Nursing is a very important profession that will continue to be in demand for centuries to come. This is because nurses are trained to help people who go through a lot in life.
Physical and mental health problems in Nigeria and all over the world are things to be taken seriously, and nurses play a crucial role in dealing with these challenges.
Currently, the need for nurses in Nigeria is on a steady increase and it will continue to be on the increase for years to come. Whether it is auxiliary nursing, midwifery, mental health nursing, etc., these services are greatly needed in every hospital in Nigeria.
Therefore, if you want to become a nurse, it would be an ideal career path for you because you will take care of people's health and also get rewarded handsomely for your kind work. If you are passionate about being a nurse, you'd be among the 1% of health workers impacting the lives of people all around the world.
To become a nurse, you need to choose the area you would like to specialize in. Some of the most popular types of nursing include paediatric nursing, neonatal nursing, forensic nursing, etc. However, there are a few other areas of nursing that are not fully tapped and this is worth discussing.
In this article, we will be focussing on how to become a dental nurse, a mental health nurse, or a veterinary nurse.
How to Become a Veterinary Nurse in Nigeria
The word "Veterinary" has to do with animals, which means a veterinary nurse takes care of animals. This area of nursing is still very unpopular in Nigerian society, yet, it is a medical practice that is held in high esteem.
Nevertheless, there is a catch - you need to be a lover of animals and be concerned about their health if you want to pursue a career in veterinary nursing. You should be driven into this profession because of your passion for the well-being of animals.
As the demand for the services of registered veterinary doctors is increasing in Nigeria, so also is the increasing demand for registered veterinary nurses.
If you'd be glad to know how to become a veterinary nurse in Nigeria, we will look briefly at the steps to take in becoming a vet nurse, the career opportunities, and roles & responsibilities.
Roles to Expect as a Veterinary Nurse
As a veterinary nurse, you should know that your services will be needed in a veterinary hospital or clinic. Below are the responsibilities of a veterinary nurse:
- You will be in charge of administering drugs to animals such as dogs, cats, rabbits, etc. You will also be in charge of communicating with animal owners about the progress of treatments
- Bandaging is another key role that is played by vet nurses. You will be responsible for applying pressure bandages and dressing animals.
- Surgical nursing is another role of vet nurses, whereby you would help in sterilizing surgical instruments and getting ready everything needed for the surgical operations.
What to Expect as Salary as A Veterinary Nurse
While there is no fixed or regulated salary for these nurses, we can take a cue from vet doctors' salaries in Nigeria. According to a recent survey, most vet doctors in Nigerian big cities earn between #382,000 and #604,000.
Now, since vet doctors are the employers of vet nurses, a Nigerian vet nurse should expect between one-quarter and half of his employer's (the doctor) salary. This largely depends on where you live in Nigeria.
Steps to Becoming a Veterinary Nurse in Nigeria
Unfortunately, veterinary nursing is not offered as a course in any university in Nigeria. However, that shouldn't deter you from pursuing the career. You can become a veterinary nurse through any of the steps below:
- Study nursing in any of the Nigerian universities, and proceed to an internship program in a vet clinic or hospital
- Travel abroad to study veterinary nursing at a foreign university.
How to Become a Mental Health Nurse in Nigeria
Mental health is a serious issue not just in Nigerian society but in the world at large. Being part of the health workers that take care of people with mental conditions can be fulfilling and rewarding.
Mental health or psychiatric nursing is a recognised branch of nursing in Nigeria and the demand for this profession is on a steady increase. A lot of Nigerian citizens are going through a lot of mental health challenges and it is the duty of mental health nurses, in alliance with mental health doctors, to attend to these challenges.
The services of mental health nurses are usually needed in psychiatric wards, adult care homes, rehabilitation centres, etc.
If you want to know how to become a mental health nurse in Nigeria, below are a few things to know about following this career path:
The Roles of Mental Health Nurses
Below are the roles of mental health or psychiatric nurses:
- Providing care to patients with mental health conditions
- Trying to solve patients' emotional and physical needs by building a rapport with the patients
- Recognising and dealing with mental health symptoms in patients
- Trying to be calm even when under pressure from escalating issues
- Recording the progress of mental health patients in the hospital
- Reporting to the doctor and collaborating with other health workers on any changes noticed in patients
- collecting and interpreting diagnostic tests
- creating therapy events like social events to speed up the healing process of patients
- Assessing patients and suggesting referrals if need be
What to Expect as Salary as a Mental Health Nurse in Nigeria
According to a survey by SalaryExplorer, the median monthly salary for mental health nurses in Nigeria is #267,000. This is just the balance between less experienced and highly experienced nurses. Other factors like location may also influence the salary you earn every month.
Considering the state of the Nigerian economy and what the average salary is in Nigeria, it is okay to say that mental health nurses are not doing badly on the salary scale.
If you are a registered nurse with only a few years of experience, you should be looking at a salary of between #125,000 and #150,000, with enough room to grow in your career.
Aside from the monetary gains, passion should be your number one goal in venturing into this profession because this career path comes with its challenges.
To become a mental health nurse, you would need a university degree or you can attend a designated psychiatric nursing institution in Nigeria. Thereafter, a license of practice would be needed from you.
Read more details on how to become a mental health nurse in Nigeria.
How to Become a Dental Health Nurse in Nigeria
The dentistry arm of nursing is another profession that is in high demand in Nigeria and abroad. To become a dental health nurse, there are some qualifications and skills you need to possess.
Below are some of the skills you need to succeed as a dental nurse:
- You should be able to work under pressure
- You must know how to manage your time
- You must be diligent in record keeping
- You must have teamwork skills as you will be collaborating with other healthcare workers
- You must possess good communication skills to properly pass information to your patients
- You should know how to multitask
These skills are the prerequisites for anyone passionate about becoming a nurse. While these skills are needed, you also need a nursing degree to become a qualified registered nurse in Nigeria.
The 3 Steps to Become a Qualified Dental Nurse
There are 3 steps you need to follow to become a dental nurse. Below are the steps:
1. Get a University Degree
This is the first thing you need to embark upon to get to your destination of becoming a dental nurse. While numerous universities offer nursing courses, some Nigerian universities like Lagos State College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University, etc. have dental health faculties.
2. Undergo an Internship Programme
You need some level of experience to practice as a nurse, and you can get that by applying for internship programmes in hospitals and clinics around the country.
Since your focus is to become a dental nurse, ensure that you do your internship programme in a healthcare facility that has a dental health unit.
3. Be Registered
Finally, you need to be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) to become a qualified nurse.
Read more details on how to become a dental health nurse in Nigeria.
Tips to Become an Excellent Nurse in Nigeria
If you want to have a great career in nursing, you should cultivate the habit of getting tutorials and mentorship from a practising nurse in Nigeria. That way, you would be a step ahead of your colleagues or mates.
Whether you want to become a dental nurse, veterinary nurse, mental health nurse, or any other kind of nurse, you can find some experienced nurses on Superprof to offer you amazing tutoring services.
These nurses will prepare you for any nursing exams and guide you on how to become successful as a nurse. The good thing about using the services of nurses on Superprof is that you are likely to get your first class for free. Thereafter, you can settle for a price and continue with your tutorials.
If you are passionate about becoming a nurse, you should kick-start the process today to enjoy all the benefits that come with the profession.
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