Bachelor of Nursing (Level 7)

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.

The programme is blended/online. Classes at the Bell Street campus will usually be between 8.30am and 5pm. You will be expected to study approximately 40 hours a week, half of which can be completed in your own time.

You will learn how to:

• Provide safe, caring and evidence-based nursing care.
• Access, comprehend and assess information from a range of sources.
• Apply clinical reasoning and judgement to the level of a beginning practitioner, informed by communication and social skills.
• Work collaboratively as part of team in learning and providing competent and safe nursing care in a variety of settings.
• Practice within the legal, ethical and cultural safety parameters of the nursing profession in different contexts.
• Demonstrate professional behaviour consistent and with and informed by a high ethical standard. • engage in self-directed learning and take responsibility for ongoing learning.
• Integrate Te Tiriti o Waitangi into your professional practice.
• Develop resilience and demonstrate intellectual independence, critical thinking skills and analytical rigour. 

Programme Specific Information

The BN curriculum is underpinned by nursing values, educational goals and practice foci. In the twenty-first century the health needs of the person and family/whanau may be complex and diverse, set in a constantly changing health care environment. The two key values which inform the BN curriculum are the concepts of ‘partnership’ and ‘caring’.

Other key values which thread through your learning are health and wellness/hauora, relational practice, critical thinking, clinical decision-making, cultural safety and ethics/law.

Classroom hours may be from 8:30am 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 that coincide with school holidays, however this is not always possible due to the clinical practice placement requirements.

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 of Early / Lates and weekends commences at end of year one.

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
• Debates
• Science lab work
• E-Portfolios

COVID-19 vaccination requirements

Government COVID-19 vaccine mandates finished on Monday 26 September 2022, however, many placement providers will require that ākonga (students) are vaccinated against COVID-19 (up to two vaccinations and one booster), before they allow any placements to proceed.  Placements are an integral part of our health programmes and ākonga must complete these practical elements to successfully achieve their qualification.  We cannot, therefore, guarantee a placement without this evidence, as per our clinical placement agreements with placement providers.  If there are any questions or concerns relating to this, please email HealthWellnessEnrolments@witt.ac.nz in the first instance and one of our team will be in contact.

On acceptance into the programme, ākonga are required to complete a health screening to provide current evidence of their immunisation status, as required by Te Puna Whai Ora | Ministry of Health and our placement providers.  At this stage ākonga will also need to provide a copy of their Covid vaccination record.

Career options

Practice Nurse, District Nurse, Mental Health Nurse, Public Health Nurse, Research, Management, Health Promotion, Education, Elderly Care, Hospital Nurse (Medical, Surgical, Paediatrics and Theatre).  

• Graduate registered nurses working for Te Whatu Ora usually earn $74,000 a year. ($76,000 from 1 April 2024.)
  Registered nurses usually earn $74,000-$153,000 per year.  Source: Te Whatu Ora and NZNO, 2023 -2024.

Additional Expenses

Clinical Key - $450

Access to a large collection of medical and surgical journals, reference works, books, handouts and more

• Indemnity Insurance (Compulsory)
  - Or NZNO - approx $40
  - Or Nurses Society - $25
  - Or Private Cover - approx $350
• Vital Sign Pack - prices will vary depending on the supplier you use
• Fob Watch - prices will vary depending on the supplier you use
• Vaccinations (recommended) - up to $150 depending on immunity status

Stationery

• Folders, writing pads, pens, etc. - $50
• Computer consumables - $150
• Uniform (x2) - approx $90 each

Travel to and from clinical placements

As placements may be undertaken throughout the Taranaki region travel costs will vary.