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Nursing Colleges in Ghana and the Courses They Offer
There are many nursing schools in Ghana, offering courses in different specializations. Below are the top nursing colleges in Ghana and the courses they offer.
#1. University of Ghana – School of Nursing
The University of Ghana has one of the best nursing schools in Ghana. They have several nursing programs that are made considering the rising need for healthcare workers. The key courses include:
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSc Nursing): A four-year degree to train the students to be registered nurses in clinical practice, health + safety management, and patient care.
Diploma in Nursing: This program, on the other hand, is meant for those who wish to gain practical nursing experience in a shorter amount of time than it would take to complete a bachelor’s degree.
Post Basic Midwifery: This specialized course provides trained nurses with the platform and resources they need to develop their midwifery and maternal health competencies.
The nursing programs of the University of Ghana are designed to produce nurse graduates who can work in a wide range of healthcare settings with input from theoretical knowledge and hands-on clinical experience.
#2. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) – Department of Nursing
KNUST is a top-performing university offering the following. It offers a comprehensive nursing curriculum that equips students with how best nursing practices in modern society.
- BSc Nursing:
- MSc Nursing
- PhD in Nursing
#3. Central University – School of Nursing
The School focuses on nursing and public health. The school has numerous programs available at an undergraduate and postgraduate level with clinical practice included as part of the public health education. Key courses include:
BSc Nursing: A four-year program that helps students in patient care, clinical techniques, and health management.
Midwifery: Programs that focus on mother and infant care.
Public Health Nursing – This would help prepare nurses for community health problems and strategies in addition to implementing public health policies.
Students at Central University receive a broader education that integrates practical experience and community engagement, creating opportunities to lead in various roles across public health and healthcare sectors.
#4. Valley View University – Department of Nursing
The Nursing Department at Valley View University takes a holistic view of nursing by integrating Christianity with clinical practice. Major courses typically offered are :
BSc Nursing: A degree program that develops clinical and patient care skills.
Diploma in Midwifery– This is a professional midwifery practice course with maternal and child health content.
Post-Basic Programs: Post-basic programs are advanced programs that provide specializations to nurses who want to further studies in different healthcare fields.
Valley View University is known for producing well-qualified and compassionate healthcare workers.
#5. Presbyterian University College – Nursing Department
Presbyterian University College—Greater Accra the Nursing Department of Presbyterian is also highly respected, producing competent health professionals with well-laid-out nursing programs. The courses offered include:
BSc Nursing: They offer a four-year program that trains students in nursing practice such as patient care, ethics, and clinical skills for registered nursing.
Post-Basic Midwifery This is another specialist course that equips registered nurses with skills in maternal and neonatal health.
Presbyterian University College is modernized by incorporating enough clinical practices in conjunction with a high theoretical base to ensure that its graduates are endowed with considerable knowledge for various sorts of healthcare positions.
#6. Accra College of Nursing
Accra College of Nursing is a well-established institution offering nursing education tailored to community health needs. Key courses include:
Certificate in Community Nursing: This course is aimed at training students to provide health care services within the community. It concentrates more on preventive healthcare, which is also in line with primary healthcare.
Registered General Nursing:- A graduate program targeting general medical care to help train nurses for working in various settings such as hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare environments.
Accra College focuses on skills for immediate use and community-oriented healthcare.
#7. 37 Military Hospital Nurses Training College
Located in Accra, the 37 Military Hospital Nurses Training College is a dedicated military healthcare institution that voids specialized nursing programs. It is a systematic and organized framework of nursing schooling. Some of the critical courses provided are:
Registered General Nursing: Suitable for students keen to develop the basic skills needed in general nursing practice including health and patient management, and an understanding of medical ethics.
Midwifery — specialized in maternal health, labor, and delivery.
Emergency and Intensive Care Specializations: Emergency and intensive care nursing provides advanced training programs for nurses who wish to specialize in emergency care, trauma response, or working with multiple patients in an ICU.
This university is famous for producing trained nurses in civilian and military fields.
#8. Martin Luther King Health Training School
The Martin Luther King Health Training School is an Accra institution that provides nursing certificate programs.
