A PAPER PRESENTED AT THE 6TH BIENNIAL AND 5TH
QUADRENNIAL DELEGATE CONFERENCE ORGANISED BY
THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA NURSES AND
MIDWIVES (NANNM)
ON
21ST NOVEMBER, 2012
AT THE
GRAYLAND CULTURAL CENTRE, YENOGOA
BAYELSA STATE
BY
B. L. AJIBADE (RN, Ph. D, FWACN)
LADOKE AKINTOLA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, OGBOMOSO
COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES,
DEPARTMENT OF NURSING, OSOGBO
1
NURSING IN NIGERIA THE JOURNEY SO FAR AND WAY
FORWARD
Introduction:The contemporary nurse constantly faces series of technological,
managerial, administrative, political and economic changes involving new
ideas, new values and new problems that may need on the spot decisions
and solutions.
It is therefore obvious that contemporary nurses need a
new orientation, derived from the study of the past to help them
successfully with developing changes in the health care industry.
The history of nursing in Nigeria includes many clinical, technological,
scientific, social, cultural and educational aspects with critical implications
for all properties required in modern decision making that could qualify
nursing as a full fledged profession, sui-generis. Therefore, knowledge of
past experience will definitely create a better understanding of the present
and can cast some light on the pathway to planning the future without a
knowledge of the past. Contemporary nurses therefore need to view their
work against a multi-dimensional back-drop in order to be able to define,
classify, appreciate and confront the multiple and complex problems they
have to face constantly with confidence.
Nursing as a profession came into existence, rested, savoured and
consolidated its position by developing its own language, rituals, ethics, arts
and sciences from the physical needs of patients, the principles and
2
concepts of prevention, its own body of traditions, attitudes, culture and
values which were mainly drawn from the army and religious orders. High
discipline with stern reprimands formed the foundations of the profession
and developed with it.
The quiet evolution taking place in the nursing world today, the
impact of which is being felt in developing countries of the world including
our own country Nigeria, was largely influenced by internal and external
developmental forces such as the influence of the world War II, impact of
technological and industrial world and the society at large; tremendous
advances in medical sciences and medical technology, changes and
complex structure of hospital organization and management of health care
industry; changing concept of patient care and early ambulation, perennial
shortage of doctors and trained nurses; increased off-shoot of para-medical
professions, the activities of the World Health Organization, a follow-up on
the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948 article
25(i) which states inter alia that “It is to be a fundamental human right for
every person to have a standard of living adequate for the health and well
being of himself and his family including food, clothing, housing medical
care and necessary social services’’ (Adelowo, 1989, P.11). The resultant
effect was for people to demand better health care services of different
kinds including the developing role of nurse which was adopted by the
Council of National Representative of the International Council of Nurses,
3
Mexico City, Mexico in May, 1973.
Having perused over the introduction of the topical issue, it will be
imperative on us to have phase by phases historical perspective of Nursing
Growth in Nigeria.
Colonial Era:-
Along with the administrative changes that took place
with the establishment of the Colonial and protectorate of Nigeria came the
need to establish hospitals and nursing homes in important towns in
Nigeria. The first government hospital to be founded in Nigeria was St.
Margret Hopsital, Calabar. It was established in 1894 with Miss. Margret
Graham as the first Nursing Sister. Miss. Graham was joined by Miss Jane
Mac Cofter who later established the famous Abeokuta Infant Welfare
Centre for the training of Midwives. The Centre specialized in domiciliary
services.
Growth of Scientific Nursing:-
Modern scientific nursing started with
the crusading efforts of the British War Secretary, Sidney Herbert, who
organized a team of nurses led by Miss. Florence Nightingale to the
Crimean War (1854 – 1856). Miss. Nightingale combined Christian ideals,
strict discipline and a sense of mission to open the door for what is known
today as the nursing profession.
By the end of the 19th Century, England and the Countries of
continental Europe had started the apprenticeship of nurse training. The
rapid changes brought about by the courageous lady, Miss. Florence
