Bachelor of Nursing

The Bachelor of Nursing is a three-year degree programme, which provides students with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills appropriate for employment in a wide and growing number of nursing careers.

The programme has as its core, theoretical and practical work in nursing – including principles relating to primary health, acute and chronic nursing care, mental health and mental illness throughout the lifespan.  The programme also recognises the importance of the cultural dimensions of nursing.

The programme has a strong applied component to allow students to enter the workforce proficient in a range of additional strengths including health promotion, illness prevention, nursing research, the ability to provide nursing care in a medical and surgical context, as well as the provision of emergency nursing care.

This programme will enhance opportunities for students to develop a broad understanding of nursing thus preparing them for professional practice or further advanced study in this area.

The Bachelor of Nursing has been designed to prepare graduates for a wide variety of nursing careers in community and hospital situations.  It is expected Bachelor of Nursing graduates will make a positive contribution to the health of people of New Zealand and the wider world.  This contribution will be as nurses demonstrating caring, competent, safe nursing practice in partnership with individuals, groups and communities.

Increasing complexity of health care needs requires well-educated, competent and compassionate nurses who are able to:

• Comprehend, critique and apply knowledge from nursing and other related disciplines in an appropriate and safe practice context.
• Facilitate the competent and safe provision of nursing care to groups and individuals with a variety of settings.
• Competently practise within the legal and ethical parameters of the nursing profession.
• Recognise, value, critique and apply research to nursing practice and knowledge.
• Meet the requirements of the Nursing Council of New Zealand for registration as a Registered Nurse.

The degree follows four themes – Professional Practice, Praxis, Health and Society and Health Sciences.  Papers included in the degree range from Professional Issues, Primary Care, Acute Care, Mental Health, Leadership and Consolidation of Practice at the end of the course.

Throughout the programme students are involved in learning in clinical settings in a variety of community and hospital areas.  By the end of the programme it is expected students will have integrated the theory and practice framework to develop into confident beginning practitioners.

Year One operates within a health and wellness framework. Students are encouraged to develop as autonomous and reflective learners. 200 hours of beginning practicum experiences in year one focus on healthy development through the lifespan, health promotion, health education, health assessments and care of the well elderly in residential and private homes.

In Year Two, students further develop core and specialised skills and theoretical knowledge and are provided with the opportunity to develop analytical and research skills. Year Two papers focus on ongoing knowledge, critical analysis and reflection development, and the development of competencies in nursing practice. Emphasis continues to be on partnership and respect for individuals. 430 practicum hours are offered in a variety of health and illness settings in hospitals, hospital related services within the community, and primary health settings (occupational health, public health, well child, GP/PHO settings).

Year Three requires in depth knowledge of specialised content of acute care and mental health.  Year Three papers aim to complement and build on the students' existing theoretical and practical knowledge established in Years One and Two. The student will be encouraged to apply critical reasoning in increasingly complex practice settings in community and hospital facilities.

Year Three provides students with the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to practice as confident safe beginning practitioners. In this year, 880 practicum hours are provided to enable students to develop the competencies required of beginning practitioners.  400 of the practicum hours are offered as a transition placement where students gain extended experience as part of a health care team in community or hospital placement.  As far as possible students will take responsibility for their choice of transition to practice paper.

PAPER DESCRIPTIONS:

Year One

BN511 Professional Issues in Nursing
This paper lays down the foundation principles for the profession of nursing.  It will explore the modern practice of nursing within a variety of environments and examine how the role of nursing has changed over time.  Students will begin to explore their own values and beliefs and how this may impact upon their delivery of nursing care.

BN521 Primary Health and Health Promotion
This paper will enable the student to gain an understanding of the principles of communication, cultural safety and primary health care. Students will examine the role of the nurse in primary health care and health promotion.

BN522 Fundamentals of Clinical Practice
The purpose of this paper is to introduce students to the fundamentals of nursing within New Zealand / Aotearoa.

BN531 Health and Social Sciences 1
The student will be introduced to social science principles related to growth and development, health psychology, psychology and sociology providing a comprehensive theoretical foundation for nursing practice.

BN541 Health Sciences 1
The purpose of this paper is to introduce students to the biological, chemical and physical principles upon which human body structure and function is based, providing a sound scientific basis for the development of safe and effective nursing practice.

Year Two

BN611 Professional Issues in Nursing 2
This paper will enable the student to develop knowledge of the nature of nursing and how practice is developed and delivered within New Zealand / Aotearoa. It will build on the knowledge gained in BN511.

BN623 The Art and Science of Nursing Practice
Students will have the opportunity to further develop and apply their theoretical knowledge and skills in a wide variety of primary and secondary health care settings to clients across the lifespan utilising reflection and critical thinking.

