Assessment Test

Question 1

1. Where in the clinic can you look to find Ned’s history for the last two days? (There will be two places).

Answer 1

The hospital cage chart and his patient’s medical notes (usually found on the computer)

Question 2

For the clinic patient observation protocol:

2. How often should the patient be checked?

Answer 2

Twice a day

Question 3

Answer the following with regards to these practice policies:
4. Cleaning animals: Under what 2 circumstances do animals in hospital have to be cleaned?

Answer 3

• Immediately when the animal requires it (for example: stepped in faeces, diarrhoea)
• Before being discharged to the clients (clean, tidy and groomed, no blood present)

Question 4

5. Cleaning equipment (food / water bowls and bedding): When should these items be cleaned?

Answer 4

All food and water bowls/ towels/ bedding cleaned and replenished every day (immediately if soiled). However, it isn’t always necessary to clean cat bedding everyday as it can induce unnecessary stress. It is recommended to clean around the cat and change bedding every few days providing that it is relatively clean.

Question 5

6. Disposal of waste: When should waste (in a cage) be disposed of and what is it put into? (Be specific)

Answer 5

Dispose of bodily waste immediately such as faeces, vomit, urine and blood should be disposed of in a yellow clinical waste bag made of thick plastic. This is then placed in the yellow clinical waste bin (not in the reception/ general area)

Question 6

What hazard in the clinic will this correct disposal prevent?

Answer 6

To prevent the spread of disease or at least to minimalise it which in turn protects the patients and ourselves.

Question 7

7. When are cages cleaned?

Answer 7

Every day or immediately when soiled

Question 8

7. Cleaning housing - describe the technique you will use to clean and disinfect Ned’s cage
   (You must include an example of a cleaning agent and a disinfectant)
   Describe:

Answer 8

• Shut the doors
• Read Ned’s behaviour before entering his space. Kneel, ignore him, and let him come to me for a sniff. Praise him for being a good boy.
• Place Ned on a slip lead and place in a new, clean cage with fresh water, clean towel and bedding
• Return the lead to its original location
• Dress in the appropriate PPE (gloves, scrub top, mask)
• Remove food/ water bowls. Scrub in the sink with warm water and dishwashing detergent. Rinse well and spray with F10 veterinary disinfectant (1:125ml) leave for 5 minutes contact time. Wipe with a paper towel. Put the bowls away on the correct shelf
• Remove soiled matter such as faeces with a scoop or poo bag. Dispose of in the yellow clinical waste bin
• Remove soiled bedding, towels. Soak/ rinse with cold water if heavily soiled. Place in the washing machine using a scoop of washing powder, cold water and a ¼ cup of safe4 (if heavily soiled)
• Remove fur while cage is still dry
• Fill a bucket of warm water and detergent. Scrub the cage with a stiff brush/ broom starting high up and working down (least dirty to most dirty)
• Rise out with clean water and dry with a towel.
• Spray with F10 veterinary disinfectant (1:125ml) and leave for a contact time of 5 minutes (20 minutes if the patient was showing infectious symptoms)
• I could move Ned into the clean cag. However, I will leave him where he is to reduce double handling.
• Move the cage card and update the computer system if necessary
• Remove and dispose of gloves in the bin
• Wash my hands and arms thoroughly with hand soap

Question 9

a) What would you expect Ned’s (board collie) normal temperature to be?

Answer 9

Between 38°C- 39°C

Question 10

b) What would you expect Ned’s (border collie) normal heart rate (range) to be?

Answer 10

Between 80- 130 beats per minute

Question 11

9. a) What is a normal pulse rate (heart rate) of a cat?
   60bpm
   95bpm
   150bpm

Answer 11

150bpm

Question 12

b) What is the normal respiratory rate of a cat?
20– 30bpm,
8 – 20bpm,
40 – 80bpm

Answer 12

20– 30bpm

Question 13

10. a) Under what circumstance is an animal placed in isolation? (Give 1 example)

Answer 13

When the animal is displaying signs of an infectious disease (proven or otherwise). For example, a cat sneezing with nasal and ocular discharge could be displaying symptoms of cat flu. It will be placed in isolation immediately until we have more concrete information.

Question 14

b) Should you check this animal in isolation just before you check other animals in the clinic?