4
Nightingale into British and North America nursing education system and
practice had tremendous impact on the development of nursing education
and practice in Nigeria.
There is no doubt that the standard of nursing training during the
pre-colonial era in the various mission posts which later formed the nucleus
of the various training schools for professional nurses and midwives was
lower than apprenticeship type of training. People recruited had no formal
education other than being loyal housemaid, servants, cooks or stewards to
the missionaries. In short, apart from the nursing or reverend sisters, all
others could at best be regarded as aides.
During the Colonial days, the pervading British influence had marked
the beginning of modern nursing as well as formal nursing training in
Nursing. The crusading efforts of Florence Nightingale had gained ground,
graduates of Florence Nightingale School had taken over the campaign for
organized and formal training for nurses all over the world, especially to the
British Colonies and protectorates such as Nigeria. By the end of the 19 th
Century and early 20th Century, training of nurses and midwives had started
in Nigeria.
In 1930 formal nursing and midwifery training had started
mostly in mission hospital, and a few African government hospital.
Initially, when formal training of nurses started in Nigeria, the
profession was predominantly a male profession: The reason behind this is
that Nigerian culture gives man superior social status which was reflected in
5
the fact that a very small percentage of girls were given formal education.
Most fathers believed that it was a waste of money to invest on the
education of girls.
Immediately after the end of World War II, there was an increase in
the number of male nurses because of an influx of many soldiers that were
discharged from the West African. Army Medical Corps of the British Army.
The profession remained predominantly male to such extent that male
nurses were made to take change of female wards and work on the ward
as pupil nurses, student nurses and staff nurses.
The year 1952 saw the beginning of the taking over of the nursing
profession by female nurses when the University College Hospital, Ibadan
established it’s Nursing School (the premier teaching hospital nursing school
in Nigeria). Miss Bell, a graduate of Lady Florence Nightingale School of
Nursing from St. Thomas Hospital, London, was the first Principal of the
School. The School authority made it a very strong rule not to accept male
nurses into training. This Minimm basic education for entry into the school
was fixed as full secondary school education whereas in Government
nursing training schools the minimum acceptable educational qualification
was standard VI and Government Class IV in some regions. The UCH
training was generally accepted as superior and equivalent to SRN (State
Registered Nurse) in England and Wales. Many more Teaching Hospitals
Schools of Nursing were later established by the same Principal and with
6
the same Principles and objectives.
Lagos University, Ahmadu Bello
University, University of Benin, University of Nigeria, Nsukka and the
Obafemi Awolowo University all have nursing schools. Today, the nursing
profession in Nigeria is predominantly a female one as female nurses have
taken over population-wise and are in position of leadership.
Nursing Legislation:
The continuous inflow of new Knowledge in
health care, Science and Technology as well as the rapid socio-economic,
educational and political changes all over the World made it necessary to
regulate the training of nurses and midwives in the Country. For example,
the midwives Board of Nigeria came into existence by the Midwives
Ordinance of 1930. The first meeting
1931.
of the Board was held in June,
Later the Midwives Decree of 1966 put greater emphasis on the
education of Midwives and the Practice of Scientific Midwifery in the nation.
The Board has the duty of determining the standard and skill to be attained
by people seeking to become members of the Midwifery profession in
Nigeria as well as to formulate policies on registration of midwives, and
maintenance of discipline among members of the profession. Later on, the
Board acted as examining body with its own approved syllabus for Grade II
and Grade I Midwifery Certificate.
It is pertinent to mention that most
mission hospitals Schools of Midwifery trained Grade II Midwives, while
Grade I midwives were trained by government approved schools of
midwifery.
7
The entry qualification and period of training for Midwifery Grade II
were standard VI and one year respectively.
Among the most popular
training schools for this cadre of midwives were - Egba Native Authority
