NEW NZ Diploma in Veterinary Nursing (Level 6) – Two Year

Check out our NEW 2 year Diploma in Vet Nursing starting February 2025

Study Options

Online, Full-time, Part-time

Length

2 years

Level

Level 6

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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

English Language Entry Requirements

Entry with Credit

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:

Hawke’s Bay Campus

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.