Schools of Nursing in Nigeria: How to Apply and Why You Should Go

by Mercy Rotimi
2 comments
Schools of Nursing in Nigeria

Schools of nursing in Nigeria are special institutions that provide degree programs for training students and health practitioners in the nursing profession. 

It consists of three sections; 

  •  Basic Nursing: is a three (3) year program,
  • Basic Midwifery program:  is also a three (3) year program
  • Generic Basic Nursing Science is a five (5) year program in Nigeria and is regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria. This body regulates the accreditation, admission process, and graduation from the institution. 

Over the years, Nursing has become a very lucrative profession with high demand worldwide. 

Like Medicine, Engineering, and Law, Nursing has become a very popular career path. 

In selecting a school to train as a nurse, it is expedient that you know why you want to go to nursing school, the prestige of the school you choose to apply to, what the course entails, and how to apply. 

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There are schools of Nursing in Nigeria in every state. Some states have an increasing number of Schools. There are also different types of Schools of Nursing in Nigeria.

It is important you know and understand the function of each before making your application.

 Below is a list of the type of Schools of Nursing in Nigeria:

Types of Schools of Nursing in Nigeria

  1. Schools of Nursing (Basic)
  2. Departments of Nursing Sciences
  3. Schools of Midwifery (Basic & Post Basic)
  4. Post Basic Perioperative Nursing
  5. Community Midwifery Programme
  6. Community Nursing Programme
  7. Post Basic Paediatric Nursing
  8. Post Basic Ear, Nose, and Throat Nursing
  9. Post Basic Intensive Care Nursing
  10. Post Basic Occupational Health Nursing

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List of Some Schools of Nursing in Nigeria and Their Location

From the updated list of Approved Schools of Nursing by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria as of August 2022, in no specific order, below are the most familiar Schools of Nursing in Nigeria. You can check the full list here.

  1. School of Nursing (ABSUTH) – Abia State.
  2. Edo State College of Nursing sciences –  in Edo State.
  3. College of Nursing Sciences, St. Gerald – Kakuri, Kaduna State.
  4. Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Service (ABUTH) – Zaria, Kaduna State.
  5. College of Nursing Sciences – Kano state
  6. Nana College of Nursing – Anyigba, Kogi state
  7. University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) – Oke-Oyi, Ilorin, Kwara State
  8. Lagos State College of Nursing and Midwifery – Igando,Lagos State. 
  9. Department of Nursing Science, College of Medicine – University of Lagos, Lagos State
  10. Department of Nursing Science, Olabisi Onabanjo University  – Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State
  11. Department of Nursing Science, University of Ibadan – Ibadan, Oyo State.
  12. Department of Nursing Science, University of Port Harcourt. – Rivers State 
  13. Department of Nursing, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, – Ogbomosho, Oyo State. 
  14. Department of Nursing Science, University of Jos –  Plateau state
  15. Niger State College of Nursing Sciences – Minna, Niger State.

Read also: Law Schools in Nigeria: 7 Hidden truths.

How to Apply to Schools of Nursing in Nigeria

Gaining Admission into schools of Nursing in Nigeria can be a very competitive procedure because of the fewer rate of acceptance. 

Certain requirements must be considered when applying to any of the schools of Nursing in Nigeria. Some of the common and uniform requirements are listed below:

  1. Age requirement

The acceptable minimum age range for admission into the Basic Nursing and Midwifery program is 16. Although, some schools require you to be 18 years of age.

  1. O’level requirements

The current O’level entry requirement for the school of nursing in Nigeria is a minimum of five (5) credit passes in Mathematics, English Language, Chemistry, Biology, and Physics at no more than two (2) sittings from WAEC, NECO or NABTEB

  1. Application form

The application process is uniform for General Nursing applicants across the country. The application fee is N10,000 for most Schools of Nursing in Nigeria.

Applicants can obtain the application form from the institution’s website or the Schools’ premises.

  1. Entrance exam

After applying, applicants must write an assessment test, after which successful candidates will be short-listed for an interview.

The test is usually on subjects like Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, English language, and Current affairs. Only applicants who pass the interview will be offered admission into the institution.

  1. Pregnancy regulation

Pregnancy at the time of admission is against the policy of the nursing council. Ladies are therefore expected to run pregnancy tests as part of their registration exercise.

  1. Oral interview

This is conducted after the assessment test for successful candidates. At the oral interview, questions such as; describe yourself or tell us why you want to study nursing are usually asked.

  1. Documentation

This is the final stage of the admission process and is done after the candidate must have been offered admission.

You are required to present certain documents for the admission screening exercise.

These documents include the WAEC/NECO/NABTEB original certificate, Birth certificate, Secondary School Testimonial, Admission letter, State of Origin certificate, photocopy of credentials, and passport photographs. 

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Why You Should go to a School of Nursing in Nigeria

There are over 250,000 Registered Nursing and Midwifery Professionals across Nigeria, according to the Nursing & Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN). 

With nursing comes a lot of amazing opportunities within and outside the country. No matter how bad the country’s economic situation is, there will always be a need for nurses. 

There are several institutions where one can work as a nurse. One can work as a Registered Nurse in a hospital, clinic, or school, as a Nursing editor and Writer, Officer, Caregiver, or Nursing Lead.

Whether it is the three (3) year program at the School of Basic Nursing and Midwifery or the five (5) year program at the General BNSC nursing Programme, you should consider some options before selecting your choice. 

Some of the things you should consider before applying to Schools of Nursing in Nigeria are the expenses for the Basic Nursing and Midwifery program, the need to write JAMB for the BNSC program, and the height you wish to attain in the nursing profession. 

If you don’t want to spend a longer time in school, you should consider the 3-year program, but if you lack the necessary funds, then the 5-year program might be the best option. Please note that you must complete the Basic Nursing Program before pursuing the Basic Midwifery program to become a registered Midwife. 

Also, note that a degree in Nursing is issued on successful completion of the 5- year program at the university.

In contrast, a Registered Nurse certificate is issued upon completion of the 3-year program at the Schools of Nursing in Nigeria. 

Conclusion

I hope the information provided in this article will greatly help you as you start your nursing career.

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About Author

Avatar of Mercy Rotimi
Mercy Rotimi
Rotimi Mercy is a Nigerian writer whose lifestyle centres around her family, teaching children and young adults, reading a book, or surfing the internet. This gave rise to her converting her speaking abilities into writing skills.
She writes on various niches such as; lifestyle, health, and Career.

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2 comments

Avatar of Adam Zubairu Ishaq
Adam Zubairu Ishaq September 26, 2023 - 2:55 pm

When will school of nursing kano start their post utme exam

Reply
Avatar of Halimat Chisom
Halimat Chisom October 2, 2023 - 10:14 am

Hello Adam,

It’s best to follow their website or social media pages to get the latest updates. You can check this out for details: https://www.facebook.com/Kanonurse/

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