Nursing Education is faced with challenges due to rapid scientific &nd technological advances and information explosion of the century. These are placing strenuous demands on all forms of education thus necessitating a re-examination of the relevance of curricula in a rapidly changing society. The development and constant review of Nursing Curriculum will continue to depend on studies and findings of~ research.

The goal of nursing over the years has been to contribute to the health of individuals and the entire society. Initially, nursing had concentrated on the care and comfort of the ill and injured, but as a result of advances in health sciences, the emphasis is now placed on promotive, preventive and rehabilitative care. It is important that nurse view the recipient of nursing care as a total functioning as a unified being.

Nursing Education in Nigeria takes cognizance of the National Policy on Education in developing sound educational principles which are essential to the preparation of nurses to function as members of interdisciplinary and intersectoral teams. The Basic Nursing Education Programme is therefore geared towards the learning needs of students, health needs of the community and society. This programmes forms the basis for the practice of nursing and continuing education in the discipline of nursing. The programme develops the students' affective, cognitive and psychomotor skills in problems solving.

ctive participation of schools of Nursing in both the community and hospital based services is essential for student's sound clinical experience.

The aim of this Curriculum is to prepare competent polyvalent nurse practitioners who will use problem solving skills in providing safe, acceptable, effective and affordable health services to meet the health needs of individuals' families and the community at all levels of care.

This curriculum is based on the philosophy that the essential purpose of Nursing is to achieve better health for rue individual and the community.

Such nursing services, as outlined in the philosophy above are based on the following premises:

•  Man is a biological, spiritually, socially and psychological individual unit whose needs are an inherent part of his nature and therefore is affected by within his environment.

•  Nursing is primarily concerned with human life, the quality of the health of individual, family group or community. Nursing is directed towards the achievement of better health and consequently as a practice profession, must be firmly based on knowledge derived from the biological, physical and behavioural sciences relevant to the understanding of human nature.

•  Health is an integral part of the overall development of man. Factors which influence health are socio-cultural, biological and environmental in nature.

•  Health care with emphasis on Primary Health Care is fundamentally related to the availability, accessibility and affordability of both health and socio­-resources.

•  Nurse as a human being exists and shares the same nature, humaneous and basic needs as the client/patient. The nurse practitioner has acquired nursing knowledge, skills, attitudes and ethics to provide safe and effective health care.

•  The client is capable of reasoning and he possesses basic ideas, beliefs and values which guide his actions. He is an active partner in the nursing care proc ess and participates in crucial decision-making regarding his care and envi ronment.

•  Nursing Education is a systematic direction and guidance of the student in an institution approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria.

•  Continuing Education as an integral aimed at enhancing Education, is a continuous process of educational development aimed at enhancing professional growth, competency and efficiency in achieving effecting health care at all levels. Knowledge should be updated through self directed learning and the regular participation in continuation education programmes.

COMPETENCES OF A NURSE

The competencies of a nurse who is a graduate of this General Nursing Education Programme include the ability to:­

1. Utilize nursing process in the care of the individual, family and community

2. Assess client/patient through history taking physical assessment, review of relevant records and listing of appropriate actual and potential nursing diagnosis.

3. Assess community through data gathering and identifying health needs to arrive at community diagnosis.

4. Plan for individual nursing diagnosis/problems and family health needs for the attainment and maintenance of health states.

5. Assume responsibility and plan for delivery of dependent and interdependent activities.

6. Implement necessary nursing actions to minimize individual problems through holistic and client/family centred approach in homes, community and health care institutions.

7. Evaluate care through stated objectives to ascertain effectiveness of nursing actions and health activities rendered in homes, community and health care institutions.

8. Develop strategies for Health Education needs of client/patient and families in homes, communities and health care institutions.

9. Assist the client/patient to achieve optimum functioning.

10. Diagnose and treat simple medical and surgical conditions.

11. Utilize available resources within the home, community and hospital setting to achieve maximum provision of health care.

12. Participate in formulating health plans for the community.

13. Develop proficiency in presenting and dispensing Family Planning methods and in follow up of clients.

14. Provide rehabilitative services to individuals and families to enable the client/patient adapt to changing conditions.

15. Demonstrate assertiveness in the management of health care for client/ patient in the homes, community and health care institutions.

16. Initiate and participate in the development of recording and reporting systems, maintaining, analysis and utilizing the collected data.

17. Manage essential drugs by evolving an effective monitoring and cost of recovery systems.

18. Establish and maintain a two-way referral system.

19. Assist in budgeting, managing and auditing the accounting system of primary health care.

20. Organize and implement educational programme for community based workers (CBW) and nursing students.

21. Ensure work discipline by providing adequate motivation for health Workers.

At the end of the General Nursing Educational programme, the student will:

1. Apply the knowledge of biological, behavioural and Nursing Sciences in assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating nursing care.

2. Utilize the nursing process in providing comprehensive nursing care to individuals and families in the community.

3. Establish positive working relationship with the individual, family and the community and motivate towards self-reliance in matters of health protection, promotion maintenance and rehabilitation.

4. Function independently and in collaboration with other members of the health team and related sectors in the planning, delivering and evaluating health care.

5. Supervise the clinical experience of nursing, and allied health workers in all clinical setting.

6. Develop the capabilities of competent Nurse practitioners to effectively provide family planning services in homes/hospital and community.

7. Apply the principles of primary health care, in providing comprehensive continuous and personalized care in homes, schools and health care institutions.

8. Apply management principles in the optimum utilization of human and material resources for health care delivery.

9. Update knowledge and maintain professional growth through participate in continuous education programme.

10. Display positive attitudinal behaviour in client/community care and amongst other health team members.

11. Contribute to research by assisting in conducting and participating in projects and implementing findings geared towards improving health care services and nursing education.