BN631 Health and Social Sciences 2
Students will further examine the significance of cultural safety within Aotearoa/ New Zealand and the relationship of the Treaty of Waitiangi to healthcare and Kawa Whakaruruhau.  

Students will develop a holistic approach to caring for the family / whanau recognising the diversity of needs identified in the New Zealand Health Care Strategy (2003) and the Primary Health Care Strategy (2001).

BN641 Health Sciences 2
Students will further develop their knowledge base established in BN541. Understanding of selected aspects of anatomy, physiology, microbiology, biochemistry, pathophysiology and pharmacology will be gained to consolidate a sound theoretical basis for safe nursing practice.

Year Three

BN711 Leadership and Professional Issues in Nursing
The purpose of this paper is to review the role of the nurse within organisations and to study the impact of national and international policies on the delivery of nursing care.

BN721 Nursing in the Acute Setting
The purpose of this paper is to consolidate the previously learnt nursing skills and knowledge and apply them in practise to increasingly complex clients, in a variety of acute environments.  Students will be expected to demonstrate appropriate decision making skills utilizing evidence based practice.  Students will become actively involved within the multidisciplinary team.

BN722 Nursing in Mental Health Settings 
This paper will provide an informed and contemporary theoretical and practical basis of mental health nursing to the student learner.  Students will have the opportunity to apply knowledge, behaviours, skills, and competencies integral to mental health nursing practice within a variety of learning environments.

BN723 Transition for Nursing Practice 
This paper will consolidate all the components of the Bachelor of Nursing programme to enable the student nurse to transition from student to registered nurse through practice under the supervision of an experienced preceptor.

BN731 Health and Social Sciences 3
The students will demonstrate critical analysis and integration into nursing practice, health, social science, growth and development, cultural safety, Treaty of Waitangi and Māori health knowledge.

BN741 Health Sciences 3
This paper will engender the application of health science knowledge to the comprehensive analysis of specific health topics.

Graduates will have the knowledge and skills to practise nursing and they will be eligible to sit the Nursing Council of New Zealand Examination for registration in the Registered Nurse scope of practice. Once formally registered with the NZ Nursing Council, graduates will work as nurses in primary, secondary and tertiary health settings; they will be critically reflective practitioners of nursing and they will practise within a framework of cultural safety. 

A nursing career offers great opportunities for men and women from a variety of cultures and walks of life.  Nursing is a partnership with people to improve their health. This includes assisting children, adults or elderly people recovering from physical or mental illness in hospital or their own homes.  Health promotion in nursing may involve people in schools, the workplace, marae or health centres.

Máori nurses help promote health and well being to Te Iwi Máori in culturally appropriate nursing services. Pacific Island nurses can use their skills to benefit the health status of their people both in New Zealand and in the Pacific Islands.

There are opportunities for career development in many areas including practice, teaching, management, and research both in New Zealand and overseas.

Accepted degree entry for under 20 year old applicants:

University Entrance equivalent:

• A minimum of 42 credits at level 3 or higher on the National Qualifications Framework, including a minimum of 14 credits at level 3 or higher in each of Science or a science related subject plus English from the approved subject list, with a further 14 credits at level 3 or higher taken from no more than two additional domains on the National Qualifications Framework or approved subject list, one domain or subject area  of which must be mathematics or a related topic.
• A minimum of 14 credits at level 1 or higher in Mathematics or Pangarau on the National Qualifications Framework
• A minimum of 8 credits at level 2 or higher in English or Te Reo Māori; 4 credits must be in Reading and 4 credits must be in Writing. The literacy credits will be selected from a schedule of approved achievement standards and unit standards.
• Provisional entrance through demonstrated academic ability to undertake the undergraduate nursing degree, that is, Sixth Form Certificate grades at sixteen or less or the NCEA equivalent and support from the applicant’s school. NCEA equivalencies are as follows: 18 NZQA credits or more at level 2 in each of the following 4 topics: numeracy, literacy, science plus one other topic.
• An overseas qualification which is considered to be the equivalent of either of the above.

Mature Students:

Applicants who do not meet the criteria stated above may be invited to enrol in the Bachelor of Nursing degree programme if they are over the age of twenty at the date of commencement of the programme and have demonstrated academic ability to undertake the undergraduate nursing degree.

In exceptional circumstances, applicants who can demonstrate ability and motivation to succeed in the programme may be considered.

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 score of 6.5 in all bands.

All applicants will be expected to attend an interview. This is a group interview which will involve a communication assessment, an essay and numeracy test. The interview also gives applicants an opportunity to visit the facilities at SIT and ask programme specific questions.

Applicants must have satisfactory physical and mental health that enables them undertake clinical practice.

Applicants must state their commitment to achievement in the programme and to become responsible and self directed learners.

