Nursing
Duration
3 years
Entry
High school & tertiary
Scope of practice
NZ and AUS
Cohort size
100+
Nursing
The Bachelor of Nursing is a three-year programme that will prepare you to become a registered nurse. This is a hands-on degree, and you will have multiple placements throughout your studies. Nurses treat and support patients in various settings and work closely with other health professionals.
Nurses have many roles and play a vital part in patient care. Nurses regularly monitor and assess patients and help coordinate care with doctors. They administer drugs and have extensive knowledge of the mechanisms of medicines and diseases.
Entry
There are several paths to entrance into nursing. You can enter directly from high school or via the tertiary pathway. Please remember that this is a simplified, not complete guide. You should find more entry information.
You will have guaranteed entry into nursing if you meet any of the following rank scores from secondary education.
For NCEA you must have a “Minimum 18 credits at Level 3 in one of English, Geography, History, Classical Studies, History of Art, Te Reo Māori (or Te Reo Rangatira) or Social Studies and a minimum of 18 credits at Level 3 in one of Biology, Chemistry or Physics”
For CIE, you must have “One of English, Geography, History, Classical Studies and one of Biology, Chemistry or Physics at full A Level.”
NCEA rank score
IB rank score
CIE rank score
You can transfer from another programme or tertiary institution in the tertiary pathway. You will need a minimum GPA of 4.0, but this does not guarantee entry. You should aim for a high GPA to maximise your chances. “You must have completed one semester of successful bachelor degree study from a New Zealand tertiary institution, or one year of successful study as part of an acceptable sub-degree qualification from a New Zealand tertiary institution.”
This is an extremely simplified guide and we strongly encourage you to visit the UoA nursing entry guide and student centre for more information. We try to make our information as accurate as possible. Still, entry criteria are subject to change, and our information may be outdated.
For entry tips, please visit our undergraduate and graduate guide.
Programme overview & what Nursing students say...
Using specialised equipment
Using specialised equipment to take vitals and administer medicines
Clinical skills
Clinical nursing skills to deal with a wide range of patients
Hands on experience
Practical labs and clinical placements
Principles of pharmacology
Learning about the mechanisms of drugs
Part I
The first year of nursing is a great introductory segment to what the future career offers. Not only are the scientific and medical theories taught to students, but also the social and cultural elements. In the first year, students are required to have a basic sense of science knowledge from high school, which the university classes build upon. At the end of the year, students are given a placement at one’s choice of two hospitals where they can practice their assessment skills and learn the roles within the hospital. The first year of university can potentially be the most difficult to adjust to. The Bachelor of Nursing is no exception.
The best way to handle the workload is to always stay on track with study notes the day you receive the lecture. It is also good practice to set a “word count goal.” This means writing a set number of words for an assignment every day rather than cramming it all to the end.
Part II
The second year of the BNurs is extremely eventful. As in the previous year, students take multiple courses in the semester. In the second year and third year, students take one 60-point course per semester. In the first semester, students are taught more about the physical conditions of pathophysiology. This requires having a good understanding of the body systems which were taught in Year 1. For the first four weeks, one or two body systems will be taught each week accompanied by a clinical skills session to assist with the nursing management of those conditions. After the first four weeks, students embark on a 7-week placement at two hospitals (of one’s choosing). After the mid-semester break, there are five additional weeks of topics, including oncology. This five-week period also includes a microbiology test which requires a lot of attention to get a satisfying mark. Major emphasis is placed on the following topics: palliative care, microbiology, pharmacology, cultural safety, ethics and leadership.
Managing the workload in this semester can be extremely difficult. Due to the overlapping assignments, it makes it difficult. Therefore, ensure your study time is planned well in advanced so everything can be balanced.
In the second semester, students are introduced to the insightful world of mental health and disability. This 60-point course can be an emotional journey learning the experiences of people living with a mental health or disability condition. The semester is broken into 10-weeks/mid-semester break/6- weeks. The class is broken into two groups. One learns mental health, the other disability and a swap occurs after mid-semester break. There are placements for both, with a large variety of places for students to choose from. In the first four weeks, students do a group project about a mental health practice and showcase what services they offer. This semester can be relaxing when planned appropriately. Do not rush assignments and take time with them. A lot is learned both academically and personally, so enjoy it while it lasts.
Part III
In the first semester, you follow people through their lifespan from infancy to old age. You are introduced to child health, elderly health and community nursing. There are two clinical placements (child health and elderly health). Community health is mainly assignment based, where you work with an organisation to create a health resource.
In the second semester, there is a preregistration placement for 10 weeks. This is focused on the advancement of nursing skills. This is where you put the skills you learnt into practice and transition from a student to a professional nurse. The course outline for Nursing 302 says: “A period of practice in an elected area of clinical speciality is included. Issues such as the development of nursing knowledge, autonomy of practice, accountability for practice, and the legal and ethical parameters of competency as a nurse are emphasised.”
Going on placements, having practical experience and seeing patients. Also, having a small tight, knit cohort means you can really get to know each other.
What does the job involve?
Nurses can work in many environments such as hospitals, retirement homes or even schools. There is flexibility in what nurses can do.
Hospital settings
Monitoring vitals
Advising patients
Giving injections and medication
There are several nurse specialisations, such as nurse practitioner, which allows you to prescribe certain medicines and increase the scope of your practice.
For more information, CareersNZ has a good guide of what nurses do.
Wonder what it is like being a nurse? We interviewed one and here’s what they say:
Coming soon…
Pros and Cons
Like any clinical programme, Nursing has its pros and cons. Just know that everyone has different perspectives. A pro for you might be a con for others!
Pros
– Only a three year degree with direct entry from high school.
– Specialties available with a variety of departments you can work at.
– Flexibility between urban and rural, and work environments such as hospitals and doctor’s clinics.
Cons
– May have long working hours in hospital environments.
– Can be stressful when dealing with distressed patients.
– Dealing with patients means that you sometimes have to deal with bodily fluids!