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- NEW NZ Diploma in Veterinary Nursing (Level 6) – Two Year
NEW NZ Diploma in Veterinary Nursing (Level 6) – Two Year
Check out our NEW 2 year Diploma in Vet Nursing starting February 2025
Turn your love for animals into a Vet Nursing career
Join the veterinary nursing profession, dedicated to animal health and well-being. As a key member of the veterinary team, you’ll manage companion animal welfare using your knowledge of anatomy, physiology, husbandry and behaviour. Your responsibilities will include medical and surgical nursing care and supporting patient health through diagnostic procedures.
Our blended learning approach, featuring purpose-built animal housing and a simulated surgical suite, ensures effective skill development. Hands-on experience in veterinary clinics across New Zealand will allow you to develop the valuable skills needed to become a competent and confident veterinary nurse.
Outline
This qualification will prepare you for a career as a veterinary nursing professional, providing you with the technical knowledge, skills and attributes necessary to support animals in achieving and maintaining optimal health and well-being. Intended for those who recognise the importance of animals in society, it focuses on clinical veterinary and animal healthcare settings.
This qualification will provide you with the technical knowledge and skills to work as a veterinary nurse in a clinical environment, along with the interpersonal skills to manage colleague, patient and client relationships effectively. The programme emphasises sustainable, reflective and evidenced based practice, ensuring you are well prepared to embark on a successful and rewarding career.
The NZ Diploma in Veterinary Nursing [Level 6] recognises competence in a wide range of skills that enable you to become a functioning part of a veterinary team in a veterinary clinic through being able to:
- Apply knowledge of animal functional anatomy and physiology to manage the welfare of companion animals.
- Apply knowledge of husbandry and behaviour to manage animal welfare.
- Provide medical and surgical nursing to support the welfare of companion animal patients.
- Apply knowledge of veterinary diagnostic procedures to support the welfare of companion animal patients.
You are welcome to make an appointment to discuss your study options with our staff, either in person or by phone and also to visit at any time to view our facilities. If you have any questions please feel free to contact us.
Year One
During your first year you will learn about the fundamentals of veterinary nursing practice, ethics and legislation, anatomy and physiology, animal husbandry, handling and behaviour, surgical and diagnostic services, anaesthetic and analgesia monitoring, and medical nursing.
Year Two
During your second year you will build on your foundation with a more in-depth focus on anaesthetic management, medical nursing, diagnostic techniques and surgical nursing. You’ll also learn about triage and emergency care, pharmacology, dentistry, diagnostic imaging and veterinary nursing services.
Practicum Placements
During the NZDipVN you must complete practicum in a suitable animal care environment, as specified by the Programme and Workplace Coordinator. This practical experience may take place in simulation settings, animal facilities or veterinary clinics. In Year One you will be assigned specific blocks for your practicum totalling 250 hours. Year Two offers more flexibility, requiring you to complete 500 hours of practicum, allowing you to schedule your placements at your convenience.
In addition to this, Year One students must complete rostered hours at the EIT animal facility as scheduled by the Animal Room Technician.
At EIT, you will need to complete a minimum of 545 hours of your practicum in veterinary clinics. To gain diverse perspectives on veterinary nursing, you are expected to undertake practicum at a minimum of two different veterinary practices, unless you are already employed at a veterinary clinic in a role that will allow you to meet practicum requirements.
You will be required to find your own practicum placements with assistance from programme staff where needed. Some of your placements will need to be outside of Hawke’s Bay. It is recommended practicum be done in blocks.
While on practicum you must maintain a portfolio with evidence of completion of practicum assessments, including clinical skills and reflections. You will be in contact with the Workplace Coordinator on a regular basis to discuss progress on the practicum requirements.
A memorandum of agreement will be drawn up between the practicum provider, yourself and EIT, to define rights and responsibilities of each party involved in the placements.
Dates
There is one entry date per year:
- February
Entry
Entry Requirements
Academic Requirements
The academic entry requirement for this programme is either:
- NCEA Level 2 or higher including a minimum of:
- 12 credits in English at Level 2 or higher;
- 12 credits in Mathematics at Level 1 or higher; and
- 12 credits of relevant science (preferably Biology) at Level 1 or higher
OR
This qualification may build on the:
- NZ Certificate in Animal Healthcare Assisting [Level 4];
- NZ Certificate in Animal Management [Level 4] ; or
- NZ Certificate in Animal Care [Level 3]
OR
A recognised equivalent.
