UNIVERSITY GRADUATES OF NURSING SCIENCE ASSOCIATION (UGONSA). CAC/IT/NO. 69387

ALL CORRESPONDENCE TO THE NATIONAL SECRETARY Chief (Hon) S.E.O EGWUENU, RN, RNT, B.Sc (NURSING), MILR, MPA, FCAINational president (GNAN). +23480379937991 Mr. G.I. NSHI, RN, BNSC National secretary (GNAN) +2348065585953

Our Ref………………………………………………………………………….Date………………………………………………………UGONSA/016/HCHI/01 25th April, 2016

GRADUATES NURSES ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (GNAN)a.k.a

Dear Hon. Jocelyne Okagua-Apiafi BettyThe Chairman,House Committee on Health InstitutionsHouse of Representatives,Federal Republic of Nigeria.National Assembly Complex,3 Arms Zones,P.M.B 141,Garki, Abuja FCT, Nigeria.Madam, RE: CALL FOR MEMORANDA/INVITATION TO PUBLIC HEARINGSUBJECT: INTERNSHIP AND PROPER PLACEMENT OF GRADUATES OF B.N.Sc DEGREE.Following your call for memoranda/invitation to public hearing dated Tuesday, 19th April 2016, this Association, comprising Nurses with a minimum of first degree in Nursing, make haste to submit our memo on internship and proper placement of Graduates of Bachelor of Nursing Science (B.N.Sc) degree.

2. As a prelude to this memo, it is our humble wish to draw your esteemed attention to the fact that we had written the 8th National Assembly on the subject matter in our letters Ref Nos. UGONSA/015/ABS/01 and UGONSA/015/YD/01 dated 27th November 2016, which were respectively addressed to the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. (Please kindly refer to the Letter attached herewith as Annexure A). The crux of our complaints is that Graduates of B.N.Sc are frontally marginalized in our Health System vis-a-vis their exclusion from internship training and aberrant under placement in the Civil Service Post-NYSC.

3. As at date, Graduates of B.N.Sc degree are the only core healthcare Professionals in our Health System that are excluded, without any reason, from the National Universities Commission (NUC) approved mandatory internship training for the fresh Graduates of the healthcare disciplines which enhances blending of theory with comprehensive clinical expertise for optimum performance and qualitative client care. This internship training, for example, has been implemented for the Graduates of Pharmacy, Medicine, Physiotherapy,

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Optometry, Dentistry, Medical Laboratory Science, etc, but has been perennially denied those of Nursing Science for no deducible reason.

4. Ironically, the same system that wrongly excluded the Fresh Graduate Nurses from the very necessary internship training also expects them to be “Super Nurses” without furthering such expectation to the Fresh Graduates of other core Healthcare disciplines. The assumption that Fresh Graduate Nurses can become “Super Nurses” without internship training is no more logical than assuming that Fresh Graduates of Medicine (House Officers) can become “Super Doctors” without internship training.

5. Internship training is very crucial and paramount to Nurses not only because we stay with patients round-the-clock but also because people’s lives are entrusted unto our care. Those that are entrusted with people’s lives must be adequately trained to discharge their responsibilities effectively and efficiently.

6. Again, the System wrongly under placed the Graduates of B.N.Sc on Grade Level (GL) 08 .i.e. CONHESS 07 after the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) schemes whereas their counterparts in other healthcare disciplines such as Pharmacy, Medicine, Med Lab, Optometry, Physiotherapy, etc, are properly placed on at least GL 10 post-NYSC and on, at least, GL 09 Pre-NYSC, during internship. (Please kindly find the Placement of Graduates of the various healthcare disciplines attached herewith as Annexure B).

7. Therefore, in this current anomalous situation, interns, who are yet to Graduate and participate in the NYSC, of other core healthcare disciplines are placed higher than substantive Graduates of Nursing, who had graduated and completed the NYSC scheme.

8. There is also no justification for this ghastly aberration, especially as admission requirement and course duration, for the first degree, of these other core healthcare courses in the University are identical to that of Nursing Science.

9. More to this is that the Industrial Arbitration Panel (IAP) in its year 1981 ruling declared that the profession of Nursing is at par with that of Pharmacy as is the case in Great Britain (Please Kindly refer to the IAP Award herewith attached as Annexure C). Placing the Graduates of Pharmacy, on GL 10 post-NYSC whereas their counterparts in Nursing are aberrantly under placed on GL 08 post-NYSC is not only a gross contempt of the IAP award but a rape on equity, fairness and justice.

