Domain - Veterinary Nursing

Domain - Veterinary Nursing

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All unit standards registered on the Directory of Assessment Standards may be accessed here. 

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Assessment Standards

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Level 2

Assist with artificial breeding of dogs
This standard has expired and is no longer available.

Version 6

5213 Unit Standard 2 Credits

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People credited with this unit standard are able to: demonstrate knowledge of artificial insemination of dogs; prepare equipment, and assist the veterinarian with semen collection and artificial insemination; and attend to post-procedure duties.

Standard-setting body:

Muka Tangata - People, Food and Fibre Workforce Development Council Te P?kenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology

Level 3

Demonstrate and apply knowledge of professional behaviour for veterinary nurses
This standard has expired and is no longer available.

Version 3

21384 Unit Standard 3 Credits

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People credited with this unit standard are able to describe professional behaviour of veterinary nurses in relation to staff, clients, and animals in their care; and behave professionally with staff, clients and animals in an animal facility.

Standard-setting body:

Muka Tangata - People, Food and Fibre Workforce Development Council Te P?kenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology

Nurse a hospitalised animal patient
This standard has expired and is no longer available.

Version 7

5160 Unit Standard 5 Credits

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People credited with this unit standard are able to: attend to a hospitalised animal''s routine daily requirements; treat animal wounds according to instruction; and monitor a hospitalised animal''s recovery, and describe responses to possible complications.

Standard-setting body:

Muka Tangata - People, Food and Fibre Workforce Development Council Te P?kenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology

Assist to take radiographs of animals, and process
This standard has expired and is no longer available.

Version 5

5178 Unit Standard 4 Credits

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People credited with this unit standard are able to: prepare the x-ray machine and self for the procedure as directed by the veterinarian; position the patient following safety precautions, and take the x-ray image as directed by the veterinarian; maintain a darkroom and develop radiographs using manual technique; develop radiographs using automatic processing; and identify and store radiographs to be easily retrievable.

Standard-setting body:

Muka Tangata - People, Food and Fibre Workforce Development Council Te P?kenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology

Admit and discharge animal patients
This standard has expired and is no longer available.

Version 5

5191 Unit Standard 4 Credits

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People credited with this unit standard are able to: admit animal patients; and explain post-surgical care to the owner, and discharge animal patients.

Standard-setting body:

Muka Tangata - People, Food and Fibre Workforce Development Council Te P?kenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology

Dispense animal drugs as directed by the veterinarian
This standard has expired and is no longer available.

Version 6

5192 Unit Standard 3 Credits

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People credited with this unit standard are able to prepare a prescription as directed by the veterinarian, and provide advice to clients regarding drug administration.

Standard-setting body:

Muka Tangata - People, Food and Fibre Workforce Development Council Te P?kenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology

Assist in the collection and storage of blood and administration of a blood transfusion to an animal
This standard has expired and is no longer available.

Version 5

5198 Unit Standard 3 Credits

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People credited with this unit standard are able to: prepare the donor, recipient, and equipment; and assist the veterinarian in the collection procedure and administration process.

Standard-setting body:

Muka Tangata - People, Food and Fibre Workforce Development Council Te P?kenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology

Assist the veterinarian to obtain diagnostic samples
This standard has expired and is no longer available.

Version 5

5201 Unit Standard 4 Credits

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People credited with this unit standard are able to: prepare equipment and patient for sample collection; assist the veterinarian when obtaining samples; maintain records, and despatch samples; and attend to the animal and equipment after sampling.

Standard-setting body:

Te P?kenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology

Assist the veterinarian to perform post-mortem procedures
This standard has expired and is no longer available.

Version 7

5202 Unit Standard 3 Credits

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People credited with this unit standard are able to: prepare for post-mortem; assist the veterinarian throughout the procedure; and attend to procedures following post-mortem.

Standard-setting body:

Muka Tangata - People, Food and Fibre Workforce Development Council Te P?kenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology

Assist the veterinarian with equine consultations, surgery, and parturition, and carry out neonatal nursing
This standard has expired and is no longer available.

Version 6

5203 Unit Standard 15 Credits

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People credited with this unit standard are able to: assist the veterinarian with consultations involving horses; assist the veterinarian with common equine surgical procedures; describe gestation and pre and post-parturient obstetrical conditions, assist the veterinarian during parturition, and carry out neonatal nursing; assist the veterinarian with equine radiography; and respond to requests for advice.

