Bachelor of Nursing

• SIT’s School of Nursing (previously Southland Polytechnic) has been delivering nursing education for 40 years and has a long history of successful graduates.
• Our enthusiastic staff have a wide range of nursing experience within NZ and overseas.
• Specialist equipment includes a nursing simulation suite with computerised mannequins and life size models of body parts, as well as a large library of DVD resources and text books.
• Clinical placements throughout Southland and Otago provide real-life experience in many diverse nursing environments
• A career in nursing can take you around the world! Nurses are always in demand.

The Bachelor of Nursing is a three-year degree programme which provides students with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills appropriate for employment in a wide and growing number of nursing careers.

The programme has as its core, theoretical and practical work in nursing – including principles relating to primary health, acute and chronic nursing care, mental health and mental illness throughout the lifespan.  The programme also recognises the importance of the cultural dimensions of nursing.

The Bachelor of Nursing has a strong applied component to allow students to enter the workforce proficient in a range of additional strengths including health promotion, illness prevention, evidence-based practice, the ability to provide nursing care in a medical and surgical context, as well as the provision of emergency nursing care.

This programme will enhance opportunities for students to develop a broad understanding of nursing, thus preparing them for professional practice or further advanced study in this area.

The Bachelor of Nursing has been designed to prepare graduates for a wide variety of nursing careers in community and hospital situations.  It is expected Bachelor of Nursing graduates will make a positive contribution to the health of people of New Zealand and the wider world.  This contribution will be as nurses demonstrating caring, competent, safe nursing practice in partnership with individuals, groups and communities.

Increasing complexity of health care needs requires well-educated, competent and compassionate nurses who are able to:

• Comprehend, critique and apply knowledge from nursing and other related disciplines in an appropriate and safe practice context.
• Facilitate the competent and safe provision of nursing care to groups and individuals with a variety of settings.
• Competently practise within the legal and ethical parameters of the nursing profession.
• Recognise, value, critique and apply research to nursing practice and knowledge.
• Meet the requirements of the Nursing Council of New Zealand for registration as a Registered Nurse.

The degree follows four themes – Professional Practice, Praxis, Health and Society and Health Sciences.  

Throughout the programme students are involved in learning in clinical settings in a variety of community and hospital areas.  By the end of the programme it is expected students will have integrated the theory and practice framework to develop into confident beginning practitioners.

There is free car parking around SIT and at many of the local clinical placements.

Year One operates within a health and wellness framework. Students are encouraged to develop as autonomous and reflective learners. 200 hours of beginning practicum experiences in year one focus on healthy development through the lifespan, health promotion, health education, health assessments and care of the well elderly in residential and private homes.

In Year Two, students further develop core and specialised skills and theoretical knowledge and are provided with the opportunity to develop analytical and research skills. Year Two papers focus on ongoing knowledge, critical analysis and reflection development, and the development of competencies in nursing practice. Emphasis continues to be on partnership and respect for individuals. 430 practicum hours are offered in a variety of health and illness settings in hospitals, hospital related services within the community, and primary health settings (occupational health, public health, well child, GP/PHO settings).

Year Three requires in depth knowledge of specialised content of acute care and mental health.  Year Three papers aim to complement and build on the students' existing theoretical and practical knowledge established in Years One and Two. The student will be encouraged to apply critical reasoning in increasingly complex practice settings in community and hospital facilities.

Year Three provides students with the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to practice as confident safe beginning practitioners. In this year, 880 practicum hours are provided to enable students to develop the competencies required of beginning practitioners.  400 of the practicum hours are offered as a transition placement where students gain extended experience as part of a health care team in community or hospital placement.  As far as possible students will take responsibility for their choice of transition to practice paper.

Paper Descriptions:
Year One

BN511 Professional Issues in Nursing
This paper lays down the foundation principles for the profession of nursing.  It will explore the modern practice of nursing within a variety of environments and examine how the role of nursing has changed over time.  Students will begin to explore their own values and beliefs and how this may impact upon their delivery of nursing care.

BN521 Primary Health and Health Promotion
This paper will enable the student to gain an understanding of the principles of communication, cultural safety and primary health care. Students will examine the role of the nurse in primary health care and health promotion.

BN522 Fundamentals of the Art and Science of Nursing Practice
The purpose of this paper is to introduce the student to the fundamentals of the art and science of nursing within New Zealand/Aotearoa.  The student will have the opportunity to develop and progress their theoretical knowledge and clinical skills in the clinical suite and health care facilities.

BN531 Health and Social Sciences 1
The student will be introduced to social science principles related to growth and development, health psychology, psychology and sociology providing a comprehensive theoretical foundation for nursing practice.

BN541 Health Sciences 1
The purpose of this paper is to introduce students to the biological, chemical and physical principles upon which human body structure and function is based, providing a sound scientific basis for the development of safe and effective nursing practice.

Year Two

BN611 Professional Issues in Nursing 2
This paper will enable the student to develop knowledge of the nature of nursing and how practice is developed and delivered within New Zealand / Aotearoa. It will build on the knowledge gained in BN511.

BN623 The Art and Science of Nursing Practice
Students will have the opportunity to further develop and apply their theoretical knowledge and skills in a wide variety of primary and secondary health care settings to clients across the lifespan utilising reflection and critical thinking.

BN631 Health and Social Sciences 2
Students will further examine the significance of cultural safety within Aotearoa/ New Zealand and the relationship of the Treaty of Waitangi to healthcare and Kawa Whakaruruhau.  

Students will develop a holistic approach to caring for the family / whanau recognising the diversity of needs identified in the New Zealand Health Care Strategy and the Primary Health Care Strategy.

BN641 Health Sciences 2
Students will further develop their knowledge base established in BN541. Understanding of selected aspects of anatomy, physiology, microbiology, biochemistry, pathophysiology and pharmacology will be gained to consolidate a sound theoretical basis for safe nursing practice.

Year Three

BN711 Leadership and Professional Issues in Nursing
The purpose of this paper is to review the role of the nurse within organisations and to study the impact of national and international policies on the delivery of nursing care.

BN721 The Art and Science of Nursing in  Acute Settings
The purpose of this paper is to consolidate the art and science of nursing to increasingly complex health consumers, while applying health science knowledge to the comprehensive analysis of specific health themes.  Students will be expected to demonstrate appropriate decision making skills, utilizing evidence based practice and being actively involved in multidisciplinary teams.

BN722  The Art and Science of Nursing in Mental Health Settings  
This paper will provide an informed and contemporary theoretical and practical basis of mental health nursing to the student learner.  Students will have the opportunity to apply knowledge, behaviours, skills, and competencies integral to mental health nursing practice within a variety of learning environments.

BN723 The Art and Science of Nursing Practice-Transition to Graduand
The purpose of this paper is to consolidate all the components of the Bachelor of Nursing programme to enable the student nurse to transition from student to registered nurse through practice under the supervision of an experienced preceptor.