New Zealand Diploma in Veterinary Nursing
Allied Health
A course by
UCOL
Prepare for a career as a veterinary nursing professional. Gain the technical skills, knowledge and attributes needed to help animals attain, maintain or recover optimal health and quality of life.
Blended study
This is a mix of online learning & face-to-face sessions
UCOL Manawatū, Palmerston North
It will take a total of 41 weeks
This course requires 40 hours per week
Core skills this course teaches
Technical Veterinary Nursing Skills
Develop advanced practical abilities in anaesthesia, diagnostics, surgical support, and medical nursing within a veterinary clinic.
Patient and Client Management
Effectively manage animal patients and interact professionally with clients and interdisciplinary health teams.
Clinical Protocols Compliance
Follow established protocols and best practices in all aspects of clinical veterinary nursing.
What You're Signing Up For
The New Zealand Diploma in Veterinary Nursing at UCOL equips students with comprehensive technical veterinary nursing skills for clinical environments. The programme includes theory and significant practical experience, including work placements in veterinary clinics and animal care facilities. It covers anaesthesia, diagnostics, surgery, medical and patient care, and the management of veterinary nursing services. Graduates are prepared to manage patients and clients, follow clinical protocols, and work effectively as members of multidisciplinary veterinary teams.
Course Content
- Anaesthesia and Surgery: Monitoring and intervention during anaesthesia and surgery, dental care.
- Diagnostics A: Hematology, biochemistry, bacteriology, cytology.
- Diagnostics B: Diagnostic testing in bacteriology, mycology, virology, cytology, parasitology, clinical pathology, radiography, ultrasonography, blood gas analysis, capnography.
- Medical Nursing: Fluid therapy, medical records, pharmacology, feeding techniques, recumbent patient care, wound care, bandaging, analgesia, pathophysiology, patient assessment.
- Management of Veterinary Nursing Services A: Interpersonal relations, weight management, behaviour, complementary medicine, dentistry, chronic disease management.
- Management of Veterinary Nursing Services B: Triage, animal welfare, preventative health, reproduction, parturition, animal density, chronic disease management.
What you need to know first
New Zealand Certificate in Animal Technology (Vet Nursing Assistant) Level 5 or equivalent veterinary nursing qualification
What sort of industry will this job lead to
Veterinary Services
Animal Healthcare
Companion Animal Services
Future employment opportunities might be
Veterinary Nurse
Veterinary Clinic Assistant
Animal Hospital Nurse