About Program Rationale

As in many countries, nurses are the backbone of the formal health system. Nurses are less likely than physicians to migrate out of the country, and they are more likely to serve in rural, hard-to-reach communities. Furthermore, nursing as a profession is often an entry into the formal workforce and a source of economic empowerment, especially for women. Investment in nursing therefore brings the triple gain of improving health outcomes, economic empowerment, and improving gender equity.

However, despite the key role played by nurses in addressing the priority health needs of Ethiopia, investment in their education is modest. The number of faculty at nursing training institutions in Ethiopia is severely limited and the curriculum does not reflect local priorities and health needs, making it difficult to educate nurses in sufficient numbers and with the appropriate clinical skills to meet current and anticipated health needs. As a result, the ability to perform tasks associated with key roles is suboptimal and varies significantly. Furthermore, the mix of skills that nurses acquire during their professional education may not be well matched to their eventual workplace; similarly, the scientific content of their education may be poorly matched to the epidemiology of the communities in which they work.

Therefore, there is a need to invest in nursing education in order to address the quality and the relevance of nursing education to transform population health outcomes.

Curriculum Model

The curriculum model of comprehensive nursing education is predominately outcomes-based education (product model) and constructive alignment.  The major premise the idea that all learning should be defined in terms of what students should be able to do after studying the programme, in terms of learning outcomes or learning objectives.

Behavioral objectives provide the foundations on which product models of the curriculum are built. The intended outcome (the product) of a learning experience is prescribed beforehand. The use of behavioral objectives facilitates communication of what is intended and therefore leads to more purposeful learning.

The use of behavioral objectives helps with selection of structure and content of teaching; further behavioral objectives lead to more accurate methods of testing and evaluation. Outcomes created at a number of levels – the level of a whole programme (such as a degree or training programme- described as a ‘graduate’ profile), at the level of a course.

The curriculum is also devised to enable the achievement of more integrated approaches, learner-centered and community-oriented approaches. In the integrative curriculum, nursing education that is organized in such a way that it cuts across subject-matter lines, bringing together various aspects of the curriculum into meaningful association to focus upon broad areas of study”. It views learning and teaching in a holistic way and reflects the real world.

Student –centered approach emphasizes adult learning methods and approaches and uses active learning (in which students participate actively in the learning process) rather than a more didactic, teacher-led approach which traditionally saw students as passive recipients of knowledge, as ‘empty vessels’.

Program Admission Requirement (Eligibility)

Generic

@ Candidates must be a natural science student in secondary school & preparatory classes and full fill the following criteria

@ Meet the set criteria of the Ministry of Education for degree students to join higher learning institution

@ Physically and mentally fit for nursing service

@ Preferably, those who choose to enter the profession.

Procedure for Application

@ The applicants should apply to the office of registrar

@ The office of the registrar will send the applicants to the department

@ The department will select the eligible candidates and notify to the office of the registrar and will be approved by academic commission through the office of registrar. 

@ After admission candidates have the right for course drop and add according to the rule of the registrar if they fulfill the prerequisite courses

@ Candidate can be exempted from non-professional courses if s/he scored A or B on that specific course

Professional Profile

Graduate professionals are expected to give quality patient care by applying ethical and legal principles and also counseling and teaching of patient with regard to existing health problem of the community. Beside to this they have to involve in teaching and learning process, conduct research, take leadership and managerial role and contribute for the development of profession. Generally, they are expected to provide curative, preventive and rehabilitative services at primary, secondary and tertiary level of health care system.

Graduate Profile

Upon completion of the B.Sc. nursing program, the graduates will be able to:-

@ Provide basic holistic care for individuals, families and communities at large

@ Use critical thinking to collect and analyze relevant data, establish priorities, make appropriate decision for implementation, raise questions and make assumptions, etc

@ Communicate effectively, both verbally and non-verbally including written documentation and record keeping.

@ Use the nursing process as framework for nursing care practice, which promotes maintains and /restore optimum function of clients of all ages and in a variety of health care settings.

@ Apply professional, ethical and legal principles as well as evidence based practice in providing care to clients.

@ Guide, counsel and teach clients based on the need at all health settings including the community

@ Demonstrate nursing leadership and management skills in all work settings and function as a leader and change agent concerning standards and quality of nursing in the nation.

@ Perform activities in prevention(including counseling), control and management of HIV/AIDS in all health settings

@ Function effectively as a member of a primary, secondary, tertiary and community health care team.

@ Diagnose and Manage communicable and non-communicable disease (Chronic Illnesses)

@ Perform  basic and advanced nursing procedures using latest evidences as stipulated in the logbook

@ Diagnose and manage both normal and abnormal pregnancy, labor and refer all major/high risk/complications.

@ Work effectively as a team member in the operating room as scrub, circulating nurse and organizing operation Room Theater.

@ Manage Clients in MCH Clinics particularly in the under-five sick and well-baby clinics, nutrition, immunization, and family planning.

@ Conduct need-based research in the identified problems

@ Utilize the latest research findings for evidence based nursing practice of any nursing interventions to improve the quality of care provided to clients.

@ Demonstrate awareness of own values and beliefs and respect for the rights and beliefs of others; Appreciates the importance of cultural influences on life style and health practices.

@ Participate in the nursing curriculum development processes.  

@ Apply all the different methodological skills and teaching aids in the teaching/learning process and evaluation techniques in the school of nursing.

@ Demonstrate the need for continuing learning for professional and personal enrichment.

@ Perform health promotion, disease prevention and treatment, control and restoration activities at any health setting and community level.

@ Make the care of the patient her/his first concern, treat patients with politeness and consideration, respect their dignity, privacy and point of view without regard to background, culture, language, religion, race and point of view.