New Zealand Diploma in Veterinary Nursing (Companion Animal Veterinary Nursing)

New Zealand Diploma in Veterinary Nursing (Companion Animal Veterinary Nursing)

New Zealand Diploma in Veterinary Nursing (Companion Animal Veterinary Nursing)

Prepare for a satisfying career as a veterinary nursing professional with the two-year New Zealand Diploma in Veterinary Nursing Level 6 programme with a Companion Animal focus and 750 hours of work placement. 

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Key Details
Invercargill
Qualification:
Diploma
Level:
6
Credits:
240
Duration:

Duration 2 Years

Full time

This programme is made up of 4 semesters, each 16 weeks long over 2 years

Study Modes:
On Campus
Dates:

2025 Semester 1: 17 February to 21 November
Fees:

This programme is eligible for the Zero Fees Scheme.

  • NO tuition fees
  • Direct material costs are $3,200 (GST inclusive)

 

International Fees can be found here.

Veterinary nursing is a hands-on, satisfying role if you love animals. You can interact with many companion animals and care for their wellbeing by working with professionals who like animals. 

In this two-year programme, you will gain the knowledge, technical skills and attributes needed to help companion animals attain, maintain or recover health and quality of life. 
You will graduate with the technical knowledge and skills needed to perform this role and will have a high level of responsibility, allowing you to operate in a wide range of dynamic settings. 

Upon graduating you will have the technical knowledge and skills to work as a veterinary nurse in a clinical setting. You will have a high level of responsibility and discretion within their scope of practice, in a wide range of dynamic and often unpredictable situations and following protocols in all aspects of clinical veterinary practice or animal healthcare settings. Graduates may be eligible for registration with the Allied Veterinary Professional Regulatory Council of New Zealand.

Learn skills including:

  • Veterinary nursing practice 
  • Animal husbandry and behaviour
  • Anatomy and physiology
  • Anaesthesia and analgesia
  • Clinical skills
  • Medical nursing and diagnostics
  • Surgical nursing
  • Cultural practice
  • Sustainability 
  • Work placement 

Papers 
Year 1 Level 5 papers 
ANML 5001 Veterinary Nursing Practice (15 credits)
Aim: Develop the knowledge, skills and competencies to work in a professional, safe and effective manner in an animal health care environment.

ANML 5002 Anatomy and Physiology (15 credits)
Aim: Develop the knowledge, skills and competencies relevant to basic animal anatomy and physiology to support animal health and welfare.

ANML 5103 Animal Husbandry and Behaviour (15 credits) 
Aim: Develop the knowledge, skills and competencies to provide safe and appropriate husbandry and handling to support companion animal health and welfare.

ANML 5104 Companion Animal Practicum 1 (15 credits)
Aim: Develop the knowledge, skills and competencies to manage the husbandry, hygiene and handling of animals as part of a multidisciplinary team. 

ANML 51505 Introduction to Anaesthesia and Analgesia  (15 credits)
AIM: Develop the knowledge, skills and competencies to assist with anaesthesia and analgesia.

ANML 5106 Introduction to Medical Nursing  (15 credits)
Aim: Develop the knowledge, skills and competencies to care for companion animals in a veterinary clinic.

ANML 5107 Introduction to Surgery and Diagnostics  (15 credits)
AIM: Develop the knowledge, skills and competencies to understand diagnostic procedures and assist with the nursing of routine surgical patients. 

ANML5108 Companion Animal Practicum 11 (15 credits)
Aim: Develop the knowledge, skills and competencies to provide nursing care for surgical and hospitalised patients as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Year 2 Level 6 papers 
ANML 6101 Anaesthesia Management and Emergencies (15 credits) 
Aim: Develop the knowledge, skills and competencies to manage the nursing of animal patients undergoing anaesthesia and to respond during animal emergencies. 

AMML 6102 Medical Nursing and Diagnostics (15 credits) 
Aim: Develop the knowledge, skills and competencies relevant to pathophysiology, pharmacology and diagnostic procedures to provide effective medical nursing care.

ANML 6103 Companion Animal Practicum 111 (30 credits) 
Aim: Develop the knowledge, skills and competencies to manage the nursing care of surgical and hospitalised animal patients as part of a multidisciplinary team in a veterinary clinic.

ANML 6104 Surgical Nursing and Dentistry (15 credits)
Aim: Develop the knowledge, skills and competencies to manage the nursing of animal patients undergoing surgery and dentistry.

ANML 6105 Imaging and Veterinary Nursing Services (15 credits)
Aim: Develop the knowledge, skills and competencies relevant to performing diagnostic imaging and providing veterinary nursing services within a multidisciplinary team.

ANML 6106 Companion Animal Practicum IV (30 credits)
Aim: Develop the knowledge, skills and competencies to manage the nursing care of surgical and hospitalised animal patients as part of a multidisciplinary veterinary team.

Animal Research Technician, Companion Animal Veterinary Nurse.

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