Administer basic nursing care to animals in a Home Office designated establishment

This standard covers administering basic nursing care to animals in a Home Office designated establishment. This may be applied when an animal is showing signs of deviation from normal health, for example, following a non-surgical regulated procedure, injury or disease.

When working with research animals recognise humanity’s obligation to them and your responsibility for ensuring their proper care and treatment at all times.

The objective of the nursing care will be to return the animal to “normal” and will be agreed with the responsible person. Technicians are not able to administer drugs or treatment unless it is in the PPL or advised by the Named Veterinary Surgeon (NVS).

Basic nursing care will require the use of equipment and monitoring animals by checking them as required.

This standard is for animal technologists in Home Office designated establishments.

It is essential that you work strictly within the limits of the relevant project licence.

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1. confirm that your work is carried out in accordance with the approved codes of practice and the organisation’s procedures and within the limits of your authority, expertise, training, competence and experience
2. carry out all work in accordance with the relevant environmental and health and safety legislation, risk assessment requirements, codes of practice and the organisation’s policies
3. assess the risks to health and safety before starting and throughout the activity
4. comply with legislation, codes of practice and the organisation’s policies relating to the care and welfare of animals in a Home Office designated establishment
5. use safe practices and the correct clothing and personal protective equipment (PPE) for the activity
6. maintain the required levels of hygiene and biosecurity in accordance with the organisation’s procedures
7. implement infection control measures and use aseptic techniques in accordance with the organisation’s procedures
8. maintain communication with colleagues and all those involved in, or affected by, your work
9. confirm the animal’s condition and the required level of nursing care with the responsible person
10. confirm with the responsible licensee that the animal is within the severity limits for the relevant Project Licence protocol
11. obtain supplies of the equipment and materials required to administer the basic nursing care
12. confirm that the animal is handled correctly and keep it as calm and comfortable as possible
13. administer basic nursing care in accordance with instructions from the veterinary surgeon or responsible licensee
14. monitor the progress of the animal during nursing care
15. alert the appropriate person to any problems the animal shows during its nursing care
16. deal with waste from the activity safely and correctly in accordance with the relevant legislation and the organisation’s procedures
17. keep accurate and up-to-date records as required by the relevant legislation and the organisation
18. conduct all activities within the provisions of the project licence

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1. your responsibilities under the relevant environmental and health and safety legislation, codes of practice and the organisation’s policies
2. your responsibilities for the care and welfare of animals in a Home Office designated establishment under the relevant animal welfare legislation and Home Office codes of practice
3. the reasons for using animals in scientific research and humanity’s responsibilities to them
4. the importance and correct use of personal protective equipment (PPE) when carrying out activities in a Home Office designated establishment
5. the importance of maintaining the appropriate levels of hygiene and biosecurity and the procedures for this
6. the appropriate infection-control measures and aseptic techniques for administering basic nursing care to animals
7. how to recognise “normal” health in the animals you are working with including: vital signs, bodily functions, behaviour and appearance
8. why it is important to confirm the animal’s condition and the required nursing care with the responsible person (e.g. Named Veterinary Surgeon (NVS), responsible licensee)
9. the limiting clinical signs and humane end points related to the severity of the protocol set by the Project Licence protocol
10. the basic nursing care that different animals may require
11. the anatomy and physiology of the animals you work with relevant to the administration of nursing care
12. the additional care required for animals with infectious/contagious diseases
13. the actions needed when nursing animals with zoonotic conditions
14. how the intended use of the animal affects the compatibility of any nursing care applied
15. the equipment and materials used for different types of nursing care
16. how to safely and humanely handle, position and restrain different animal species for different types of nursing care
17. the monitoring methods used during different types of nursing care
18. the indicators of change in condition during nursing care, and the reasons for reporting these
19. the types of problems which may occur when administering nursing care and the action to take
20. the legal and organisation’s requirements for the handling, storage and disposal of waste produced by the activity
21. the information that needs to be recorded and the organisation’s procedures for this
22. the provisions of the project licence

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Basic nursing care could include:
• food and drink intake
• general observation and monitoring
• replacing dressings and bandages
• wound management
• monitoring and managing gastro-intestinal and urinary function
• bodyweight monitoring

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3

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2030

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Current

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Original

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Lantra

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LANAT16

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Animal Technologist, Licensed Animal Technologist, Team Leader, Senior Animal Technologist

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6129

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animal; research; nursing; care; diseases; wounds; dressings

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