Unit of competency
Modification History
Release |
Comments |
Release 1 |
This version released with ACM Animal Care and Management Training Package Version 2.0. |
Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to coordinate and undertake patient admission and discharge. It also includes providing initial veterinary nursing care to patients (animals) and grief support to clients (animal owners).
This unit applies to individuals who work as veterinary nurses under the supervision of a registered veterinarian. Veterinary nurses who coordinate admissions and discharges need to hold and apply knowledge of animal anatomy and physiology and veterinary procedures, to triage patients, and use effective communication skills to support animal owners in grief.
Legislative and regulatory requirements apply to veterinary nurses but vary according to state/territory jurisdictions. Users must check with the relevant regulatory authority before delivery.
Pre-requisite Unit
Nil
Unit Sector
Veterinary Nursing (VET)
Elements and Performance Criteria
Element |
Performance Criteria |
Elements describe the essential outcomes. |
Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Coordinate practice admissions |
1.1 Schedule appointments and other practice procedures 1.2 Advise animal owners on patient intake and pre-treatment procedures for specific periods 1.3 Answer routine and non-routine enquiries 1.4 Send or set reminders for appointments 1.5 Consult veterinarian on relevant details and convey the intended actions to the client |
2. Compile patient and client histories |
2.1 Identify patients according to species, breed and permanent identification features 2.2 Retrieve and update existing client and patient histories 2.3 Establish new client and patient records |
3. Undertake admission procedure |
3.1 Complete admission documentation 3.2 Carry out preliminary examination, handling animal to minimise stress 3.3 Explain procedure to client |
4. Provide veterinary nursing care |
4.1 Use triage procedures for all admissions 4.2 Recognise and report emergency situations to veterinarian, in line with practice procedures 4.3 Recognise need for isolation 4.4 Use appropriate personal protective equipment for the veterinary nursing care required 4.5 Recognise and report signs of pain 4.6 Apply animal first aid measures to sustain life and to minimise pain as required, under the supervision of a veterinarian 4.7 Provide support to the veterinarian |
5. Provide grief support to clients |
5.1 Identify client needs in consultation with the veterinarian 5.2 Provide sympathy and comfort to the client 5.3 Identify level of grief and take appropriate action 5.4 Use varied techniques in communicating with the client and providing support 5.5 Manage own stress and fatigue |
6. Implement discharge procedures as directed by veterinarian |
6.1 Carry out final checks on vital signs and record results in patient record 6.2 Clean, groom and prepare patient for discharge 6.3 Transfer the animal back to its owners 6.4 Provide home care advice to the client, including medication needs, wound management, nutrition, pain management exercise and veterinary review for routine and non-routine procedures |
Foundation Skills
This section describes those language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills that are essential for performance in this unit of competency but are not explicit in the performance criteria.
Skill |
Description |
Writing |
|
Oral communication |
|
Numeracy |
|
Get the work done |
|
Unit Mapping Information
Code and title current version |
Code and title previous version |
Comments |
Equivalence status |
ACMVET401 Coordinate veterinary reception duties |
ACMVET401A Coordinate patient admission and discharge |
Updated to meet Standards for Training Packages Minor changes to clarify content Assessment requirements revised Work placement requirement included |
No equivalent unit |
Links
Companion Volumes, including Implementation Guides, are available at VETNet: - https://vetnet.gov.au/Pages/TrainingDocs.aspx?q=b75f4b23-54c9-4cc9-a5db-d3502d154103