Elements and Performance Criteria

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.
Anaesthesia refers to:
the use of a drug administered for medical or surgical purposes that induces total loss of sensation.
Equipment may include:
anaesthetic machines
masks and gloves
needles
oxygen cylinders
syringes.
Anaesthetic and monitoring equipment may include:
anaesthetic equipment and supplies:
anaesthetic trolleys
filters
gas cylinders
incubators
masks
re-breathing bags
scavenging systems
soda lime and canisters
tubes
vaporisers
anaesthetic monitoring equipment:
intubation and carbon dioxide.
Pre-anaestheticevaluation may involve:
health checks:
general health and condition
heart rate
respiration
temperature
weight.
Preparing animals for anaesthesia will involve:
applying restraining devices:
halters
head collars
hobbles
muzzles
rearing bits
aseptic preparation of injection sites
clipping
pre-operative scrubbing routines
shaving
further preparation under veterinary supervision may extend to:
administration of necessary premedication
intubation and the insertion of intravenous or urinary catheters
preparation of equipment and materials for intravenous infusions.
OHS risks associated with administering anaesthesia and monitoring animals may include:
allergic reaction of animal to substances
animal bites, kicks, scratches, crush injuries
biological hazardous waste and sharps disposal
contamination of samples
cross-contamination between project classified clean and dirty animals
escape of animals and subsequent threat to safety of humans and other animals
haemorrhage, oedema and other tissue damage
handling of chemicals and medicines
inhalation of aerosol particles
intraocular contamination
manual handling, including carrying, lifting and shifting
maintaining body temperature and other vitals for life
needle pricks and cuts from other sharps
not being able to reach target tissue
potential injuries to humans during capture, handling and transport processes
release of infective agents (animal and human)
reaction to collection leading to shock
slippery or uneven work surfaces
transmission of zoonotic diseases.
Methods used to induce an animal in anaesthesia may include:
gaseous and injectable preparations:
intermittent positive pressure ventilation.
Institute protocols may include:
AEC and safety committee procedures
industry recognised standards
institutional policies and standard operating procedures
OHS procedures.
Possible anaesthetic emergencies may include:
an animal going into:
hypothermia or hyperthermia
respiratory distress
shock.
Post-anaesthetic monitoring of animals may include:
measurement of temperature, pulse and respiration manually or via monitors attached to animals
observations of behaviour:
allergic reaction
bleeding
loss of nervous system control
loss/regaining consciousness depending on procedures used
symptoms of shock.

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 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 facilities, personnel and equipment including anaesthetic equipment and anaesthetic agents in accordance with institutional policies and procedures and OHS requirements
prepare animals and carry out pre-anaesthetic evaluations
monitor and maintain animals in anaesthesia and provide post-anaesthetic care
recognise and respond to anaesthetic and post-anaesthetic emergencies
maintain facilities and record treatments.

The skills and knowledge required to prepare for and monitor anaesthesia in animals 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
All activities and procedures must be performed in accordance with animal welfare legislation, ethical and approved project protocols under supervision of a senior or more experienced staff member.

Assessment of this unit is to be practical in nature and will be most appropriately assessed in an animal technology research facility.

There must be access to a range of research animals as well as relevant information, 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 one occasion over a period of time in order to cover a variety of circumstances, cases and responsibilities, and over a number of assessment activities.

The assessment strategies 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.

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).