Bachelor of Nursing

Marlborough Campus-based students can start this qualification with virtual-classroom lectures with only two days per week of practical learning at the Nelson Campus.

The two days (max) per week at the Nelson Campus will offer you a practical delivery which includes the OSCE exam, Clinical Placement Unit (scenario practical training), labs and most tutorials.

Year One includes a Marlborough-based 4-week clinical placement block in Semester 2. However, the availability of Marlborough-based clinical placements for Years Two and Three has yet to be confirmed.

Virtual classrooms

These classes will be video linked from our Nelson campus for students studying on our Marlborough campus. Virtual classroom students meet and study together on the Marlborough campus and then interact with their fellow students, and the lecturer, in Nelson via the video linking software.

Marlborough students can access Library Learner Services and one-on-one tutor sessions as required.

During the programme, you will study interpersonal communication and bioscience, develop research skills, and understand what it means to be a nurse. 

You will be able to respond to people needing skilled nursing care in a complex healthcare environment. 

With over 1,100 hours of clinical experience, you will learn to recognise the physical, psychological and social well-being needs of people and their communities to promote healthy lifestyles and support people to reach their full potential.

Meet Sam

Meet Sam - a high-tech $35,000 training mannequin who can be programmed to simulate a wide range of health conditions. 

Clinical practice will be gained in a variety of settings in Nelson, Tasman, Marlborough and the West Coast. The hours of nursing practice will vary considerably depending on the agency in which you are placed e.g. shifts could include: 9am – 5pm, 7am –3.30pm, 2.30pm – 11pm.

All students will be required to travel outside the Nelson region at various stages during the three years and will also be required to work shifts. Year Three of the degree in the transition to practice course, students are encouraged to work rostered and rotating shifts, which include weekends and nights.

Students are required to provide their own transport to practice placements and may be required to meet their own travel and accommodation costs.

In this programme, you have the opportunity to join the whānau group to build whanaungatanga. You will join with graduates and your peers across all years of nursing study.

Attend the annual National Māori Student Hui, strengthen your Māori cultural identity, be part of the Facebook group and attend regular group hui.

You will gain new friends, role models and opportunities to network as well as being part of the solution to improving Māori health outcomes.

Many of our students are adults balancing study demands with family commitments. For those with young children, there is a childcare centre on the Nelson campus providing full or part-time care.

Campus Corner Early Learning Centre(external link) cares for children six months to five years old. Early booking is essential. Ph (03) 548 0104.

Part-time study is also an option; the Bachelor of Nursing programme may be completed over five years instead of three years.

As a graduate you can work in many different areas of nursing.

Career options include:

• Practice Nurse
• District Nurse
• Mental Health Nurse
• Public Health Nurse
• Research
• Management
• Health Promotion
• Education
• Elderly Care
• Hospital Nurse (Medical, Surgical, Paediatrics and Theatre).

You can learn more about nursing careers on the Careers New Zealand website(external link).

Academic requirements

New Zealand University Entrance:

NCEA Level 3 (60 credits at level 3 and 20 credits at level 2 or higher) which must include:

14 credits at Level 3 in each of:

• English or an approved literacy subject*
• Biology or Physical Education or Chemistry
• one other subject from the list of approved subjects*(external link)

AS WELL AS

Numeracy* - 14 credits at Level 1 or above

OR

New Zealand Certificate in Study and Career Preparation (Level 4) Hauora Pathway or equivalent

If you have undertaken examinations other than NCEA (e.g. International Baccalaureate, Cambridge Examination), NMIT will assess your qualification for academic entry equivalency.

Alternative requirements

Applicants who are unable to demonstrate that they meet Academic Entry Requirements but who can demonstrate acquired skills for tertiary study gained through study, work and/or life experience, may be approved for alternate entry by the Curriculum Manager (or delegate). This may include Recognition of Prior Learning.  

English Language Requirements

If English is not the applicant’s first language, applicants will need to provide a result from a test or qualification on the acceptable alternatives English Proficiency Outcomes Table(external link): Applicants who do not have evidence of English language skills and are a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident, may contact NMIT for an assessment.

• IELTS 6.5 Academic (no lower than 6.5 in all subtests).

Note: The English Language requirements for this programme are higher than the minimum set by NZQA, therefore; applicants who have achieved NCEA Level 3 University Entrance may be required to provide evidence of English Language skills. IELTS scores used must be taken from a single IELTS Test Report Form and are valid for two years from the date of the test.

For successful acceptance into this programme, you will need to provide a personal statement outlining why you wish to become a nurse, alongside additional forms below.  

You can reach out to the enrolments team for support with the application process or to discuss with one of our career advisors whether nursing is the right choice for you.

• Personal statement
  This should outline why the applicant has chosen nursing as a career.
• Referee’s Information
  Provide evidence of good character and personal attributes via 2 referees.
• Interview
  Applicants who meet academic entry criteria may be required to attend an interview.
• A Current First Aid certificate 
  A First Aid Certificate (unit standards 6400, 6401 and 6402) is current for the programme's first year.
• Immunity evidence
  To participate in the clinical components of the programme, the applicant must meet all relevant Health Authority requirements, including evidence of immunity to nominated diseases. Currently, MRSA clearance is required by most clinical practice areas.
• Consent to Disclosure of Information
  Successful applicants must 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 in confidence to the Curriculum Manager. Information on the Vetting Service is available from the New Zealand Police website.

The applicant’s personal statement, referee information, and interview (if required) should provide evidence of appropriateness to study for the nursing profession.

Please see the Supporting document requirements (external link)section for more information and form templates.

Contact our enrolments team for support if you have questions regarding the documentation requirements on 03 539 5469. 

The New Zealand Government no longer requires any health practitioner to be vaccinated before they can practise. However, individual employers and organisations are still permitted to maintain their own vaccination requirements.

Although mask-wearing is in general no longer compulsory, the Government does still require masks to be worn in many healthcare and disability support settings. Individual employers may also choose to require mask-wearing on their premises.

For all queries, please email covid@nmit.ac.nz

Please budget approx. $1,400.00 for the Bachelor of Nursing Programme in Year 1 to cover: 

• Textbooks - you can see what you need and buy them from: http://textbooksrus.co.nz/nmit(external link)
• Uniform (two uniform tops, pants and shoes) $300
• Associated clinical costs (travel and accommodation) $300
• ClinicalKey (online textbooks and course resources) $100 annually
• Nursing Kit - $51.50

Many scholarships and grants are available to support opportunities for education and research in the healthcare sector. Be sure to look into current offers.

Regarding course fees or study-related costs, we also offer a range of scholarships(external link). 

This programme is highly regarded nationally, combines theory with clinical experience, and meets the Nursing Council of New Zealand (NCNZ) Competencies for the Registered Nurse Scope of Practice.

After completing the Bachelor of Nursing degree, ākonga must pass the NCNZ State Final Examination to gain registration with the Nursing Council of New Zealand(external link).

All programmes offered by NMIT are under a Te Pūkenga review to ensure they are portable, consistent and aligned with the industry's needs while keeping our learners' success and wellbeing at heart. These are called unified programmes and are full of advantages for learners.

This programme is undergoing a transition to a Te Pūkenga unified programme. We'll notify you of any changes that might impact what you're studying, where you're studying, or how you're learning as information becomes available.

See more about our flexible learning options and unified programmes here.(external link)