Assist with the provision of general nursing care to veterinary patients

This standard covers assisting with the provision of general nursing care to veterinary patients while they are in the veterinary environment.  This will include assisting with veterinary patients who have infectious or non-infectious diseases.

General nursing care will cover assisting with providing nutrition and fluids, fluid therapy and checking bandages, dressings and monitoring wounds.

This standard is suitable for Auxiliary Care Assistants working under the direction of qualified veterinary staff.

1. confirm the veterinary patient's condition and the general nursing care required with qualified veterinary practice staff
2. confirm and obtain supplies of the equipment and materials needed to carry out the required general nursing care to veterinary patients
3. use the required veterinary practice infection control procedures relevant to the area of the veterinary practice you are working in
4. wear the required clothing and personal protective equipment (PPE)
5. handle the veterinary patient using a method relevant to its species to minimise physical or medical problems
6. provide general nursing care to veterinary patients as direction by qualified veterinary practice staff
7. assist qualified veterinary practice staff in the provision of relevant veterinary patients first aid or emergency treatment
8. observe and record the progress of the veterinary patient being nursed as directed by the qualified veterinary practice staff
9. report any changes observed in the veterinary patient to qualified veterinary practice staff
10. maintain records as directed by qualified veterinary practice staff
11. dispose of clinical and non-clinical waste materials in accordance with relevant legislation and veterinary practice policy
12. carry out your work in accordance with the relevant environmental and health and safety legislation, risk assessment requirements, codes of practice and business policies
13. comply with the relevant animal welfare legislation when assisting with the provision of general nursing care

1. why it is important to confirm the veterinary patient's condition and the required general nursing care with qualified veterinary practice staff
2. the equipment and materials used for different types of general nursing care to veterinary patients
3. the required veterinary practice infection control procedures relevant to the area of the veterinary practice you are working in
4. the types of clothing and personal protective equipment (PPE) required for the activity
5. the different types of general nursing care carried out on veterinary patients
6. how to position and restrain different species of veterinary patient in order to carry out different general nursing care
7. the additional care required for infectious diseases both in standard and in infectious veterinary care units
8. the actions needed when nursing veterinary patients with infectious or zoonotic conditions
9. the medical principles and protocols of animal first aid and emergency treatment in the veterinary practice
10. the veterinary patient's observation criteria used during different types of general nursing care to animals
11. the reasons for reporting changes in observations and their implications for general nursing care to veterinary patients
12. the correct and safe methods for the disposal of clinical and non-clinical waste materials
13. your responsibility under the relevant environmental and health and safety legislations, animal welfare legislation codes of practice and business policies

General nursing care: assisting with providing nutrition and fluids, fluid therapy. checking bandages, dressings and monitoring wounds.