Admit and discharge veterinary patients

This standard is about admitting and discharging veterinary patients. It covers admitting and discharging veterinary patients for surgical cases or medical cases.

It is important that the registered veterinary nurse ensures all details regarding client, veterinary patient, reason for admission, history, food and fluid intake, weight and any special care requirements are all recorded, and admission and discharge procedures are followed.

This standard is suitable for registered veterinary nurses.

1. confirm the veterinary patient's details and the procedure to be undertaken from its records and with the owner or the owner's representative (check passport section IX status – equine only)
2. check that the owner or the owner's representative understands the procedures to be carried out on the veterinary patient, why they must be performed and if there are any risks involved
3. confirm the admission form is completed with the details required according to veterinary practice procedures
4. check that a veterinary care plan is in place for the veterinary patient
5. confirm the owner or the owner's representative has read, understood and signed the veterinary practice consent form
6. inform the owner or the owner's representative how and when to make contact with the veterinary practice
7. confirm the veterinary patient is identified and restrained ready to be admitted to the veterinary practice
8. discharge the veterinary patient after the veterinary procedure is complete and it is in a condition to be discharged
9. confirm the details of the owner and the veterinary patient being discharged
10. discharge the veterinary patient to its owner or owner's representative with its belongings and any relevant treatment information
11. accept and process payments for treatment
12. explain and check that the owner or the owner's representative understands the aftercare that the veterinary patient requires, including administering medication
13. confirm that the owner or the owner's representative knows when to report the veterinary patient's progress or to return for follow up appointments
14. assess the risks to the health and safety of yourself, colleagues, owners or owner's representative when admitting and discharging veterinary patients
15. select and implement the required veterinary infection control procedures for the area of the veterinary practice that you are working in
16. maintain communication with colleagues, owners, owner's representative and anyone else involved in, or affected by, your work
17. complete records as required by the relevant legislation and the veterinary practice
18. comply with relevant animal health and welfare legislation and codes of practice
19. 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. the veterinary practice procedures and protocols to follow when admitting and discharging a veterinary patient
2. the veterinary practice procedures and protocols for maintaining contact with the owners or the owner's representative during the veterinary patient's stay
3. how to support owners or owner's representatives who may need assistance when completing veterinary admission's and discharge documents
4. the types of identification for the veterinary patient and its belongings
5. the different methods of handling and restraining veterinary patients
6. the veterinary practice's procedures and protocols for accepting and processing payments for treatment
7. how to advise owners or owner's representatives on the required observation and aftercare of the veterinary patient including how to administer veterinary medication, feeding and exercise regimes
8. how to identify hazards and assess risks to yourself, colleagues, owners or owners representative associated with admitting and discharging veterinary patients
9. the required veterinary practice infection control procedures when admitting and discharging veterinary patients
10. your professional responsibilities as a registered veterinary nurse
11. the importance of maintaining communication with those involved, in or affected by, your work and how this should be done
12. the importance of completing and checking all records during the veterinary patient's admission and discharge
13. your responsibilities for the health and welfare of animals under relevant legislation and codes of practice
14. your responsibility under the relevant environmental and health and safety legislations, codes and practice and business policies