The Proposed HND Nursing Program A wrong Step

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Do you support HND in NURSING programme in Nigeria

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The Proposed HND Nursing Program A wrong Step

Unread post by Kunle Emmanuel »

The Proposed HND Nursing programme: A step in the wrong direction by Babatunde Ogunsanwo

There is a saying that" in the absence of the best option , the worse option becomes the best". That saying is a vivid description of the commencement of HND nursing programme.

Truth be told, Nursing has been stagnated for the past few decades and the reasons for this stagnation are multifaceted. The core problem has to do with the foundation our fore fathers built nursing on. They never had the future in mind before coming up with policies that have stunted the growth of nurses and nursing in Nigeria. Our lack of foresight took us to where we are now.

Fast forward to 2017, Nursing is moving forward due to the effort of some people notably Alhaji Faruk Umar Abubakar (registrar of NMCN) who in the space of 7 months have brought about unprecedented changes to the profession. The release of Council examination result in January, commencement of internship and release of outstanding Certificate are noteworthy achievements. Others are Jude Chiedu of Nursing world Nigeria, Abdul Rafiu Adeniji etc, kudos to you Sirs.

The proposed HND nursing programme is a step in the wrong direction because of the following reasons:
1. Most polytechnics are upgrading to degree awarding institutions. So why are we awarding what others are avoiding.
2. The commencement of HND nursing will undermine the target set by nurses and NMCN which is " to ensure all nurses are BNsc holders"
3. Commencement of HND nursing will set a conflicting message to the population and nurses in general. Since we want all nurses to BNsc holders, why commence HND programme.
4. HND nursing will broaden the already existing dichotomy in nursing. Let's remember that we have UGONSA which is a body that represent University trained nurses. HND graduates will also form a parallel body if their interest isn't protected since both parties will be claiming they are graduates.
5. HND nursing will further divide nurses in to nurse technician and nursing officers.
6. Nursing and Nurses will continually be looked down upon because of HND because the core health professionals don't have HND as entry point. Let's look at those who studied accountancy in the polytechnic and we will realize the stress they go through before getting their degree.
I believe that commencement of HND programme is a bad idea that will drag us back and also threaten our relevance in the health sector.
Emphasis should be laid on:
1. Accrediting more universities
2.Reducing the duration SON graduate spend in the university from 4 to maybe 2-3 years.
3. Affiliate SON with university to become degree awarding institution.
4. Refresher courses with point awarded should replace MCPDP. For a Nurse to progress to a certain level, he or she must attend several courses and have a particular point/ grade.
I Ogunsanwo Babatunde say no to HND and Yes to BNsc.
God bless Nursing.
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Re: The Proposed HND Nursing Program A wrong Step

Unread post by Kunle Emmanuel »

Olufemi Iseyemi Folakemi write:
POLYTECHNIC NURSING EDUCATION
This is a serious issue, when other allied professional are flying, we have just set to crawl, hunmmm, anyway, let's wait and see how many years it will take us to get to the promised land.
We actually need to improve on nursing education but is this the best we can do?
Its just a question, and if so, are we planning for future improvement, because education in Nigeria is dynamic? So many questions are running through my mind;
1. Why should nursing schools continue to exist under hospitals when other health allied schools like medicine,lab science, medical records etc have potted to the university?
2. Is there no way of getting nursing education transfered to ministry of education like medicine with only practicals attached to the hospitals?
3. Will this new arrangement bring in an upgrade in renumeration and improvement of entry point, because CMDs still place nurses on level six(single qualified) and level seven(double qualified)?
4. What is the prospect of nursing with this new arrangement as per carrier progression?
5. Is it the nurse tutors with Dip in nursing education that will continue to teach them or is there plan to move the tutor's course to the university?
6. What will be awarded in post basic schools?
I really need sincere answers to these and other questions running through my mind.
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Re: The Proposed HND Nursing Program A wrong Step

Unread post by Kunle Emmanuel »

As a retired nurse, I will like to give back to nursing by contributing to HND saga. Do Nigerian nurses really know what they want in terms of basic academic qualification? Do we really know what it entails to be a professional in terms of certification?

Are nurses going back to technical cadre with the proposed HND? Are our present leaders futuristic in terms of our thinking? Can HND stand the test of time in the future? For how long will nurses continue to be inferior academically to other members of the health team? Are nurses aware that polytechnics are running away from awarding HND to degrees? These are pertinent questions.

