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Assist in administering and maintaining anaesthetics or sedation to veterinary patients

URN: LANRVN21
Business Sectors (Suites): Veterinary nursing and auxiliary services
Developed by: Lantra
Approved on: 28 Feb 2019

Overview

This standard is about assisting in administering and maintaining anaesthetics or sedation to veterinary patients. It also covers monitoring anaesthesia or sedation under supervision during veterinary procedures. This standard is suitable for a registered veterinary nurses.

Performance criteria

You must be able to:

  1. assess the risks to the health and safety of yourself and colleagues when assisting with administering and maintaining anaesthetics or sedation to veterinary patients
  2. confirm the requirements for anaesthetising or sedating the veterinary patient with the veterinary surgeon
  3. select and implement 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) when assisting in administering and maintaining anaesthetics or sedation in animals
  5. assist with, and undertake, anaesthetic or sedation procedures according to the requirements of the veterinary surgeon and the veterinary patient's condition
  6. undertake the intubation of veterinary patients as required
  7. maintain anaesthesia or sedation under supervision at the required stages of the veterinary procedure
  8. use anaesthetic or sedation equipment, materials and inhalation agents (IA) according to the requirements of the veterinary surgeon
  9. monitor the veterinary patients including their vital signs and bring any indication of any change or concerns to the attention of the veterinary surgeon
  10. maintain records on the use of anaesthetic or sedation procedures and keep these accessible as required
  11. alter the anaesthetic agents when instructed to by the veterinary surgeon
  12. assist with manual ventilation of veterinary patients when required
  13. disconnect the veterinary patient from anaesthetic or sedation equipment, materials and inhalation agents (IA) when instructed to by the veterinary surgeon
  14. undertake the extubation of the animal as required
  15. comply with the relevant animal health and welfare legislation and codes of practice
  16. carry out your work in accordance with the relevant environmental and health and safety legislations, risk assessment requirements, codes of practice and business policies

Knowledge and Understanding

You need to know and understand:

  1. how to assess the risks to the health and safety of yourself and colleagues when assisting in administering and maintaining anaesthetics or sedation to veterinary patients
  2. why it is important to confirm that the correct anaesthetic procedures on veterinary practices are being applied
  3. the required veterinary practice infection control procedures relevant to the area of the veterinary practice you are working in
  4. the required clothing and personal protective equipment (PPE) for administering and maintaining anaesthetics or sedation to veterinary patients
  5. how to assist with administering anaesthetic or sedation procedures on veterinary patients to achieve different requirements
  6. the stages for the administration of anaesthesia or sedation to veterinary patients
  7. the physiological response of veterinary patients to anaesthesia or sedation
  8. the type of assistance required by veterinary surgeons and why it is important to respond to requests
  9. the type of anaesthetic or sedation equipment, materials and inhalation agents (IA) requested by a veterinary surgeon at different stages of the process
  10. the type of monitoring information required by a veterinary surgeon or members of the veterinary team and why it is important to provide it
  11. how to monitor veterinary patients during the anaesthesia or sedation and the indications of problems or changes in the veterinary patient's condition
  12. why it is important to record anaesthetic or sedation procedures and findings and who should have access to them
  13. why it is important that anaesthesia or sedation is adjusted to the veterinary patient's condition during surgery
  14. the required procedures for disconnecting veterinary patients from anaesthetic or sedation equipment, materials and inhalation agents (IA)
  15. the intubation and extubation procedures for veterinary patients
  16. the principles of Intermittent Positive Pressure Ventilation (IPPV) and the equipment used for this
  17. the contents and function of the anaesthetic emergency box
  18. the requirements of anaesthesia agents and equipment
  19. the professional roles and responsibilities of the veterinary team members involved in assisting in administering and maintaining anaesthetics or sedation to veterinary patients
  20. your responsibilities for the health and welfare of animals under the relevant legislation and codes of practice
  21. your professional responsibilities as a registered veterinary nurse
  22. your responsibility under the relevant environmental and health and safety legislations, codes of practice and business policies

Scope/range

Scope Performance

Scope Knowledge

Values

Behaviours

Skills

Glossary

Links To Other NOS

External Links

Version Number

2

Indicative Review Date

28 Feb 2024

Validity

Current

Status

Original

Originating Organisation

Lantra

Original URN

LANRVN27

Relevant Occupations

Veterinary Nurse

SOC Code

3240

Keywords

sedation; anaesthetics; veterinary; animal care