In this article, you will learn about RN Vs License Community Nursing/Midwifery the RN Diploma program, otherwise known as the Basic Nursing Program, the program duration, eligibility criteria, admission requirements, employment outlook, career progression, the differences between both programs, and other vital information.
RN VS LICENSE COMMUNITY NURSING/MIDWIFERY
Nurses are an integral part of the healthcare system, their duty is in the promotion of health, prevention of illness, and care of physically ill, mentally ill, and disabled people of all ages, in diverse health care or community settings.
They focus on the care of individuals, families, and communities so that they may attain, maintain, or recover to a state of optimal health and lead a good quality of life.
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Nurse professionals are equipped with the necessary knowledge, skills, and competence to achieve a better healthcare outcome. The International Council of Nurses defines “the nurse as a person who has completed a program of basic, generalized nursing education and is authorized by the appropriate regulatory authority to practice nursing in his or her country.”
There are diverse pathways to becoming a nurse in a region. Enrolling in a nursing education program is essential to gaining professional expertise for effective practice.
In this article, you will get to know about RN Diploma Vs License Community Nursing/Midwifery, the RN Diploma program otherwise known as the Basic Nursing Program, and the Community Nursing/Midwifery, the program duration, eligibility criteria, admission requirements, employment outlook, career progression, the differences between both programs, and other vital information.
RN DIPLOMA PROGRAM/BASIC NURSING PROGRAM
This is a three (3) year General Nursing Diploma Program which is hospital-based and at the end of which you will be awarded a Certificate in General Nursing (RN) and upon completion, you will be deemed as a Registered Nurse.
The program is designed to help students gain broad and sound fundamental knowledge “in the behavioral, life, and nursing sciences for the general practice of nursing, for a leadership role, and post-basic education for specialty or advanced nursing practice.” In addition, the students are trained to gain hands-on practical nursing skills that will give them the knowledge and clinical experience they need to become Registered Nurse (RN).
Admission Requirements
- Candidates must possess at least five (5) credits in English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics in not more than two (2) sittings for WAEC, NECO, and/or NABTEB.
- Qualified candidates will be required to write an entrance examination, conducted by their respective institutions.
- Upon successful completion of the entrance examination, candidates will be invited for interviews by their respective schools or colleges.
- Candidates that succeed at the interview phase will be offered provisional admission into the Basic General Nursing program by the institution.
- Candidates admitted into the Basic Nursing Program will undergo intensive training/lectures in Basic Sciences and Nursing Courses for six months after which an introductory examination will be conducted.
- Only successful students at the introductory examination will be Indexed by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria while the remaining students will be withdrawn from the program.
Employment Outlook
Upon graduation and licensing as a Registered Nurse, you will be able to work in any Healthcare institution such as National Hospitals, Federal Medical Centers, Specialist Hospitals, General Hospitals, Primary Healthcare Centres, Comprehensive Health Care Centres, and so:
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Career Progression
As a Registered Nurse, you can gain direct entry admission into University for a Bachelor of Nursing degree program or direct entry admission into an 18-month Post Basic Specialty program depending on your area of interest. You also option have the option of going for your Post-Graduate qualification programs.
COMMUNITY NURSING/MIDWIFERY PROGRAM
This is a two (2) year Community Nursing/Midwifery program, at the end of which you will be awarded a Certificate in Community Nursing/Midwifery and upon completion, you will be deemed a Licensed Community Nurse/Midwife (LCN/LCM).
The program is designed for students to gain hands-on practical community nursing skills which give them the knowledge and clinical expertise needed to function effectively as a Licensed Community Nurse or Midwife.
A Licensed Community Nurse or Midwife must meet the healthcare needs of the population at the grassroots for prompt medical interventions thereby promoting their health and well-being, and preventing illness amongst members of the local community. The Licensed Community Nurse or Midwife works under the supervision of a Registered Nurse or Registered Public Health Nurse.
Moreover, only students who are resident indigenes of a state are eligible for admission into the program. These students are sponsored and bonded by their State Local Government Service Commission and will be required to work in their respective communities upon graduation from the program.
Admission Requirements
- Candidates must possess at least four (4) credits in English Language, Biology, and two science subjects in not more than two (2) sittings in WAEC, NECO, and/or NABTEB.
- Qualified candidates will be required to write an entrance examination conducted by their respective schools or colleges.
- Upon successful completion of the entrance examination, candidates will be invited for interviews by their respective institutions.
- Candidates that succeed at the interview phase will be offered provisional admission into the Community Nursing or Midwifery program by the institution.
- Candidates admitted into the Community Nursing or Midwifery program will undergo intensive training/lectures in Basic Sciences and Nursing Courses for six months after which an introductory examination will be conducted.
- Only successful students at the introductory examination will be Indexed by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria while the remaining students will be withdrawn from the program.
Employment Outlook
Upon graduation and licensing as a Community Nurse/midwife, you will be able to work only in Primary Healthcare Centres and Comprehensive Health Care Centres.
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Career Progression
If you wish to further your education as a Licensed Community Nurse/midwife to become a Registered Nurse/Midwife, you can enroll in a two-year diploma program in a School/College of Nursing/Midwifery.
In addition, you would need to meet the pre-requisite criteria which is 5 credits in English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics in O-level papers.
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After gaining your Registered Nurse qualification, if you wish to advance further in your career you can gain direct entry admission into University for a Bachelor of Nursing degree program or direct entry admission into an 18-month Post Basic Specialty program depending on your area of interest. There’s also the option of going for your Post-Graduate qualification programs.
Differences Between RN and License Community Nursing/Midwifery Program
The Basic Nursing Program runs for 3 years while the Community Nursing/Midwifery program is only for 2 years.
The Entry requirement for Basic Nursing is at least five (5) credits in English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics in not more than two (2) sittings for WAEC, NECO, and/or NABTEB while that of Community Nursing/Midwifery is at least four (4) credits in English Language, Biology, and two science subjects in not more than two (2) sittings for in WAEC, NECO, and/or NABTEB.
The Basic Nursing Program admission is open to both indigenes of a state and other states in Nigeria while Community Nursing Program admission is restricted to only indigenes of a particular state.
Graduates of Basic Nursing are licensed by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria as Registered Nurse (RN) while graduates of Community Nursing/Midwifery will be licensed by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria as Licensed Community Nurse/Midwife (LCN/LCM).
A Registered Nurse can work in any Healthcare institution such as National Hospitals, Federal Medical Centers, Specialist Hospitals, General Hospitals, Primary Healthcare Centres, Comprehensive Health Care, and so on while Community Nurses/midwives can work only in Primary Healthcare Centres and Comprehensive Health Care Centres.
Registered Nurses can gain direct entry admission into a University for a Bachelor of Nursing degree program or direct entry admission into an 18-month Post Basic Specialty program while Licensed Community Nurses/midwives who wish to further their education to become registered nurses/midwives need to be admitted for a two-year program in a School/College of Nursing/Midwifery after meeting the admission criteria of 5 credits in English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics in their O-level papers.
CONCLUSION
Regardless of the path you take, all nurses are bound by the basic responsibility and ethics of the profession. You must provide care for individuals who are sick or well, assess their responses to their health status, assist them in performing vital activities contributing to health or recovery or dignified death likewise help them gain full or partial independence as rapidly as possible.
WRITTEN BY Mayowa Racheal Popoola
RN, Content Writer
