Modification History
Release |
TP Version |
Comments |
1 |
ACM10v3 |
Initial release. Based on Victorian accredited course unit VU20206 |
Unit Descriptor
This Unit of Competency describes the skills and knowledge necessary to apply veterinary pathophysiology in general veterinary practice. Pathophysiology involves the recognition of abnormal function caused by disease. Application of this knowledge supports veterinary diagnosis and treatment. This Unit covers the fundamentals of disease and common disease processes. It includes diagnostic tests, treatment options and nursing care. A practical understanding of veterinary pathophysiology enables nurses to better support veterinary recommendations, encourage owner compliance, and improve patient outcomes.
Application of the Unit
This Unit is intended for experienced veterinary nurses who are responsible for supporting veterinarians and implementing veterinary treatments in general practice. It is assumed that such nurses will have a leadership role in their practice and be involved in the co-ordination of diagnostic procedures, treatment regimes and follow up procedures.
In addition to legal and ethical responsibilities, all Units of Competency in the ACM10 Animal Care and Management Training Package have the requirement for animals to be handled gently and calmly. The individual is required to exhibit appropriate care for animals so that stress and discomfort is minimised.
Licensing/Regulatory Information
Licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements may apply to this Unit. Therefore, it will be necessary to check with the relevant state or territory regulators for current licensing, legislative or regulatory requirements before undertaking this Unit.
Pre-Requisites
Nil
Employability Skills Information
This unit contains employability skills
Elements and Performance Criteria Pre-Content
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. |
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT |
PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
1. Interpret fundamentals of disease |
1.1 Detailed patient history is collected from owner or veterinarian in accordance with clinic policies and procedures. 1.2 Detailed physical examination of the patient is performed to determine any abnormalities of the patient’s body systems. 1.3 Clinical signs consistent with basic disease processes are identified. 1.4 Effective triage of patients in conducted. 1.5 Patient history and clinical signs are communicated to the veterinarian in accordance with clinic policies and procedures. |
2. Assist diagnosis of disease by a veterinarian |
2.1 Nursing support for veterinary examination is provided in accordance with relevant animal welfare and workplace health and safety legislation and clinic policies and procedure. 2.2 Diagnostic tests are conducted as directed by a veterinarian and the results are reported in accordance with clinic policies and procedures. 2.3 Causative agents or contributing factors are determined in support of veterinary diagnosis. 2.4 Strategies to prevent zoonosis in companion animals are implemented. |
3. Co-ordinate veterinary treatments for disease processes |
3.1 The benefits from and potential adverse responses to a range of veterinary medications used in general practice are identified. 3.2 A range of veterinary medications are prepared and administered in accordance with state/territory legislation, animal welfare and workplace health and safety legislation, clinic policies and procedures and as instructed by a veterinarian. 3.3 Appropriate treatment is implemented as directed by a veterinarian in accordance with relevant veterinary legislation, animal welfare and workplace health and safety legislation. |
4. Manage outpatients under treatment for disease. |
4.1 Specific written or verbal instructions are provided to clients as directed by a veterinarian in accordance clinic policies and procedure. 4.2 Environmental factors relevant to the management of common disease processes are identified. 4.3 Follow up procedures are co-ordinated to encourage owner compliance and monitor patient progress in accordance with clinic policies and procedure. |
Required Skills and Knowledge
This section describes the skills and knowledge required for this unit. |
Required skills Include: |
Ability to:
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Required knowledge includes: |
Knowledge of:
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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. |
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Overview of assessment |
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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:
The skills and knowledge required to apply veterinary pathophysiology must be transferable to a range of work environments and contexts and include the ability to deal with unplanned events. It is highly recommended that learners perform work placement in another approved veterinary practice or training workplace in order to gather further evidence of competence and demonstrate the transferability of skills and knowledge outcomes. |
Context of and specific resources for assessment |
Assessment of this Unit is to be practical in nature and must be assessed in a veterinary practice in order to gain exposure to sufficient caseload. There must be access to a veterinary clinic or animal hospital, a range of companion animals as well as the appropriate equipment, resources and documentation 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 an extended period of time, by collecting medical history, assessing patients, collecting samples, performing in-house laboratory tests, recognising common disease processes and co-ordinating the treatment of patients as directed by a veterinarian on a regular basis. The assessment strategy must include a practical skills assessment. Suggested strategies for this unit are:
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). |
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. |
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Detailed patient history |
Detailed patient history means:
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Detailed physical examination |
Detailed physical examination includes:
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Body systems |
Body systems are:
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Basic disease processes |
Basic disease processes mean:
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Nursing support |
Nursing support may include:
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Diagnostic tests |
Diagnostic tests include:
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Causative agents |
Causative agents include:
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Contributing factors |
Contributing factors include:
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Strategies |
Strategies include:
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Veterinary medications |
Veterinary medications may include but are not limited to:
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Appropriate treatment |
Appropriate treatment includes but is not limited to:
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Written or verbal instructions |
Written or verbal instructions may include but are not limited to:
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Environmental factors |
Environmental factors may include:
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Follow-up procedures |
Follow-up procedures may include but are not limited to:
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Unit Sector(s)
Veterinary nursing