Nursing (2024)

Nursing plays a pivotal role in providing, leading and coordinating care that is compassionate, evidence-based and person-centred. At Waikato, we look at the needs of the diverse and changing Aotearoa population to create a Registered Nurse who is culturally competent, supportive and can care for the individual and family across the lifespan.

Nursing is offered through the Bachelor of Nursing (BNurs), the Bachelor of Nursing with Honours (BNurs(Hons)) and the Master of Nursing Practice (MNursPrac). For more information, contact the Programme Convenor for Nursing.

To complete the BNurs, students must complete the programme set out below.


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  • Year 1

    Students must take NURSE101, NURSE102, NURSE103, NURSE104, NURSE112, NURSE113 and MAORI150.

  • Year 2

    Students must take NURSE201, NURSE202, NURSE203, NURSE204, NURSE212, NURSE213 and MAORI204.

  • Year 3

    Students must take NURSE301, NURSE302, NURSE303 and NURSE305.

  • Prescriptions for the BNurs(Hons)

    To complete a BNurs(Hons), students must complete 120 points at 500 level. This will include 90 points from HLTSC593 and 30 points from an approved Health Science paper.

  • Prescriptions for the MNursPrac

    Year 1: Students must take HLTSC570, HLTSC571, HLTSC572, HLTSC573, HLTSC574 and MAORI503.

    Year 2: Students must take HLTSC575, HLTSC576, HLTSC577, HLTSC578 and HLTSC579.

  • 100 Level

    Code Paper Title Points Occurrence / Location
    HLTSC101Health Assessment 130.0No occurrences
    This paper provides an introduction to health assessment. It includes a practicum to consolidate fundamental health assessment skills and integrates physical, cultural, social and psychological dimensions.
    HLTSC102Applied Health Science 130.0No occurrences
    This paper provides an introduction to individual and interpersonal functioning including human physiology and anatomy. The paper focusses strongly on cellular and organ structure and function as well as biochemical and physiological processes. The paper will progress through to the second trimester where a pathophysiological dimension will be added that focusses on common pathological processes such as heart and lung disease and diabetes. The paper will also progress to cover alterations in individual and social functioning. The concepts of inflammation, infection and abnormal physiological and structural changes will be introduced in relation to the human response to illness.
    HLTSC103Nursing Practice 130.0No occurrences
    This paper provides an introduction to nursing practice including the professional guidelines and principles of nursing practice. It includes a practicum to consolidate fundamentals of nursing which includes learning from other level one papers as well as therapeutic strategies, ethics, professional and legal, cultural responsiveness, transdisciplinary care, quality indicators, care planning, and digital literacy.
    HLTSC104The Socio-Political Context of Health and Healthcare15.0No occurrences
    This paper explores the socio-political context of health and healthcare in Aotearoa-NZ. Health scenarios are used to develop understanding of socio-political issues applied to clinical practice.
    MAORI150Te Tiriti o Waitangi: An Introduction to the Treaty of Waitangi15.024A (Hamilton), 24B (Hamilton), 24I (Hamilton) & 24X (Hamilton)
    This paper seeks to provide a sound understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. It reviews historical and contemporary interpretations and takes into account the interplay of contextual issues of the time.
    NURSE101Health Assessment and Nursing Practice15.024A (Hamilton)
    The aim of this paper is to introduce the role of the nurse as a health professional and the theoretical, empirical, ethical, cultural, and legal principles that govern this.
    NURSE102Applied Health Science 115.024A (Hamilton)
    This paper introduces the theory and skills required to understand the range of physiological and psychosocial processes underpinning health, altered functioning and illness.
    NURSE103Nursing Practicum 1A15.024A (Hamilton)
    This paper supports students to apply information and skills from the theoretical components into the practice environment. The lifespan and care continuum are reflected in the placement setting.
    NURSE104The Socio-Political Context of Health and Healthcare15.024A (Hamilton)
    This paper explores the socio-political context of health and healthcare in Aotearoa-NZ. Health scenarios are used to develop understanding of socio-political issues applied to clinical practice.
    NURSE112Applied Health Science 1B15.024I (Hamilton)
    This paper introduces theory and skills required to understand pathophysiological processes; alterations in cognitive, emotional, and social processes, and the impact of findings which guide diagnostic reasoning and therapeutic interventions.
    NURSE113Nursing Practicum 1B30.024I (Hamilton)
    This paper supports this paper apply information from the theoretical components into the practice environment. The lifespan and care continuum are reflected in the placement setting.
  • 200 Level

