After the School of Nursing, What Next? - SCHOOLCONTENTS.info

After the School of Nursing, What Next?

You might have been educated on the stages following your graduation from the school or college of Nursing if you're already in year one or two. And if you're yet to know what's waiting for you as a freshman(woman), I'm sure before the final year you should be well informed.


However, those who are just seeking spaces in the next admission exercises of schools or colleges of nursing may want to ask what is next after their studies.


This post will give you insights into what could be your next take after completing a 3-year basic/general Nursing programme.

Understanding the Three-Year Nursing Programme

At schools and colleges of nursing, students are taken through a 3-year of theoretical, practical, and clinical studies. This stage of Nursing training is also called General or Basic Nursing. 


Read School of Nursing VS Nursing in University: Differences, Better One, and List of Schools.


After your studies, you'll be awarded a Registered Nursing (RN) certificate that qualifies you as a staff nurse or nursing officer for any hospital or healthcare center either home or abroad.


However, there are other nursing programmes that include post-Basic Nursing, midwifery, degree nursing, etc. In fact, there are a few nursing-related courses in certain polytechnics and colleges of health in Nigeria which may be acquired within just two years.


So, if you're a Registered Nurse, what are the possible takings for you after your award?


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Opportunities for Registered Nurses after Graduation

After the school of Nursing, a registered nurse can:

1. Continue to a Nigerian University to Obtain a Degree in Nursing

Nursing is one of the promotion-minded careers. Most nurses want to earn more in salaries and promotions. However, they may be limited due to their single qualifications (i.e RN). If you intend to compete in this field, RN is not enough.


To boost your potential, you will have to move up in your education. You need to add Registered Midwifery (RM) and/or Bachelor of Nursing (BN, BSN, BScN).


Here is the deal. 


To follow this course, you need to obtain the JAMB Direct Entry Form. This form usually comes out at the same time SSCE students are obtaining UTME forms. During the registration, you're to choose two universities (though your best chance is with the first choice). You won't need to write UTME for this but the proposed universities offering Nursing may subject you to post DE or screening.


After the admission process (i.e DE and post-DE/screening), you may be lucky to be offered admission by the university. There, you could be admitted to the 200 level of Nursing in the university. Then, you're to spend 4 years more to complete a Degree in Nursing or a Bachelors of Nursing Science.


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It's only if you have BSN, that you're compensated with RN, RM, and BSN altogether.


For a few Registered Nurses who will find the BS Nursing difficult due to the competition, they may consider furthering their studies at schools of Midwifery. 



    To do this, they'll obtain the Midwifery forms of their schools or others. Then, attend entrance exams and interviews. If admitted, the programme may last a year or two. After this, they'll be awarded Registered Midwifery (RM).


    Comparatively, with the Degree in Nursing you have the three certificates (RN, RM, and BSN) while with the other approach, you have two (RN and RM).


    NOTE: A Registered Nurse (RN) is practically not eligible to take deliveries. It's those who have the two (RN & RM), three (RN, RM & BSN i.e degree), or midwifery (RM) that can take deliveries.


    Whereas, graduates of Nursing from colleges where ND/HND in Nursing are awarded may not need to obtain DE to process university admissions again. The ND/HND in Nursing is obviously equivalent to the BSN.


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    2. Apply for a Staff Nurse Position

    For a few graduates from the school of Nursing, taking up the next available job offer is the next thing. Some want to work a few years even if they will go back to school. This is equally a right take. 


    After leaving school, as earlier noted, you're qualified to work at any hospital, healthcare center, or work with any organization - be it government-owned or private. Therefore, you can apply for any openings as appropriate.


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    3. Obtain Foreign Top-Up Degree (BSN) Forms

    Remember I said you would spend 4 years if you had RN and you used that to cross to a Nigerian university to further your education through JAMB Direct Entry. This is because, at universities, Degree Nursing is a five-year course if amitted to 100 level. However, for those admitted to the 200 level through DE, because they already had RN, they'd spend 4 years instead.


