Nursing Department

The department of nursing science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Madonna University, Elele was established in the year 2001 with the initial admission of 14 students in October 2001, with under the headship Prof. Mrs. O.C. Nwana. The department of nursing science is integrated with a 250 bedded Madonna university teaching hospitals so that nursing education, service and research are closely combined with quality patient/client care. The department had an interim accreditation status given by the NUC in July 2014 and provisional approval by the N&MCN in the same year. The first batch of 14 students graduated in December, 2008. Ever since, the Department has continued to witness tremendous yearly increase in student enrolment as well as in its facilities, structure and staff-wise. In 2013, the department increased the number of courses with the incorporation of Health Economics and Nursing informatics in the curriculum. Graduates of the university are working very hard flying the flag of the university in different countries of the world. Favorable reports from employers of labour attest to the quality of our Graduate Nurses. Consumers of our services have given the department high rating about the performances of the graduates. The department graduates polyvalent Nurses imbued with essential moral, humanitarian and ethical principles required to meet the preventive, promotive and rehabilitative health needs of the individuals, families and communities entrusted in their care. 

To achieve these, the programme is designed to:

1. Exposed the students in various disciplines and clinical settings for share learning experience that proved the needed understanding and appreciation of the expertise each health discipline brings to bear in health care problem solving situations.
2. Orient students abinicio with the realities of disease patterns and peculiarities among various age groups, gender and communities.
3. Provide the Nurse with a basic diagnostic skills required in the identification and solution of the clients/community health problems.
4. To produce the best professional Nurses capable of working in all health care settings across the globe.

University based nursing education is internationally and nationally acclaimed as the only educational system that can produce professional nurses. This is a fact that has been endorsed by both the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria(N&MCN). The Bachelor of Nursing Science Degree (BNSc) was introduced by the Madonna University for generic programme with a view to providing University Nursing education to the teaming youths of this nation desirous of becoming nurses. The nursing programme was designed in recognition of the university’s responsibility to the society in producing skilled, discipline and humane nurse practitioners in line with the motto of the University – Decency in Education and Moral (Dignitas Scientiae et Morale). The philosophy of nursing degree programme, therefore, takes cognizance of the philosophy of health services and nursing education in Nigeria.

i. Man is bio-psycho-social being and his needs are the focus of all nursing activities. Man is a member of a family and families make up communities. Man as a bio-psycho-social cultural entity continues to experience rapid and tremendous changes. Consequently, a required body of knowledge necessary to cope with advances, abilities, expertise, changed needs of man, skills and responsibilities have similarly expanded. Degrees in basic health sciences must address these in a frame work and subject to continuous review.

ii. The health care system exists to meet the needs of consumers of health care by providing primary, secondary and tertiary health care to ensure that individuals, families, groups and communities are assisted to maintain a high level of wellness. The Philosophy of the Department of Nursing Sciences, Madonna University is derived essentially from the philosophy of the Nursing Profession. As a profession, the department recognizes man as member of a family while families make up of communities in which man operates. It believes that Nursing is process of interaction which aims at assisting the individual, family and community to establish and maintain an optimal level of health and human functioning. It sees nursing as an inherent part of the transactions that help the individual, family and community to modify their patterns of daily living in line with their bodily needs and environmental demands for effective health promotion, maintenance and restoration. The department believes that the professional nursing programme stimulate research and in nurse, the zeal for continued acquisition of new knowledge for self-development and advancement. It also believes that with the globalization of the world and influx of new knowledge in the health sciences and technology, the nursing programme assist the learner in analyzing the change process, and in deciding on change which is desirable or undesirable, possible, probable or impossible and in accepting and effecting change.

The profession believes that Primary Health care is the key to the attainment of health for all. The belief is based on:

i. The human environment is a major factor in man’s health status. It is therefore necessary to conceptualize the individual and the environment as open systems engaged in continuous dynamic interaction.

ii. University education is the key to the growth of the profession. Optimal professional nursing education can be achieved in an institution of higher learning that provides a foundation for general education in the various sciences and arts.

iii. Nursing is a science that is based on the knowledge of human behaviour that enable changes in the client system to be monitored by utilizing the scientific method of enquiry whilst providing nursing intervention to individuals, families ,groups and communities at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels of health care.

iv. Professional nursing education is built upon a theoretical base that seeks to develop self-directed practitioners who will advance and test knowledge on which practice is based. Current health care demands require an innovative approach in professional preparation and a curriculum that is responsive to the changing health needs of the society.

i. To offer liberal/general and professional education for nurses who will be able to utilize psycho-social and physical factors in health promotion, health maintenance and of health restoration. The purpose of the nursing programme is to prepare students with sufficient theoretical scientific knowledge base and practical skills that will enable them render care as professionals to individuals, family and community in a variety of settings (locally and internationally).

ii. The programme prepares the graduate nurse to think effectively, to communicate thought and to discriminate among values. The focus of the department is also to develop in students the relevant practical and technological competence in practice at primary, secondary and tertiary health care settings.

iii. The programme prepares polyvalent nurse practitioners who are capable of performing nursing skills in variety of settings, therapeutically assisting individuals, families and communities with diverse backgrounds and health problems to attain optimal health

iv. The programme prepares nurse- practitioners who are capable of relating the role of health care services to the broader system and who will be engaged in life long and self-directed learning.

