New degree puts nursing in reach for more people

The two-year pre-registration programme allows degree-qualified students a direct and much faster route to a nursing career.

Postgraduate Team Manager for Wintec’s Centre for Health and Social Practice, Helen Nielsen says the new qualification is ideal for graduates wanting a career change or those with a relevant degree who have nursing in their sights.

“There’s a huge demand and potential for culturally responsive work-ready nurses competent and capable of working interprofessionally to meet the health care needs of Māori, Pasifika, rural and remote health consumers, whānau and community.
 
“This new qualification has been created with our community in mind, students will be able to study closer to home through blended learning and block courses, for career changers and people returning to work after having families. This will mean pursuing a nursing career can be a reality.”

With the accreditation and approval of the Master of Nursing Science (Pre-registration) Wintec is the first ITP (Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics) in New Zealand to be approved and accredited to deliver both bachelor’s and master’s pre-registration nursing qualifications for entry to the registered nurse scope of practice.

This makes Wintec the only ITP in New Zealand to be approved and accredited to deliver the full range of nursing programmes  for enrolled nursing, registered nursing, return to nursing/competency assessment, registered nurse prescribing and nurse practitioners.  

Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer at Waikato District Health Board, Sue Hayward worked with Wintec to develop the degree and says this new way in to nursing is a wonderful opportunity for future nurses and their employers.

“This new pathway enables more people to become part of a professional group that has a significant influence on health delivery, and it gives potential employers the opportunity to have individuals with valuable life and academic experience in their teams.

“We know that to continue to attract people into health, particularly nursing, various pathways and options must be developed to keep pace with the reality of today’s environment. This programme supports that endeavour. I am extremely pleased to have been part of this development and I look forward to welcoming these students into the study programme and to the clinical environment, wherever that may be.”

Graduates who have achieved a recognised bachelor’s degree with a minimum B grade (65 percent) in the third year of their qualifying degree will be considered for the new Master of Nursing Science (Pre-registration).

“We’re expecting a diverse range of learner types likely to enter the programme including recent graduates, current health workers and learners that have completed other unrelated degree programmes with a strong interest in a nursing career,” says Ms Nielsen.
 
On successful completion, graduates will be awarded a Master of Nursing Science (Pre-registration) and be eligible to apply to the Nursing Council of New Zealand (NCNZ) to sit the State Final Examination and gain registration in the registered nurse scope of practice.
 
Enrolment is open now for the Master of Nursing Science (Pre-registration) and the first students will start on 22 July 2019.