    And in fact, if you'd chosen part-time Nursing programmes such as that of the University of Ibadan DLC, National Open University, Ladoke Akintola University LODL, Obafemi Awolowo University DLC, etc, your years of studies may be more.


    Let's do simple Maths. RN is 3 years, BSN through DE is 4 years (5 years if part-time). Altogether 7/8 years. That's a long period. Though it's worth it.


    However, if you can afford a foreign top-up degree, it shouldn't take you more than a year or two to earn the same degree. Countries such as Canada, UK, the USA, etc accept foreign students, with Registered Nursing and/or Midwifery, for a year top-degree.


    After the completion of such programmes, you're now a complete RN, RM, and BSN holder.


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    4. Start a Healthcare Center or Clinic

    After finishing a school of Nursing course, you're eligible to start your own hospital or healthcare house. 


    Of course, starting a hospital is more than just being an RN holder, there are regulatory bodies to register with e.g. Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) and the Federal Ministry of Health. There are facilities and staff to put in place.


    In the area of staffing, for instance, a hospital should have in place:


    1. One Medical Practitioner in-charge with a minimum of 5 years of post-qualification experience.
    2. One Medical Practitioner per shift.
    3. One Registered Nurse in-charge of Nursing Services.
    4. One Registered Staff Nurse/Midwife or Staff Nurse per 8 in-patient beds per shift.
    5. One Laboratory Assistant/Technician.
    6. One Registered Pharmacist for a Hospital/Pharmacy Technician.
    7. Medical Records and Secretarial Staff.
    8. Ward Assistant or Aides (optional).

    Conclusion

    These are a few after-school possibilities for you as a Registered Nurse. However, there could be other opportunities coming your way. In summary, you can further your education after school nursing or decide to earn a living from your qualification right away.


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    51 comments:

    1. I'm not a registered nurse is it possible to get admission at the UK/US university? And how many years will it take to obtain the certificate over there?

      ReplyDelete
      Replies
      1. Except this change in the future, BSC nursing in UK for example is 3 years. Nursing diploma is less. Y=It's possible foreign students to be admitted for nursing.

        Delete
    2. Is it possible to start nursing degree at first year after being certified as a registered nurse already, like after school of nursing getting jamb form and starting all over again from 100 level in university

      ReplyDelete
      Replies
      1. Yes, you can obtain JAMB UTME form instead of DE form so you will start from year 1. Nobody will care if you already have RN before obtain UTME instead of DE. It's your choice that matters eventually.

        Delete
    3. Am I eventually going to be eligible for service if I go ahead to get a degree in nursing at the University after finishing from school of health without jamb?

      ReplyDelete
      Replies
      1. With BSC or HND Nursing, you will go to NYSC

        Delete
      2. Please can I get a Bscn degree for 5yrs in school of nursing, or can I switch to a university to study for 2years inorder to obtain the bscn degree even after obtaining a RN in school of nursing.

        Delete
      3. You can only get BSCN in universities. If you go by RN, you can cross to university to spend 4 more years to have BSCN. Read more about this in the post below.

        https://www.schoolcontents.info/2018/08/school-of-nursing-vs-bsc-nursing-which.html

        Delete
    4. After completing my 5 year bachelor nursing program to become a registered nurse, and without working for some years. Can I apply for masters in a foreign country?

      ReplyDelete
      Replies
      1. Yes, if such a university doesn't require, necessarily, working experience.

        Delete
    5. After I study nursing in the university can I work abroad

      ReplyDelete
    6. If I finish school of nursing what are the steps that I can take before going for degree nursing

      ReplyDelete
      Replies
      1. You will obtain JAMB DE form to process any university of your choice. The posts below will help you further.

        https://www.schoolcontents.info/2019/01/direct-entry-form-de-20192020.html

        https://www.schoolcontents.info/2019/01/how-to-choose-institutions-in-utme-and.html

        https://www.schoolcontents.info/2018/08/universities-offering-nursing-utme.html

        https://www.schoolcontents.info/2018/05/2018-post-utme-will-it-be-exams-or.html

        Delete
    7. After studying nursing in Benin republic was giving two certificate expect (registered midwivey certificate was giving,can I still work abroad ?

