This Postgraduate Diploma in the Art and Science of Health Care are post-registration programmes for New Zealand registered health professionals wanting to advance their clinical practice. A range of papers are offered, with a focus on advancing care, pathophysiology, pharmacology, pain, and community practice. The postgraduate diploma/certificate is able to be credited into Master programmes throughout New Zealand.
Two years full-time
Up to four years part-time
Blended Delivery
2022 Semester 2: 20 July to 29 November - applications have closed.
2023 Semester 1: 08 February to 21 June
2023 Semester 2: 19 July to 30 November
This programme is eligible for the Zero Fees Scheme.
International Fees can be found here.
$4500 (International Students)
The Postgraduate Diploma in the Art and Science of Health Care is aimed towards registered nurses and New Zealand registered health professionals who wish to develop advancing practice skills. A range of papers are offered with a focus on high acuity care, community practice and the interfaces between hospital and home.
You, as a health professional, will be able to develop skills of research, critical analysis, constructive synthesis and advanced practice in your discipline.
Graduates will be able to develop innovative, effective, efficient and high-quality approaches to health care delivery, within the defined scope of practice. Each paper offered in the Postgraduate Diploma in the Art and Science of Health Care is equivalent to 30 credits at NZQA Level 8.
This programme delivered through Blended Delivery.
EACH PAPER IS WORTH 30 CREDITS AT LEVEL 8 AND REQUIRES APPROXIMATELY 300 HOURS OF STUDY (I.E. APPROXIMATELY 15-20 HOURS PER WEEK)
Semester One, 2022
CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS: 11 DECEMBER 2021
Orientation seminar 16/2/22 or 20/7/22 (on-line)
HS801 Clinical Diagnostic Reasoning and Health Assessment for Health Professionals
This paper enables registered nurses/registered health professionals to develop, conduct and critically reflect on advanced health assessment and diagnostic reasoning in the individual’s clinical setting.
Study days online: 17 February, 16 & 17 March
Study days on-site: 24 February, 7 April, 5 May, 2 & 3 June (on-site assessment)
HS802 Pathophysiology for Health Professionals
This paper explores the pathophysiological basis of complex disease processes in long-term and common conditions. This paper assumes existing knowledge of normal anatomy and physiology and engenders critical understanding of altered, complex health states.
Study days (all online): 17 February, 18 March, 6 May, 27 May, 16 & 17 June
HS810 Health Professional Practice to Support Older Persons’ Health and Wellbeing
This paper enables New Zealand registered health professionals to develop knowledge which will assist in facilitating and providing evidence-based care to support older adults’ health and wellbeing.
Study days (all online): 24 February, 3 & 17 March, 21 April, 2 June
Semester Two, 2022
CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS: 12 JUNE 2022
HS809 Applied Pharmacology for Health Professionals
This paper enables the registered nurse or registered health professionals to develop an enhanced knowledge of pharmacological principles informing the ethical delivery of medication to clients with long term and common conditions.
Study days (all online): 21 July, 25 August, 20 September, 18 October, 1 November, 17 November, 21 November.
HS812 Integrating Acquired Knowledge in Specialist Practice
This paper enables registered nurses/health professionals to develop advancing specialist skills within their clinical setting. By utilising a professional portfolio, practitioners will establish and validate competencies consistent with an advancing practitioner role: leadership, consultancy, involvement in standard and policy setting and monitoring, research and theory utilisation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and expert clinical practice.
Study days (all online): 25 & 26 July, 22 & 23 August, 26 & 27 September, 25 October
HS818 Pain, Pain Assessment and Pain Management for Health Professionals
This paper enables New Zealand registered health professionals to develop an enhanced knowledge of acute, subacute and chronic pain, including pain assessment and the different therapeutic pain management interventions within the New Zealand context.
Study days (all on-site): 27 & 28 July, 28 & 29 September, 2 & 3 November
Graduates of this programme will articulate their scope of practice and its advancement, show expert practice working collaboratively across settings and within interdisciplinary environments, show effective leadership and consultancy, develop and influence health and socioeconomic policies and practice at a local and national level, and show scholarly research inquiry into professional practice.
Qualifications gained in the Postgraduate Diploma in the Art and Science of Health Care would be expected to focus on Advancing Clinical Practice with the graduate practising more effectively as an Advancing Practitioner, who will influence/improve the health outcomes for the population base they are involved in the care of.
Application by Academic Qualification
An undergraduate degree in a health profession discipline and with New Zealand registration in their health care discipline. It is expected that applicants will be in current clinical practice. 0.4 full time equivalent positions is the expected minimum. However, applicants who are unable to meet this will be assessed by the postgraduate programme manager to ensure they have appropriate clinical placements. Where an applicant does not hold an undergraduate degree in a health professional discipline, evidence of extensive professional practice and scholarly achievement to the equivalent of a Bachelor’s degree is to be presented in a curriculum vitae accompanied by a statement about advanced practice and postgraduate goals for the future.
Additional Criteria
A minimum of one-year full time post registration experience and so thus one year in practice at the discretion of the programme manager is required.
All applicants must be New Zealand Registered Health Professionals.
To be awarded the Postgraduate Diploma in the Art and Science of Health Care at SIT, the student will have been credited with four papers of choice as specified in the structure of the Postgraduate Diploma in the Art and Science of Health Care. The total credit value of the Postgraduate Diploma in the Art and Science of Health Care is 120 credits.
Please note that students failing to attend for 80% of the timetabled programme hours, may forfeit Zero Fee entitlement.