OR
At the discretion of EIT, where the applicant is over 20 years of age and demonstrates the capability to undertake and complete the programme of study.
Other Requirements
ALL applicants are required to provide:
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Good Character Requirement
A completed Ministry of Justice Criminal Convictions Record (copy of form is attached). EIT reserves the right to decline entry to the programme should an applicant’s police record be such that they would be considered unsuitable for veterinary nursing work. Applicants with convictions for dishonesty or drug offences will likely be considered unsuitable. A criminal declaration will be required every year of enrolment in the programme. - Health Declaration
All applicants must complete a health and privacy declaration to ensure fitness to practice prior to acceptance into the programme.
Please Note: Convictions of any offence and/or declaration of health conditions will not necessarily exclude applicants from enrolment. Any decision is made on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the delegated authority.
Practical Requirements
- Applicants must be able to carry out physical activities within the EIT Animal Facility (Year One) and while on practicum, including external animal facilities and veterinary clinics to fulfil the requirements of the programme.
- Applicants must also have no objection to working with live animals, dissection of animal body parts, body fluids and cadavers. EIT reserves the right to decline entry to the programme should an applicant’s physical ability or inability to work in this environment prevent them carrying out practical activities required to fulfil the requirements of the programme. These practical requirements will be discussed and confirmed during the information sharing session.
Information Sharing Session
Applicants who meet entry requirements may be required to attend an information sharing session to discuss information about the programme and communicate expectations regarding the programme.
Applicants who meet all entry requirements will be selected in order of application.
English Language Entry Requirements
All applicants must demonstrate an acceptable level of English language fluency prior to acceptance in the programme. For international students, ways in which English language fluency may be demonstrated include the following:
- Successful study of a programme in which English was the language of instruction (subject to the conditions in the EIT Database for English Language Proficiency (DELP))
- Completion of a New Zealand Certificate in English Language (Level 4 with any endorsement)
- IELTS Academic score of 6, with no band score lower than 5.5, achieved in a single test within the two years preceding enrolment
- Accepted international equivalents to the above IELTS scores, achieved in a single test within the two years preceding enrolment (see equivalency tables in the DELP)
Entry with Credit
You may already have some knowledge or skills that can be recognised as part of your intended study. This may take a number of different forms including study at a private training establishment, workplace training, other tertiary study, life experiences or voluntary work. If you think you may qualify, you may want to apply for Cross Credit (CC) or Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
- CC is based on the equivalency of courses or qualifications. You would apply for CC if you have passed a very similar course at the same level.
- RPL is based on the assessment of your current knowledge and skills. You would apply for RPL if you had gained the relevant knowledge and skills through life experiences and informal learning situations.
You will be asked to provide details of anything that you would like considered as credit toward your intended programme of study, as part of your application.
You must apply prior to enrolment. CC and RPL cannot be awarded for a course if you are enrolled in that course.
Overall RPL Credit Limit 50%. The programmes maintain the ability to partially credit courses where evidence of current competence is presented.
For further information and enquiries about CC and RPL please contact, Emma Martin, Programme Coordinator, on 06 830 1373.
Career and Study Opportunities
Your study pathway could progress onto the Bachelor of Veterinary Nursing.
Possible jobs and career opportunities may include:
- Veterinary Nurse
- Veterinary Sales Representative
- Nutritional Sales Representative
- Animal Welfare Officer
- Animal Technician
Academic Learning Services
Academic Learning Services is here to assist you on your journey towards the successful completion of your studies at EIT. Our aim is for you to become confident, competent and independent learners.
We have dedicated advisors who can assist with your learning.
Find out more:
Scholarships
EIT offers a variety of scholarships across various subjects and programme levels. Some scholarships are based on your age, some are specific to the subject you want to study. Not all scholarships are based on your academic ability and anyone wanting to study should investigate what scholarships are available to them.
You can find a list of EIT scholarships here however there are many more scholarships offered nationally. Information about these is on an database called “givME”. givME is accessible at EIT or at some public libraries. If you would like to come to EIT to look through the giveME database don’t hesitate to contact scholarships@eit.ac.nz or call in for a chat.