School of midwifery under Miss. Jane Mc Cotter, whose name was almost
synonyms with the training center, and Wesley Guild Hospital, Ilesha, Mercy
Street Hospital, now Lagos Island Children Hospital, was popularly Known
for Grade 1 mid-wifery training.
With the midwives Board Degree 1966, the training of Grade II
midwives was phased out and a better syllabus for training of midwives was
provided.
Nursing Council of Nigeria:-
The Nursing Council of Nigeria Came
into existence officially by the Nurses ordinances of August 1947. Though
in the Lagos Colony, legislation had been made for nurses but not until
1946 did the first Nursing ordinances came out, and this came into
operation in August, 1947.
This ordinance for the first time laid down
requirements for the education, examination, registration and discipline of
nurses. The practice of organized nursing service and training at the period
was characterized by what we now refer to as phase one of nursing
development, a time when training of nurses was purely apprenticeship
type of training and when emphasis was upon physical aspects of nursing
and medical care of hospital patients.
The First Phase: received impetus as a result of the Goldmark Report of
8
1923 which had as its objectives a study of general nursing education with
a view to developing a programme for further study and recommendation
of procedure. This study led to a shift in focus of nursing practice from a
primary emphasis on physical aspects of nursing patients in clinical units of
hospitals to the inclusion of general nursing of patients and families in
homes and health agencies.
The Second Phase:
began with the completion of the Brown Report in
1948 which had as one of its major objectives to receive nursing service
and education in terms of what is best for society. This eventually led to the
extension of the concept of professional nursing practice to include
comprehensive nursing that is nursing the body and the mind, with all other
social needs of patients. In a nutshell, this means effective planning and
implementing nursing care for each individual person according to his
particular needs.
The Third phase:
Nursing today is characterized by a sharp shift to
scientific nursing by principles and concepts rather than by rigid rules of
procedures.
THE INDEPENDENT NIGERIA:
Nigeria as a political entity came into
formal existence in 1914 with the amalgamation of the Northern and
Southern British protectorates. The imposition of British rule culminated in
the birth of a nation. The nation achieved independence on October 1,
1960. On October 1, 1963 Nigeria became a republic. As I have elucidated
9
in the introductory aspect of this discourse, the history of nursing as a
profession has a lot in common with the political and socio-economic
history of the Country. After independence, there was an increase in the
level of education, increase awareness of the quiet evolution taking place in
the nursing world as a result of the impact of World-wide technological and
industrial development.
There were also changes in the structure of
hospital organization, the management of health care industry, the concept
of patient, care plus the activities of the World Health Organization. All
these influenced the nation’s health care planners to develop a new
philosophy of health care different from the Colonial heritage.
Nigeria as a young nation has about 80% of her population living in
rural areas and a perennial shortage of doctors and trained nurses. Mindful
of the fact that the type of nursing training provided determines the type of
quality of nursing care the society gets, and mindful of their statutory
obligation and responsibility for the nursing education and training in the
Country, the Nursing Council of Nigeria decided to set up a committee to
revise the system of nursing education in the Country.
The committee
submitted the new standard of Nursing Education Syllabus which was
approved in 1965.
The Committee was to look into the existing working situation in the
Country with regards to the performance of certain traditional functions of
doctors by nurses. They were to examine the possibility of including some
10
of these functions in the basic programme without conflicting with the
international responsibility of nursing.
Professor F. O. Okedeji of the
University of Ibadan was unanimously elected as the Chairman of the
Committee, while Mrs. S. O. Savage, Deputy Chief Nursing Officer, Federal
Ministry of Health was appointed Secretary to the Committee. After the
untimely death of professor Okedeji, Professor (Mrs.) E. O. Adebo, Head,
Department of Nursing University of Ibadan took over the Chairmanship of
the committee. Other members of the committee included –

