Unit of competency details

Release 

TP Version 

Comments 

1

ACM10v3

Initial release. Based on NSW accredited course unit NSWTEQU302A.

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. Assess and maintain health of neonatal foals 

1.1 Neonatal foal behaviour and development (bonding) is observed and assessed.

1.2 Passive immune status of foal is assessed.

1.3 Foals at risk of developing illnesses are recognised.

1.4 Foals are restrained  and handled for routine industry procedures.

2. Assess foal growth and development to six weeks of age

2.1 Normal growth and development  of foals is identified.

2.2 Common abnormalities in growth and development of foals are identified.

3. Perform a physical examination of an equine neonate

3.1 Accurate history of foal is obtained and recorded.

3.2 A physical examination  of foal is performed.

3.3 Examination findings are accurately recorded.

4. Care for and handle sick or compromised foals

4.1 Caring procedures are carried out in accordance with workplace health and safety requirements and infection control protocols 

4.2 Sick or compromised foal are caught, held and restrained.

4.3 Nursing assistance  for compromised foals is provided.

4.4 Assistance is provided with assessment to determine if a foal requires special foal nursing and intensive care .

4.5 Foal maturity and dysmaturity is assessed.

5. Provide initial care for critically ill foal 

5.1 Initial resuscitation is implemented.

5.2 Temperature control for critically ill foal is provided.

5.3 Critically ill or compromised foals are fed in accordance with clinic policy.

5.4 Assistance to veterinarian before and during referral to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is provided.

6. Identify the clinical signs of common foal diseases in the early neonatal period.

6.1 Symptoms of common foal diseases  are identified.

6.2 Observations are recorded and reported.

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

Required skills include:

Ability to: 

• analyse and solve problems using available information and resources including recording information and prioritising daily tasks
• apply interpersonal skills to work with others and relate to people from a range of cultural, social and religious backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities
• communicate effectively to fulfil the job role including questioning, active listening, asking for clarification and consulting with or seeking advice from appropriate persons
• comply with animal welfare legislation, animal care guidelines, state and territory veterinary surgeons or practitioners legislation and regulations
• employ safe, humane and environmentally responsible organisational systems and procedures when working with, handling and restraining mares and foals
• follow sequenced written instructions, record accurately and legibly information collected and select and apply procedures to a range of defined tasks
• identify hazards and assess risks
• measure parameters of health in foals
• maintain appropriate records
• maintain the highest standards of hygiene and infection control at all times to reduce the risk of infection and cross-infection considering zoonotic and exotic disease possibilities (biosecurity)
• perform a physical examination of a foal
• provide initial nursing care to impaired foals
• recognise normal health, behaviour, growth and development in a healthy foal
• read, understand and follow required policies and procedures, including workplace health and safety, infection control and waste management
• recognise normal physical and behavioural signs in mares and foals
• use numeracy skills to estimate, calculate and record routine and more complex workplace elements
• use safe manual handling techniques and/or equipment
• use safe, hygienic and environmentally friendly waste handling and disposal procedures
• work as part of a team and in close working arrangements with the supervising veterinarian.

Required knowledge includes:

Knowledge of: 

• clinical signs of common foal diseases
• normal health parameters for newborn foals
• handling techniques for impaired foals
• normal behaviour patterns for newborn foals
• nutritional requirements and options for impaired foals
• nursing techniques for impaired foals
• principles and practices of infection control
• principles and practices of routine care of hospitalised animals
• principles of animal welfare
• problems affecting newborn foals
• procedures for providing care to critically ill foals
• relevant legislation, regulations and codes of practice, including workplace health and safety, animal welfare and ethics, veterinary practices and waste disposal
• workplace hygiene standards (biosecurity) including: disinfectants, cleaning agents and techniques, cleaning and appropriate disinfection or sterilisation of equipment, materials and personal protective equipment (PPE).

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:

• safely handle and restrain healthy and ill or compromised foals
• assess and maintain health of neonatal foals
• perform a physical examination of a foal
• care for ill or compromised foals
• provide initial care for critically ill foals
• follow workplace health and safety requirements, animal welfare rules and infection control protocols
• accurately document and maintain appropriate records.

The skills and knowledge required to nurse foals 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 equine veterinary clinic or hospital with access to a range of mares and newborn foals and the appropriate 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 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
• case studies
• 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.

Health of neonatal foals 

Indicators of normal behaviour for neonatal foals may include, but is not limited to:

• blinking, sitting up, suckling reflex, attempts to rise, stand and walk, search for udder, suckling mare, awareness of immediate surroundings, defecation, urination

Assessment requirements include:

• measuring colostrum quality
• determining the level of antibodies or immunoglobulins (IgG) in the colostrum

Risk factors to be aware of include:

• unwell dam
• difficult foaling
• not meeting any of the normal newborn foal parameters
• failure of transfer of passive immunity.

Restraint 

Restraint methods include those:

• appropriate for healthy neonates
• appropriate for ill neonates
• restraint with mare (manually or crush)
• restraint without mare (manually or crush)

Procedures requiring restraint may include, but are not limited to:

• application of umbilical stump treatment
• administration of an enema
• drawing blood for IgG test
• physical examination.

Growth and development 

Aspects of foal growth and development that should be assessed include:

• growth rate
• weight gain
• limb conformation
• illness
• dam’s condition and ability to produce milk.

Physical examination 

Factors assessed in a physical examination of the equine neonate may include, but are not limited to:

• recording history of the foal including:

• details of the foaling
• details of any prior illness in the mare
• details of foals behaviour post foaling
• any vital signs recorded post foaling
• any clinical pathology results for the foal such as: IgG, blood work, swabs

• measuring vital parameters such as: temperature, pulse, respiration and mucous membranes
• assessing general health such as: eyes, mouth, navel, nostrils, ribs and limbs
• monitoring normal behavioural routines demonstrated by foal such as: sleeping, rising and suckling, urinating and defecating.

Infection control protocols 

Routine industry standard infection control procedures may include:

• practising aseptic techniques in all possible areas and maintaining strict hygiene protocol
• monitoring and maintaining equipment
• preparing and maintaining individual inventories for each patient
• accurately labelling and recording samples taken
• following strict isolation protocol in all cases where infection and/or contagion is suspected
• observing and practising strict personal antiseptic protocol.

Nursing assistance 

Nursing assistance may be required to:

• restrain a foal
• teach a weak foal to rise
• provide temperature support such as:

• warming with specialist care blankets, hot water bottles, limb and body covers
• cooling with fans, alcohol wash, iced water

• move a compromised foal
• provide limb support
• provide respiratory support
• provide nutritional support.

Assessment to determine if a foal requires special foal nursing and intensive care 

Factors that may be assessed include:

• foal physical examination
• foal maintenance behaviour
• foaling history.

Initial care for critically ill foal 

Initial care may include, but is not limited to:

• respiratory support
• temperature support
• feeding of appropriate cases
• safe transport to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Common foal diseases 

Common foal diseases likely to be encountered include, but are not limited to:

• meconium retention
• neonatal syndrome
• septicaemia
• neonatal maladjustment syndrome
• localised infections
• neonatal seizures
• infectious and non-infectious diarrhoea
• gastroduodenal ulcers
• haemolytic disease (NI)
• ruptured bladder
• septic arthritis (joint ill)
• umbilical problems
• congenital and genetic disorders
• hypoglycaemia
• rhodococcus equi.