Studying nursing has become incredibly easy in Nigeria today, although I can’t boldly say the same about getting a nursing job. If you’re one of the thousands of ladies looking to become professional medical caregivers, you have a fair number of study paths.
You can choose to attend a university for a full-blown degree in nursing. That endeavor takes five years and is the best setup for anyone looking to make a lifelong career out of nursing. Then there are the nursing diplomas that take a fraction of that time that you can get at Schools of Nursing and Midwifery.
Generally, the term “nursing schools” encompasses all categories of nursing schools in Abuja, including degree and diploma-awarding ones. So, this article will take a look at the best nursing schools in Abuja, regardless of what kind of nursing education they impart to students.
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Why Nursing Is in Great Demand
The nursing profession is in great demand in Nigeria, despite the multitude of ladies that flock to nursing schools immediately after their secondary school education. Since the numbers don’t seem to compute, the question comes naturally: why is nursing in such great demand?
The answer is simple: the demand out there is for qualified nurses with a degree in nursing, but most nurses in Nigeria only obtained a simple diploma from a community nursing school or its equivalent. A diploma in nursing isn’t a bad thing per se, but there’d be a significant difference between learning a profession for 18 months and learning it for two years.
If you’re aspiring to be a nurse in 2023, it’s recommended that you attend a degree-awarding institution for your education. Not only are you more likely to find a rewarding job after graduation, but you’ll also have a better path of advancement than someone with, say, a community nursing school diploma.
There are other lesser reasons why nursing is in great demand, including the increasing senior population, Nigeria’s high mortality rate, and the seemingly endless proliferation of new hospitals, among other reasons.
Best Nursing Schools in Abuja
Now that we know why Nigeria needs so many nurses, it’s time to show you the best nursing schools in Abuja. We apologize in advance if this list isn’t as comprehensive as you’d like; Abuja is but a small state, and there can only be so many nursing schools in such a small space.
In any case, it’s in a favorable position as Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, so it has its fair share of nursing schools. Without further ado, here are the best nursing schools in Abuja:
1. Department of Nursing Sciences, NOUN
The National Open University of Nigeria is the country’s foremost open university, and quite surprisingly, it has a fully functional department of nursing sciences. Given the critically hands-on nature of nursing, I would expect it, in addition to a host of related programs, to be missing from NOUN’s repertoire of courses, but here we are.
NOUN’s School of Nursing isn’t exactly located in Abuja, which may sound like a surprise to the uninitiated. However, people familiar with the university’s game know it’s an essential inclusion on this list because it’s not located anywhere; its programs are mostly online, so you can take them from anywhere, including Abuja.
The Department of Nursing Sciences at the Faculty of Health Science at NOUN awards a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing Science (B.NSc), which primes graduates for an excellent career in nursing. While NOUN isn’t the most respected university in Nigeria, your options are limited in Abuja anyway, so why not?
Note: This school only admits registered nurses with a valid practice license from the NMCN and at least six months of working experience in any clinic.
2. School of Nursing, Gwagwalada
The School of Nursing in Gwagwalada is a two-part institution that includes a School of Nursing and a School of Basic Midwifery. Both institutions educate students in basic nursing, qualifying them to become registered nurses in Nigeria.
The entry requirements to this school are pretty basic: O’level credit passes in English, Math, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, and a non-refundable application fee of N5,000. After a successful registration, shortlisted applicants will be invited to an entrance examination at the school, after which successful candidates will be offered provisional admission. It’s essential to note that applicants under 17 years of age are not eligible.
This school, alongside the School of Basic Midwifery Gwagwalada, are the only two licensed physical nursing schools in Abuja, so it’s not surprising they’ll appear on a list of the best nursing schools in Abuja; it’s not like we have a choice.
3. School of Basic Midwifery, Gwagwalada
There’s not much to say about the School of Basic Midwifery, Gwagwalada anymore, as the preceding entry already includes most of what you need to know about it. It’s a sister institution of the School of Nursing in Gwagwalada, and it trains students to become registered midwives in Nigeria.
Unlike most other nursing schools in Abuja, this institution doesn’t require you to be a registered nurse to enroll in its program. Also, its entry requirements are the same as those of the School of Nursing, Gwagwalada, and it’s the only other physical school offering a nursing-like course in Abuja.
