The programme
Eighteen-month post-basic psychiatric nursing programme
Programme at a glance
| Programme | Post-Basic Psychiatric Nursing |
|---|---|
| Duration | 18 months, full time |
| For | Registered Nurses with a current NMCN practising licence |
| Curriculum | Post-basic psychiatric nursing curriculum of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) |
| Final examination | NMCN professional examination in psychiatric nursing |
| Qualification | Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN) |
| Mode of study | Classroom teaching, clinical practice, community posting and a research project |
How the programme is structured
Theory and practice run side by side for the whole 18 months.
Foundations
Psychology, sociology, the anatomy and physiology of the nervous system, communication and the principles of psychiatric nursing, with introductory ward placements.
Clinical psychiatric nursing
Nursing care for each group of mental disorders, psychopharmacology, emergencies, therapeutic interventions and rotations through the wards and clinics.
Community, research and leadership
Community mental health posting, special groups, ward management, ethics and law, a research project and preparation for the NMCN examination.
Areas of study
- Psychiatric and mental health nursing
- Psychology and human behaviour
- Sociology and mental health
- Anatomy and physiology of the nervous system
- Psychopharmacology
- Psychiatric emergencies
- Counselling and therapeutic communication
- Child and adolescent mental health
- Old age psychiatry
- Substance use disorders
- Forensic psychiatry
- Community mental health nursing
- Rehabilitation and occupational therapy
- Research methods and statistics
- Nursing management and leadership
- Ethics and mental health law
Clinical placements
Students rotate through the clinical areas of the hospital so that they meet the full range of patients a psychiatric nurse cares for.
- Female and male acute wards
- Drug (substance use) ward
- Child and adolescent ward
- Long-stay (chronic) ward
- Out-patient clinic and out-patient emergency
- Occupational and recreational therapy
- Community mental health posting
The detailed course list and timetable follow the current NMCN curriculum and are given to students at the start of the session.