Nursing Science In Nigeria
This article answers frequently asked questions by aspirants and students who are wanting to pursue a career in nursing science.
In this article, you will find answers to the following questions
what's Nursing Science
Speciality In Nursing
Job opportunities for Nursing professionals
What's the salary of a Nursing
Admission requirements for Nursing Science
etc.
What's Nursing Science
Nursing is a Health Care profession that provides medical care for patients, individuals and communities, in other to improve their health and to have optimal and quality life.
Just the same way Mothers care for their babies ensuring the babies eat their food and don't lack anything.
That's the same way Nurses care for their patients, they ensure patients take their medication at the right time, clean their wounds and injury and help them to feel comfortable.
Nursing is a noble profession, it's well known and respected. In Nigeria, Nursing science is regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN). NMCN regulates the admission into Nursing schools and universities, Nursing Professional exams and ensures Nurses carry out their duties in a professional manner following their code of conduct and Nursing Ethics.
Specialities in Nursing
Nursing is a diverse profession. There are over 80 specialities. Some of these specialities require one to have a degree; Diploma, ND/ HND or a BSC. To Specialise you have to further your education in any of the fields you wish to specialize
The following are some of the fields Nursing can Specialise in Nigeria
Accident and Emergency Nursing
Anaesthetic Nursing
Orthopaedic Nursing
Mental Health Nursing
Obstetrics and Gynaecological Nursing (midwifery)
Ophthalmic Nursing
Cardiothoracic Nursing
Renal Nursing
Peri-operative Nursing
Critical Care Nursing
Occupational Health Nursing
Clinical Research Nursing
Paediatric Nursing
Geriatric Nursing
Public Health Nursing.
How to Become a Nurse In Nigeria
Before one can be a Nurse, One has to be enrolled in a College of Nursing, School Of Nursing or university and be equipped with the necessary knowledge.
Differences between School of Nursing, College Of Nursing and Studying Nursing In a University
There is a difference between a school of Nursing, a college of nurses and studying Nursing at a University. These three institutes mentioned, offer different degrees in Nursing Science.
School of Nursing:
Are usually run by hospitals, it's a 3 years program in which the students are trained in class and at hospitals.
In the first half of the program the students learn in class and for the other half, the students are posted to the hospital to acquire clinical knowledge.
After completion of the 3 years, the students are awarded certificates in General Nursing (RN) and can practice as Registered Nurse.
Nurses from the school of Nursing are not allowed to serve (NYSC) and can't specialise in any nursing field.
To be able to specialise they will need to take Direct entry into University, study for 3 years amidst clinical Postings and write professional exams in Midwifery (RM) and Public Health Nursing (RPH). Upon graduation, they will be awarded certificates in Midwifery (RM)/Public Health Nursing (RPH) and BNsc.
College Of Nursing:
This is an upgrade to the school of Nursing. College of Nursing awards ND/HND in Nursing science and after which the student can go for NYSC.
College of Nursing runs 4 years program in which the students are trained in Classroom and several clinical postings, in other to gain clinical knowledge.
RN examination is taken in HND1, While RM or RPH is taken in HND2, after completion of the program the graduates will be awarded certificates in RN, RM/RPH and HND, after then the graduates will proceed to a one-year compulsory internship in a hospital to be well ground with clinical skills and gain clinical experience. After the Internship, the graduate can then go to NYSC.
Nurses from the College of Nursing must undergo a one-year post-graduate degree before they can specialise and further their training in masters.
Nursing Science in University
Studying Nursing Science at a University is the highest entry-level degree. Nursing Students from University are awarded certificates in RN, RM, RPH and BNsc, and they can as well proceed to NYSC and get specialised in their choice of field.
Nursing science offers by the university runs for 5 years, it comprises both classroom and clinical training.
Clinical posting for Nursing students starts in the 200 level and ends in the 5th year.
Upon graduation from Nursing, students will undergo one year of compulsory internship and one year of NYSC after which they will be registered and given a License to practice. They can as well further their education in Master and get specialised in the career of their choice.
Job opportunities for Nursing
Nursing is one of the most Lucrative health care professions, arguably Nursing is more Lucrative than Medicine, tho in Nigeria Nurses are not well paid but In developed countries that know and value the service of a Nurse, Nurses are well paid more than Medicine.
Nursing has several job opportunities, you can't be a nurse and be hungry, as a nurse you can work anywhere.
just to mention a few you can work in the following places listed below
Outpatient care facilities
ClinicsN
ursing homes
Schools
Community health centres
In the case of some specialities, patients’ homes.
How to Become a Nurse
If you want to b a Nurse, you will have to acquire nursing knowledge and get trained either in the School of Nursing, College of Nursing or In the University. You need to have a degree in Nursing Science and get registered.
Admission Requirements for Nursing Science
admission requirements into nursing science differ among institutions.
The general requirements are;
Five credits in SSCE certificate either Waec, Neco or GCE and a high utme score of 160 for school and college nursing and 240 for universities.
The five subjects are
English
Mathematics
Biology
ChemistryP
hysics
The candidate still has to take and pass the institution entry screening exam.