Regulations for The Postgraduate Certificate in Nursing - PGCertNurs

Official rules and regulations for the Postgraduate Certificate in Nursing. These regulations are for the 2025 intake to this qualification.

Looking for general study information or to apply?

Go to Postgraduate Certificate in Nursing – PGCertNurs

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 Postgraduate Degrees, Postgraduate Diplomas, and Postgraduate Certificates.

Part II

Admission

1. Admission to the Postgraduate Certificate in Nursing requires that the candidate will:

(a) meet the University admission requirements as specified;

(b) have been awarded or qualified for a bachelor’s degree or equivalent; and

(c) be a registered nurse with a practising certificate from the Nursing Council of New Zealand or equivalent.

Qualification requirements

2. Candidates for the Postgraduate Certificate in Nursing shall follow a flexible programme of study, which shall consist of courses totalling at least 60 credits at 700-level, comprising:

(a) courses listed in the Schedule for the qualification; and including:

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

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

3. Candidates who have successfully completed a Level 8 postgraduate course as part of a Nursing Council of New Zealand approved Nursing Entry to Practice programme may apply for cross-credit to the Postgraduate Certificate in Nursing. 

Specialisations

4. The Postgraduate Certificate in Nursing is awarded without an endorsement.

Completion requirements

5. The timeframes for completion as outlined in the General Regulations for Postgraduate Qualifications will apply.

6. Candidates may be graduated when they met the Admission, Qualification and Academic requirements within the prescribed timeframes.

Unsatisfactory academic progress

7. The general Unsatisfactory Academic Progress regulations will apply.

Schedule for the Postgraduate Certificate in 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.

Schedule for the Postgraduate Certificate in Nursing (Choose 60 credits from)

Choose 60 credits from
Course code: 152742 Health Systems Management 30 credits

The health care systems of New Zealand and selected nations are compared and critically analysed from a management perspective.

Restrictions: 250742

View full course details
Course code: 152746 Contemporary Issues in Health Service Management 30 credits

Issues relevant to the efficient and effective delivery of health services are identified and examined.

Restrictions: 250746

View full course details
Course code: 168702 Issues in Nursing 30 credits

Topics relevant to study and/or research into selected aspects of Nursing are investigated.

View full course details
Course code: 168703 Managing Long Term Conditions 30 credits

The multidimensional aspects of managing long term conditions within contemporary society, including self-management and models of chronic care, are examined and applied to improve health service delivery, and optimise health and independence.

View full course details
Course code: 168709 Contemporary Approaches to Clinical Teaching and Learning 30 credits

An examination of a range of theoretical perspectives and sociomaterial and sociocultural aspects influencing clinical teaching and learning. Sociomaterial and sociocultural perspectives recognise that learning is influenced by the context, by human and non-human aspects, and by the variety of interactions occurring in the learning space. Alternative approaches to the design, delivery, and assessment of practice-based education are explored.

View full course details
Course code: 168711 Health Research Design and Method 30 credits

Philosophical, ethical and methodological issues in relation to health research are examined. Selected quantitative and qualitative methods are explored in depth, in preparation for developing a research proposal for a thesis, or research project.

Restrictions: 168810, 168710

View full course details
Course code: 168712 Pain Management 30 credits

The multidimensional aspects of pain management including physiological and psychological components are examined. This knowledge is applied to refine nursing interventions in order to manage the pain experienced by people with acute or chronic ill-health conditions and those receiving palliative care.

View full course details
Course code: 168713 Evidence-Based Practice 30 credits

Evidence based practice (EBP) is an approach to problem solving and service provision based on the integration of “best evidence” with expert opinion and client/consumer perspectives. Students will develop EBP skills needed to critically evaluate information available from research findings, professional consensus statements and other sources of information, as well as communicating the results.

View full course details
Course code: 168714 Assessment and Clinical Decision-Making in Mental Health 30 credits

This practical course advances students’ comprehensive assessment, formulation, clinical decision making, and treatment planning abilities in a range of clinical settings within mental health nursing. Emphasis is placed on trauma-responsive and culturally affirming practices alongside evidence-based tools, frameworks, and approaches.

View full course details
Course code: 168717 Applied Ethics for Professional Practice 30 credits

Critique of a range of philosophical approaches and practical ethical decision-making frameworks, focussed on practice application across diverse nursing roles. Particular attention is brought to nurses’ role as moral agents in ‘everyday’ practice. Significant themes include social justice; links between biculturalism, cultural safety and ethics; and the ethical implications of the socio-political context of contemporary healthcare.

View full course details
Course code: 168719 Clinical Specialty: Older Persons' Health 30 credits

Selected modules related to providing a health service to older people are offered. The specialist knowledge base and skills for working in a variety of older persons' health settings will be critically examined and their application in particular practice contexts explored.

View full course details
Course code: 168720 Psychological Interventions in Mental Health 30 credits

This practical course enhances students' clinical nursing practice through the teaching of advanced treatment planning and evidence-based mental health interventions. Key concepts and skills are drawn from psychological interventions such as Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Emphasis is also placed on reflective practice and clinician self-care.

View full course details
Course code: 168721 Kawa Whakaruruhau: Cultural Safety in Clinical Practice 30 credits

Kawa Whakaruruhau - cultural safety is essential to improving health outcomes for Māori and other populations. This course aims to explore cultural systems and improve care through developing practitioner awareness of difference, decolonising, considering power relationships and barriers to clinical effectiveness. Practitioners can act to overcome racism within the structures, policies, and practices of their organisations and the health system.

View full course details
Course code: 168722 Wound Management 30 credits

The multidimensional aspects of wound management including physiological, pathophysiological and psychological components are examined and applied in the clinical practice setting.

View full course details
Course code: 168724 Primary Health Care in Practice 30 credits

Primary health care is central to improving equity. This course critiques the primary health care system and clinical practice on a continuum from health promotion and disease prevention to treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care. By prioritising equity and complying with guarantees of Te Tiriti o Waitangi health professionals can achieve equitable health outcomes for Māori and other underserved populations.

View full course details
Course code: 168728 Assessment and Clinical Decision-Making 30 credits

Development of advanced nursing practice knowledge and skills and comprehensive holistic health assessment and clinical decision-making.

View full course details
Course code: 168731 Leadership in Nursing 30 credits

Leadership in professional practice is explored within the broader context of health care. The course critically examines the political, legislative, economic, ethical and cultural issues influencing nursing leadership and the provision of health services within particular scopes of practice.

View full course details
Course code: 168733 Physiology and Pathophysiology 30 credits

Translational and clinically relevant physiological and pathophysiological concepts as they apply to nursing practice are examined. Selected signs/symptoms are considered in terms of physiological processes at biochemical, cellular and functional levels. The emphasis is on normal physiological processes and their possible subsequent development to pathophysiological phenomena.

View full course details
Course code: 168734 Clinical Pharmacology 30 credits

Pharmacology topics relevant to advanced nursing practice are critically examined. These include pharmaceutics, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics and a range of pharmacotherapeutic topics.

View full course details
Course code: 168736 Advanced Critical Care Nursing 30 credits

This course is designed for experienced critical care nurses seeking to enhance their knowledge and skills in the field of critical care. This course critically examines advanced concepts, evidence-based practices, and complex scenarios encountered in critical care settings. Students will develop a deeper understanding of critical care management, advanced nursing interventions, and leadership in complex environments.

View full course details
Course code: 168737 Foundations in Critical Care Nursing 30 credits

This course provides a foundation of theoretical knowledge about critical care nursing. Principles, concepts, and practices of critical care nursing will be examined to prepare students in the provision of comprehensive care to critically ill patients. Trauma-informed care underpins nursing practice for this course, which recognises the individuality of each patient's experience, promoting a holistic approach to care. Trauma-informed care and Tiriti-led care share common ground in their emphasis on cultural competence, partnership, empowerment, and addressing disparities.

View full course details
Course code: 168796 Health and Well-being of Children and Young People 30 credits

A course designed to equip nurses with knowledge and skills to address the inequities in health that children and young people face on an individual level, nationally and internationally, and to understand the significance of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for future generations.

View full course details
Course code: 251731 Advanced Occupational Health and Safety 30 credits

An examination of current issues in Occupational Safety and Health and issues commonly found in the work environment.

View full course details
Course code: 252701 Sleep and Circadian Science for Health Practitioners 30 credits

An examination of sleep and circadian science in relation to health and healthcare, including healthy sleep, sleep disorders and sleep in those with medical conditions.

Restrictions: 252702

View full course details

Looking for a previous version of this regulation?