If you have a passion or interest in the medical field, you should consider Nursing.
Nurses are one of the most trusted healthcare professionals in the medical field. Nurses offer care to patients and also assist doctors in their role as care-givers. Without nurses, things will not run smoothly in the health care system.
Nursing is a branch of healthcare-focused, not only on using medical techniques in treating illnesses, but on the care of individuals, families, and communities who are not well. Nurses help to maintain health and good quality of life. As a Nursing student, your training cuts across the Health Science, Biology, Pharmaceuticals, Technology and Social sciences.
Private Universities Offering Nursing in Nigeria
There are two ways you can achieve becoming a nurse in Nigeria. You can attend a nursing school or take a five-year course in any university of your choice. At Private universities, you could get certified without delay and also gain more practical experiences to help you further in your profession. This article gathers the list of private universities in Nigeria offering Nursing and other information you will need to know about these schools and programs such as basic general requirements for admission. This would help aspiring nurses in deciding on the options made available to them.
General Requirements for Studying Nursing
Candidates of nursing sciences should meet the following requirements:
- Must have a minimum of five credit passes at NECO. SSCE, GCE or other equivalent examinations in the following subjects: Mathematics, English Language, Physics, Biology and Chemistry. The result must be obtained in one sitting
- Must adhere to the following JAMB subject combinations: Physics, Use of English, Chemistry, and Biology.
- Must obtain a cut-off mark of at least 240 or above in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
- Must beat the University cut-off mark for Nursing in the post-UME.
Nursing is one of the most popular courses in the medical sciences. This makes the course highly competitive in all universities. Competitiveness means many students want to gain admission to study this course. Due to the competitiveness of the course, school systems put in place certain measures so as to limit the number of students they can admit. These could include setting a high cut off mark for UTME and Post-UTME examinations. In order to be admitted to study nursing in any school of your choice, you have to ensure you have high JAMB and Post UTME scores.
Requirements via direct entry
Candidates who apply via direct entry to any private university in Nigeria must meet the following requirements:
- Registered Nurses or candidates who have advance levels in Biology and Chemistry are eligible to apply
- Candidates with OND/HND in Medical/ Biological Science are eligible to apply provided they satisfy all other University admission requirements.
Must have a second class honor degree in a course relevant to nursing in any recognized tertiary institution in the federation. Courses relevant to nursing include:
- Public Health Technology
- Medicine and Surgery
- Pharmacology
- Pharmacy
- Nutrition and Dietetics
- Physiology
- Anatomy
- Medical sciences
- Biochemistry
- Medical laboratory sciences
- Physical sciences
- Paramedical sciences
- Biological sciences
Candidates who wish to apply for the 4 years RN conversion/direct entry program must:
- Be a Registered Nurse (RN) with the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria. In addition to this, s(he) must possess at least one post-RN certification such as Registered Midwife (RM) Registered Public Health Nurse (RPHN) and Registered Psychiatric Nurse
- Must have a minimum of five credit passes at NECO. SSCE, GCE or other equivalent examinations in the following subjects: Mathematics, English Language, Physics, Biology and Chemistry. Result must be obtained at not more than two sittings
Private University offering Nursing in Nigeria
- Afe Babalola University (ABUAD)
Afe Babalola University (ABUAD) is located in Ado- Ekiti. It is a Federal Government licensed and non-profit private university which has proven itself as a model in many ways. The university runs a College of Medicine and Health sciences where-in the department of Nursing is found. The department is equipped with modern teaching facilities which include e-learning platform.
- Babcock University (BABCOCK)
Babcock University is a private Christian university-owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Nigeria. The School of Nursing Sciences has two departments:
Community Health
Adult health
- Bingham University
Bingham University is located in the Federal Capital city of Nigeria, Abuja. It was established in 2005 by the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA). It is one of the six private universities located in the north. It is also the only private university in the north, established by a Christian organization. The school has a Faculty of Health sciences and offers its students a B.Sc. Nursing certificate.
- Bowen University
The School of Nursing Ogbomoso, is a machinery of the Nigerian Baptist Convention and a part of Bowen University Teaching Hospital Ogbomoso.
- Igbinedion University, Okada
This is one of the first private universities established in Nigeria. The B.NSc program under the College of Health sciences is professional
as well as academic.
- Madonna University
Madonna University is the first Private Catholic University in West Africa. The University began active operation in 1999. The department of nursing science under the Faculty of Health Sciences was established in 2001 with the initial admission of 14 students. Ever since, the department has continued to witness tremendous yearly increase in student enrolment as well as in its facilities and structures.
- Lead City University (LCU)
Lead City University is a non-profit private institution founded in 2005 and located in city of Ibadan. The department of nursing sciences is under the Faculty of Basic Medical sciences. The school is accredited by the National University Commission.
- Achievers University, Owo, Ondo State
Achievers University offers a B.NSc. Nursing Science under the College of Natural & Applied Sciences. The school is approved and accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC).
These schools above offer a five-year nursing science course where you take courses leading to a Bachelor of Nursing Sciences. Completion of the B.Nsc course in any of the private universities mentioned above must include a one-year internship in an approved health care facility.