School of Nursing in Nigeria: How to Apply

Applying to a School of Nursing in Nigeria is an important feat towards pursuing a rewarding career in healthcare. With the ever-increasing demand for qualified nurses, and taking a peep into the future of what the healthcare sector of Nigeria will be like in some years’ time, it is paramount to understand how to apply and the requirements to increase your opportunities to be admitted into your school of choice. In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the step-by-step process of applying to a school of nursing in Nigeria. We will make sure you have all the information you need to make a successful application.

Roles of Nursing in Nigeria

The roles played by nursing in Nigeria are as important as air and water are to life. The roles are not limited to patient care, community health, and public health initiatives. They also include some of the highlighted points below.

Frontline Healthcare Providers

Nurses in the world, not leaving out Nigeria, serve as frontline healthcare providers. They deliver essential care and support to patients in hospitals, clinics, and community health centers. They assess patients’ health, administer medications and provide wound care. Furthermore, they monitor vital signs and educate patients and their families on disease prevention and self-care practices.

Advocacy and Collaboration

Nurses in Nigeria act as advocates for patients. They ensure that patients receive optimal care and treatment. They work hand-in-hand with other healthcare professionals to develop holistic care plans and deliver unparalleled healthcare services to all. Above all, nurses are saddled with the responsibilities delivery of quality healthcare services in the face of challenges.

Public Health Impact

Nurses contribute to public health initiatives – promoting health education and preventive measures within communities. They actively participate in immunization campaigns, maternal and child health programs, and efforts to combat infectious diseases. Nurses address health disparities and improve overall health outcomes by working closely with the community.

Diverse Career Opportunities

The nursing profession in Nigeria offers diverse career opportunities – enabling individuals to specialize in areas such as pediatrics, psychiatric nursing, and community health nursing. It provides avenues for personal and professional growth, including advanced education, research, and leadership roles.

Researching Nursing Schools in Nigeria

Choosing the right nursing school is sine-qua-non to your educational journey. We will provide you with a comprehensive list of reputable nursing schools in Nigeria and guide you on how to assess their quality, accreditation, curriculum, faculty, and facilities.

Admission Requirements for School of Nursing in Nigeria

Each nursing school in Nigeria has specific admission requirements. As we speak, some Schools of Nursing are already making it mandatory for prospective students to write UTME. One of those is Lagos University Teaching Hospital. You can read up on all the requirements for admission into LUTH here. Below is an overview of the admission requirements into any reputable school of nursing in Nigeria.

Subjects Combination Requirement into School of Nursing:

To be eligible for admission into any SON in Nigeria, students must have written and passed the following subjects in their O’Level. This must be a minimum of a credit pass in all the subjects listed below. Any combination devoid of any of the subjects will deprive one of admission.

• English Language
• Mathematics
• Chemistry
• Biology
• Physics

Age Requirement for School of Nursing

The minimum age requirement for admission into tertiary institutions in Nigeria is 16, which also includes the School of Nursing. Some universities, however, make it mandatory for candidates to be 18 years of age (at the time of application) before being considered for admission. The maximum age for admission into a school of nursing in Nigeria is 60 years.

Character Referencing Requirement

This is a letter from someone who knows the prospective student very well. All schools of Nursing require a letter of Reference from someone in a prominent position. This person must be able to vouge for the character of the prospective nurse. You can get a sample Character Reference Letter here.

UTME Requirement

Some Schools of Nursing have made it mandatory for students to write UTME before being considered for admission. An example of such a School of Nursing is Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). To be considered for admission into LUTH School of Nursing, a candidate must score above 200. This is different for other schools which might consider students for admission after scoring above 180. On the contrary, some schools do not require UTME for admission consideration.

Step-by-step Guide on How to Apply to Any Nigerian School of Nursing

Applying to a School of Nursing in Nigeria is as simple as applying to any tertiary institution in the country. In fact, I consider the process to be easier than applying to regular universities and polytechnics. Let me show you how you can apply to any School of Nursing in Nigeria effortlessly.

Identify the School of Nursing you are applying

Currently, there are over 400 accredited Nursing Training institutes in Nigeria. This report is according to the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria. As there are a plethora of them, it is important you identify the one you would like to study in order to pursue your career. You can find the list of all accredited Schools of Nursing and Midwifery here.

Check Admission Quota

An admission quota is the required number of students any institution can afford to give admission. An institution will not give admission to any additional prospective students should the quota be reached. It is therefore imperative to prepare well enough for the examination of any School of Nursing as admission is competitive. However, it is common among aspiring nurses who failed to secure admission to say that the admission process was not credible. The institution can not admit more than its required capacity. This is according to the laid-down guideline of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria. You can find the admission quota for all schools of Nursing in Nigeria in this post.

Prepare Necessary Documents

Getting prepared for admission into any School of Nursing requires that all formalities be fulfilled. It is expedient that you get all the necessary documents ready. Some of the required documents are

• WASSCE/NECO/NABTEB result
• Birth certificate
• Letter of reference/Character referencing letter
• UTME result (for some institutions)

Purchase the Admission Form for Your Preferred School of Nursing

At this point, there is a need for you to understand that all schools of nursing in Nigeria have different times of admission. It is observed that admission forms for Schools/Colleges of Nursing in the Eastern part of the country start selling out admission forms in January. However, other states leave the admission process till during the time that JAMB would have successfully conducted the UTME. I will implore you to always be on the lookout for the sale of a form of your preferred institution.

It is worth noting that not all institutions offer the option to purchase admission forms online. Some institutions require candidates to pick up the admission forms in person, while others make them available for sale on the Internet. This is a call for caution when purchasing the admission form. Don’t give our money to any online agent to purchase your form for you in some institutions that have not digitalized their mode of operations.

Fill and Submit the Form When Due

Procrastination is the thief of time, they say. Avoid leaving the completion of your registration till a later day. This may not turn out well. Once you have every necessary document needed for admission, fill out the online form. On the contrary, if it has to be submitted in person, do it and take it to the necessary office before it is too late. The most important aspect of this process is timeliness.

Remember that the competition in schools of nursing is stiffer than gaining admission into the university. Surprisingly, there are quotas that must be considered for admission. These quotas vary from one institution to the other. By implication, to be considered for admission, you must have reached a benchmark in academic performance.

Finally, upon your success in the examination, you will be interviewed. This is where people are dropped mostly. I advise that you put in the needed preparation to gain admission this year as the healthcare industry is always on the lookout for great nurses. You can get tips on the most commonly asked questions in the School of Nursing interview by reading this post.

Conclusion

Conclusively, enrolling in any school of nursing in Nigeria can be a daunting task if not properly guided. Since there is a tendency to want to patronize vendors or agents online for the admission form, there is a need to identify a good one if you can not be at the venue of the sales of the form in person. Equally important, there is a need to prepare well for the interview. This is the yardstick to which nurses are screened out in the process of attaining their desired career goals. on the whole, If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comment section. I will do well to answer all your queries.