      ReplyDelete
      Replies
      1. My best knowledge about the recognized certificate abroad is RN - not RM

        Delete
    8. After getting my RN Certificate can I travel abroad to get my bsc, same time be working as a nurse? And how many years does it take to get a bsc abroad?

      Thank you

      ReplyDelete
      Replies
      1. Yes, Yes. With a top-up degree, could be less than 2 years or not more than

        Delete
      2. Is public health nursing a good career and is it possible for me to get into nursing school after am done in college

        Delete
      3. If it aligns with your dream and passion, it should be good for you.

        Delete
      4. Please sir is it possible to work with certificate in nursing I'm Ghana or I need to top up before I can work with it.

        Delete
      5. You can use your RN to work. You don't necessarily need top-up before being offered jobs.

        Delete
    9. I have an RN and currently doing Hnd in public health Nursing, can I go for masters with these

      ReplyDelete
    10. I was offered admission to study RM can I change it to RN,cos that's what I want first

      ReplyDelete
    11. Can I work abroad as a RN and study further to have my BSN and even further go masters there,and how long will it take

      ReplyDelete
      Replies
      1. You can have RN at home. Getting abroad, you can top it up to degree. After, you can go for Masters

        Delete
    12. How long will it take to have a RN and RM certificate in a nursing school

      ReplyDelete
      Replies
      1. It's three years for each. Read more about that in the post below.

        https://www.schoolcontents.info/2019/04/how-many-years-does-it-take-to-study.html

        Delete
    13. Must I study nursing in a university before I can work abroad as a nurse

      ReplyDelete
      Replies
      1. If you want to practise Nursing as a career home or abroad, you have to study that either at university or school/college of nursing.

        Delete
    14. After studying basic midwifery for 3yrs if I do a post basic nursing program will I have both RM and RN certificates

      ReplyDelete
      Replies
      1. Sure. the basic nursing wards you RN. The post basic nursing (if it's midwifery programme) will award you RM.

        Delete
    15. Hi. Is it possible for me to do my masters with RN cert?

      ReplyDelete
      Replies
      1. No. Masters are for BSC/HND holders in Nursing

        Delete
      2. No. Masters are for BSC/HND holders in Nursing

        Delete
    16. After RN program did I have high chance of going to abroad for completion of my Master's

      ReplyDelete
      Replies
      1. No. You need to have BSC/HND either here or abroad before you can proceed to Masters

        Delete
    17. Is it after my 100level in university before i will obtain RN certificate

      ReplyDelete
      Replies
      1. No. Where you're done with the degree, after 5 years, you'll be give all certificates once.

        Delete
    18. Between RN and RM which one is good to study first

      ReplyDelete
      Replies
      1. There are two types of RM. One is basic RM while the other is post basic RM. The basic RM is for just SSCE holders while the post basic RM is for those who have already done their basic RM or basic general nursing. If you have the chance to go for basic nursing or general nursing (which will give you RN), it's better than basic RM. After your RN, you can the go to university with DE for degree nursing or go for post basic RM

        Delete
    19. Sir am studying midwifery in a school of nursing which is a 3 years program and I will be awarded with a RM certificate only. After that,if go for an 18 month program on post basic nursing will I also be awarded with a RN certificate?

      ReplyDelete
      Replies
      1. No. You can use that RM to get RN. To do that, you will obtain basic nursing form again with your RM and they will give you 200 level. You will get RN after 2 years again.

        Delete
    20. I just obtained my RN certificate from an accredited nursing school, Plss sir can i work abroad with the RN certificate

      ReplyDelete
    21. Can i study nursing for one years and six months after midwifery

      ReplyDelete
    22. Sir pls can I work with HND nursing certificate abroad

      ReplyDelete
    23. Sir pls I can study nursing and then further to become a doctor?

      ReplyDelete
    24. Sir. Please can I work as RN after studying dental Surgery with basic Nursing. and which certificate will I awarded? Because I was offered that and I don't know much about it

      ReplyDelete

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