10. Being the Representatives of all Nigerians irrespective of professional leaning, ethnicity, religion, or any other affiliation we belief your understanding that the thrive of injustice any where is a threat to justice everywhere would propel you to altruistically expedite action on the correction of these ugly anomalies.

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PRAYER

Our passionate Prayer remains that the internship and proper placement on at least GL 10 post-NYSC, which have been implemented for the Graduates of other healthcare disciplines, in the spirit of equity, fairness and justice, be extended to the graduates of B.N.Sc.

MEMORANDUM ON INTERNSHIP AND PROPER PLACEMENT OF GRADUATES OF B.N.Sc DEGREE.

In the light of the forgoing, we humbly present to your Honourable committee this memorandum seeking for the review of the Nursing Officer’s cadre, in the Schemes of Service of the Civil Service of the Federation, to include the post of Intern Nurse/Youth Corps Nurse. Same memo has been lying fallow in the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, and the National Council on Establishment since 2014. We sincerely request that your committee and by extension the 8th House of Representatives liaises with our respected incumbent Head of Civil Service of the Federation to accelerate a speedy implementation of our humble prayer.

PROPOSED AMMENDMENT TO THE SCHEMES OF SERVICE FOR NURSING OFFICERS’ CADRE THAT INCLUDES THE MUCH NEEDED INTERNSHIP FOR GRADATES OF B.N.Sc DEGREE AND THEIR PROPER PLACEMENT POST-NYSC.

NURSING OFFICER CADRE

1. POSTS AND SALARIES

1.1 Intern Nurse/Youth Corps Nurse Grade Level 09

1.2 Senior Nursing Officer Grade Level 10

1.3 Principal Nursing Officer Grade Level 12

1.4 Assistant Chief Nursing Officer Grade Level 13

1.5 Chief Nursing Officer Grade Level 14

1.6 Assistant Director of Nursing Grade Level 15

1.7 Deputy Director/ Director (States) Grade Level 16

1.8 Director Grade Level 17

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2. DUTIES

2.1 Intern Nurse/Youth Corps Nurse, Grade Level 09

2.1.1 Undergoing internship training under the supervision of a registered Nurse possessing a minimum of First degree in Nursing, who had attained at least the post of Principal Nursing Officer (.i.e. GL 12) in the Civil Service. This entails understanding the duties of a Nursing Officer for a statutory period of twelve (12) months to acquire necessary practical and clinical experience.

2.2 Senior Nursing Officer, Grade Level 102.2.1 Diagnosing and treating minor ailment.2.2.2 Setting intravenous infusion, suturing of lacerations, and wounds, incision and

drainage of superficial abscesses.2.2.3 Serving as a Communicator.2.2.4 Educating Patients/ Client, Promotion and Maintenance of good health.2.2.5 Managing Patient/Client care.2.2.6 Counseling and giving psychotherapy care to patients/clients and relatives. 2.2.7 Supervising the activities of Subordinates and Nursing Students.2.2.7 Managing a Ward.2.2.8 Assessing and setting Nursing care priorities for individuals and group of clients by:2.2.8.1 Providing Clients care utilizing available resources.2.2.8.2 Using Nursing theory in making decisions on Nursing Practice.2.2.8.3 Using Nursing Practice in getting data for refining and extending the practice.2.2.9 Synthesizing theoretical and empirical knowledge of physical and behavioural

sciences with Nursing theory and practice.2.2.10 Assessing health status and potentials and evaluating Nursing Care of individuals,

families and Communities.2.2.11 Evaluating the effectiveness of intervention and revising it accordingly.2.2.12 Taking responsibility for the choice of Nursing action.2.2.13 Evaluating research findings for applicability to Nursing action.2.3.15 Carrying out routine Nursing activities.2.3.16 Ensuring proper storage and management of equipment, supplies, drugs and

solutions.2.3.17 Counseling and advising patients and relative on drug administration and

management of illness and health on discharge to home.2.3.18 Supervising and advising on domiciliary Nursing services.

