Bachelor of Nursing (Puahou Tapuhi o Aotearoa)

On successful completion of the Bachelor of Nursing degree, you are supported through the process of registration with the Nursing Council of New Zealand.

Benefit from small classes, dedicated clinically experienced tutors and regular time in our modern clinical skills lab, Pokapu Whaihanga, where you put your new clinical skills into practice.

You will learn how to:

• Use leadership skills to advocate for equity, social justice, and sustainability to improve health outcomes for consumers, their whānau, hapū, iwi and hapori.
• Make care decisions that are evidence-based, sustainable and holistic; underpinned by science, clinical assessment, reasoning, and judgement.
• Undertake comprehensive holistic health assessments in collaboration within the interprofessional team, and in partnership with health consumers and their whānau to develop, implement and evaluate integrated care plans. 
• Promote optimal health outcomes for Māori and all health consumers across the lifespan, underpinned by Te Tiriti o Waitangi and informed by kawa whakaruruhau and cultural safety. 
• Utilise therapeutic communication and relational practice skills with health consumers including their whānau, hapū, iwi and hapori in person or via information technologies.
• Demonstrate professionalism, self-awareness, and commitment to lifelong learning in various settings. 

Entry Requirements

Academic Requirements

To be admitted to this programme, applicants must have:

University Entrance as defined by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA), including:

Three subjects at Level 3 or above, made up of:

• a minimum of 14 credits in English or Te Reo Māori or English-rich subject (such as Classical studies, English, Geography, History, History of Art, Media Studies)
• a minimum of 14 credits in Biology, or Physical Education or Chemistry
• a further 14 credits at Level 3 or higher in one other approved subject or domain on the National Qualifications Framework.

For examinations other than NCEA (e.g. International Baccalaureate, Cambridge Examination), applications will be assessed for academic entry equivalency.

OR

New Zealand Certificate in Study and Employment Pathways (Level 4) – Biological Science, Health Pathway; or a recognised equivalent.

Alternative requirements

Applicants, who are over 20 years, must have evidence of academic equivalence of the above (academic admission); or demonstrated evidence of ability to study successfully at degree level.

Applicants who are under 20 years must meet the academic admission criteria as listed above, as required by Nursing Council.

All applicants interested in nursing should apply for entry into the Bachelor of Nursing in the first instance. The WITT School of Nursing will contact you to confirm you meet the academic entry criteria for the Bachelor of Nursing or assist you in designing your study pathway into the Bachelor of Nursing.

Required Forms

Note that the following forms will be required when applying to study Bachelor of Nursing at WITT. Please make sure to complete an application before submitting these forms.

Additional Information Required

Health Screen & Vaccination Requirements

Referee Reports (You must provide two referees. Examples include: teacher, doctor, employer, club leader, etc)

Police Vetting Form (External link. Note that this form will have to be emailed, or printed out and handed in to reception staff)

English Language Proficiency

The English Language requirements for this programme are higher than the minimum set by NZQA.

All applicants, for whom English or te reo Māori is not a first language, must demonstrate the necessary language proficiency required for the programme.

International applicants are required to demonstrate capability in English as evidenced by an IELTS Academic core of 6.5 with no individual band lower than 6.5 from a single test taken in the preceding two years, or an equivalent described in the Nursing Council Handbook under English Requirements.

Special Admission Criteria

In addition, applicants must also meet the following programme specific requirements:

Prior to enrolment (at time of application):

• A self-declaration, providing information regarding:
• criminal convictions

Applicants are required to indicate whether they have been convicted of, or have been prosecuted for, a criminal offence. Under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 some types of criminal conviction may result in the NCNZ refusing to register a person as a registered nurse.

• mental and physical conditions
  • Applicants are required to indicate if they have had any mental and/or physical conditions, to demonstrate that they are fit for practice as a registered nurse. Under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 some types of physical or mental conditions may result in the NCNZ being unable to register a person as a registered nurse. A medical report may also be required, as per NCNZ requirements.
  • Any learning disabilities or challenges that might affect participation in the programme; this will be used to activate support services
  • Personal statement, should outline why the applicant has chosen nursing as a career, demonstrate communication skills, describe personal qualities and self-responsibilities in relation to relevant aspects from their life experiences, their learning and practice which will enhance the application.
• At least two written references.

