CLINICAL PLACEMENT REQUIREMENTS

As an employed Veterinary Nurse in a clinic, you will complete all your practical components in your clinic, including all practical assessment tasks. We still refer to this component of your course as clinical placement, even though you are employed.

In the event your clinic does not have particular equipment or appropriate case load, you may be required to do some work experience at another clinic to cover the necessary skills. We will let you know as part of your Student Induction when we process your Clinic & Mentor approvals.

If at any time you lose your employment you must notify us immediately. We do have options to help you. Please refer to this section of the handbook.

LARGE ANIMAL CLINICS

Please be aware that you cannot undertake any components of your course work, including clinical work, on equines or other large animals.

This is due to government recommendations specific to training programs involving horses.  In 2009, a TAFE NSW student Sarah Waugh died after an accident that occurred whilst handling a horse as part of her Certificate III in Agriculture studies. The coroners report identified several safety concerns around her death, and this prompted ASQA to undertake an audit and review of safety in NRT equine programs and units.

The audit, completed in 2015, identified 10 recommendations for changes to training packages, programs and assessor competencies to improve safety for students working with equines. Even though we do not deliver equine programs, some of those changes affect ACVN programs and impact how we assess our students. 

The main outcome that impacted us was:

• Recommendation 3: Any training that requires use of a horse has that horse undergo a safety audit from a qualified trainer prior to the horse being used, and after each use. 

In a clinical context, this is impossible for ACVN to provide. We cannot assess privately owned, unwell animals that present for veterinary care as this will delay their care, potentially compromising patient health.  As we do not primarily deliver equine based studies we do not have a certified person to undertake the safety audits. Equally, as a distance provider, we cannot ensure an appropriately qualified person to undertake safety audits in each student's workplace. 

For further information, the ASQA report is available here.