All applicants must provide evidence of clearance of any criminal conviction considered inappropriate for working with vulnerable people. In addition all applicants will be required to complete a New Zealand Police Consent to Disclosure of Information form. The form will be sent to the Police Licensing and Vetting Service, and returned to the Academic and Relationship Leader in the School of Nursing.  Information on the NZ Police Vetting Service is available from the New Zealand Police website. Some criminal convictions depending upon their recency and severity may preclude applicants and students from completing practical requirements of the programme and thus being able to continue in the programme. Failure to declare convictions may affect an applicant’s eligibility to be registered with the Nursing Council of New Zealand.

Additional Criteria

• Applicants must have satisfactory physical and mental health.
• Applicants must state their commitment to achievement in the programme and to become responsible and self directed learners.
• Applicants who have had a criminal conviction at any time in the past must declare these circumstances. Failure to do so may adversely affect their eligibility to be registered with the Nursing Council of New Zealand.
• All applicants need to be aware that this programme demands a high level of commitment to degree level study.
• Clinical practice placements are throughout the Southland region and students will be required to make their own travel arrangements.
• This course requires that you are available to attend clinical placements during usual shift hours, ie, early morning, late shifts, night duty and weekends.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can the Bachelor of Nursing be completed part time?

No! The BN is a 3 year full time course. Under exceptional circumstances, students can take up to a maximum of 5 years at the discretion of the Academic and Relationship Leader.

Will I be required to work weekends and nights?

Yes. The courses require that you will undertake placements that require you to work shifts, nights and weekends. People are unwell 24/7.

Are all the placements in Invercargill?

No. We use a variety of placements from Queenstown, Gore, and Bluff and surrounding towns. Students will be required to make their own travel arrangements.

I have a criminal conviction – do I need to declare it?

Yes. All criminal convictions must be declared to the Academic and Relationship Leader before the course commences. Some criminal convictions may prohibit you from continuing your training.

Does a place on the pre-entry course guarantee a place on the Bachelor of Nursing course?

No. The pre-entry course prepares you for the academic study on the BN but it does not necessarily guarantee you a place on either the Dip EN or BN course.

I don’t have sciences or maths – does that matter?

Yes. Nursing is heavily based in the sciences and it is recommended that you have undertaken some studies in both.

Where do I get the application form from?

Here is the SIT standard application form.

Is there a list of recommended text books?

Yes. This is sent out with your acceptance letter.

Are the course holidays the same as the school holidays?

Not always. Whilst every effort is made to match school holidays this is not always possible. You may need to organise childcare as you could be on a clinical placement.

Are there any part-time / member of the public papers?

No. It is recommended that you study the whole of the first year as a full-time student. If you are looking for some preparatory study, you may wish to consider Health Science papers; Massage papers; or Computing skills.

Do I need a current first aid certificate?

No but you do need a basic CPR certificate (available through Red Cross).

Do I need to have any immunisations?

Yes. In order to protect both yourself and other patients, you will be advised of the current requirements when you receive your acceptance letter.

INFORMATION FOR BN APPLICANTS WISHING TO TRANSFER IN FROM ANOTHER SCHOOL

• We do not take people into Year 3 of the Bachelor of Nursing
• Students wishing to transfer must obtain a reference from their current Head of School and give permission for the Head of School to be contacted by SIT
• Students wishing to gain Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) must provide a transcript and copies of all the related outcomes for that course. There is a charge for the RPL process. Any RPL for a second year clinical paper has to be approved by Nursing Council. RPL is not automatic and careful consideration is given to matching up outcomes – this is a lengthy process and may require a student to submit an assessment.
• There is no national curriculum and therefore applicants need to acknowledge that they may have to repeat part of their first or second years, thereby increasing their length of study
• Students need to think very carefully about why they are transferring
• Any students wishing to transfer must meet the entry criteria for the SIT BN programme
• There is no July intake - you cannot transfer mid-year.

To satisfactorily complete and be awarded the Bachelor of Nursing a student must achieve the successful completion criteria for each paper of the Bachelor of Nursing and attend a minimum of 80% of scheduled learning activities of each paper. This amounts to a completion of a minimum of 360 credits.

The Bachelor of Nursing programme comprises three years of study.  Southern Institute of Technology will in this timeframe and where this is within Southern Institute of Technology's control, endeavour to make appropriate provision for enrolled students to obtain required practical experience in order to complete this programme and to meet New Zealand Nursing Council requirements to sit the New Zealand Nursing Council State Finals Examination. Prospective applicants must be aware however, that, while Southern Institute of Technology is committed to ensuring that all students obtain the appropriate clinical requirements before sitting the New Zealand Nursing Council State Finals Examination, that circumstances beyond Southern Institute of Technology's control may prevent the student from completing required clinical practical placements within the three year timeframe.  Such circumstances may for example include sudden regional changes in medical placement availability as well as other factors.