Have you ever wanted to become a professional nurse in Nigeria? Wondering if studying nursing in Nigeria is worth it? Well, here is what you should know; the best time to become a nurse in Nigeria was three years ago. The next best time is NOW. Do you know why? I’ll tell you.
Who is a nurse?
I’m not going to give you Florence Nightingale or Virginia Henderson’s definition. But have this at the back of your mind. A nurse is someone is a person (male or female) who was trained and licensed by the professional nursing body in his/her country (in this case Nigeria) to provide care to people who are acutely, mildly or chronically ill and injured alone or in collaboration with other health professionals such as medical doctors, physiotherapists and so on.
Why should you become a nurse?
Well, if you wish to enjoy the benefits of being a nurse (listed below), you should consider studying nursing and if you are not able, consider sponsoring someone to do so.
Benefits of being a nurse in Nigeria or Africa at large
All the benefits will not be listed but you are going to know the most important. 1). Overseas opportunities; nursing avails you several opportunities to travel out of Nigeria to countries like the USA, the UK, Canada, Australia and so on to practice and EARN COOL MONEY (I’m sure you already know what cool money is) without having to break the bank before all the processing will be done. I said it’s the most important benefit because it is easier for nurses to travel out and practice in countries like the UK than it is for other health professionals. If I were you, still very young and wish to leave this country as soon as possible to work overseas, I’d consider studying nursing science. 2) Easy employability; As a nurse, you can work in areas and settings other than the hospital or clinics. You can decide to set up your healthcare agency. Just note that you won’t be out of jobs longer than necessary (unless you don’t want to practice). HOWEVER, I can’t guarantee you will get cool money (you know how the country is) but I’m sure the more you learn, the better you become, the more you will be able to earn.
How to go about nursing education in Nigeria
You can study nursing in Nigeria via two routes at the time of publishing this article.
- School of nursing
- University
The simple difference is, in the school of nursing allows 3 years of education which earns you a Registered Nurse certificate, you will need to spend an extra 3-4 years in the university to obtain your degree. Whereas in the University, you will earn your Registered Nurse certificate and a bachelor of science degree in nursing within 5 years. Just a little hint: Nursing is a course of study not meant for the weak. Not meant for people who are not compassionate and empathetic. Won’t you want to step your feet in a country like the UK? If yes, one of the easiest routes is being a nurse. Another good news is that you can work as a Health Care Assistant in the UK even if you don’t have any medical-related background, more information will be provided by Fellow Nurses Africa. Do you find this article helpful? Share with your friends and loved ones. Oh, before I go, if you’re ever in love with a nurse, hold him/her tight. We now prefer marrying ourselves??? (it’s a secret ?).
Kehinde Oluwatosin is one of the many editors here at Fellow Nurses Africa and fellownurses.com.
He is a registered nurse with a Master of Science degree in healthcare leadership from the University of Hull, United Kingdom. Kehinde is passionate about advancing the nursing profession across Africa. As Co-Founder of Fellow Nurses Africa, he plays a key role in shaping editorial direction, ensuring our content educates, informs, and empowers nurses continent-wide.
With expertise in leadership, patient flow, and healthcare operations, Kehinde brings valuable insights to nursing news, career development, and policy discussions. He is committed to amplifying the voice of African nurses and driving positive change in the profession.
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