    Code Paper Title Points Occurrence / Location
    HLTSC201Health Assessment 230.0No occurrences
    This paper extends the knowledge gained from Health Assessment 1 to consolidate fundamental health assessment skills and integrates physical, cultural, social and psychological dimensions.
    HLTSC202Applied Health Science 230.0No occurrences
    The paper extends the knowledge gained from Applied Health Science 1 in Year 1 of the Bachelor of Nursing and continues to focus on both physiology and pathophysiology. The paper will align with both the content and assessments in the papers Nursing Practice 2 and Health Assessment 2. The paper has a specific focus on human development, senescence and reproduction.
    HLTSC203Nursing Practice 230.0No occurrences
    This paper consolidates the learning and experience from Nursing Practice 1, developing the professional behaviours and attributes of nursing practice. It includes a practicum to extend this development of therapeutic strategies, ethics, professional and legal responsibilities, cultural responsiveness, transdisciplinary care, quality indicators, care planning, and digital literacy.
    HLTSC204Pharmacology for Nurses15.0No occurrences
    The aim of this paper is to develop the understanding of pharmacology and the role of medications in treatment and care of clients / tangata whaiora and develop an understanding of side effects and the impact such have on care.
    MAORI204Māori and Pacific Health and Wellbeing15.024A (Hamilton) & 24A (Tauranga)
    This paper looks at health and wellbeing from Maori and Pacific perspectives, including models and frameworks in relation to Health, Sport, Human Performance, and Nursing.
    NURSE201Health Assessment and Nursing Practice 215.024A (Hamilton)
    No description available.
    NURSE202Applied Health Science 2A15.024A (Hamilton)
    The paper extends the knowledge gained from Applied Health Science in Year I of the Bachelor of Nursing and continues to focus on physiology, pathophysiology and altered psychosocial functioning.
    NURSE203Nursing Practicum 2A15.024A (Hamilton)
    This paper further develops student understanding of the role of the nurse as a health professional and the theoretical, ethical, empirical, cultural, and legal principles that govern this.
    NURSE204Pharmacology for Nurses15.024I (Hamilton)
    This course develops an understanding of pharmacology, the role of medications in the treatment and care of clients / tangata whaiora, including an understanding of the impact of side effects.
    NURSE212Applied Health Science 2B15.024I (Hamilton)
    This paper builds on the theory required to understand and identify pathophysiological and other altered processes and impact of findings, which guide diagnostic reasoning and therapeutic interventions.
    NURSE213Nursing Practicum 2B30.024I (Hamilton)
    This paper consolidates students' understanding of the role of the nurse as a health professional and the theoretical, ethical, empirical, cultural, and legal principles that govern this.
  • 300 Level

    Code Paper Title Points Occurrence / Location
    HLTSC301Health Assessment 330.0No occurrences
    This paper extends the knowledge gained from Health Assessment 2, to prepare students to autonomously practise health assessment in a range of clinical settings, integrating physical, cultural, social and psychological dimensions upon graduation.
    HLTSC302Applied Health Science 330.0No occurrences
    This paper builds advanced knowledge of both physiology and pathophysiology. There is a specific focus on neuroscience. There is a significant placement component associated with this paper.
    HLTSC303Nursing Practice 345.0No occurrences
    This paper builds on prior Nursing Practice papers, developing the professional behaviours and attributes of nursing practice. This paper includes an extended period of clinical practice with a high level of autonomy in preparation for transition to registered nurse practice.
    HLTSC305Generating and Interpreting Evidence for Clinical Practice15.0No occurrences
    This paper provides an introduction to the skills of applying research evidence to clinical practice. It includes an overview of quantitative and qualitative research methods.
    NURSE301Health Assessment and Nursing Practice 330.024A (Hamilton)
    This paper builds on previous Health Assessment and Nursing Practice papers to support students autonomously perform client and family/whanau/aiga assessments and use these to guide diagnostic reasoning and therapeutic interventions.
    NURSE302Applied Health Science 330.024A (Hamilton)
    The paper extends the knowledge gained from Applied Health Science 2 and continues to focus on physiology, pathophysiology, and alterations in psychosocial processes.
    NURSE303Nursing Practicum 345.024I (Hamilton)
    The aim of this paper is to synthesise nursing practice knowledge and experience, to enable transition to the Registered Nurse role on successful completion of the programme.
    NURSE305Generating and Interpreting Evidence for Clinical Practice30.024I (Hamilton)
    This paper introduces students to the different forms of evidence that contribute to clinical decision-making in nursing practice. Students will locate and evaluate evidence and incorporate findings into their practice.
  • 500 Level

