Diploma in Veterinary Nursing (Rural Animal Technician)

This programme focuses on veterinary nursing in a rural environment.  It provides a wide range of veterinary nursing skills including management of large animals, animal handling and husbandry, client education and laboratory practices.  It also includes complementary generic, communication, and business skills.

A minimum of 118 credits is required from the following compulsory and elective credits:

RAT101 Rural Animal Technology

RAT140     Large Animal Technincian - Work Placement

RAT150     Production Animal Handling and Health Procedures

RAT160     Production Animal Health and Husbandry

RAT170     Professional Practice

Elective Credits:

A minimum of 58 credits is required from the following unit standards:

5152     Monitor health and provide husbandry for horses

5164     Demonstrate knowledge of, and respond to client requests for advice on, farm animal breeding

5171     Collect, prepare and examine blood samples from animals

5172     Collect and carry out routine examinations on faecal samples from animals

5173     Collect and carry out routine examinations on urine samples from animals

5174     Examine an animal for ectoparasites, collect and examine samples

5182     Provide emergency first aid care to large animals

5186     Supervise monogastric animal feeding, respond to client requests for advice

5204     Assist the veterinarian with consultations and surgery involving farm animals

21358     Demonstrate and apply knowledge of parasites affecting horses and production

DVN201  Business Studies

A minimum of 24 credits are required from the following:                              

335      Prepare payroll and related employment administration records

1299     Be assertive in a range of specified situations

1311     Present and defend an argument orally

1312     Give oral instructions in the workplace

1874     Prepare PAYE, ACC levies, FBT and GST returns

9694     Analyse and apply principles of communication process theory

This qualification recognises the skills and knowledge in veterinary technology required for a person to work as a member of a veterinary team providing technical support for a veterinarian. Holders of this qualification are able to work unsupervised in the areas of specialist nursing in a rural environment, management of large animals, animal handling and husbandry, client education and laboratory practices.

Completion of either the National Certificate in Veterinary Nursing or completion of the SIT Certificate in Veterinary Nursing, or demonstration of the equivalent skills or knowledge. Plus submission of a brief resume, or curriculum vitae.

Applicants whose first language is not English, or who come from a country where the language of instruction in schools is not English, must provide evidence of achieving an IELTS Academic English language test overall score of 6.0.

For students to be considered to have satisfactorily completed this programme, and to be eligible for award of the qualification 'Diploma in Veterinary Nursing (Rural Animal Technician)' they must have: Attended and completed all off site practical work based requirements. Attended for not less than 80% of the timetabled class hours and other schedule learning activities. Shown competence in all unit standards to a total of 142 credits.