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2.3 Principal Nursing Officer, Grade Level 12

2.3.1 Performing general Nursing duties.

2.3.2 Supervising the activities of a number of subordinates.

2.3.3 Deploying and controlling staff in the Unit.

2.3.4 Assisting in training junior staff.

2.3.5 Participating in the formulation of policies on nursing matters.

2.3.6 Assisting in organizing, orientating, and training staff for continuing education.

2.3.7 Assisting in planning Hospital’s structure, identifying and making recommendations for the procurement of hospital equipment.

2.3.8 Providing and co-ordinating clinical learning experiences.

2.3.9 Preparing estimates for the Unit.

2.3.10 Liaising with central administration in matters affecting staff.

2.3.11 Assisting in research duties.

2.3.12 Collating and assisting in writing reports.

2.3.13 Assisting in the supervision of intern nurses in their day-to-day duties.

2.3.14 Maintaining stores and keeping relevant inventory and records of materials, equipments, patients, personnel and drugs.

2.4 Assistant Chief Nursing Officer, Grade Level 13

2.4.1 Supervising general nursing activities.

2.4.2 Assisting in the administration of total healthcare.

2.4.3 Assisting in the administration of nursing services.

2.4.4 Liaising with and assisting in co-ordinating the activities of healthcare institutions.

2.4.5 Advising on purchase of hospital equipment and appliances.

2.4.6 Assisting in the inspection of hospitals, health centres, maternity homes, and training institutions for standard of practice and submitting reports.

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2.4.7 Appraising the activities of subordinates.

2.4.8 Assisting in organizing training programmes for staff.

2.4.9 Preparing effective and standard roster for staff duty schedule.

2.4.10 Collecting and documenting and accounting for stocks of the Units.

2.4.11 Assisting in research duties.

2.4.12 Assisting in the general administration of a section.

2.4.13 Supervision of Intern Nurses in their day-to-day duties.

2.4.14 Developing briefs necessary for formulation and update of regulations.

2.4.14 Undertaking regular checks on observation of safety, sterile and aseptic techniques and disposal of sharps and used materials.

2.4.15 Collating and disseminating of information on clients’ care to other health professionals.

2.4.16 Collating of statistical records on disease occurrences, interventions, complications, drug use, etc.

2.5 Chief Nursing Officer, Grade Level 14

2.5.1 Taking charge of a Section.

2.5.2 Co-ordinating the activities of a number of units.

2.5.3 Advising on general nursing matters.

2.5.4 Participating in the formulation of general Nursing policies.

2.5.5 Relating with appropriate authorities in nursing service aspect of primary health care.

2.5.6 Participating in the preparation of standard procedure patterns for health institutions.

2.5.7 Motivating staff through counseling and promotion of continuing education programmes.

2.5.8 Evaluating performance for promotion or transfer purposes.

2.5.9 Assisting in organizing workshops, seminars, etc.

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2.5.10 Participating in reviewing department functions and activities to achieve goals.

2.5.11 Training of Nurse interns and Nurse aids.

2.5.12 Undertaking regular monitoring of Medico-Nursing materials, supplies and consumables in hospitals and clinics.

2.5.13 Participating in public enlightenment campaigns, mobile clinics visit to schools, markets, churches, mosques and other targeted population on health promotion and prevention of illness, disease and disability.

2.5.14 Controlling, co-ordinating and stimulating operational activities.

2.6 Assistant Director of Nursing, Grade Level 15

2.6.1 Taking charge of a Branch.

2.6.2 Assisting in formulating and executing policies and programmes (States).

2.6.3 Initiating the review of existing policies and programmes.

2.6.4 Liaising with the States on Nursing Services aspect of secondary and tertiary healthcare.

2.6.5 Planning and directing the execution of nursing services.

2.6.6 Overseeing the preparation of standard procedure patterns for health institutions.

2.6.7 Providing consultation services to non-ministerial agencies on safe and good quality healthcare.

2.6.8 Co-ordinating activities of the states Committee on Traditional Birth Attendants and ensuring maintenance and promotion of good health in maternal and childcare.

2.6.9 Keeping abreast of developments in Nursing services management at national and international levels and disseminating information on new developments.

2.6.10 Co-ordinating the training programmes for staff .

2.6.11 Supervising preparation of annual estimates for the department.

2.6.12 Assisting in general administration of the Department (States).

2.6.13 Maintaining statistical records of successes and failures of Medico-Nursing interventions.

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2.6.14 Giving Professional advice.