Miss. O. O. Kujore – Head, Dept of Nursing and Medical Rehab,
O.A.U. Ife.

Mrs. O. O. Alade – Principal School of Nursing, UCH, Ibadan. Alhaji
D. A. Adamu, Principal Nursing Officer, Ministry of Health Kano.

Mr. P. O. Odeh, Chief Nursing Officer, General Hospital Makurdi,
Benue State.

Mrs. N. N. I. Nwangwu, Matrim, University Teaching Hospital, Enugu,
Anambra State.

Prof. O. Ransome Kuti, Head, Dept. of Paediatrics Lagos University
Teaching Hospital, Lagos and Director Primary Health Service
Scheme.

Mr. J. A. Akinsanya, Deputy Secretary/Registrar (Education), Nursing
Council of Nigeria.

Dr. A. B. Sulaiman, Director Health Planning Directorate, Federal
11
Ministry of Health, Lagos.

Mrs. Akpofure, Chief Education Officer, Federal Ministry.

Mrs. R. O. Sosanya, Principal School of Midwifery, Ijebu-Ode.
The Committee believed that sound educational principles are
essential ingredients to prepare nurse for their functions, that the basic
nursing education programme should be geared both to the learning needs
of the students and health needs of the community to be served. This way,
the students’ critical faculties and skills in problem solving will improve
greatly.
Based upon the above information, the committee adopted
philosophy of nursing to be based on nature of nursing care and the nature
of nursing.
The pioneering Nurses ordinance of August, 1947 was replaced by
the Nurses Act of 1957 and the Nurses ordinance of 1959, a new ordinance
enacted to reflect the new political structure in the Country following the
introduction of the MacPherson constitution in 1954.
The new ordinance reconstituted the defunct Nursing Council of
Nigeria. It provided for the inclusion of members representing their regions
membership of the Council was increased to 21, all of whom, except two
were nurses. It has representatives from all the states of the federation.
The Nurses Amendment Act, 1974 No 30 (20th July, 1974) provided for
inclusion of three registered, nurses appointed by the minister from nursing
organizations.
12
EVOLUTION OF PSYCHIATRIC NURSING IN NIGERIA
The first formal training centre for psychiatric nursing in Nigeria was
established at Lantoro Hospital, Abeokuta in 1950.
The centre offered
“Selection Course” for inspectors and clerical officers who were interested
and sufficiently motivated to study psychiatric Nursing. Government
scholarships were made available for those found suitable for training.
Many lunatic attendants from Yaba Asylum (now Psychiatric Hospital) Yaba,
Lagos and from Calabar took advantage of selection course.
The course was run by Mr. Osita Aduba, the first male Nigerian male
Nursing council registrar. It paid good dividend as great improvement was
observed in the system of nursing in Lantoro. Chaining and locking up of
patients disappeared.
The year 1954 witnessed the arrivall of professor
Lambo, the first Nigerian Psychiatrist from England to Lantoro Asylum and
Aro Mental Hospital Abeokuta. He improved on the “Selection Course” and
established the premiere school of psychiatric nursing, Aro Hospital
Abeokuta in 1954 with 27 male and female student nurses under the
tutorship of Mr. Maxwel, an expatriate nursing superintendent.
The Nursing Council of Nigeria gave the school recognition in 1958.
The first qualified nurse tutor of the school was Mr. D.A. Babayode who
was also the first Nigerian psychiatric nurse tutor.
Psychiatric nursing education has gone through different phases of
development.
Schools of nursing throughout the States of Nigeria now
13
operate the new syllabus.
This new syllabus includes 8 weeks of
introduction to the principles and concepts of psychiatric nursing, thereby
improving tremendously the quality of nursing education.
GROWTH OF PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING IN NIGERIA
Qualified health visitors were recruited from United Kingdom by the
government to start the training of public health nursing in Nigeria. Locally
