Unitec New Zealand | Experience Real World Learning

[DipVetN]

6, 240

Full-time for two years

Starts February

50 places for the first year

by 1 October

CA2343

Mt Albert campus

NZ$ 4772

International fees
Programme summary
Career opportunities
Courses and timetables
Admission requirements

Programme summary

Gain a sound knowledge of advanced veterinary nursing. Put theory into practice through the Veterinary Specialist Group and the best practice approved Unitec veterinary hospital.

Veterinary nursing is a growing profession. The introduction of increasingly sophisticated courses for veterinary nurses has raised their level of education, leading to greater responsibilities in the workplace. To develop the skills to work as a responsible and knowledgeable member of a veterinary team, this is the programme to choose. It is ideally suited to people who have either the entry qualifications for this programme or Unitec’s Certificate in Animal Management (Animal Clinical Care).

Gain knowledge of advanced veterinary and intensive care nursing. Develop practical skills along with an understanding of their ethical and welfare implications. Find out how to educate your clients on animal health issues, and learn about preventative health clinics. You also explore how to manage and promote a veterinary clinic.

The diploma extends the role of the veterinary nurse to include unsupervised and supervised work in a range of veterinary clinics, and covers the following subjects:

  • Advanced veterinary nursing
  • Animal management including behaviour, nutrition and breeding
  • Clinic management and client education
  • Disease management
  • Laboratory diagnostic practice
  • Pharmacology
  • Specialist and intensive care nursing
  • Veterinary diagnostic imaging.

Real-world learning
As part of this programme, you’ll undertake a significant amount of clinical practice within:

  • The Unitec Veterinary Hospital
  • The Veterinary Specialist Group and an approved external veterinary clinic
  • The New Zealand Conservation Medicine Centre at Auckland Zoo
  • A bird rescue/wildlife centre.

Experienced lecturers
Our experienced lecturers are experts in the fields of veterinary science, animal health and welfare, microbiology, and genetics and animal behaviour, and continue to work closely with industry.

Industry recognition
With this qualification, you can become a full member of the New Zealand Veterinary Nursing Association.

What next?
Step up to the Bachelor of Applied Science (Animal Management and Welfare). Cross-credits from the Diploma in Veterinary Nursing will enable you to graduate with the degree just 18 months after completing the diploma.

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Career opportunities

  • Breeding centre manager
  • Food sales representative
  • Laboratory animal manager
  • Laboratory technician
  • Nutritional advisor
  • Practice manager
  • Research technician
  • Surgical instrument representative
  • Tutor for veterinary nursing students
  • Veterinary nurse, with opportunities to advance to senior levels

 

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Courses and timetables

To view the list of courses and timetables for this programme for 2010, please click here.

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Admission requirements

To be eligible for admission, applicants must meet the general, discretionary or special admission requirements. Applicants must also meet the English language requirements.

General admission

Applicants must:

  • Be at least 16 years of age when the programme begins (or provide a completed Early Release Exemption form, which you can obtain from your local Ministry of Education office); and 
  • Have a total of 60 NCEA credits in their best four subjects at level 2, or equivalent; or
  • Have a maximum of 16 in their best four New Zealand Sixth Form Certificate subjects, or equivalent; or
  • Have an appropriate qualification at level 3 or higher.

Discretionary admission (for applicants aged under 20)

Applicants who do not meet the general admission requirements and who are less than 20 years of age when the programme begins may be considered for discretionary admission if they can demonstrate aptitude for study at the required level.

Special admission (for applicants aged 20 and over)

Applicants who do not meet the general admission requirements and who are at least 20 years of age when the programme begins may be considered for special admission if they can provide evidence of aptitude or appropriate work or other experience.

English language requirements

Applicants must:

  • Have a minimum of 12 NCEA credits in English at level 1, or equivalent; or
  • Have successfully completed studies at level 5 or higher in an English medium; or
  • Have a grade of C or better in New Zealand School Certificate English, or equivalent; or
  • Have an overall IELTS band score (Academic) of no less than 6.0 (with no band score lower than 5.0), or a TOEFL score of no less than 550, or equivalent; or
  • Have an appropriate Unitec English language qualification, such as the Certificate in English (Academic), or equivalent.

Applicants may be interviewed.

 



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