Unit Of competency

Modification History

Application

This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to prepare and assist with the preparation of veterinary drugs and poisons in a veterinary practice.

The unit applies to veterinary nurses who work under the supervision of a registered veterinarian in a veterinary practice. Veterinary nurses who assist with the preparation of veterinary drugs and poisons for animals need to hold and apply specialised knowledge of animal pharmaceuticals, and the relevant legislation and regulations that apply to working with veterinary drugs and poisons.

Regulatory requirements apply to veterinary nurses but vary according to state/territory jurisdictions. Users must check with the relevant regulatory authority before delivery.

NOTE: The terms 'occupational health and safety' (OHS) and 'work health and safety' (WHS) generally have the same meaning in the workplace. In jurisdictions where the national model WHS legislation has not been implemented, RTOs must contextualise the unit of competency by referring to current OHS legislative requirements.

Pre-requisite Unit

Nil

Unit Sector

Veterinary Nursing (VET)

Elements and Performance Criteria

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.

Unit Mapping Information

Links

Companion Volumes, including Implementation Guides, are available at VETNet: - https://vetnet.gov.au/Pages/TrainingDocs.aspx?q=b75f4b23-54c9-4cc9-a5db-d3502d154103

Assessment requirements

Modification History

Performance Evidence

An individual demonstrating competency must satisfy all of the elements and performance criteria in this unit.

There must be evidence that the individual has assisted with the preparation of veterinary drugs and poisons, including:

• undertaking the preparation of pharmaceuticals for a minimum of three animals of different species, including:

• at least two formulations, including parenteral and topical or oral

• providing information to a client, on at least one occasion, about the veterinary drug or poison and follow-up treatments, under supervision
• performed the activities outlined in the performance criteria of this unit during a period of at least 240 hours of work in a veterinary practice.

Knowledge Evidence

An individual must be able to demonstrate the knowledge required to perform the tasks outlined in the elements and performance criteria of this unit. This includes knowledge of:

• legal and ethical requirements (national, state/territory) for pharmacy work, and how these are applied in organisations
• guidelines, including the Australian Veterinary Association Guidelines for Prescribing, Authorising and Dispensing Veterinary Medicines (including the PAD checklist)
• record keeping, disposal, storage, administration and sales of veterinary drugs and poisons
• prescribing and dispensing veterinary drugs and poisons (by veterinarian only)
• legislation relevant to veterinarians and veterinary nurses
• specific legislation, including:

• relevant state or territory Veterinary Surgeons’ Act
• Therapeutic Goods Act 1989
• Poisons Standard, February 2017
• Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Medicines and Poisons (SUSMP) and relevant state and territory legislation and regulations
• Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Administration) Act 1992
• Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Code Act 1994
• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 in conjunction with Guidelines on use of cytotoxic drugs and related waste (Qld)

• codes of conduct, including the Australian Veterinary Association Code of Professional Conduct
• drugs schedules and categories of drugs, actions and side effects
• prescriptions and who can write prescriptions
• stock control of medications
• legal requirements and principles of veterinary drugs and poisons product labelling (product name, batch numbering and expiry date)
• specific labelling requirements
• key information for inclusion, including:

• date on which the container was filled
• constraints
• directions for use of each medicine
• name, strength, form and quantity of all medicines supplied in the container
• veterinarian details
• expiry date

• withholding periods for commonly medications commonly prescribed in practices
• compounded medications
• infection control principles and their relevance to packaging, administering and storing veterinary drugs and poisons
• handling and administration of cytotoxic drugs under veterinary supervision
• packaging principles and processes, including:

• calculations, weights and measures
• properties of container types and selection for use
• various pack sizes and selection for use
• types of packaging materials.

Assessment Conditions

Assessment of skills must take place under the following conditions:

• physical conditions:

• a workplace or an environment that accurately reflects a veterinery practice

• resources, equipment and materials:

• equipment and resources typically available in a veterinary practice for the preparation of pharmaceuticals
• veterinary drugs and poisons, appropriately stored

• specifications:

• organisational policies and procedures, current legislation, regulations, drug schedules, relevant guidelines and codes of practice

• relationships (internal and/or external):

• interactions with a registered veterinarian or minimum of Certificate IV qualified veterinary nurse.

Assessors of this unit must satisfy the requirements for assessors in applicable vocational education and training legislation, frameworks and/or standards.

Links

Companion Volumes, including Implementation Guides, are available at VETNet: - https://vetnet.gov.au/Pages/TrainingDocs.aspx?q=b75f4b23-54c9-4cc9-a5db-d3502d154103