trained mid-wives grade II were also recruited by government as student
health visitors in training. Period of training for this cadre was 3½ years.
At present, Nigeria has schools scattered throughout the federation for the
training of public health nurses and University matters’ degree programme
for the award of MPH.
POST – BASIC NURSING EDUCATION IN NIGERIA
Post – basic nursing education is a formal structured post registration
nursing course of not less than one academic year.
Nurse Tutors Programme: The nurse tutors training programme was
started at the National Technical Teachers College, Lagos by the Federal
Ministry of Health in 1969.
The programme was started due to acute
shortage of nurse tutors which became glaring after the creation of states –
and opening of new schools of nursing and midwifery. The programme
started as a crash programme of one academic year duration and was
supposed to fold up after a few years. However, due to the creation of
more states which gave rise to the need for opening more schools of
14
nursing, midwifery, psychiatry, public Health and the establishment of
Schools of health technology, the Ministry had no choice than to carry on
the programme and even established similar programmes at the institute of
Management and Technology, Enugu (1976), the Polytechnic Kaduna
(1977) and UCH, Ibadan (1977/78): An evaluation of this programme after
five years of existence showed that one year was not sufficient to prepare
students for the diverse functions they were supposed to perform at the
end of the course. The two year programme was started in 1975.
UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN POST – BASIC (BSC) NURSING
PROGRAMME
The post-basic nursing degree programme at the University of
Ibadan was established in 1965 as a joint effort of the Federal Government
of Nigeria, World Health Organization (WHO), and the United Nations
Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The purpose of the programme was to prepare
registered as nurse tutors and nurse administrators to meet the needs of
the rapidly expanding health services in Nigeria and Africa as a whole. This
programme has metamorphosed into training generic nurses as it happens
now in many of Universities offering nursing courses.
ADVENT OF NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIAN NURSES
AND MIDWIFES (NANNM)
The first nurses organization was the defunct Nigerian Nurses
Association (NNA) registered in 1943. It had as foundation members a very
high percentage of nurses trained locally in Nigeria who represented a
15
majority of nurses serving in Nigeria.
The association was officially
registered as a trade union in 1943 by Mr. Kuti. Late Mr. N. A. Cole, the
first full time general secretary was the president of the Trade Union
Congress of Nigeria between 1945 and 1948. Although not a nurse by
profession, Mr. Cole (Late) fought bravely and deligently to promote the
growth and development of nursing in Nigeria until his retirement in 1973
and death in 1975. Mr. Cole was succeeded by Mr. S. S. Okezie who was
assisted by Chief Adeleke as Deputy General Secretary, Headquarters.
Hon. Yinusa Kaltungo was assistant Secretary in charge of Northern Zone
while Mr. Moses Olabode (now Kabiyesi) was assistant general Secretary in
charge of Western Zone.
The Association headquarters was No.13, Broad Street, Lagos,
Nigeria while the zonal offices were at Ibadan, Kaduna and Enugu, with
branches spread all over the country. Every unit hospital had a branch.
Among the first pioneering associations that contributed immensely to the
growth and development of nursing were nurses associations of various
cadres that had evolved for themselves new philosophy, objectives and
constitution quite different from the Nigeria Nurses Association.
They
include:
Professional Association of Trained Nurses of Nigeria (PATNON)

Professional Association of Midwives of Nigeria (PAMON)

