A course that teaches nursing students how to care for patients who have experienced trauma is so popular a second intake for the year has had to get underway.

And it's not just nurses who are signing up.

The current class come from a range of professional areas including in corrections, mental health, midwifery, and education.

Nurse educators Tara Malone and Helen Bingham developed the course four years ago and say understanding life-changing trauma that can affect people's behaviour is key to delivering more effective care.

The trauma-informed care micro credential is offered via the Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki.