Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to perform caesareans on mice or rats and manage pups.
The unit applies to individuals who work as animal technicians in research and teaching facilities where research animals are bred for scientific purposes.
All work practices must be undertaken in accordance with legislative requirements, the current Australian Code for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes (the Code), the organisation's standard operating procedures, and protocols, policies and procedures approved by the organisation's Animal Ethics Committee (AEC). Users are advised to check legislative requirements for their jurisdiction.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements | Performance Criteria |
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Prepare for procedures and maintain documentation | 1.1 Comply with organisation protocols, policies and procedures according to the Australian Code and relevant legislative requirements, including health and safety 1.2 Identify regulatory and project documentation requirements 1.3 Verify project reproductive and breeding program objectives 1.4 Revise, review, maintain and update records according to organisation policies and procedures |
2. Perform caesarean procedures | 2.1 Justify need for caesarean section and confirm AEC approval 2.2 Prepare equipment, including personal protective equipment and medications, according to organisational procedures 2.3 Humanely kill female by cervical dislocation, or sedate and euthanase 2.4 Conduct caesarean procedure 2.5 Collect, identify, check and monitor pups 2.6 Dispose of carcass according to legislative requirements |
3. Foster pups onto clean mother | 3.1 Verify clean or dirty status of the mother, and separate handling and treatment areas of each group according to biosecurity requirements 3.2 Select and prepare foster mother prior to caesarean surgery of birth mother 3.3 Select and prepare area for fostering to ensure minimal stress to foster mother and pups 3.4 Allocate pups to foster mother, and monitor bonding |
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 |
Numeracy | Keep accurate records of animal birth weight and other measurements |
Get the work done | Make decisions and solve problems as they arise during caesarean procedures |
Sectors
Animal Technology (ATE)