Nigeria Association of Nurse Tutors
16

The University Graduate Nurse Association

The Professional Health Visitors Association of Nigeria

Nigeria Industrial Nurses Association

Guild of Registered Nurses of Nigeria.
Toward the end of 1970 and early seventies, there was fusing of
activities between NNA and PATNON. Resolution for unity between the
two associations were passed at the N.N.A. national conferences in 1972
and 1974 in Benin and Ilorin respectively.
PATNON passed similar
resolution at its own conferences at Benin in 1973 and Ibadan, 1974.
These were followed with series of exchanges of correspondences, joint
meetings of the executives of both associations.
NIGERIAN NURSES AND THE INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF
NURSES (I.C.N.)
In 1957 representatives of Nigerian Nurses were sent to the eleventh
Quadrennial Congress of the International Council of Nurses held in Rome
as observers. In 1961 PATNON was given full admission into the ICN at the
12th Quadrennial Congress held in Melbonrne, Australia. On that occasion
six nurses from Nigeria represented PATNON. Dr (Chief) (Mrs.) K.A. Pratt
at the thirteen Quadrennial Congress was elected the first Coloured and
African 3rd Vice-President of ICN. As one of the prices PATNON had to pay
in order to promote one united nurses association for Nigeria, the
17
association transferred its membership in ICN to the newly organized allembracing National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM).
Nigerian nurses have since continued and shall continue to play major and
effective role in all the activities of ICN.
Nigeria As A Member of the West African College of Nursing
The idea of establishing a West African College of Nursing was first
mooted during the deliberations of the Assembly of Health Ministries in
Lagos, Nigeria in November, 1973, by Alhaji Aminu Kano, Federal
Commissioner for Health, Nigeria. During her first meeting held in Tema,
Ghana in 1976, a resolution was passed that a special committee on
Nursing Education in West Africa should be set up by the West African
Health Community to examine existing facilities for nursing education in the
Sub-region. Nigeria as a foundation member of West African College of
Nursing has remained an active member of the organization.
TRADE DISPUTE BETWEEN NANNM AND FEDERAL MINISTRY OF
HEALTH:
By the first week of April 1979, NANNM had come out with a
comprehensive memorandum, which was submitted to the Federal Ministry
of health on the 18th April, 1979. This could be described as the beginning
of a long stretch of historical events, which eventually ushered in
professional recognition for Nursing in Nigeria.
On 14th May, 1979, the
Federal Ministry of health acknowledged receipt of the memorandum,
stating that the Ministry was studying the recommendations and concluded
18
that the association would be contacted if necessary before decision was
taken on the issues raised.
On the 27th August 1979, the Ministry of Health’s letter was received
by the Secretariat.
Unfortunately, the letter, which was a long awaited
reply to the Association’s memorandum, brought Nursing profession down
to the very pedestal of professional ladder. While the Ministry accepted
Nursing as profession on its own right, it disagreed that Nursing should
have equal remunerations and privileges with other professions. Based on
that new development, an emergency meeting of NEC was convened to
deliberate on the Ministry’s letter. The outcome was a letter to the Ministry
informing it the decision of the association to embark on industrial action
effective from September 6, 1979.
In response, the Ministry arranged for an emergency meeting with
NANNM to resolve the looming crisis.
The meeting took place on 5 th
September, 1979, a day prior the industrial action of NANNM.
The Federal Commissioner for Labour by an instrument, dated 6th
September, 1979, referred to the industrial Arbitration. Panel the dispute
ousting between NANNM herein after referred to as the 1st party and the
Federal Ministry of Health herein after called the 2nd party. When the case
was first mentioned on Tuesday 11th September, 1979, both parties were
ordered to file their memorandum and exchange same with each other on
or before the 24th September, 1979.
19
After very careful and anxious consideration of the evidence adduced
on behalf of the NANNM, the Federal Ministry of health and Department of
Establishments in the office of the Head of service of the Federal Republic
of Nigeria, and the final submission in the case, the Tribunal: (i) agrees
with the hereby confirms the needs of Agreements reached between the
two parties.
(ii) reject the classification of nursing as system maintenance.
The history of Nursing is very inexhaustible that cannot be curtailed