Other cadres are trying to make first degree their basic qualification while nurses are trying to cut corner with HND. Progressive nurses are trying to see the existing gap between three year nursing program is bridged by encouraging them to go for degree program while some are trying to widened the gap. Three year nursing program nurses, ND/HND nurses and nurses with degree; three different groups of nurses giving room for chaos and confusion in rendering effective and efficient nursing services to the consumers.
I suggest whoever is concern/council should put a halt to this retrogressive idea of HND. Haba! Please let us not rubbish nursing by making it stagnant, nurses must press for its upliftment as other professions. BNsc should be the starting point for Nigerian nurses. Lest we forget, nursing in Nigeria started with primary school leavers, then secondary school leavers, then now secondary school leavers with core five science credits including English for eligibility to qualify for entry into three year nursing program. This is same criteria for admission into three year nursing program, also same criteria for admission into any university that offer any health programs and science related courses. Then what is denying nurses from accepting degree as entry point for nursing profession academically. This generation of nursing leaders should not kill nursing profession from attaining its full potential. Nigerian nurses must move with time and nursing degree is the key not HND. I suggest each state NANNM to conduct poll on this urgent matter (do nurses prefer BNsc or HND) to elicit response from nurses. The poll will determine whether Nigerian nurses want to move with other professionals in the health sector or not. Collated polls should be the stand of Nigerian nurses not a few individuals.

Aliyu Garba
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Re: The Proposed HND Nursing Program A wrong Step

Unread post by Kunle Emmanuel »

..........
At the just concluded leaders conference in Kaduna, we resolved as follows :

That BNSc should be the ultimate for all Nurses

That where possible
Schools of Nursing school should be absorbed by the University in the locality

That other schools that could not be absorbed by any University should be converted to Colleges of Nursing to award academic certificates

That having a professional qualification without academic qualification is the major problem of Nursing education which the Council intend to correct

That Nursing education cannot be operated outside the educational policy of Nigeria which is based on 6-3-3-4 system. There schools of Nursing are obsolete

That students admitted into colleges of Nursing shall spend a total of 4yrs as ND1,ND2,HND1,and HND2. RN examination shall be taken at HND 1 while RM or RPHN shall be at HND 2.
Thereafter, the graduate of the school shall go for IT(Clinical posting ) for one year before NYSC.

The graduates of College of Nursing shall hold RN, RM/RPHN and HND.

The graduates of University shall hold RN, RM, RPHN and BNSc

That if the Federal Government eventually resolved the dichotomy between HND and BSc then the two will then be at par.

Adeyemo Damilola
This is a real setup
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Re: The Proposed HND Nursing Program A wrong Step

Unread post by Kunle Emmanuel »

Watching and waiting, nursing is the easiest profession to penetrate and destabilize by the CEOs of health institutions, we are never together, we love mere things like uniforms, promotion without money, tittles etc. Inside nurses there are so many divisions and outside so many enemies that have seen our potentials and will not let go. How I wish we can act maturely, heal the broken walls within and collectively, we will bring our common enemies to their feet. But alas!, this looks like an impossible task. Can nurses ever come together as one in reality?
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Re: The Proposed HND Nursing Program A wrong Step

Unread post by Kunle Emmanuel »

This is a personal opinion and also an oracular reaction to news making the air and circulating the electronic media, purportedly to have emanated from the on going NMCN Leadership Conference at Kaduna, proposing to commence the ever retrogressive model termed HND nursing in various schools of Nursing and Midwifery in Nigeria. This is a time bomb, when it explodes, the innocent and gullible teenagers who are seeking every channel to become registered nurses will be the victims of this merry go round academic qualification, while those leaders who made such policy, disguised themselves under the platform of NMCN, will become merry-makers after nicking money from them.

According to the act that established Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria(NMCN). The Council is tasked to ensure high quality of Nursing and Midwifery education in Nigeria to meet the national health needs of the nation at that time. It is obvious and pathetic that Nursing Council is doing otherwise, proposing HND programme that will further ridicule Nursing education, making the profession an ass of jokes and laughing stock in the comity of health professionals in Nigeria.

