This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to care for newborn foals during the neonatal period.

The unit applies to veterinary nurses who work under the supervision of a registered veterinarian in a veterinary practice.

Veterinary nurses who nurse foals need to hold and apply specialised knowledge of foal anatomy, physiology and behaviour and make reliable clinical assessments and judgements of foal health and growth.

Legislative and regulatory requirements apply to veterinary nurses and vary between state/territory jurisdictions. All users of this unit are advised to check requirements with the relevant state or territory authority.

NOTE: The terms ‘occupational health and safety’ (OHS) and ‘work health and safety’ (WHS) generally have the same meaning in the workplace. In jurisdictions where the national model WHS legislation has not been implemented, RTOs must contextualise the unit of competency by referring to current OHS legislative requirements.