Standard-setting body:

Te P?kenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology

Assist the veterinarian with consultations and surgery involving farm animals
This standard has expired and is no longer available.

Version 6

5204 Unit Standard 15 Credits

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People credited with this unit standard are able to: assist the veterinarian with consultations involving farm animals; assist the veterinarian with common surgical procedures; describe gestation, pre and post-parturient obstetrical conditions, and carry out neonatal nursing; maintain the vehicle contents for farm animal ambulatory practice; and respond to requests for advice.

Standard-setting body:

Muka Tangata - People, Food and Fibre Workforce Development Council Te P?kenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology

Nurse hospitalised caged birds
This standard has expired and is no longer available.

Version 5

5205 Unit Standard 4 Credits

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People credited with this unit standard are able to: restrain birds, administer parenteral, oral and topical medications, and immobilise a limb; prepare for and assist with avian surgical procedures, and provide post-surgical care; and respond to client requests for advice.

Standard-setting body:

Muka Tangata - People, Food and Fibre Workforce Development Council Te P?kenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology

Nurse an animal patient undergoing chemotherapy treatment
This standard has expired and is no longer available.

Version 6

5210 Unit Standard 3 Credits

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People credited with this unit standard are able to: provide daily nursing care, as directed by the veterinarian, for a chemotherapy patient; and respond to client requests for advice.

Standard-setting body:

Muka Tangata - People, Food and Fibre Workforce Development Council Te P?kenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology

Prepare and nurse an animal patient undergoing radiotherapy treatment
This standard has expired and is no longer available.

Version 6

5211 Unit Standard 3 Credits

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People credited with this unit standard are able to: assist in the preparation and transport of the patient for radiotherapy treatment; provide daily nursing care as directed by a veterinarian, for a radiotherapy patient; and respond to client requests for advice.

Standard-setting body:

Te P?kenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology

Assist with artificial breeding of large animals
This standard has expired and is no longer available.

Version 5

5214 Unit Standard 2 Credits

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People credited with this unit standard are able to: prepare equipment, and assist the veterinarian with semen collection and artificial insemination; and attend to post-procedure duties.

Standard-setting body:

Te P?kenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology

Assist the veterinarian with ultrasound imaging of an animal
This standard has expired and is no longer available.

Version 5

5217 Unit Standard 3 Credits

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People credited with this unit standard are able to: prepare the patient and equipment for the procedure; assist with basic procedures; and carry out post-procedure duties.

Standard-setting body:

Muka Tangata - People, Food and Fibre Workforce Development Council Te P?kenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology

Set up and maintain an electrocautery unit, and assist with electrocauterisation of animals
This standard has expired and is no longer available.

Version 5

5220 Unit Standard 2 Credits

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People credited with this unit standard are able to: prepare the patient and equipment for sterile surgery; assist with basic procedures; and carry out post-procedure duties.

Standard-setting body:

Muka Tangata - People, Food and Fibre Workforce Development Council Te P?kenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology

Set up and maintain an endoscope, and assist with endoscopy of animals
This standard has expired and is no longer available.

Version 5

5221 Unit Standard 2 Credits

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People credited with this unit standard are able to: prepare the patient and equipment for the procedure; assist the veterinarian throughout the procedure; and carry out post-procedure duties.

Standard-setting body:

Muka Tangata - People, Food and Fibre Workforce Development Council Te P?kenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology

Level 4

Prepare animal patients for surgery
This standard has expired and is no longer available.

Version 7

5155 Unit Standard 5 Credits

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People credited with this unit standard are able to: provide information on routine pre-operative patient care, perform related administrative tasks, and assess animal''s condition; prepare, administer and record pre-medication; and prepare the patient for surgery, and transport and position the patient.

Standard-setting body:

Muka Tangata - People, Food and Fibre Workforce Development Council Te P?kenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology

Conduct preliminary clinical examination of an animal
This standard has expired and is no longer available.

Version 5

5179 Unit Standard 3 Credits

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People credited with this unit standard are able to: carry out a distant examination and complete an interim case history of the patient; and conduct a superficial examination of the patient.

Standard-setting body:

Muka Tangata - People, Food and Fibre Workforce Development Council Te P?kenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology

Provide emergency first aid care to large animals
This standard has expired and is no longer available.