Answer 14

No, always tend to the regular ‘non-infectious’ patients first and the isolation unit last. Ideally two nurses should be assigned to designated areas to maintain infection control so as not to pass on infectious agents to relatively healthy patients.

Question 15

11. Define the following terms:

Tachycardia

Answer 15

The heart rate is abnormally faster than the normal rate

Question 16

11. Define the following terms:

Bradycardia

Answer 16

The heart rate is abnormally slower than the normal rate

Question 17

Define: Dyspnoea

Answer 17

Difficult to breathe, laboured breathing. Also referred to as increase respiratory effort

Question 18

Define: Pyrexia

Answer 18

Above normal temperature range, the animal has a fever

Question 19

Define: Per Os

Answer 19

Administer orally

Question 20

12. What could be the consequences of giving the wrong dose of medication to a patient?

Answer 20

• Underdose: The medication might not have the desired effect
• Overdose: Possible toxicity, future complications

Question 21

13. a) List 2 risks of harm associated when working with:
    Cats and dogs:

Answer 21

Bites, lacerations, loss of digits, deglove of digits

Scratches from cats, zoonosis (cat scratch fever)

Question 22

13b) List 2 risks of harm associated when working with

Horses:

Answer 22

Kicks when walking/ standing behind the horse

Being crushed underfoot (foot being stood on)

Question 23

14. For the following scenarios give an associated hazard (safety concern)
    a) Using cleaning chemicals

Answer 23

Chemical burns on the skin, splashing the eye, inhalation which could cause permanent/ temporary blindness, chronic bronchitis

Question 24

14. For the following scenarios give an associated hazard (safety concern)
    b) Spilling oral medication

Answer 24

Could cause irritation (skin or eyes), could potentially cause an allergic reaction

Question 25

c) Disposing of a veterinary medicine. For the following scenarios give an associated hazard (safety concern)

Answer 25

Needle stick, coming into contact with a schedule 4 or 8 drug which may also be attached to a used hypodermic needle which could cause chronic conditions, zoonosis

Question 26

15. According to regulations, what needs to happen before an S4 medication can be given to any animal?

Answer 26

The veterinarian must have first examined the patient and then prescribed the schedule 4 medication. This must happen before it can be dispensed/ administered to a patient

Question 27

16. For an S4 medication prescribed to a patient being treated in hospital:
    a) Who has access to this medication?

Answer 27

Only registered veterinary personnel

Question 28

16. For an S4 medication prescribed to a patient being treated in hospital:
    b) Who can administer this medication (and under what circumstance)?

Answer 28

Registered veterinary personnel can only administer medication once the patient has been examined and the S4 medication has been prescribed by a registered veterinarian

Question 29

16. For an S4 medication prescribed to a patient being treated in hospital:
    c) Where must these medications be stored and secured between treatments?

Answer 29

Schedule 4 drugs must be stored and locked away in cupboards out of view by the general public at all times.

Question 30

17. a) List 2 ways that staff in the clinic can ensure that their computer passwords are secure.

Answer 30

• Update passwords on a periodic basis

* Don’t share or display sensitive information such as passwords

Question 31

b)	Describe briefly closing the clinic with reference to security procedures including:
•	locks
•	alarms
•	lighting
•	cabinets for drugs
•	clinic safe

What are the sixteen steps?

Answer 31

• Ensure that all drug cabinets and draws are locked, double check
• Count the takings- place in the clinic safe if leaving on site. Make sure it is locked, double check
• Bring in the signs
• Last checks on patients/ boarders to ensure that they are clean and have dry bedding and water. Ensure that all cages are secure
• Lock all external doors (excluding one exit)
• Close/ lock all windows
• Close blinds and curtains
• Tidy waiting room, restock and tidy consult room, wipe surfaces
• Shut down the computer and switch off monitor, tidy and wipe reception desk
• Turn off equipment such as x-ray machine and autoclave
• Sweep and mop floors (placing down wet floor signs where necessary)
• Ensure that all lights are turned off
• Switch the phones on to the night mode answering service
• Switch off the air conditioner
• Ensure the alarm is activated
• Door is locked and double checked before leaving

Question 32

3. Apart from a physical examination, what 3 other observations are important to assess patient
   wellbeing?
   (This does not include findings of a TPR examination)

Answer 32

• Drinking regularly
• Good appetite
• Normal stool (around score 2)
• Urinating regularly and with ease