Postgraduate Diploma in the Art and Science of Health Care
Postgraduate Diploma in the Art and Science of Health Care

Postgraduate Diploma in the Art and Science of Health Care

Postgraduate Diploma in the Art and Science of Health Care

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. 

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Key Details
Invercargill
Qualification:
Postgraduate Diploma
Level:
8
Credits:
120
Duration:

Two years full-time

Up to four years part-time

Blended Delivery

Study Modes:
On Campus
Dates:

2024 Semester 1: 08 February to 20 June. Closing date 12 December 2023.

2024 Semester 2: 11 July to 21 November. Closing date 13 June 2024.
Fees:

This programme is eligible for the Zero Fees Scheme.

  • NO tuition fees
  • Direct material costs is $1,225.60 (GST inclusive)

International Fees can be found here.

NZ$4,500.00 (International Students)

Some Course Details May Change

As part of our move into Te Pūkenga we're aligning our courses nationally. This is ongoing, and means that some course details including fees, and entry requirements may change. In the meantime please go ahead and apply as normal, we will keep you advised of any changes, and we are always available to answer any questions you might have.

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.

Applicants should have either a degree in a nursing or health related subject or proven evidence of Level 7 study.
Semester One, 2020
HS801 Clinical Diagnostic Reasoning and Health Assessment for Health Professionals 
This paper enables registered nurses/New Zealand registered health professionals to develop, conduct and critically reflect on advanced nursing/health professionals health assessment and diagnostic reasoning in the individual's clinical setting.
Dates on campus: 12 (orientation) and 13 February, 4 March, 8 and 9 April, 6 and 7 May, 3 and 4 June
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.
Dates on campus: 12 (orientation) and 13 February, 20 March, 8 and 29 May, 25 and 26 June
HS816 Advanced Practice to Support Long-Term Conditions
This paper refines advanced long-term conditions' management by enhancing health professional practice in initiating, managing and co-ordinating care across  settings
Dates on campus: 12 (orientation), 18 and 19 February, 8 April, 28 and 29 April, 13 and 14 May
Semester Two, 2020
HS801 Clinical Diagnostic Reasoning and Health Assessment for Health Professionals 
This paper enables registered nurses/New Zealand registered health professionals to develop, conduct and critically reflect on advanced nursing/health professionals health assessment and diagnostic reasoning in the individual's clinical setting.
Dates on campus: 14 (Orientation) and 15 July, 30 July, 12 and 13 August, 9 and 10 September, 14 and 15 October
HS 809 Advanced Pharmacology for Health ProfessionalsThis paper enables the registered nurse or registered midwife to develop an enhanced knowledge of pharmacological principles informing the ethical delivery of medication to clients with long term and common conditions.Dates on campus: 4 and 5 February; 15 March; 11 April; 9 and 30 May; 6 and 20 June
HS 809 Applied Pharmacology for Health Professionals
This paper enables the registered nurse or New Zealand registered health professional to develop an enhanced knowledge of pharmacological principles informing the ethical delivery of medication to clients with long term and common conditions.
Dates on campus: 14 (orientation) and 15 July, 13 August, 10 September, 8 and 22 October, 05 and 19 November
HS810 Health Professional Practice to Support Older Persons' Health and Well-being
This paper recognises the diversity of the older adult age group and the complex relationship between determinants of health, health status and well-being.  The paper examines the scope of independent/ collaborative practice in relation to health promotion, maintenance and restoration of health, preventative care, rehabilitation and/or palliative care and encourages the generation of new approaches to the delivery of expert care in different settings.
Dates on campus: 14 July (orientation), 15 and 16 July, 7, 8 and 9 September, 19 and 20 October
HS812 Integrating Acquired Knowledge in Specialist Practice
This paper enables registered nurses/New Zealand registered health professional to develop advancing specialist skills within their clinical setting.  Through the use of 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.
Dates on campus: 14 July (orientation), 15 and 16 July, 10 and 11 August, 7 and 8 September,  19 October
HS815 Advancing Clinical Emergency Care
This paper refines advancing nursing/health professional practice by enhancing nursing/health professional skills and expertise in assessment, diagnostic processes, interventions, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacotherapeutics using evidence-based practice in emergency clinical settings.
Dates on campus: 14 July (orientation), 15 and 16 July, 27 and 28 August, 24 September, 29 and 30 October

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, 2024

CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS: 8th December 2023

Orientation seminar TBC

HS801 Clinical Diagnostic Reasoning and Health Assessment for Health Professionals. (Combination of online/onsite)

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: 28th March

Study days on-site: 19h February; 6th March; 20th March; 10th April; 1st May; 5th & 6th June (on-site assessment)

HS802 Pathophysiology for Health Professionals. (Online) 

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): Thursday 8th February; Thursday 7th March; Thursday 28th March; Thursday 16th May; Thursday 6th & Friday 7th June

HS820 Health Services Management

This paper provides an opportunity for New Zealand registered health professionals to acquire knowledge and skills applied by managers and leaders in health services to ensure the achievement of improved patient outcomes.

Study days (all online): 20th February; 29th May

MHS8.424 Global Health

This course aims to provide students with a comprehensive and critical overview of the global burden of chronic non-communicable diseases in an interdisciplinary health context.

 

Semester Two, 2024

CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS: 20th June 2023

Orientation seminar TBC (on-line)

HS809 Applied Pharmacology for Health Professionals. (Online)

This paper promotes the advancement of ethically robust and socio-culturally aligned pharmacological knowledge to health professionals engaged with health consumers in a variety of clinical environments.

Study days (all online): TBC.

HS818 Pain, Pain Assessment and Pain Management for Health Professionals. (Online)

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 online): TBC.

HS821 Research Paradigms for Nursing Science. (Online)

This paper provides New Zealand registered health professionals with the knowledge and skills required for scholarly research at a postgraduate level, covering a range of paradigms, approaches, and techniques, with particular emphasis on the New Zealand cultural and sociopolitical context.

Study days: dates are individualised & specific to each student

HS823 Health in Aotearoa New Zealand. (Online)

This course aims to allow students to explore the implications of Te Tiriti o Waitangi for healthcare in Aotearoa New Zealand, as well as cultural and socioeconomic influences.

Study days (all online): TBC.

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.

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