by this write-up, unless one is making a textbook.
Therefore, having
chronicled the journey so far, let us elucidate on the Way forward.
Sponsorship of Nurses by NANNM:
NANNM
has
magnanimously
sponsored some willing nurses for Masters and Ph.D Programme in Nursing
and equally some nurses have benefited from NANNM in terms of tuition
apart from those that were sponsored fully.
Harmonization of Salary Structures and Nomenclature:
NANNM
has been meeting with government to ensure that there must be a unified
nomenclature
for
all
nurses
and
the
salary
package
should
be
commensurate with the qualifications.
THE WAY FORWARD:1.
The public image/perception of nurses is currently low in Nigeria
vis-à-vis
other
professions
particularly
among
health
care
professionals. As a professional association, NANNM should have
20
a “watch dog” within its organization in each unit of its umbrella
to watch nurses in providing quality care with positive attitude and
behaviour in nursing care delivery.
This will serve as tool to
modify the image positively.
2.
Involvement of Academics at any meeting of NANNM with stake
holders and in any sensitive discourse.
3.
The minimum entry requirement into clinical area should be BNSc.
4.
Whenever the ideal of HND becomes implementation, there must
be a true post HND programme for the holder of HND that will
make the holders to be at per with the BNSc holders so that the
two graduates can enter the University for their post graduates
without discrimination.
5.
All the current post basic programmes should be named by
competent lecturers with the at least MSC (Nursing) in order to
serve as the bridge the gap between the BNSC and HND holders.
6.
NANNM should have its umbrella to accommodate other
professional groups but any of these groups should not feel
superior or at par with NANNM.
7.
All Academics in the departments of Nursing should be made
financial members of NANNM in such a way that whatever
contribution that comes to GNAN a part of it should be paid to
NANNM.
21
8.
NANNM should encouraged as a matter of urgency all the
department
of
Nursing
to
commence
a
part-time
BNSC
programme, and by extension assist the Open University to
commence the true Nursing programme the way, it should be.
9.
NANNM as a professional association that should be a pressure
group should be more aggressive in enforcing disciplines in all our
health care institutions and I am suggesting that, each branch
should have inspectorate division that will interact with directorate
of Nursing services periodically. The members should be given
stipens to serve as morale booster.
10.
National Committee on Evidence based Nursing practice – In order
to maintain suis generic, the NANNM should establish and
maintain a national committee on evidenced based nursing
practice.
This committee if established, should ensure that
ritualistic behaviour of carrying out our nursing care is dropped
and accept current practice based on evidence.
11.
Internship
–
NANNM
should
put
more
weight
on
the
operationalization of internship for graduate nurses as this will
assist the placement of nurses in the carrier structure.
22
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION:
This
discourse
was
divided
into
introduction, pre-colonial era, Colonial era, independence Nigeria, Era of
NANNM, advent of WACN, partnership with PCN, trade dispute with Federal
Ministry of Health, amalgamation of all nurses professional association into
NANNM and the way forward conclusively, NANNM should be commended
for sustaining nursing as a professional and for its ability to sponsor
academically inclined nurses for further education at MSC up to Ph. D
irrespective of tribes and religion affiliation.
I hope, with this discourse, I have been able to add to our knowledge
on the historical perspective of nursing profession and I have equally
preferred way forward to the best of my ability.
I wish us all a good deliberation at this biennial and quadrennial
conference.
Long live Nigeria, Long live Nursing and Long live NANNM.
Thanks for listening and God bless.
23
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Adelowo, E.O. (1989).
Nigeria.
Nursing Profession in Nigeria, Lantern Books
Babajide .O. (1991). A decade of the NEMCN in the Web of Government
Decrees, New Era Nursing Image Publication, Nigeria.
Babajide .O. (2002). The Nigerian Nurse on the scale of Law. O.A.U. Dress,
Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
Ojo A.O. (2012). Twenty First Century Nurses: Expectations, Prospects
and Challenges. A Paper Presented and induction Ceremony of
Nursing Students of Dept. of Nursing Lautech, Ogbomoso.
Nwagwu A.S. (2003). Concepts And Ethics in Nursing, A basic text for
Colleges & Schools of Nursing And Midwifery, Solos Group Associates,
Owerri, Nigeria.
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