Prepare veterinary patients for anaesthesia or sedation

This standard is about preparing veterinary patients for anaesthesia or sedation. It covers identifying the correct veterinary patients for sedation or anaesthesia, adjusting the environmental conditions and performing pre-anaesthetic and pre-sedation checks.

This standard is suitable for registered veterinary nurses.

1. assess the risks to the health and safety of yourself and colleagues when preparing anaesthesia or sedation
2. confirm the veterinary patient's identification, the preparation undertaken and the anaesthetic or sedation procedure being administered against available information
3. adjust the environmental conditions to suit the needs of the veterinary patient
4. select and implement the required veterinary practice infection control procedures relevant to the area of the veterinary practice you are working in
5. wear the required clothing and personal protective equipment (PPE) when preparing anaesthesia or sedation
6. position and restrain the veterinary patient using the required handling equipment and methods
7. keep the veterinary patient relaxed and minimise physical discomfort in the clinical environment
8. perform pre-anaesthetic or pre-sedation checks and procedures on the veterinary patient, prior to pre-medication and induction or sedation
9. monitor the veterinary patient during preparation of anaesthesia and sedation
10. comply with relevant animal health and welfare legislation and codes of practice
11. carry out your work in accordance with the relevant environmental and health and safety legislations, risk assessment requirements, codes of practice and business policies

1. how to assess the risks to the health and safety of yourself and colleagues when preparing veterinary patients for anaesthesia or sedation
2. the types of information that are used to identify the veterinary patient and the anaesthetic or sedation procedures that will be used
3. the adjustments to environmental conditions needed for different types of veterinary patients

4. the required veterinary practice infection control procedures relevant to the area of the veterinary practice you are working in

5. the required clothing and personal protective equipment (PPE) for working in a veterinary surgical theatre

6. how to position and restrain the veterinary patient for the anaesthetic or sedation procedure
7. the importance of keeping veterinary patients relaxed in clinical environments
8. the pre-anaesthetic or pre-sedation checks that should be undertaken on veterinary patients and the different types of pre-medication and induction or sedation
9. how to monitor veterinary patients prior to sedation or anaesthesia
10. the medical principles and key points of relevant health and safety regulations and guidelines
11. the professional roles and responsibilities of the veterinary team members involved in preparing veterinary patients for sedation or anaesthesia
12. your responsibilities for the health and welfare of animals under the relevant legislation and codes of practice.
13. your professional responsibilities as a registered veterinary nurse
14. your responsibility under the relevant environmental and health and safety legislations, codes of practice and business policies