparotomy sponges
needles and sutures
prostheses
swabs
syringes.
Theatre debris and disposable equipment may include:
contaminated swabs
excised tissue
needles
sharps
syringes.
Theatre and preparation supplies may include:
anaesthetic supplies
bone pins and other orthopaedic equipment
consumables and disposables
emergency drugs
intravenous fluids
sterile scrubbing brushes
surgical cloves
suturing material
theatre caps.

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 surgery and organise surgery schedules
prepare surgical packs and routine surgical sites
prepare and gown theatre personnel, including self
maintain equipment, instruments, materials and supplies
clean, maintain and store theatre instruments, equipment, materials and supplies
complete post-operative theatre routines
communicate effectively with the veterinarian and follow instructions.
The skills and knowledge required to coordinate and perform theatre routines 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 veterinary nursing workplace with access to 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).