Inherent requirements for nurses

About our nursing qualifications

These requirements apply to:

• Bachelor of Nursing
• Master of Clinical Practice (Nursing)

These qualifications are accredited with the New Zealand Nursing Council (NZNC). Students and graduates, are expected to meet minimum practice requirements of this accreditation.

As part of your studies, you must undertake clinical placements and demonstrate skills and competencies in a variety of clinical settings.

Graduates are eligible to register as a Registered Nurse with NZNC and practice in all settings. Students must successfully undertake placements in a variety of settings and demonstrate the skills required of a Registered Nurse and the Competencies and Pou for Practice.

Fundamental to nursing practice is the maintenance of patient safety. Although reasonable adjustments may be made to support students with a disability, there is an underlying requirement for all students and graduates to be able to work in a safe manner and deliver appropriate care for the safety of all patients.

Make sure you read this information together with the New Zealand Nursing Council Competencies and Standards (Pou) for Registered Nurses.

See the NZNC 2025 Standards of competence for registered nurses [PDF 331KB]

Support meeting these requirements

If you have a permanent or temporary disability, or chronic health condition, you may be able to have reasonable adjustments made to help you meet course requirements. We are committed to making reasonable adjustments to teaching and learning, assessment, professional experience, clinical placements and other activities to enable students to participate in the qualification. We encourage you to speak with School of Nursing staff to explore what adjustments may be possible, if required.

Inherent requirements

These requirements should be read in combination, and realised through the totality of safe, professional clinical practice. Review these requirements and make sure this qualification is right for you.

Professionalism and interpersonal relationships

Working in healthcare settings and nursing environments requires interactions with diverse people and work in teams. Healthcare settings can be dynamic, stressful environments. Students undertaking clinical experiences must demonstrate:

• professionalism
• the ability to manage emotions
• the ability to work with others.

We can provide support to help you manage stress and emotions across clinical placements and coursework, including access to counselling and psychological services.

In clinical experiences, nursing students may be expected to:

• work effectively in a team in clinical and workplace settings (NZNC Descriptor 6.1).
• maintain behavioural stability and effective interactions in emotionally challenging situations, including medical emergencies and events involving human suffering, trauma and death (NZNC Descriptor 4.10, 4.11, 5.2, 5.4, 6.2, and 6.5)
• manage uncertainties and adapt to change (NZNC Descriptor 3.3 and 4.10)
• interact with individuals and groups, maintaining professional behaviour standards (NZNC Descriptor 3.2, 3.3, 5.1-5.4, and 6.1-6.4)
• adhere to ethical guidelines and workplace policies (NZNC Descriptor 3.1, 5.1-5.4)
• receive and respond appropriately to constructive feedback (NZNC Descriptor 3.8)
• demonstrate personal insight and the ability to reflect on how personal behaviour impacts others (NZNC Descriptor 6.2, 6.4, and 6.5)
• recognise the need for appropriate supports regarding personal/health needs, and access these if required (NZNC Descriptor 4.10. and 4.11).

Communication

You must demonstrate effective communication, allowing you to engage with the interprofessional healthcare team, advocate for innovative change where appropriate and influence the direction of the profession through whānau-centred care and culturally-safe practice.

If you have not previously studied in a recognised English-speaking country, you must demonstrate competence in English at a level equivalent to IELTS 6.5 for the BN or 7.0 (no band lower than 7) for MCP.

You may use tools and supports like dictionaries where appropriate, as long as they do not interfere with patient safety, care and timely response.

In clinical experiences, you may be expected to:

• use communication skills effectively in clinical and workplace settings (NZNC Descriptor 3.1-3.8)
• understand and respond to verbal and written instructions accurately and appropriately (NZNC Descriptor 3.8)
• demonstrate clear, audible verbal communication with individuals and groups relevant to the context of the situation (NZNC Descriptor 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, and 3.5)
• read and understand a range of written information both online and handwritten (NZNC Descriptor 3.5 and 3.7)
• produce accurate, concise, clear documentation (NZNC Descriptor 3.1 and 3.6)
• demonstrate empathy and sensitivity in communication with individuals and groups from diverse backgrounds (NZNC Descriptor 3.2, 3.3, and 3.4)
• record information accurately and consistently in various formats, including handwritten charts, typed documents and electronic record keeping and data management systems (NZNC Descriptor 3.1).

