Institute of Technology or Polytechnic
Southern Institute of TechnologyNew Zealand Diploma in Enrolled Nursing
This course is available
On-Campus
Level of Study
Diploma
Duration
3 years and 18 months
Next start date
Expected Feb 2027
Campus
Invercargill Campus
Summary
If you are naturally caring, patient, and compassionate, and you want to help others, the New Zealand Diploma in Enrolled Nursing can launch your healthcare career in just 18 months. Enrolled Nurses play a crucial role in our healthcare sector, providing nursing care in collaboration with Registered Nurses and other registered health practitioners.
The purpose of the New Zealand Diploma in Enrolled Nursing is to prepare enrolled nurses who are accountable and responsible for their own nursing practice, ensuring the delivery of safe, ethical and person‑centred health care that is consistent with their education, demonstrated competence, and relevant legislation. Enrolled nurses graduating from this qualification reflect the knowledge, concepts and worldviews of both tangata whenua and tangata Tiriti, grounded in Kawa Whakaruruhau and the principles of cultural safety.
Enrolled nurses work in partnership with individuals, whānau and communities, and collaborate closely with registered nurses and the wider interprofessional health care team to provide equitable, informed nursing care across the lifespan. They are an essential part of the health workforce, contributing to high‑quality care in a range of settings including acute and rehabilitation services, mental health, community and primary care, medical centres and aged‑care facilities and meets the Nursing Council of New Zealand requirements for application for registration within the enrolled nurse scope of practice. For those who are compassionate, patient and motivated to support the wellbeing of others, this 18‑month programme provides a supported pathway into a rewarding and meaningful career in health care.
Through a blend of classroom theory sessions, clinical environment simulation, and clinical placements you will learn:
- Nursing Profession
- Applied Social Science
- Cultural Safety/Kawa Whakaruruhau/Te Tiriti o Waitangi
- Applied Structure and Function of the Human body
- Clinical Skills
- Nursing Practice
- Acute Care
- Mental Health and Addictions
- Rehabilitation
On successful completion of this programme graduates will be eligible to apply to Nursing Council of New Zealand to sit the NCNZ State Exam and register as a qualified Enrolled Nurse.
Entry criteria
Academic Requirements
NCEA Level 2 which must include:
- 10 credits in Level 1 Mathematics/or Numeracy
- 12 credits in Level 2 Science rich subjects
Or
- New Zealand Certificate in Study and Education Pathways (Level 3); or a recognised equivalent (Bridging or Pre-Health).
Tauira are required to demonstrate they can communicate effectively to meet the theory and clinical learning experience requirements to complete the DEN; and to demonstrate they can communicate in and comprehend English sufficiently to protect the health and safety of the public (sections16 a and b, HPCA Act, 2003).
If English or te reo Māori is not the applicant’s first language, applicants must provide evidence they have the necessary English language proficiency as outlined in the NZQA table for English Proficiency Outcomes. Applicants who do not have evidence of English language skills and are a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident, may contact SIT for an assessment.
- IELTS 6.5 Academic (no lower than 6.5 in any subtest and must be taken from a single IELTS Test Report Form and are valid for two years from the date of the test)
OR
- OET C+ minimum across all bands in one sitting
Note:
The English Language requirements for this programme are higher than the minimum set by NZQA, therefore; applicants who have met New Zealand University Entrance may be required to provide evidence of English Language proficiency.
PTE is not accepted by Nursing Council of New Zealand for English language proficiency.
The Head of Nursing can request at any point an ILETS or equivalent English language test be undertaken by a tauira where English is a second language and where tauira are experiencing communication difficulties in theory and/or clinical learning experience courses during the DEN programme. This additional testing will be at the cost of tauira. Tauira must achieve a minimum as set out above. Failure to demonstrate English language proficiency at this level will result in tauira being withdrawn from the programme. (HPCA ACT 2003)
Specific Admission criteria
All applicants must:
- Provide a completed medical declaration and/or evidence of a current health certificate indicating ability to practice safely from a registered health practitioner
- Submit a New Zealand Police Consent to Disclosure of Information form with their application, which will be sent to the Police Licensing and Vetting Service if the applicant is accepted into the programme. This is returned in confidence to the Nursing Head of School . Information on the New Zealand Vetting Service is available from their website
- Provide two testimonials and/or character references attesting to the candidate’s suitability for working in Health Care
- Be prepared to attend a group interview
- Provide a confidential report from the institution where a candidate is applying to transfer to another institution
Disclaimer
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Please note that degrees and qualifications earned via remote or distance learning are excluded from the overseas credential evaluation and recognition services provided by the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE). For more information, please contact CSCSE directly: +86-10-62677800 (phone) or visit their website(external link that opens in a new tab).
You can learn more about international recognition of New Zealand qualifications on the NZQA website.