Nursing Training in Ghana has seen several improvements since the last decade. In the early 2000s, most nurses that trained in Ghana migrated to countries abroad in search of greener pastures.
The lack of adequate training facilities, poor salaries, and the dwindling value on the nursing profession contributed to the exodus.
With a view of revamping the nursing profession, the government placed a ban on nurses moving out of the country and sponsored the education of nurses willing to work in the country for 5 years. Training facilities were also made available and the nursing profession became lucrative once again.
Today, there are many nursing training schools in Ghana that teach nurses how to perform their duties and responsibilities.
In this article, we are going to look at what it takes to become a nurse in Ghana and the training process you’ll have to pass through to become a registered nurse.
Who is a Nurse?
Nurses are professionals that have graduated from a nursing program and met the minimum requirements outlined by the government to obtain a nursing license. They assist doctors and health care professionals in hospitals, outpatient facilities, and medical organizations.
They mostly care for patients and ensure that their needs are meant until they recover. Geriatric nurses take care of patients, also they tend to the needs of aging and elderly people.
Types of Nurses
Nurses can be classified based on their level of qualification and based on the type of work they do. Below is a classification of nurses based on their qualification.
- Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN): Licensed practical nurses are nurses that hold a diploma in practical nursing. These nurses work closely with registered nurses to gain experience before advancing their careers. LPNs can move on to become registered nurses by acquiring a bachelor’s degree.
- Registered Nurse (RN): Registered Nurses are the main nurses charged with taking care of patients and ensuring that their needs are met.
- Nurse Midwife (APRN): Nurse-midwives provide family planning, prenatal and obstetric care. These nurses serve as caregivers for women and their newborns. They also provide education on wellness, nutrition, and disease prevention to mothers and babies. These nurses usually have a Master’s degree or higher level of education.
- Nurse Practitioners: These nurses are at the top of the chain. They provide advanced health care in health care centers.
Duties of a Nurse
Below are the specific duties of a nurse in most health care centers, clinics, hospitals, and medical organizations in Ghana.
In Ghana, nurses are required to:
- Record a patient’s medical history
- Record symptoms of the illness
- Monitor a person’s health
- Record improvements/signs during patient care
- Diagnose and test patients
- Help patients prevent diseases and illnesses.
- Help treat minor health problems
- Advocate for human well-being
- Administer/prescribe medicines to a patient
- Help people get educated about different diseases, illnesses, and their prevention and treatment.
- Manage the physical needs of a patient.
- Work as an operator of the medical equipment.
- Support and help the patient
- Give recommendations regarding a healthy lifestyle
Nursing Training in Ghana: What’s Involved?
The type of nursing training usually depends on the institution, the facilities of the institution, and the type of nursing program the interested applicant signs up for.
Nurses are trained to take care of patients, provide health education to patients, check their vitals, and make sure the patient recovers.
Nurse training in a university usually commences within the school premises for the first year. As the student progress, they get introduced to hospitals and health care centers where they are taught how to take care of patients in real life.
Nursing exams are usually tasking as the nurse is expected to know a lot of health care protocols and have knowledge of drugs, how drugs work, and how to administer drugs to patients.
Some exams are practical and require the nurses to take care of a certain patient for a certain period of time. The performance of the nurse is assessed and a score is given.
Nurses who are able to pass through the training successfully go on to get registered and licensed to work in health care centers in Ghana.
Salary of Nurses in Ghana
Most Nurses in Ghana earn about $400 per month or less. This amount is before taxes and most nurses take a lesser paycheck after deductions. Considering the rising costs of living, this amount might not be able enough for most nurses to cater to their needs. This pushes them to other countries.
Fortunately, several promising measures have been put in place to give nurses the recognition they deserve. The profession still remains on the most respected and sought-after profession in Ghana with more than 20,000 nurses already practicing in all the regions of the country.
Nursing Schools In Ghana
There are several nursing schools in Ghana which are not only accredited but possess the qualified professionals and teaching facilities that are required to train capable nurses. Some of these nursing schools include
Holy Family Nurses and Midwifery Training Colleges
The following courses are offered in this college
- General nursing
- Community health nursing
- Health informatics
- Environmental health
- Therapy course
Koforidua Nurses and Midwifery Training College
Koforidua training college offers the following courses
- Health Assistant Clinical
- Community Health Nursing
- Midwifery
- General Nursing
- Mental Nursing
- Critical Care Nursing
37 Military Hospital Nurses Training College
37 Military Hospital offers the following courses
- Health services management
- Educational administration
- Sociology
- Psychology
- Biological sciences
- Nutrition & dietetics
- Obstetric nursing – midwifery
- General medicine
- Public health nursing
Bole Community Health Nurses’ Training College
Courses offered in this training college include
- Community health nursing
- Public health
- General nursing
- Psychology
- Critical care nursing
- Environmental health
- Dentistry
Kumasi Nurses and Midwifery Training School
- Ophthalmic Nursing
- Peri-Operative Nursing
- ENT Nursing
- Public Health Nursing
- Critical Care Nursing
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