    Code Paper Title Points Occurrence / Location
    HLTSC570Professional Nursing Practice in Aotearoa Society15.024A (Hamilton) & 24A (Tauranga)
    This paper explores the nature of professional nursing practice including therapeutic relationships, ethics, professional boundaries, cultural safety and socio-political context of healthcare in Aotearoa.
    HLTSC571Applied Science for Nursing Practice I15.024A (Hamilton) & 24A (Tauranga)
    The aim of this paper is to introduce the theory and skills required to understand normal physiological processes in relation to cognitive, emotional and social processes, and the impact of findings which guide diagnostic reasoning and therapeutic interventions.
    HLTSC572Nursing Practicum I30.024A (Hamilton) & 24A (Tauranga)
    Nursing Council of New Zealand competencies include professional, ethical and legal requirements, care planning in response to assessment, therapeutic relationships, cultural responsiveness, and negotiated partnership with clients, families and trans-disciplinary care. This forms the basis of this paper.
    HLTSC573Nursing Practicum II30.024I (Hamilton) & 24I (Tauranga)
    This paper builds on Nursing Practicum I and extends the student's understanding of the role of the nurse as a health professional and the theoretical, empirical, ethical, cultural and legal principles that govern this. The paper will focus strongly on the application of knowledge of health assessment, clinical reasoning and decisi...
    HLTSC574Applied Science for Nursing Practice II15.024I (Hamilton) & 24I (Tauranga)
    This paper introduces the theory and skills required to understand and identify pathophysiological processes and alterations in cognitive, emotional and social processes, and the impact of findings which guide diagnostic reasoning and therapeutic interventions.
    HLTSC575Applied Science for Nursing Practice III15.024I (Hamilton)
    The paper extends the knowledge gained from Applied Science for Nursing Practice I and continues to focus on physiology, pathophysiology and altered psychosocial functioning.
    HLTSC576Pharmacology for Nursing Practice15.024I (Hamilton)
    Pharmacology provides the foundation knowledge for nurses to administer medication, which is a critical component of nursing practice. Nursing Council of New Zealand competencies include professional, ethical and legal requirements, care planning in response to assessment, therapeutic relationships, cultural responsiveness, and neg...
    HLTSC577Nursing Practicum III30.024A (Hamilton)
    Nursing Council of New Zealand competencies include professional, ethical and legal requirements, care planning in response to assessment, therapeutic relationships, cultural responsiveness, and negotiated partnership with clients, families and transdisciplinary care. This paper reflects the cumulative development of research-based...
    HLTSC578Research in Healthcare Practice15.024A (Hamilton)
    This paper introduces students to applied clinical research using quantitative and qualitative methods. The paper covers identifying a clinical issue for research, exploring relevant literature and research design.
    HLTSC579Transition to Registered Nurse Practice45.024I (Hamilton)
    This paper completes the MNursPrac programme by providing students with an extended period of clinical experience under the guidance of a Registered Nurse preceptor, culminating in achievement of the Nursing Council of New Zealand's Registered Nurse competencies. The paper also includes the research component of conducting a clinic...
    HLTSC593Health Science Thesis90.024X (Hamilton)
    The 90-point thesis is an individual scholarly piece of work of 30,000 words which uses research methodology to systematically investigate a health issue.
    MAORI503Te Tiriti o Waitangi15.024I (Hamilton)
    This paper seeks to provide a sound understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi for nursing students from a range of academic backgrounds. It reviews historical and contemporary interpretations and takes into account the interplay of contextual issues of the time.

2024 Catalogue of Papers information current as of : 22 September 2023 8:09pm

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