Regulations for The Bachelor of Nursing - BN

Official rules and regulations for the Bachelor of Nursing. These regulations are for the 2025 intake to this qualification.

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Qualification Regulations

Part I

These regulations are to be read in conjunction with all other Statutes and Regulations of the University including General Regulations for Undergraduate Degrees, Undergraduate Diplomas, Undergraduate Certificates, Graduate Diplomas, and Graduate Certificates.

Part II

Admission

1. Admission to the Degree of Bachelor of Nursing requires that the candidate will:

(a) meet the University admission requirements as specified;

(b) hold a current First Aid Certificate from an approved provider;

(c) meet Health Clearance and Police Vetting requirements as specified by the Academic Board or their delegate;

(d) meet the requirements for registration as a nurse in New Zealand as set down by the Nursing Council of New Zealand in terms of good character and fitness to be a nurse;

(e) have achieved an IELTS of 6.5 with no band less than 6.5 within the preceding two years, if English is not the applicant’s first language and the language of instruction in previous schooling is not English; and

(f) be selected into the programme on the basis of a selection process which include a written application, and may include an interview as determined by the Academic Board or their delegate.

Qualification requirements

2. Candidates for the Degree of Bachelor of Nursing shall follow a parts-based programme of study, which shall consist of courses totalling at least 360 credits, comprising:

(a) Part One, Part Two, and Part Three, as defined by the Schedule to the Qualification;

and including:

(b) the compulsory courses listed in the Schedule for the Qualification; and

(c) attending Contact Workshops, block courses, field trips, workshops, tutorials, laboratories, and clinical experiences as required.

Specialisations

3. The Degree of Bachelor of Nursing is awarded without specialisation.

Academic requirements

4. Every candidate for the Degree of Bachelor of Nursing shall complete to the satisfaction of Academic Board a minimum of 1100 hours of approved clinical practice and associated reports in accordance with the following courses:

168172 Nursing Practice I: Foundations of Care

168173 Nursing Practice II: Foundations of Practice

168274 Nursing Practice III: Integrated Care Part A

168275 Nursing Practice III: Integrated Care Part B

168372 Nursing Practice IV: Acute Care

168374 Pre-graduate Nursing Practice.

A passing grade in these courses will be awarded on the basis of practical work completed in accordance with the guidelines and standards governing the practical work requirements.

Student progression

5. Candidates may progress from Part One to Part Two, and from Part Two to Part Three, by passing all courses in the previous part.

6. The Academic Board may, under such conditions as it may determine and taking into account the recommendations of the examiners, admit any candidate to a supplementary examination where available in a course in which the candidate failed to gain a pass.

7. Candidates who fail to complete all the courses related to any Part in accordance with Regulation 5 shall re-enrol in the remaining unpassed course(s) at the next available offering of the course(s).

8. Candidates must maintain their eligibility for registration with the Nursing Council of New Zealand in terms of good character and fitness to be a nurse, throughout the duration of their enrolment in the programme.

Completion requirements

9. A candidate’s programme of study may not exceed five years, unless a specified time of suspension or extension has been approved by the Academic Board and the Nursing Council of New Zealand. Permission must be sought in advance of any suspension or extension by applying in writing to the Bachelor of Nursing Programme Director. Suspensions or extensions granted will appear on the academic transcript.

10. Candidates may be permitted to graduate when they meet the Admission, Qualification and Academic requirements within the prescribed timeframes.

Unsatisfactory academic progress

11. For candidates enrolled in the Degree of Bachelor of Nursing, the following will lead to exclusion from the qualification:

(a) failure to obtain a pass in any of the Bachelor of Nursing courses for which they have been enrolled for two occasions;

(b) failure to pass courses totalling at least 75 academic credits or failure to pass at least 60% of an approved part-time programme of study in any academic year; or

(c) failure to complete the Degree within five years from the date of first enrolment.

Candidates excluded under (a), (b), or (c) above will only be re-admitted to the Bachelor of Nursing with the approval of the Academic Board.

Transitional provisions

12. Subject to any Maximum Time to Completion regulations and the Abandonment of Studies provisions specified in the Part I qualification regulations, candidates enrolled in the Bachelor of Nursing prior to 1 January 2022 will be granted the following substitutions:

(a) 168161 for 231107

(b) 168162 for 168172

(c) 168163, 168164, 168165 for 168171 and 168173

(d) 168261 for 168273

(e) 168262 and 168263 and 168264 and 168265 for 168272

(f) 168266 for 168271

(g) 168361 and 168365 for 168371 and 168373

(h) 168362 and 168363 for 168372

(i) 168364 and 168366 for 168374

These transition arrangements expire on 31 December 2025.

13. Subject to any Maximum Time to Completion regulations and the Abandonment of Studies provisions specified in the Part I qualification regulations, candidates enrolled in the Bachelor of Nursing prior to 1 January 2025 who have successfully completed 168272 may substitute this for both 168274 and 168275. These transition arrangements expire 31 December 2027.