We will never be moved by such ghoulish and mephistophelean recommendation because the irresponsible cohort and camarilla that is bent on burrying professionalism in nursing, is the brain behind the conference. Amidst the CORE health professions in the Health sector, only Nursing will parade her graduates with HND qualification. At this point where other sister heath professions such as physiotherapy and pharmacy are yawning for Doctor of Physiotherapy degree(DPT) and Doctor of Pharmacy (pharmD). Nursing Council is yawning for HND, what a shame! Is it not laughable that after the HND nurses are enrolled on National Youth Service Scheme, we will be having two type of nurses on the NYSC camps, the HND nurses and BNSC nurses, which will further cause unresolved dichotomy and internecine rift among nurses, disrupting the already existing peace and unity among nurses.

ND/HND is meant to be run at technical schools (polytechnics and monotechnics) fully cognisant that they deal more with technical education, and not for core clinical and professional courses like Nursing, Medicine, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, e.t.c How on earth will Nursing Council be proposing that, nursing education should be joint regulated with National Board of Technical Education (NBTE). Is Nursing a technical education or medical education?

No wonder, the Nigerian media recently erroneously labelled nurses as medical technicians. Such proposal is laughable and is never a route to achieve professionalism but a ploy to halt the miniature development that has been witnessed in the nursing profession so far. Many of us may want to assume at this point, that our dear Nursing Council is confused and need close monitoring, peradventure their proposal failed, they make seek to collaborate with the National Commission for Colleges of Education(NCCE) to produce NCE nurses just to award academic certificates not considering the consequences on the already battered nursing image and poor public perception of nurses. Recently a nearby country, Ghana, moved all her post basic courses to university, but we have chosen a path to moving ours to monotechnics and award higher national diploma. I think Nursing Council should learn from Ghana.

Those people who are against the total cancellation of schools of nursing and eradication of hospital based nursing education on the premise that the required nursing personnel will be lacking are daydreaming and still wallowing in 18th century nursing era. In this 21st century too much nurses have been produced resulting in massive unemployment among nursing graduates. Today we see qualified, registered and certified nurses roaming about the street looking for job but no work to do, many of them have diverted to other sectors for means of livelihood, causing brain-drain and theft in nursing. I would like NMCN to ruminate and answer these following questions;
-Why do we like to make policies that will further place nurses below the bottom of food chain in the health sector?
-Why is it difficult for nursing council to unified nursing education, to producing graduate nurses with bachelor degree and higher degrees in nursing sciences?
-Why is it difficult for nursing council to do away with hospital based nursing education and establish a lower tiers of nursing personnel such as Certified Nurse Assistant ( CNA) and Licensed Practical Nurse(LNA) as done in other climes?
-Why will nursing council continue to make pollicies that will create more anchor and rivaries among nursing personnel in Nigeria (HND-BNSc saga) ?

HOW IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN NIGERIA
Medical courses in Nigeria hatch their graduates at the University domain and the case of nursing should not be an exemption, if we want to be at par with other health professionals.

The nursing council as a matter of urgency should jettison HND MODEL and liase with NUC and Ministry of Health to modify and upgrade the curriculum of schools of nursing and midwifery for easy transition and to fit into the bachelor of nursing sciences curriculum in the universities. The era of Ross and Wilson of anatomy and physiology in our schools of nursing is over and should be faced out, they should introduce core pre-clinical courses with adequate unit courses in anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, Microbiology and parasitology e.t.c as it is being offered in pre clinical stage for nursing students at the university. This will allow smooth transition for RN graduates to be admitted into 400L(2years RN to BNSC) and RN/post basic will spend one year to obtain bachelor degree in nursing science.

This is what NMCN, should work on and achieve, and not introducing HND programme to colleges of nursing and midwifery, as our colleges' curriculum( RN/RM) is higher than HND programme and should never be equated to HND for any reason.

The proposal we are expecting from NMCN conference is Nurse consultancy model and not HND nursing model. #saynotohndnursing

A WORD IS ENOUGH FOR THE WISE.

OLOYE Abiola Oluwafemi- RN, RPHN, BNSc(Ife), CGH (USA)
[email protected]

This is just the writer's opinion
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Re: The Proposed HND Nursing Program A wrong Step

Unread post by Kunle Emmanuel »

Good day great nurses.
Thank you NMCN for at least finally giving us academic quantification of RN after decades.
RN has no ACADEMIC value for years .where people got the information that RN is diploma, only heaven knows.
In year 2007,RN got EMPLOYMENT value of HND. The reason nurses are being placed on grade level 8 or Conhess 7. If RN were to be diploma, employment level would have been grade level 5.

