Elements and Performance Criteria
- Prepare for anaesthesia
- Prepare surgery and ensure personnel are ready for anaesthesia according to practice policy and procedures
- Prepare and test equipment to ensure appropriate function for procedure
- Set-up anaesthetic and analgesia monitoring equipment according to practice policy and procedures
- Ensure the correct use and storage of anaesthetic gases including scavenging of gases according to practice policy and procedures
- Prepare animals for anaesthesia procedures
- Handle, restrain and position animals safely according to practice policies and procedures
- Assess animal physical health status and body condition and note any abnormalities
- Perform a pre-anaesthetic evaluation on animals according to practice polies and procedures
- Prepare anaesthetic and analgesic plan for each patient, under the guidance of the veterinarian
- Calculate and prepare anaesthetic and analgesic drugs specific for the animal under the guidance of the veterinarian
- Identify and locate animal anatomical features relevant to the administration of drugs for induction of anaesthesia and anaesthetic monitoring
- Identify and know the physiological effects of anaesthesia on different body systems
- Follow safe work practices according to WHS and practice policies and procedures
- Assist in administering anaesthesia and monitoring animals
- Assist in the induction of anaesthesia according to legislative requirements and practice policies and procedures
- Assist with endotracheal intubation
- Monitor animal and chart animal’s vital signs
- Identify stages and planes of anaesthesia and communicate with the veterinarian any abnormal values and be able to initiate an appropriate response to correct abnormality
- Identify an anaesthetic emergency and provide assistance under the guidance of the veterinarian
- Monitor and record changes in the post-operative period
- Assist in administering analgesia for animals
- Identify, monitor and assess analgesic requirements in animals
- Provide analgesia to manage pain in animals under veterinary guidance
- Provide supportive therapies to manage pain
- Monitor animals by evaluating behaviour, vital signs, clinical signs and using recognised pain scoring scales
- Recognise and respond to emergencies immediately according to practice policies and procedures