The references are required to demonstrate the applicant has good character and personal attributes and that the applicant is sufficient for safe and effective practice as a registered nurse, as required by the Children’s Act 2014.

One will be a personal report and one from your school or most recent employer. Referees may not be a family member, partner or flatmate.

Applicants who meet academic entry criteria may be required to attend an interview to ensure they will meet the Nursing Council of New Zealand requirements for registration on completion of the programme.

• Successful applicants will be required to complete a New Zealand Police Consent to Disclosure of Information form. The form will be sent to the Police Licensing and Vetting Service and Returned in Confidence to the Head of Nursing. Information of the Vetting Service is available from the New Zealand Police website.
• Successful applicants will be required to provide evidence of immunisation status as required by Te Whatu Ora and/or Te Aka Whai Ora Health NZ and healthcare organisations before commencing a clinical learning experience. Clinical learning experiences are an integral part of this programme and ākonga must complete these elements to successfully achieve their qualification. Clinical learning experiences cannot be guaranteed without this evidence, as per clinical access agreements with clinical learning experience providers.
• Complete a safety check.

The safety check will be required to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Children’s Act 2014. This may include, but is not limited to:

reference checks

• Police check
• A risk assessment
• CV which provides an account of all experience – part time, full time and voluntary, including care of own children for the preceding five years.

Unsatisfactory results arising from the full safety checking process may result in the ākonga being declined entry or withdrawn from the programme of study.

Selection criteria

Limits on enrolment may be applied due to health and safety reasons, availability of resourcing and/or availability of clinical practice placements. A selection process will take place for this programme. This will be based on application information (including referee reports, CV and personal statement)

Where the number of applications exceed the number of available places, applicants may be waitlisted. The waitlist order will be based on the criteria above. Preference may be given to priority groups in recognition of the commitment to inclusiveness.

International Scholarships

Please see here for information regarding international scholarships.

Programme Specific Information

This programme is structured to achieve the qualification outcomes, which have been aligned with the NCNZ Standards of Competence for Registered Nurses. Its approaches to learning, teaching, and assessment are embedded in courses which are designed to form a coherent programme that demonstrates scaffolding and integration of learning and assessment throughout, to meet the strategic purpose statement, outcome statement, and the level and credit value of the qualification.

Students will be in practice, either simulated or actual practice from the beginning of the programme. Time in practice increases throughout the programme and then becomes blocks of practice to prepare the graduate for the workplace. There are also opportunities for students to choose some specialty areas of practice. Shift patterns commence at the end of year two.

Clinical Skills Lab work:

The Clinical Skills Lab provides an environment for practicing techniques and learning clinical experiences. Simulation time is timetabled most weeks. Students must wear uniform for all clinical skills sessions and clinical practice placements.

Tutorials:

These are provided regularly for small groups of students to discuss aspects of their learning journey. Students will explore and reflect on practice as well as learning issues. All students are required to attend the majority of tutorials.

Blended learning:

Students will have the opportunity to undertake their learning using a variety of methods including:

• Lectures
• Online activities
• Goup work
• E-Portfolios

Classroom hours may be from 8:00am to 5:00pm. Students will be expected to be able to undertake 40 hours per week of study. Where possible the programme timetable allows for holidays, due to clinical placements requirements they do not always coincide with school holidays.

Maximum time of completion:

The Bachelor of Nursing may be completed in three years full-time study or up to six years part-time.

Additional Expenses

Nursing kit, Laptop, Comprehensive First Aid Certificate (current).  

Career Opportunities

Registered Nurses in New Zealand may work in any area of nursing practice: for example, mental health, acute care, community and aged care settings. Graduates must pass the Nursing Council of New Zealand registration exams to become a registered nurse.