What we need now is one year full time or 18months part time bridging program in the University for those who already have RN. Enough of repeating what has already been done, give RN courses they are yet to do to upgrade to degree.
At least we now know that RN is academically HND.
Secondly, all Govt owned SONs should be affiliated to University.

Privately owned SONs who are not willing to let go their schools should know that their products will end up with HND of which their is bridging program for them to upgrade.
If this is done, we will have more degree holder nurses.
Initially, I was in support of the HND thing but I remember it will take NMCN another millennium to put in place one year full time or 18months part time (Post Graduate Diploma in Nursing).

We can see NMCN have never ever talked about bridging program as obtainable in other developed countries.
It is time our leaders resolved the division in nursing NOW.

Ismail Nasiru.
My opinion. Thank you.
Adebayo Oguntayo. I guess this opinion emanated from my response to Mr. Ismail Nasiru's post some days ago. Affiliation isn't easy task for now. Many or our nursing schools and nursing departments in our universities only have partial accreditation due to low staff strength and lack of equipment. There's a lot more to be done. Those on the top see far beyond us. It's good you guys are coming up with ideas. Let's pray and support the current efforts. That doesn't take us away from agitating for the better.
Viva Nigeria Nurse
Funmilayo Shodunke Oderinde If affiliation is not easy, why not give us one year full time or 18months part time bridging program. The present direct entry program duration is just too much, most courses done are repetition of things already done at SON. Why not give them what they have not done. Why the waste of time, money and energy. Are we wiser than those who brought nursing to us. They have since created bridging program, they even went as far as making it online if you want. Why are we making life difficult for ourselves in this part of the world?
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Re: The Proposed HND Nursing Program A wrong Step

Unread post by Kunle Emmanuel »

BEYOND RHETORICS
The question "Is HND the best?" is a rhetoric. Everybody will mostly say "NO".
But is HND better than all RN+RM+RPN+RA&EN+RPHN+RPON+ALL-PROFESIONALS-UNLIMITED? = YES.

Why? = HND is ACADEMIC+PROFESSIONAL, while ALL-UNLIMITED ARE ONLY PROFESSIONAL irrespective of total years of accumulating them.

What of BNSC? = HND and BNSC EQUALLY offer PROFESSIONAL & ACADEMIC QUALIFICATION.

How? = BNSC gives RN+(RM/RPHN), HND gives RN+(RM/RPHN) VERY SAME !!!

What then is the difference between HND and BNSC? = 1year. HND=4Yrs, BNSC = 5Yrs.

Do they both do NYSC = YES

After NYSC, what next? = BNSC runs 1YR INTERNSHIP, HND runs 1YR I-T; BOTH ON SALARY (depending on area or place of service)

After I-T and Internship, What of "Masters"? =
HND-4yr + PGD-1yr goes straight for "Masters"; BNSC-5yr goes straight for "Masters"

How about further Specializations? = Both Specialise IN ANYTHING AT "MASTERS"

What of entry for service? Same point of entry.

Who then arrives the DIRECTORATE ?= ANYONE WITH "MASTERS", BNSC or HND

What other EQUAL opportunities ? = PhD., D.Sc., MULTIPLE DEGREES.

Would HND really last? = NOT LIKELY.

Why ? = Many will prefer to go straight for BNSC.

Then, why not stick to one? = Wider CHOICES.

WHAT SHOULD NURSES DO NOW? = SUPPORT PRAYERFULLY, DUTIFULLY, FINANCIALLY, AND POLITICALLY.

Then WHAT MORE ? ? ? N.O.T.H.I.N.G.

All KUDOS to our present leaders from units to National. GREAT NURSES !!!
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Re: The Proposed HND Nursing Program A wrong Step

Unread post by Queenet »

MY OPINION ON HND NURSING

Right from onset, nursing schools has been offering a professional qualification which is RN to students that have completed their 3years of training and meet up with Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria's requirement of which could earn the individual a good job to take care of self and family.

A stagnant water will always constitute a nuisance to itself and immediate environment therefore, a lot of changes has erupted since the emergence of Alhaji Abubakar(new NMCN registrar) in 2016.

It is quite obvious that other health care personnel that were nowhere before are now struggling with nursing and are upgrading themselves academically while nursing remains at its state of evolution devoid of professional upgrade due to dichotomy of ideas and schools of thought of its various components that now criticize their basis of professionalism(RN) and as time pass by, people see nursing profession as not being relevant in the health sector. Hence, the need for quick intervention.