Learning outcome

By the end of the academic programme, the graduate of BNSC programme should demonstrate:

a. Regime of subject knowledge

i. The scientific principle basic to the nursing care of individuals of all ages in a variety of physical and social settings

ii. The nursing process

iii. The communication process and group dynamics

iv. The process of scientific enquiry

v. The functions of members of the health team and their inter-relatedness and inter dependency.

b. Competencies and skills

vi. Identifying health needs, planning and giving comprehensive nursing care to individuals of all ages in a variety of settings

vii. Applying basic scientific and nursing theories, principles and concepts in the practice of nursing and midwifery

viii. Selecting appropriate nursing interventions and performing technical skills with maximal dexterity

ix. Effective communication by organizing thought and expressing it in the manner in which it could be easily comprehended

x. Planning and effecting health promotion activities

xi. Working cooperatively as a member of the health care team in primary health care by

1. Sharing information

2. Accepting responsibility and limitation willingly

3. Participating in group activities

x. Initiating and developing entrepreneurship in health services for the underserved and un-served areas

c. Behavioural attitudes

i. Recognizes the essential worth of the individual through her interpersonal responses.

ii. Appreciates varieties in human behaviour which may influence the care of the individual

iii. Shows commitment to the role of the nurse and to nursing profession

iv Shows responsibility for self direction and personal growth.

v All acts of indiscipline are punishable according to the stipulations in the university handbook for students

Admission Requirements

Candidates are admitted into the Department of Nursing Science, for the Bachelor of Nursing Science degree and for professional certificates in Nursing and Midwifery either through the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) or by Direct Entry(DE). The Direct entry candidates, in addition to satisfying the university minimum entry requirements, must have obtained the RN certificate from accredited institution. Both categories of students must have obtained a minimum of credit in five subjects at Ordinary Level (WAEC GCE, SSCE, and NECO: combined results are acceptable), which must include English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics at not more than two sittings. The UTME candidates must have an acceptable pass mark at the UTME conducted by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

Transfer from other Faculties/Departments of this or other Universities

After partial or successful completion of a BSc. Degree course in this or any other university, a candidate may be considered for admission into the BNSc. Degree of the University provided such a candidate satisfies the appropriate admission requirements prescribed above. Students are also allowed to transfer from this to other faculties/departments and or universities.

Scope

Students admitted through the JAME spend for five (5) years while the DE students are expected to spend 4years. The program is organized in five levels, at each level the courses are arranged in units. Credit load per week is 2-4 contact hours per week(theory/tutorials) about 12 hours per week for practical demonstration/clinical. The nursing courses are prefixed with NSC letters and comprise of core or compulsory courses which must be passed. Ancillary and elective courses are taken to enrich the student’s scope of knowledge as well as increase the total units. The university’s regulations ensure that the student shall NOT register less than 15 credit units and not more than 24 credit units per semester. Each semester is made up of classroom study period, tutorials, clinical teaching and practice, in the hospital and the community. All clinical and community postings are compulsory. Students are expected to present three (3) projects and one Expectant Family care study(midwifery students only). A total of 30 weeks clinical experience is required before the end of the programme. Students may be posted out for clinical or community experience during the long vacation as the case may be, serving as SIWES, a requirement for every profession. The curriculum is subject to review after five (5) years.

Job opportunities/competencies of the polyvalent Nurse

• Successful students of the Bachelor of Nursing Science and professional certificate Examinations are well equipped for careers in community and clinical practice areas in schools, health care centers, industries, hospitals and in both the secondary and tertiary health institutions. The programme also offers job opportunities in higher institution including Lectureship position in universities. They can become employers of labor by establishing their own Nursing Homes, drug stores, etc. They are qualified for post graduate training anywhere in the world.

STRESS AREAS

General courses – 0

Foundation of Nursing – 1

Medical surgical Nursing – 2

Community Health Nursing – 3

Maternal and Child Health Nursing – 4

Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing – 5

Management of nursing care – 6

Principles of education – 7

Nursing practicum/clinical posting – 8

Seminar/Research – 9

INSTRUCTION TO DIRECT ENTRY STUDENTS

Students who gained admission by direct entry into the 200 level will ensure that they register and pass the following General Studies Courses in addition to all the courses in the Faculty/Departmental curriculum, as applicable.

FIRST SEMESTER (FOR DIRECT ENTRY STUDENTS)

Course Code Course Title Unit

GST 111 Communication in English I 2

GST 113 Nigerian Peoples and Culture 2

GST 121 Use of Library, Study Skills and Information Technology 2

GST 123 Communication in French 2

GST 125 Introduction to Entrepreurship Studies I 2

SECOND SEMESTER (FOR DIRECT ENTRY STUDENTS)

Course Code Course Title Unit

GST 104 Fundamental Philosophy 1

GST 112 Logic, Philosophy and Human Existence 2

GST 122 Communication in French 2

GST 142 Communication in German 2

GST 162 Introduction to Social Science 2

Academic Staffs