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

Embark on a rewarding career as a veterinary nursing professional with the two-year New Zealand Diploma in Veterinary Nursing (Level 6) programme. This program focuses on Companion Animal care and includes 750 hours of work placement.

This qualification provides the technical knowledge and clinical/practical skills to work as a veterinary nurse. You will learn the skills needed to help animals attain, maintain or recover optimal health and quality of life. Graduates will also be able to practice sustainably and to engage in on-going learning in the field.

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Invercargill
Campus
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

Dates
TBC
Fees
This programme qualifies for SIT Zero Fees. Terms and Conditions apply. Click here for more information.
Tuition Fees

Zero tuition fees

Direct Material Costs

$3,185.00 (Y1), $3,981.00 (Y2) (incl. GST)

International Fees

Check if this course is available to international students in our International section.

Course Outline

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 
Course Content

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.

Career Opportunities

Animal Research Technician, Companion Animal Veterinary Nurse.

Application Criteria

Students should be able to demonstrate previous experience working with animals, and an aptitude for working with the public.

  • An aptitude for working with the public which may include a reference from an employer where the prospective student has worked with the public (e.g. retail), reference from a teacher attesting to social skills

For those people entering this qualification the following entry requirements apply:

  • 60 NCEA credits at Level 2
  • A minimum of 12 NCEA credits in English at Level 2 and 12 credits in Maths at Level 1; and 12 credits of relevant science at Level 1, or
  • The equivalent secondary study, or
  • Meet the education provider‘s requirements for the equivalent numeracy and literacy standards
  • Applicants over the age of 20 years at time of enrolment will be considered where they can demonstrate the ability to succeed in a programme.

Discretionary admission

Any ākonga who is not yet 20 years of age and has not reached the general admission requirements for their intended programme may be eligible for Discretionary Admission. In assessing whether to grant Discretionary Admission, the delegated authority focuses on the applicant’s level of preparedness for their intended programme. 

Additional requirements

In addition to meeting the requirements for admission, all applicants must complete a health declaration and declaration of any criminal conviction to ensure fitness to practice prior to acceptance into the programme. Note: Convictions of any offence and/or declaration of health conditions will not necessarily exclude applicants from enrolment. Any decision is made on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the delegated authority.

English language requirements

Applicants for whom English or te reo Māori is not a first language are required to provide proof of English proficiency. 

The required level of proficiency for this programme is IELTS (Academic) score of 6 with no individual band lower than 5.5 from a single test taken in the preceding two years, or an equivalent described in NZQA Rules. 

Domestic learners who have completed the majority or all of their education in New Zealand are deemed to have met this requirement.

Are you a domestic or international student?

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