The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) is a statutory body mandated by the Federal Government of Nigeria to regulate and ensure the delivery of safe and effective nursing and midwifery care in the country.
This post provides an overview of the departments within the NMCN and the programs they oversee, as well as the entry requirements for these programs.
Departments in NMCN:
- Human Resources/Administrative Department: This department is responsible for coordinating personnel and administrative duties within the Council. It oversees staff appointments, promotions, transfers, and disciplinary actions. Additionally, the department manages human resource needs, recruitment strategies, staff training programs, and staff welfare. It also handles protocols, public relations matters, and communicates government and management policy directives to employees.
- Education Department: The Education Department is involved in planning, implementing, and coordinating educational activities within the Council. It oversees basic and post-basic nursing programs, curriculum development and review, continuing education for nurses, and monitoring the standards of nursing education and practice in the country. The department collaborates with nursing institutions and state nursing services to design and execute programs for continuing professional development. It also evaluates educational programs and organizes workshops, seminars, and training for nurses and midwives.
- Planning, Research, and Statistics Department: This department provides advice and assistance to the Council on matters related to management information systems, registration, certification, and licensure of nurses. It develops short and long-term development plans, generates and processes nursing-related data, ensures the availability of information and data storage facilities, and maintains the security of council registers, certificates, and licenses. The department also conducts research studies, liaises with other research institutions, and coordinates research findings and reports.
- Inspectorate Department: The Inspectorate Department is responsible for overseeing standards and accreditation activities within the Council. It coordinates accreditation visits to nursing institutions, assesses facilities for training nurses and midwives, maintains data on accreditation status, and compiles accreditation reports. The department designs and reviews minimum standards of nursing education and practice, liaises with state nursing committees, and organizes workshops and meetings to maintain nursing standards. It also takes measures to combat the infiltration of quacks into the nursing profession and coordinates the activities of zonal offices.
Programs: The NMCN offers various nursing and midwifery programs, including:
- Basic Midwifery
- Post Basic Nursing
- Post Basic Pediatric Nursing
- Post Basic Peri-Operative Nursing
- Post Basic Occupational Health Nursing
- Post Basic Intensive Care Nursing
- Post Basic Ear, Nose, and Throat Nursing
- Department of Nursing – BNSc (Bachelor of Nursing Science)
Entry Requirements:
The approved entry requirement for these programs is five O’level credit passes in Mathematics, English Language, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.
These credits must be obtained at not more than two sittings from recognized examination bodies such as the West African Examination Council (WAEC), National Examination Council (NECO), or the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB).
For students with foreign examination results, an evaluation report or equivalent grading from the Federal Ministry of Education is required along with the results.
Conclusion
The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) plays a crucial role in regulating nursing and midwifery education and practice in Nigeria.
Its various departments work together to ensure the delivery of safe and effective care.
The Council offers a range of nursing and midwifery programs, and aspiring students must meet the specified entry requirements to enroll in these programs.