Reforming of Nursing Education in Nigeria: The Open and Distance Learning Institution Approach

Abstract

Reform is a deliberate plan for positive permanent change. It attempts to mitigate the evils resulting from malfunction of any system or set up which must be sustained. Reforming Nursing education in Nigeria is long overdue. The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and other stakeholders in Nigeria education are in the vanguard for this with the overall aim of preparing different cadre of competent nurse practitioners at all levels, who will utilize problem solving techniques in providing safe, acceptable, effective and affordable health services to meet the health needs of individuals, families and the community. For efficient and quality education of nurses, quality health care, client satisfaction through utilization of evidence based practice, support for research and utilization among others; a paradigm shift in nursing education from hospital based training schools to institutions of higher learning/conventional mode to flexible, open and cost effective instructional delivery should be pursued. The National Open University of Nigeria- an open and distance learning single mode institution is committed to this. This will definitely make us to be confident and competent in the health care service delivery and justify our efforts in reforming the profession and the practitioners.