If you pay enough attention to the name, you’ll see this school doesn’t train its students in nursing, but midwifery. However, the difference between these two fields isn’t very pronounced, and Nigerian hospitals frequently overlap the two, so the inclusion of the School of Basic Midwifery among the best nursing schools in Abuja is no mistake.
4. School of Post Basic Oncology Nursing, National Hospital, Abuja
The National Hospital in Abuja runs two nursing schools: the School of Post-Basic Oncology Nursing and the School of Post-Basic Nephrology Nursing. Unlike most other nursing schools on this list, these schools aren’t open to fresh secondary graduates hoping to lead a career in nursing.
One of the main admission requirements for this school is being a registered nurse in Nigeria, as it’s a post-basic nursing school. Aspirants must also have a license to practice from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, in addition to the regular Olevel credit passes requirement.
The average post-basic nursing degree takes between 12 and 18 months, after which graduates can work as specialized nurses in their preferred course of study. However, this school only trains registered nurses in oncology nursing, a field of nursing that’s highly in demand in Abuja and Nigeria in general.
If you don’t have a prior nursing qualification, you may want to look away from this school in favor of the other recommendations on this list.
5. School of Post-Basic Nephrology Nursing, National Hospital, Abuja
This school is a sister institution to the preceding idea, and they have similar goals, only in different specialties. While the School of Post Basic Oncology Nursing trains registered nurses in oncology nursing, the School of Post Basic Nephrology Nursing trains them in, you guessed it, nephrology nursing.
Only aspirants who have completed basic nursing education and secured a license to practice in Nigeria can apply for this school, like its sister school above. Basic nursing education takes three years to complete at basic nursing schools in Abuja, after which you can proceed with your registration.
Completing this program qualifies you to become a nephrology nurse, readying you for advancement to higher roles in your career like nursing administration. For nurses already with a basic nursing certificate, this is undoubtedly one of the best nursing schools in Abuja.
6. School of Post Basic Critical Care Nursing, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital
Interestingly, the University of Abuja doesn’t have a Department of Nursing Sciences and cannot award B.NSc degrees, but it does have a school of Post Basic Nursing in Critical Care.
Like the two preceding schools, this institution is only open to registered nurses looking to specialize or further their education. As you can probably already deduce from its name, it only offers post-basic nursing education in critical care nursing, a field in high demand.
Applicants looking to gain admission into this nursing school must be registered and licensed by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and must possess O’level credit passes in English, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.
The sale of application forms to the School of Post Basic Critical Care Nursing, UATH is only available on-site at the hospital; the school doesn’t sell forms online. The form costs N7200, but you’ll also have to pay another mandatory N200 after obtaining the form for your application to be valid. For nurses seeking continuing education, UATH runs one of the best nursing schools in Abuja.
7. Dako College of Nursing and Midwifery, Suleja (bonus)
Dako College of Nursing and Midwifery isn’t exactly located in Abuja, but its proximity to the Federal Capital Territory makes it an excellent choice for nursing aspirants residing in Abuja. As the name suggests, this school awards a diploma and not a degree, so you don’t need to write JAMB to qualify for admission.
However, students aspiring to study at Dako College of Nursing will need five credits in any Olevel examination to qualify for admission, and they may also have to take a qualifying examination after buying a N5,000 application form.
Located in Suleja, it’s a convenient college for aspirants living in Abuja, as you won’t need to relocate, especially if you already live close to the area. It’s not the most prestigious nursing college in the world, but if you’re limiting your search to the best nursing schools in Abuja, you shouldn’t be expecting a lot more than this.
FAQs
Will I go for NYSC after school of nursing?
Graduates of a diploma-awarding school of nursing don’t go for the mandatory youth service program (NYSC). However, graduating from a five-year B.NSc degree program will qualify you for the youth service program.
How many years is nursing schools in Abuja?
The nursing schools in Abuja either run basic nursing programs that take three years to complete or post-basic programs that run for 12 to 18 months. However, an aspirant for any of the post-basic nursing programs must have completed a basic nursing or midwifery program in any of the basic nursing schools in Abuja.
Conclusion
Nursing is a noble and rewarding profession, but it also takes a lot of study to become a professional nurse. If your goal is quality nursing education in Abuja and its environs, these seven schools are the only nursing schools in Abuja to consider.
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