WHY NOT BNSC
It would have been quiet remarkable if schools of nursing could be affiliated with universities or absorbed into the universities and offer a degree certificate after their programme but here are my questions:
    • 1.How many nursing tutors are qualified to be a university lecturer
      2.How many nursing schools can meet up with NUC requirements
      3.How many tutors are ready to upgrade their level within few years
      4.Hw many states are ready to upgrade and meet up with the current university requirements
      5.When soon will the states' acceptance of this university requirement nation wide, so why not start now

Implication
  • All tutors without masters or PhD will be sent back home or to the ward
    -There will be need for employment of new qualified staffs
    -Close down of schools of nursing that could not meet up with the requirements.
    -blurred future for the coming generation with prolonged and non promising expectations
THEN WHY HND
  • The launching point of the missile of professionalism: a step forward
    -it is an additional academic qualification with the professional qualification
    -Since RN are being employed based on HND level then there is need to Offer the certificate at the training level too
    -RN+RM+RPHN+R........ are all professional qualification and can not be equivalent to one academic qualification either HND or BNSC irrespective of number of years spent
    -Both BNSC and HND Offers RN, RM and RPHN

GET IT CLEAR
    • Duration of HND programme will be Four years in which we have ND 1, ND2, HND1 and HND 2. Council exam will be written at HND1 level while students can register for either RM or RPHN all within the 4yrs training
      -Both HND and BNSC holders will go for NYSC
      -HND +NYSC can then further to go for post graduate diploma(PGD) and after that is masters and PhD.
      -At masters level both HND and NYSC can specialize on any field of interest

Therefore with the analysis made above, Nursing is really progressing and it is moving forward compared to what it was before.

WHAT OF RN THAT ARE ALREADY IN THE SYSTEM?
GOOD NEWS: A long awaited abridge programme that ought to have began since 10yrs ago in University of Ibadan is finally set to commence in 2017 in which people with RN certificate will undergo a 2yrs training program and a degree certificate will be awarded to them thereafter.

CONCLUSION
Nursing is ours, we say no to dichotomy based on individual's selfish interest because we are moving and we continue to move. Our leaders are trying their best to make things easy for those that are coming and before we criticize any action lets get things right and clear.
Your great ideas are always welcome therefore let us contribute our own quota in making the best out of nursing profession. We should also appreciate and support the effort of our leaders to ensure the profession moves out from nothing to something.Let it be a taboo for you and I to bow out of this profession without making impact

Nursing! A Noble Profession!!
Aluta continua! Victoria ascertia!!!
ODEYELE SAMSON RN,OCFGN,JP
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"Changing how the world thinks about nursing".
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Re: The Proposed HND Nursing Program A wrong Step

Unread post by Queenet »

Olufemi Iseyemi Folakemi The registrar is trying to please His boss, "ministry of health" and at the same time considering his profession "nursing". What a dilemma! The nation needs more nurses, the nurses need better standing academically, they need better recognition, in an organized system. So sad! We really need a lot of brain storming and understanding lest we come back to fight this battle over and over again. Nurses themselves need to to rebrand themselves, change from their old ways and be better organized and more united. Hunmmm, so many rivers to cross!
Helen Oluwaseun Mide-Alabi Only Nursing is advocating for HND Among its counterparts but why HND? Agreed we are moving but I think it shouldn't be in this direction! Though my Opinion and I think am entitled to it. All the best my noble profession
Ade Kotosis Thats good effort, the problem is that does that have been heading the NMCN had no good idea. They should have pushed the profession to this level long ago, then now will be to a better harmonisation. BSNC is the best but we can start from here so that we dont have to entirely push out the people who have kept the profession. Lets give them chance to develop their academic qualifications because that have been their fears. They know that in nearest future, nursing must be all about BSC.
Adewole Ronke F. Odedeji Well explained n understood, gbam!
Chukwuka Henry Terrible idea....very soon, all over the world, all nurses ll have BNSC only as the only qualification for practicing nursing... Today, south Africa, Ghana are making plans and policies to have bnsc as the only qualification for practicing nursing.... Y don't we just move towards that at once? Create 2yr upgrade programs..
Convert or affiliate a schools of nursing to university ( manpower is available).

Besides, why should Nursing be the only major healthcare profession with HND N BNSC... THATS STUPID...
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