Schedule for the Bachelor of Nursing

Course planning key

Prerequisites
Courses that need to be completed before moving onto a course at the next level. For example, a lot of 200-level courses have 100-level prerequisite courses.
Corequisites
Courses that must be completed at the same time as another course are known as corequisite courses.
Restrictions
Some courses are restricted against each other because their content is similar. This means you can only choose one of the offered courses to study and credit to your qualification.
Key terms for course planning
Courses
Each qualification has its own specific set of courses. Some universities call these papers. You enrol in courses after you get accepted into Massey.
Course code
Each course is numbered using 6 digits. The fourth number shows the level of the course. For example, in course 219206, the fourth number is a 2, so it is a 200-level course (usually studied in the second year of full-time study).
Credits
Each course is worth a number of credits. You combine courses (credits) to meet the total number of credits needed for your qualification.
Specialisations
Some qualifications let you choose what subject you'd like to specialise in. Your major or endorsement is what you will take the majority of your courses in.

Part One (Choose 120 credits from)

Choose 120 credits from
Course code: 150112 Hauora Tangata: Foundations of Māori Health 15 credits

An introduction to understanding Māori health within Aotearoa/New Zealand.

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Course code: 168171 Professional Nursing I 15 credits

A focus on professional identity and the context of nursing in Aotearoa New Zealand.

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Course code: 168172 Nursing Practice I: Foundations of Care 15 credits

An introduction to the experience and reflection on beginning knowledge, skills and attributes within simulated nursing settings.

Restrictions: 168162

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Course code: 168173 Nursing Practice II: Foundations of Practice 30 credits

Further development of the experience and reflection on knowledge, skills and attributes within simulated and placement settings.

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Course code: 214101 Human Bioscience: Normal Body Function 15 credits

Human body structure and function (anatomy and physiology), including relevant concepts of homeostasis and metabolism and development throughout the lifespan.

Restrictions: 194101, 117155

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Course code: 214102 Applied Sciences for Health Professionals 15 credits

An introduction to the basic scientific concepts that are relevant to the maintenance of human and environmental health.

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Course code: 231107 Social Determinants of Health 15 credits

This course explores the social determinants of health, the complex range of social, cultural and economic interactions that influence individual and population health and help explain health disparities amongst populations.

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Part Two (Choose 120 credits from)

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Course code: 168271 Professional Nursing II 15 credits

Explore in more depth an emerging professional identity and the complexities of the nursing context in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Restrictions: 168266

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Course code: 168273 Evidence-based Nursing Practice 15 credits

An exploration of the relevance and impact of evidence-based nursing on practice.

Restrictions: 168261

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Course code: 168274 Nursing Practice III: Integrated Care Part A 30 credits

Learners will experience and reflect on integrated knowledge, skills and attributes within simulated and multiple placement settings with a focus on mental health and long-term conditions.

Prerequisites: 168171 and 168172 and 168173 Restrictions: 168272 and 168262 and 168263 and 168264 and 168265

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Course code: 168275 Nursing Practice III: Integrated Care Part B 30 credits

Learners will experience and reflect on integrated knowledge, skills and attributes within simulated and multiple placement settings with a focus on community health nursing.

Prerequisites: 168171 and 168172 and 168173 Restrictions: 168272 and 168262 and 168263 and 168264 and 168265

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Course code: 214201 Human Bioscience: Impaired Body Function 15 credits

An examination of the aetiology of disease and alteration of health status and the relevant scientific clinical tests, including the role of micro-organisms in disease processes.

Prerequisites: (214101 and 214102) OR (162101; and 194101 or 117155 or 214101)

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Course code: 214202 Pharmacology 15 credits

The study of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and pharmacogenetics; drug groups; principles of adverse drug effects; and drug interactions of prescription and non-prescription medication.

Prerequisites: 214101 and 214102

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Part Three (Choose 120 credits from)

Choose 120 credits from
Course code: 168371 Professional Nursing III 15 credits

Advancement of a developing nursing professional identity within the complexities of the global community.

Restrictions: 168361 and 168365

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Course code: 168372 Nursing Practice IV: Acute Care 45 credits

An advanced experience and reflection on knowledge, skills and attributes focused on acute care to care for individuals and whānau within simulated and multiple placement settings.

Restrictions: 168362 and 168363

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Course code: 168373 Preparing for Professional Excellence 15 credits

An opportunity for students to consolidate learning from practice and theory to further their professional identity, sense of agency and contribution to the global nursing community.

Restrictions: 168361 and 168365

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Course code: 168374 Nursing Practice V: Pre-Graduate 45 credits

Students begin the transition to registered nurse practice and meet Nursing Council of New Zealand competencies.

Prerequisites: 168371 and 168372 Restrictions: 168364 and 168366

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