2.6.15 Initiating action on review of Nursing interventions, procedures, policies and programmes.

2.7 Deputy Director/Director of Nursing (States), Grade Level 16

2.7.1 Taking charge of the division/Department (States).

2.7.2 Advising the government on matters relating to (general) nursing matters.

2.7.3 Keeping abreast of development in Nursing services management at National and international levels and disseminating the information.

2.7.4 Assisting in general administration of a department.

2.7.5 Providing consultation services to non-ministerial agencies on safe and good quality nursing care.

2.7.6 Initiating and designing new health programmes and policies.

2.7.7 Co-ordinating the preparation of the annual estimates.

2.7.8 Liaising with the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, relevant Nurses’ Association and the Federal Ministry of Health on relevant matters (States).

2.7.9 Participating in the formulation of laws guiding nursing practice, administration and training in Nigeria.

2.7.10 Taking part in working out training programmes of Nursing Students.

2.7.11 Taking responsibility for general nursing development planning.

2.7.12 Attending Relevant Board meetings.

2.7.13 Co-ordinating and supervising Mandatory Continuing Professional Development Programme (MCPDP) and licensing services.

2.7.14 Taking responsibility for nursing development planning.

2.7.15 Taking responsibility for the collation and review of annual and other reports of the division.

2.7.15 Serving as a member of the Medical Advisory Committee in the Teaching/Specialist Hospital and Federal Medical Centre.

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2.7.16 Assisting in the administration of Nursing services and the development of the various specialties within the system.

2.7.17 Planning and co-ordinating research activities and analyzing research data.

2.8 Director of Nursing, Grade Level 17

2.8.1 Taking charge of the general administration of nursing services

2.8.2 Advising the government on the formulation, execution and review of Nursing matters

2.8.3Liaising with the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, relevant Nurses’ Association and the States Ministries of Health on relevant matters

2.8.4 Attending relevant Board Meetings

2.8.5 Taking part in working out training programmes for Nursing Students

2.8.6 Representing the Federal government in various health related agencies and Programmes such as National Action Committee on Aids, National programme on Immunization, Maternal and Child welfare programmes, Family planning programmes, etc.

2.8.7 Advising on all matters relating to health promotion, illness prevention, health restoration and alleviation of suffering

3. METHOD OF ENTRY AND ADVANCEMENT WITHIN THE CADRE

3.1 Intern Nurse/Youth Corps Nurse, Grade Level 09

3.1.1 By direct appointment of a candidate possessing Bachelor of Nursing Science degree registrable with Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN)

3.2 Senior Nursing Officer, Grade Level 10

3.2.1 By advancement of an intern Nurse who has obtained the registration of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and successfully completed the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme or obtained certificate of exemption from NYSC.

3.2.2 By direct appointment of a candidate possessing the qualification specified in sub paragraph 3.1.1. above plus at least one year post-registration cognate experience

3.3 Principal Nursing Officer, Grade Level 129

3.3.1 By promotion of a confirmed and suitable Senior Nursing Officer who has spent at least three years on the grade

3.3.1 By direct appointment of a candidate possessing the qualification specified in sub paragraph 3.1.1 above plus at least four years’ post-registration cognate experience

3.3.2 By direct appointment of a candidate possessing the qualification specified in sub paragraph 3.1.1. above plus a Master degree in any nursing specialty

3.4 Assistant Chief Nursing Officer, Grade Level 13

3.4.1 By promotion of a confirmed and suitable Principal Nursing Officer who has spent at least three years on the grade

3.5 Chief Nursing Officer, Grade Level 14

3.5.1 By promotion of a confirmed and suitable Assistant Chief Nursing Officer who has spent at least three years on the grade

3.5.2 By direct appointment of a candidate possessing the qualification specified in sub paragraph 3.3.2 above plus a PhD degree in any nursing specialty

3.6 Assistant Director of Nursing, Grade Level 15

3.6.1 By promotion of a confirmed and suitable Chief Nursing Officer who has spent at least three years on the grade

3.7 Deputy Director of Nursing/ Director of Nursing (States), Grade Level 16

3.7.1 By promotion of a confirmed and suitable Assistant Director of Nursing who has spent at least four years on the grade

3.8 Director of Nursing, Grade Level 17

3.8.1 By promotion of a confirmed and suitable Deputy Director who has spent at least four years on the grade

Signed:

Chief (Hon) S.E.O. EGWUENU Nur. G.I. Nshi National President National Secretary

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