Note: As a subsidiary of Te Pūkenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology, UCOL Te Pūkenga is committed to providing the best learning outcome for you. As part of this, all programmes are currently being reviewed to make them portable, consistent, and closely aligned with the needs of the industry. When published, this course information is correct, but the courses offered may change over time. If you have any questions call an Enrolment Advisor on 0800 468 265.
This programme consists of 240 credits.
Year 1 semester 1
Veterinary nursing practice (15 Credits)
The aim of this course is to develop the knowledge, skills, and competencies to work in a professional, safe, and effective manner in an animal health care environment.
Anatomy and physiology (15 Credits)
The aim of this course is to develop the knowledge, skills, and competencies relevant to basic animal anatomy and physiology to support animal health and welfare.
Animal husbandry and behaviour (15 Credits)
The aim of this course is to develop the knowledge, skills, and competencies to provide safe and appropriate husbandry and handling to support companion animal health and welfare.
Clinical skills 1 (15 Credits)
The aim of this course is to develop the knowledge, skills, and competencies to provide day to day care of animals as part of a multidisciplinary team. This course will include a minimum of 90 hours of practicum.
Year 1 semester 2
Medical and surgical nursing 1 (15 Credits)
The aim of this course is to develop the knowledge, skills, and competencies to assist with preventative healthcare and anaesthesia.
Clinical skills 2A (15 Credits)
The aim of this course is to develop the knowledge, skills, and competencies to assist with veterinary nursing care for surgical and medical patients. Analyse the nurse's role in surgery and anaesthesia, diagnostics, medicating practices, and nursing of hospitalised patients. Reflect on own development of interpersonal relationships within a team. This course will include 110 hours of practicum.
Medical and surgical nursing 2 (15 Credits)
The aim of this course is to develop the knowledge, skills, and competencies to assist with the nursing of surgical and medical patients.
Clinical skills 2B (15 Credits)
The aim of this course is to develop the knowledge, skills, and competencies to assist with veterinary nursing care for surgical and medical patients. Demonstrate skills relevant to surgery and anaesthesia protocols, diagnostic procedures, medicating animals, and nursing of hospitalised patients. This course will include 110 hours of practicum.
Year 2 semester 1
Medical and surgical nursing 3 (15 Credits)
The aim of this course is to develop the knowledge, skills, and competencies to manage the nursing of animal patients undergoing anaesthesia and surgery, and fluid therapy.
Clinical skills 3A (15 Credits)
The aim of this course is to develop the knowledge, skills, and competencies to manage the nursing care of surgical and hospitalised animal patients as part of a multidisciplinary team. Analyse the nurse's role in anaesthesia management, admission and discharge, surgical nursing, fluid therapy, and nursing of hospitalised patients. This course will include 110 hours of practicum.
Medical and surgical nursing 4 (15 Credits)
The aim of this course is to develop knowledge, skills, and competencies relevant to pathophysiology, pharmacology, and diagnostic procedures to provide effective medical nursing care.
Clinical skills 3B (15 Credits)
The aim of this course is to develop the knowledge, skills, and competencies to manage the nursing care of surgical and hospitalised animal patients as part of a multidisciplinary team. Demonstrate skills relevant to anaesthesia management, admission and discharge, surgical nursing, fluid therapy, and nursing of hospitalised patients. This course will include 110 hours of practicum.
Year 2 semester 2
Clinical nursing (15 Credits)
The aim of this course is to develop the knowledge, skills, and competencies relevant to imaging, first aid, wound management, and dentistry.
Clinical skills 4A (15 Credits)
The aim of this course is to develop the knowledge, skills, and competencies to provide veterinary nursing services and care for animals as part of a multidisciplinary team. Analyse the nurse's role in veterinary nursing services, wounds, bandaging, dentistry, first aid and imaging. Reflect on own development of professionalism within an animal healthcare setting. This course will include 110 hours of practicum.
Professional Practice (15 Credits)
The aim of this course is to develop the knowledge, skills, and competencies to work in a professional role within a multidisciplinary veterinary team.
Clinical skills 4B (15 Credits)
The aim of this course is to develop the knowledge, skills, and competencies to provide veterinary nursing services and care for animals as part of a multidisciplinary team. Demonstrate skills related to veterinary nursing services, wounds, bandaging, dentistry, first aid and imaging. This course will include 110 hours of practicum.
Previous related programmes
This two year New Zealand Diploma in Veterinary Nursing (Companion Animal Veterinary Nursing) supersedes and takes the best from the following programmes of study, which are no longer offered to students not already on the pathway:
- New Zealand Certificate in Animal Technology (Vet Nursing Assistant)
- New Zealand Diploma in Veterinary Nursing (one year)