Cognition

You must use clinical skills and critical thinking, informed by current, high quality evidence to provide quality, safe nursing care. Evidence-informed practice prepares you to differentially diagnose, plan care, identify appropriate interventions, lead the implementation and evaluate care provision and outcomes.

We can help you consolidate foundational knowledge and develop mechanisms to remember information using notes and books, reflections on clinical practice and/or Massey teaching and learning support.

In clinical experiences, nursing students may be expected to:

• conceptualise, integrate, process, interpret and implement knowledge and information to perform clinical tasks promptly, including observing alarms, warnings and directions, including reading medicine labels and analysing and evaluating scientific results (NZNC Descriptor 4.1-4.12)
• accurately and quickly recall information without access to reference materials, including the use of a range of equipment with auditory and visual displays, such as a sphygmomanometer, stethoscope, electronic recording equipment and monitoring devices (NZNC Descriptor 4.1-4.3, 4.5, 4.6, 4.9, and 4.10)
• rapidly collate, synthesise and use evidence-based information to make informed clinical care decisions including observing behaviours, and detecting subtle differences in colour, such as analysing skin condition (NZNC Descriptor 4.1-4.12)
• perform accurate numerical calculations (typically without a calculator), record and interpret numerical data and apply numerical criteria (NZNC Descriptor 4.5, 4.8, and 4.11).

Motor skills

Provision of care within nursing environments involves the manipulation of a range of equipment and physical support of patients. You must be able to perform these activities consistently and safely in a range of environments, reducing harm to yourself and others.

Any adjustments should facilitate functional effectiveness, safety of self and others and the capacity to provide appropriate care. Students may use supports and tools (for example, an ankle brace), provided these do not interfere with patient safety and care. Students must be able to complete a minimum 8-hour shift in the clinical setting.

In clinical experiences nursing students may be expected to:

• Undertake cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for sustained periods
• Lift, carry, push, pull, stand, twist and bend in the provision of patient care in a safe manner in accordance with facility policies and procedures and correct body mechanics (NZNC Descriptor 3.1, 4.5, 6.2 and 6.5)
• Safely use equipment to perform manual handling (NZNC Descriptor 4.9, 6.2 and 6.5)
• Use fine motor dexterity in the provision of patient care, such as the manipulation of needles, knobs, dials and computer equipment (NZNC Descriptor 2.1, 2.3, 4.3, 4.9, and 6.5)
• Provide physical personal care to patients in confined or limited spaces, such as small bathroom areas (NZNC Descriptor 2.1, 2.3, 4.3, 4.9, and 6.5)

Legal

Nursing is a profession regulated by New Zealand laws, competency standards, codes of ethics, confidentiality, professional conduct and professional boundaries. You must demonstrate knowledge of and compliance with the New Zealand laws and professional regulations including vaccinations and vulnerable children legislation to reduces the risk of harm to self and others.

In clinical practice student may be expected to:

• provide evidence where required of vaccine status, criminal record or vulnerable children legislation safety checks (NZNC Descriptor 6.2)
• manage confidential information including digital, online and written communication in a respectful and empathetic way, that does not compromise the safety or treatment of the person (NZNC Descriptor 3.1, 3.3, 3.4, 6.2, and 6.5)
• provide timely, accurate and effective verbal and written instructions to individual safety, treatment and management (NZNC Descriptor 3.1,3.3, 3.4,5.2, and 6.2)
• display consistent, ethical and appropriate knowledge and skills which reflect the required academic and professional standards in relation to organisational policies for professional practice (NZNC Descriptor 3.1,3.3, 3.4,3.7, 4.5, 4.9, 5.2, and 6.2).