Version 6

5182 Unit Standard 12 Credits

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People credited with this unit standard are able to assess the emergency situation, and provide immediate first aid supportive therapy to large animals until qualified help arrives and/or help is available.

Standard-setting body:

Muka Tangata - People, Food and Fibre Workforce Development Council Te P?kenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology

Nurse an orthopaedic animal patient
This standard has expired and is no longer available.

Version 5

5212 Unit Standard 5 Credits

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People credited with this unit standard are able to: prepare equipment and patient for fixation and application, and assist the veterinarian with the procedure; prepare equipment and patient for sterile surgical orthopaedic procedures as directed by the veterinarian; care for the patient after the procedure; and respond to client requests for advice.

Standard-setting body:

Muka Tangata - People, Food and Fibre Workforce Development Council Te P?kenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology

Assist with embryo transfer in animals
This standard has expired and is no longer available.

Version 5

5215 Unit Standard 3 Credits

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People credited with this unit standard are able to: assist with the preparation of equipment to flush embryos, and assist with the flush and assess viability of embryos; assist the veterinarian with the preparation of recipient animals and implantation; freeze and thaw embryos; and care for donor and recipient patients and equipment after treatment.

Standard-setting body:

Te P?kenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology

Level 5

Assist with animal surgery as a circulating veterinary nurse
This standard has expired and is no longer available.

Version 7

5156 Unit Standard 8 Credits

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People credited with this unit standard are able to: prepare self, theatre, and prep room, and assist with preparation of personnel for surgery; assist during surgery and monitor equipment and patient; and carry out post-surgical duties.

Standard-setting body:

Muka Tangata - People, Food and Fibre Workforce Development Council Te P?kenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology

Assist with animal surgery as a surgical veterinary nurse
This standard has expired and is no longer available.

Version 7

5157 Unit Standard 5 Credits

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People credited with this unit standard are able to: prepare self, patient, and equipment, and assist the surgeon to prepare for surgery; and assist the surgeon during surgery, using appropriate surgical techniques and anticipating the surgeon''s needs.

Standard-setting body:

Muka Tangata - People, Food and Fibre Workforce Development Council Te P?kenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology

Assist the veterinarian with animal anaesthetic and analgesic procedures
This standard has expired and is no longer available.

Version 7

5158 Unit Standard 18 Credits

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People credited with this unit standard are able to: assist the veterinarian with local anaesthesia; prepare the anaesthetic machine and associated equipment; prepare for anaesthesia and assist in anaesthetic induction; intubate the patient; maintain and monitor the patient under gaseous anaesthesia, and describe anaesthetic emergencies that may arise and appropriate responses; monitor the animal''s recovery from anaesthesia; maintain anaesthetic equipment and apparatus; assist the veterinarian with analgesia; and advise on basic post-operative nursing care.

Standard-setting body:

Muka Tangata - People, Food and Fibre Workforce Development Council Te P?kenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology

Provide intensive post-operative care for an animal
This standard has expired and is no longer available.

Version 6

5159 Unit Standard 5 Credits

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People credited with this unit standard are able to position and transport the anaesthetised patient, and provide immediate post-operative care for the patient.

Standard-setting body:

Muka Tangata - People, Food and Fibre Workforce Development Council Te P?kenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology

Manage a hospitalised animal patient
This standard has expired and is no longer available.

Version 6

5161 Unit Standard 5 Credits

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People credited with this unit standard are able to: manage the wound, and manage the animal when on specialised support apparatus following general injury or illness.

Standard-setting body:

Muka Tangata - People, Food and Fibre Workforce Development Council Te P?kenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology

Take radiographs of animals, and process
This standard has expired and is no longer available.

Version 5

5177 Unit Standard 15 Credits

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People credited with this unit standard are able to: prepare the x-ray machine and self for the procedure; position the patient following safety precautions, and take the x-ray image; identify the features which affect x-ray image and use a technique chart; maintain a darkroom and develop radiographs using manual technique; develop radiographs using automatic processing; and identify and store radiographs to be easily retrievable.

Standard-setting body:

Muka Tangata - People, Food and Fibre Workforce Development Council Te P?kenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology

Provide emergency first aid care to companion animals
This standard has expired and is no longer available.

