Programme overview
Our Bachelor of Nursing is underpinned by a belief that in today’s constantly changing healthcare environment, people, their whānau, and their community’s complex and diverse health needs require nurses who are well-educated, research-informed, and adept in critical thinking.
We believe the best way to develop and train nurses is through a balance of thinking and doing, so you’ll get to apply your learning in a range of health-related areas, and on placements at a variety of hospitals and health centres across the Auckland region. This is to ensure you graduate confident and work-ready.
Our Bachelor of Nursing is the only programme in West Auckland which prepares you for registration as a nurse and is approved by the Nursing Council of New Zealand.
Bachelor of Nursing highlights
- Learn from an experienced and multi-cultural team, many of whom still work in clinical nursing practice, and whose value of partnership and care is reflected in quality teaching, support, and innovative curriculum delivery.
- We’re proud to attract a diverse student population which reflects our local population.
- Practice what you’ve learnt in a range of health-related areas, at a variety of hospitals and health centres across the Auckland region. Placement experiences range in disciplines (from acute care, surgery and medicine to rehabilitation/disability, preventative care, mental health and primary care). Locations include but are not limited to WDHB, the Mason Clinic, and primary health care organisations.
- Access to the Waitākere Hospital Awhina Simulation Centre.
- Over the three years of your degree, you’ll complete a minimum of 1100 hours of practice placements and approximately 100 hours in the Awhina Simulation lab at Waitākere Hospital. In your final year, you’ll work rostered nursing duties as you transition into professional nursing practice.
Programme content includes:
- Human biology and nursing skills
- Pharmacology
- Effective assessment, management and communication of patient care
- Specialist areas of nursing including care (medical and surgical), primary care, mental health, and family and community nursing. All contexts of nursing are evidence-based, ensuring the most current practice standards.
- Evaluation of ethical dilemmas in clinical nursing practice
- Exploration of the role and application of technology in the healthcare environment
Scholarship
We have up to 6 Bachelor of Nursing scholarships available, worth $1,000 each. Find out more information below!
Admission requirements
Academic requirements
Please note: Future immunisations for COVID-19 may be required for all students in this programme.
You will need to provide the following, at different points of your application process.
When you apply:
- Your highest-level academic results (if you studied NCEA, we should be able to find this ourselves), including:
- Evidence of University Entrance;
- 12 credits at NCEA Level 2 or higher in one Science subject.
- Two forms of ID and evidence of any name changes if applicable (these should confirm that you are, or will be, 16 years old at the start of the programme);
- A personal statement describing why you’re passionate about nursing, and any life experiences that might enhance your application;
- A self-declaration of medical conditions;
- Consent to a safety check as set out in the Children’s Regulations 2015, which includes:
- Completion of an NZ police vetting form;
- The names of two referees who Unitec or your placement provider can contact (if applicable);
- A CV showing a chronological summary of your work history for the past 5 years, and the name of any professional organisations, licensing authorities and registration authorities that you have been or are a member of (if applicable).
When you receive an offer of place:
- Attend a face to face interview;
- Complete or provide a current First Aid certificate from an OSH approved source (a requirement for clinical placements). Find out more about Unitec's First Aid course here;
- Meet various Health Authority requirements including providing evidence of immune status;
- If you’ve have studied an undergraduate nursing programme at another New Zealand tertiary provider, you must submit a confidential report from the institution from which you are transferring;
If you don’t meet the academic criteria above, we have a range of Foundation and Bridging Education programmes which will help you prepare for further academic study.
English requirements
If English is not your first language you will also need one or more of the following:
- IELTS (Academic) with an overall score of 6.5 with minimum band scores of 6.5 in speaking, reading, writing and listening – we have an IELTS Preparation short course available, as well as an IELTS test centre on-campus;
- Completion of the New Zealand Certificate in English Language (Level 5);
- Completion of tertiary study, Bachelor's degree level or higher, with English as the language of instruction from providers in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States.
If you don’t meet the English criteria above, we have a range of English Language programmes available, depending on your current level of ability.
If you don’t meet these requirements, you may still apply under special or discretionary entrance.
What next?
Once you've successfully completed this programme, and successfully passed the Nursing Council of New Zealand state exam, you'll be eligible to become a registered nurse.
For more information download the programme regulations:
Courses and timetables
For more details on the courses including timetables, please click on the course names below.
| Courses | Credits | Aim |
|---|---|---|
| Human Biology for Nursing Practice 1 (HCBN5101) | 15.0 credits (0.125 EFTS) | To enable students to gain human biology knowledge required for nursing practice. |
| Interpersonal Relationships (HCBN5102) | 15.0 credits (0.125 EFTS) | To enable students to communicate professionally with health consumers and members of the health care team and others. |
| Management of Nursing Care 1 (HCBN5103) | 15.0 credits (0.125 EFTS) | To enable students to manage nursing care with health consumers |
| Professional Responsibility (HCBN5104) | 15.0 credits (0.125 EFTS) | To enable students to understand the ethical, legal and professional responsibilities of nursing. |
| Health and Wellness (HCBN5105) | 15.0 credits (0.125 EFTS) | To enable students to understand the influence of socio ecological perspectives on health. |
| Nursing the Person with Long Term Health Needs (HCBN5106) | 15.0 credits (0.125 EFTS) | To enable students to apply knowledge, skills and attitudes of nursing practice in a gerontological clinical setting. |
| Management of Nursing Care 2 (HCBN5107) | 15.0 credits (0.125 EFTS) | To enable students to manage nursing care with health consumers. |
| Human Biology for Nursing Practice 2 (HCBN5108) | 15.0 credits (0.125 EFTS) | To enable students to extend human biology knowledge required for nursing practice. |
Unitec is part of Te Pūkenga
On 1 October 2022 Unitec became part of Te Pūkenga. Find out more about Te Pūkenga and what this means for you.
