Unit of competency details

Release  

TP Version  

Comments  

2

ACM10v3

Reference to OHS legislation replaced with generic terminology

1

ACM10v1

Initial release. Supersedes and is equivalent to RUV5606A

Elements describe the essential outcomes of a Unit of Competency.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the required skills and knowledge section and the range statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the evidence guide.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Perform pre-hospital evaluation

1.1. Immediate patient history is established with client.

1.2. Emergency first aid advice  for the patient is communicated clearly to the client.

1.3. Transportation advice  and the clinic location are communicated clearly to the client.

2. Apply and maintain first aid to sustain life 

2.1. Emergency procedures are applied as required in accordance with patient needs and workplace health and safety  requirements.

2.2. Relevant procedures for haemorrhage control  are applied according to patient needs.

3. Perform initial evaluation

3.1. Patient evaluation  is conducted initially from a distance.

3.2. Patient evaluation is conducted on approach from a rostral direction.

4. Carry out triage procedures  and stabilise patient under veterinarian direction

4.1. Parameters of triage are evaluated in accordance with relevant clinic policies.

4.2. Specific emergency and critical care nursing assistance  is provided as directed by the veterinarian.

5. Complete history and secondary survey

5.1. Detailed patient history is confirmed with client records.

5.2. Patient status is re-evaluated on admission in consultation with the veterinarian.

This section describes the skills and knowledge required for this Unit.

Required skills

Ability to: 

• apply and monitor anaesthesia, fluid therapy and radiographic and imaging routines relating to emergency and critical care routines
• complete relevant work-related documentation
• employ safe and environmentally responsible organisational systems and procedures when working with and handling animals
• maintain the highest standard of hygiene and infection control at all times to reduce the risk of infection and cross-infection
• nurse critically ill patients
• provide caring grief support
• recognise, respond to and assist with emergencies
• use literacy skills to read, select and implement policies and procedures, including workplace health and safety, infection control and other clinic policies and procedures; coordinate patient admission and discharge; implement sequenced written and oral instructions; and record patient details accurately and legibly
• use oral communication skills/language required to fulfil the job role as specified by the clinic, including negotiating and questioning techniques, active listening, asking for clarification from veterinarian, and acknowledging and responding to a range of views
• use numeracy skills to monitor patients' vital signs and fluid therapy and to calculate dosages
• use interpersonal skills to relate to people from a range of social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities
• use problem-solving skills to use available resources and evaluate patient needs
• use safe manual handling techniques and/or equipment
• use safe waste handling and disposal procedures
• work as a member of a team and work closely with the supervising veterinarian.

Required knowledge

Knowledge of: 

• anaesthesia and anaesthetic agents
• animal first aid techniques
• animal physiology and anatomy
• critical care procedures
• client counselling techniques, including grief counselling
• common symptoms of poisoning and clinical disease
• drugs and their administration
• emergency situations that may result from specific clinical conditions
• fluid therapy
• handling techniques for trauma patients
• principles of animal welfare and ethics
• radiographic and imaging routines
• relevant state or territory legislation and regulations relating to the practice of veterinary science, workplace health and safety and animal welfare
• relevant state or territory legislation covering the use of therapeutic and controlled substances
• safe work practice
• the relative urgency of common disease versus trauma incidents
• triage procedures
• workplace hygiene standards, disinfectants and sterilisation, cleaning agents, cleaning techniques and cleaning equipment and materials.

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:

• handle a range of emergency patients competently over a period of time
• identify and perform triage accurately to prioritise patients
• observe accurately and report concisely on animal condition and health to the veterinarian
• work under pressure
• provide clear and concise directions to personnel and clear and concise advice to clients
• apply industry-standard first aid procedures to sustain life.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment of this Unit is to be practical in nature and must be assessed in a veterinary hospital or specialist veterinary clinic where an extensive range of emergency and specialised critical care procedures are performed.

There must be access to the appropriate emergency and specialised critical care equipment and/or resources to enable one to demonstrate competence.

Method of assessment

To ensure consistency of performance, competency should be demonstrated by performing emergency procedures to sustain life for an extensive range of emergency care cases on a regular basis over a period of time.

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
• case study analysis
• 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).

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.

Emergency and critical care procedures  include:

• medical emergencies
• trauma:

• abdominal
• chest
• head and respiratory
• road traffic accident

• surgical (thoracic and abdominal)
• haematological (disseminated intravascular coagulopathy) resulting in blood transfusions
• septic (systemic inflammatory response syndrome) relating to:

• organ dysfunction
• toxin recognition
• management of topical and ingested toxins

• advanced critical care and intensive care monitoring (post-surgical).

Emergency first aid advice  may relate to:

• applying direct digital pressure or pressure bandages
• clearing airway
• giving fluids for caustic ingestion
• identifying poison evidence:

• snakes, toads, ticks, rat bait, snail bait, flea collars and organophosphate pesticides

• leaving penetrating foreign bodies
• performing mouth to nose resuscitation and chest compressions
• responding to:

• hyperthermia and hypothermia
• gastric dilation volvulus and torsion
• burns and scalds
• dystocia and convulsions.

• supporting fractures.

Transportation advice  may relate to:

• immobilisation of limbs and of patient
• suppression of haemorrhage
• ocular support (maintenance of hydration)
• strategies to avoid bites and scratches.

First aid to sustain life  may include:

• respiratory resuscitation procedures and CPR.

Workplace health and safety  risks when working with animals may include:

• animal bites, kicks, scratches, 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.

Procedures for  haemorrhage control  may include:

• the use of digital pressure and pressure bandages.

Patient evaluation  will include:

• airway and breathing status
• bleeding
• capillary refill time
• cardiovascular function
• heart rate
• hydration status
• level of consciousness
• mucous membrane colour
• pulses
• pupillary light reflex
• temperature.

The purpose of triage procedures  is to:

• establish the condition of each patient and the priority of attention and treatment.

Specific emergency and critical care nursing  may include:

• assistance with:

• defibrillation
• open-chest cardiac massage
• tracheostomy procedure.