ACM30122 Certificate iIi in animal CARE SERCVICES

COURSE OVERVIEW

 

The ACM30122 Certificate III in Animal Care Services (Animal Care) is a nationally accredited course. We have tailored this course to be specifically relevant to those wishing to become veterinary nurses but are not yet employed in a veterinary clinic, enabling students to work towards becoming a qualified VN around other commitments, whilst making placement more achievable for the student and the clinic. This course does not require students to have access to the reception duties or client interactions.

Placement contact requirements and hours are less than previous Cert 3 courses as the units have changed. Many of the new units do not require clinical placement.

The way we structure this program is unique to ACVN. Graduates will receive subject and unit credits which cover a large chunk of the first year of the Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing.

Once they graduate, students can go on to enrol in the Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing if they obtain employment at a clinic, or if a clinic is willing to take them on as a vocational placement student for the duration of their course.

PLACEMENT REQUIREMENTS

 

As part of their course, students must undertake work placement in order to develop their practical skills. This is performed under the scope of work experience.

For this course, students must undertake a total of 20 days of work experience, with each day being 7.5 – 8 hours in duration. This is split across two placements. We recommend both placements are completed in a veterinary practice, however placement 1 has a focus on animal husbandry so students can use any approved animal care facility that houses animals overnight.

We suggest students complete their placements in line with the subjects they are studying at that time. Students are advised to complete the related theory subjects prior to entering placement to ensure they have done the learning required for the skills and assessments they complete in placement.

Each of the placements is 10 days (covering 75 – 80 hours). Placement 2 must be undertaken at a veterinary clinic to ensure students are mastering the right nursing skills that this course requires.

Placements are very flexible in order to allow students fit around other commitments and to work in best with your workplace availability. Placement can be done either as blocks or regular contact days, as long as the minimum hours are completed.

MENTOR PERKS

Clinical Mentors are a vital part of how we train here at ACVN. We want the student’s clinical experience to be realistic. After all, once they’re employed in the clinic they will be working with, and learning from, vets and nurses every day.

We recognise the contribution the mentors, and their clinics, make to the success of our graduates, so we want to thank you.

Upon request, we’re happy to provide you with a Certificate of Appreciation that you can proudly display in your clinic. Many clinics put them in their reception area.

Other perks of being a mentor include:

• You will receive 50% off any of our practical workshops. Just call us to book in at the discounted rate.
• When we have webinars scheduled, you’ll receive either FREE or heavily discounted tickets to attend and obtain some valuable CPD.
• Receive 50% off up to 2 short courses. Email us for a discount code.

These perks apply whilst you are a registered clinical mentor, and have hosted students in the last 12 months.

REGISTERING TO HOST A STUDENT

 

Before you, or your clinic, is able to host a work placement student, there are a few steps that both you, and the student, will need to complete.

Firstly, your clinic must be an approved training clinic. For more information on this process, pop over to this page. It’s completely free and your clinic registration lasts for two years. Clinic registration covers Cert II, III and IV students.

All vets and nurses involved in mentoring ACVN students must register and be approved Clinical Mentors. Again, this is free, and in return for hosting the student, you’ll receive some great perks. For general information on being a Clinical Mentor – read this page.

The final step is to ensure a Work Experience / Placement Agreement form is completed and signed by a clinic representative, the student or their guardian, and a representative of the training organisation. This is an extremely important document to ensure we all meet legislative requirements and it is used to start the placement insurance coverage.

MANDATORY SUBJECTS PRIOR TO PLACEMENT

 

Prior to commencing placement, all students are required to complete and pass the ‘Health & Safety in the Vet Clinic (WHS)’ and ‘Safe Animal Handling Techniques’ subjects. We also recommend they complete all theory related to the placement skills, prior to commencing placement.

The mandatory subjects are there to ensure the student understands how to keep safe when in a veterinary clinic. However, you should still do a WHS induction on day one like any new staff member, to ensure you have met your duty of care and any WHS responsibilities.

KEY SKILLS (Third party reports)

 

Key Skills are a record of tasks that the student has undertaken in your clinic. Each Key Skill sheet has explicit instructions, and the student should complete all the necessary data before presenting it to you for a signature and date. Key Skills demonstrate that the student has performed a task on multiple occasions, to the level you’d expect of an employee.

Click here for an example. Further instructions and information are provided to mentors via this website (once you are registered and approved).

Placement 1

There is only one Key Skill to be completed on this placement, covering working safely.

Placement 2

This placement contains one key skill on undertaking workplace hygiene tasks.

 

CASE DIARIES (PHOTO EVIDENCE)

 

Case Diaries are another way we collect evidence of tasks that the student has undertaken in your clinic. Case diaries involve the student taking a photo of them undertaking a specific task, then summarising what they were doing. Case Diaries demonstrate that the student has performed a range of tasks over time, and variations to the same task (eg multiple species).

Click here for an example. Further instructions and information are provided to mentors via this website (once you are registered and approved).

Mentors do not need to be involved in this assessment. Anyone can take the photo for the student.

Placement 1

There are four case diaries for placement 1. They cover animal handling and restraint, working safely, and providing nutrition related tasks.

Placement 2

This placement contains two case diaries. These cover general basic nursing care and isolation tasks.

PRACTICAL ASSESSMENTS

 

Practical assessments are where the student performs a task for assessment by an Educator. This is achieved either via the student recording a video and uploading it for assessment OR they can book in with an Educator and perform it live over Zoom. To meet the requirements of Nationally Recognised Training, a qualified trainer and assessor (for ACVN this is our Nurse Educators) must observe the student undertaking the required tasks correctly. A student cannot be deemed competent or graduate unless this occurs.

Traditionally, this has occurred by an assessor visiting the workplace. As we are a distance provider, we utilise video assessment (either recorded or live) to keep our course affordable and accessible. Video assessment is also less strain on the clinic, as particular cases and procedures do not need to be scheduled for an assessor visit. Videos can be done around normal workflow, as students can book in the same day to perform their assessment live if required.

For most practical assessments, there is no need for additional staff to be involved. Smart phones or video cameras can be mounted or supported on a surface near by. For some, we ask to see the student interact with other staff so we can assess vital communication skills. Some practicals are better off done as a simulation to better meet clinic requirements, and the students instructions will advise them if they are able to simulate the task or even perform it at home,

Students are provided with thorough instructions to ensure they capture the required skill in full. Mentors are provided with further instructions, where necessary, as part of this website.

Click here for an example of the video instructions we provide to students.

Placement 1

Students must complete 3 practical assessments on this placement, some can be done at home. These cover skills in animal handling, working safely with others, and following feeding plans. 

These practicals do require other staff interaction. For animal handling they must request the help of another staff member, and for working safely, they need to instruct another ‘junior’ member of staff to work safely. This can be simulated by a senior nurse. Only minimal contact with other staff is required for the feeding plan assessment just some quick confirmations.

None of these must be the mentor, it can be any staff member at the clinic.

A large part of this placement is getting the student comfortable with being the in vet clinic and understanding the role of the vet nurse.

Placement 2

This placement contains 3 practicals covering skills in performing a physical examination, performing standard precautions for infection control and isolation tasks.

They can also complete any practicals not done as part of placement 1.

Students should start being more comfortable in the clinic by this placement and be able to identify tasks they can perform to help with the workload of the day.