Version 7

5181 Unit Standard 8 Credits

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People credited with this unit standard are able to assess the emergency situation, and provide immediate first aid supportive therapy to companion animals until qualified help arrives and/or help is available.

Standard-setting body:

Muka Tangata - People, Food and Fibre Workforce Development Council Te P?kenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology

Receive native and exotic animals and birds for rehabilitation, rearing, re-homing, release or disposal
This standard has expired and is no longer available.

Version 5

5185 Unit Standard 4 Credits

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People credited with this unit standard are able to: assess health and priority status; nurse the injured animal or bird in accordance with Department of Conservation guidelines; and assess, release, dispose of, or re-home the animal or bird.

Standard-setting body:

Te P?kenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology

Set up an intravenous drip, and manage an animal while on fluid therapy
This standard has expired and is no longer available.

Version 6

5199 Unit Standard 5 Credits

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People credited with this unit standard are able to: prepare equipment and the patient; calculate flow rates and administer fluids as directed by the veterinarian; monitor the animal while on the drip; and care for the animal following fluid therapy and dispose of wastes.

Standard-setting body:

Muka Tangata - People, Food and Fibre Workforce Development Council Te P?kenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology

Nurse geriatric animals
This standard has expired and is no longer available.

Version 5

5206 Unit Standard 4 Credits

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People credited with this unit standard are able to: recognise expectations and conditions of old age; attend to the daily needs of geriatric animals; and respond to client requests for advice.

Standard-setting body:

Muka Tangata - People, Food and Fibre Workforce Development Council Te P?kenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology

Nurse animal patients with specific medical conditions
This standard has expired and is no longer available.

Version 5

5207 Unit Standard 8 Credits

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People credited with this unit standard are able to: demonstrate knowledge of the nature of the condition being nursed; provide daily nursing care for the patient; attend to specific requirements of the patient according to the condition; and respond to client requests for advice.

Standard-setting body:

Muka Tangata - People, Food and Fibre Workforce Development Council Te P?kenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology

Nurse companion animal patients with an infectious disease
This standard has expired and is no longer available.

Version 5

5208 Unit Standard 6 Credits

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People credited with this unit standard are able to: demonstrate knowledge of common canine and feline infectious diseases; provide daily nursing care for the patient under isolation conditions; attend to specific medical requirements of the patient in isolation; and respond to client requests for advice.

Standard-setting body:

Muka Tangata - People, Food and Fibre Workforce Development Council Te P?kenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology

Nurse an intensive care animal patient
This standard has expired and is no longer available.

Version 5

5209 Unit Standard 6 Credits

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People credited with this unit standard are able to: provide daily nursing care for the patient; attend to specific requirements according to the condition; and respond to client requests for advice.

Standard-setting body:

Muka Tangata - People, Food and Fibre Workforce Development Council Te P?kenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology

Produce an electrocardiogram (ECG) from an animal
This standard has expired and is no longer available.

Version 5

5218 Unit Standard 4 Credits

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People credited with this unit standard are able to: prepare equipment and patient; produce an electrocardiogram; and carry out post-procedure duties.

Standard-setting body:

Muka Tangata - People, Food and Fibre Workforce Development Council Te P?kenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology

Perform manual, ultrasonic, and rotodontic dental scaling on small animals
This standard has expired and is no longer available.

Version 5

5219 Unit Standard 5 Credits

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People credited with this unit standard are able to: prepare instruments; prepare self and the patient; perform basic dental cleaning and polishing, and ultrasonic and rotodontic cleaning; provide immediate post-surgical care for the patient and respond to client requests for advice; and carry out post-surgical duties.

Standard-setting body:

Muka Tangata - People, Food and Fibre Workforce Development Council Te P?kenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology

Level 6

Provide emergency first aid for companion animals in the absence of the veterinarian
This standard has expired and is no longer available.

Version 5

5190 Unit Standard 10 Credits

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People credited with this unit standard are able to: provide advice to clients regarding managing and transporting the ill or injured animal to the surgery; assess the extent of the condition or injury in the veterinary clinic; and deal with the injury. This unit standard is for experienced people working in a veterinary practice who may be required to deal with emergency situations in the absence of the veterinarian.

Standard-setting body:

Muka Tangata - People, Food and Fibre Workforce Development Council Te P?kenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology

Data as at 01 April 2023