- Two of the available nursing programs are nurse assistant clinical (NAC) and diploma nursing assistant clinical (HAC).
Health ConcernThis is a private college in Ghana providing nursing education. The Ghana Nursing and Midwifery Council accredits the college in Accra to offer various programs. The college offers two programs of study:
- Nurse Assistant Clinical (NAC)
- Diploma in Midwifery.
#9. Kumasi Nurses and Midwifery Training School
One of Ghana’s nursing schools is Kumasi Nurses and Midwifery Training School. It provides BSC programs in health and nursing courses. Among the nursing programs available are:
- Diploma in Registered General Nurse (RGN)
- Registered Mental Nurse (RMN) diploma
- Diploma in Registered Community Health Nurse (RCHN)
- Certificate in Community Health Nursing (CHN)
- Ophthalmic Nursing
- Public Health Nursing
- Peri-Operative Nursing
- Critical Care Nursing
Different Types of Nursing Degrees
A nursing degree provides a clear path to job advancement. Every progressive degree gives nurses the skills and information they need to develop into more senior positions in the healthcare industry and have a bigger influence on patient outcomes and the quality of care.
While the scope of practice changes as nurses move up the ladder, the core goal remains quality patient care and outcomes.
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Certificate
With a certificate in a CNA program, one can become a certified nursing assistant or CNA. You will need at least a diploma and not less than 75 hours of training or more to earn this certificate.
As an entry-level role, a Certified Nursing Assistant provides vital support to both patients and nurses.
From transporting, bathing, and feeding hospital patients to stocking medical supplies and logging patient information, CNAs are on the ground, enhancing patient outcomes.
Nursing Informaticist
Nursing informaticists create and oversee electronic documentation and record-keeping systems. They also oversee system architecture to ensure efficiency, system security, and compliance with confidentiality policies and mandates. The estimated 2022 median annual salary for the role, per Payscale, was $85,000.
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Certificate or Diploma
A licensed practical nurse (LPN) certificate or certification is a prerequisite for becoming a nurse. There is also a one-year training requirement. Community colleges, high schools, trade schools, and hospital programs can offer this credential.
As a Licensed practical nurse, you are tasked with providing basic patient care. You are also expected to work under the direction of a registered nurse or doctor.
LPNs perform basic medical tasks, such as checking vital signs and administering medication. They’re an important link between a patient, their family, and their healthcare team
Associate Degree
As an associate degree holder in nursing, you can perform health assessments, administer vaccines and IVs, dress wounds, and develop patient plans.
You need at least two years of study to do this. An associate degree often leads to RN licensure, which can be completed as an initial step toward a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree (BSN)
According to healthcare facilities and professional associations, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing is the preferred entry level for registered nurse practice.
A BSN degree can lead to employment in more complex settings, including community and public health, acute and critical care, long-term care, and outpatient settings. Typically, earning one requires four years of study.
BSN programs are in two varieties that one can finish. Traditional undergraduate students without a license can pursue a BSN, whereas registered nurses (RNs) with an associate degree can enrol in an RN to BSN program.
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
A master’s nursing science degree (MSN) prepares a nurse for leadership roles in advanced nursing practice.
Students with a bachelor’s degree in a subject other than nursing and who want to become licensed registered nurses can enrol in the entry-level MSN program.
After earning a BSN, registered nurses can enroll in a range of MSN programs, which focus on various roles, such as advanced practice registered nurses, nurse educators, executive nurse leaders, and nursing informaticists.
Nurse Educator
Nurse educators provide nursing education in various settings to student nurses and those practicing in healthcare settings.
Educators may teach nursing curricula, instruct prospective nurses in various healthcare subjects, supervise students’ clinical lab work, and provide unit-based or institution-level education for various healthcare providers.
Nursing Executive
Nurse executives can include chief nursing officers (CNOs), healthcare organizational or corporate leaders, or academic deans. One example of a nurse executive, a CNO oversees the operational and administrative procedures of a facility’s nursing department.
They develop strategies to streamline nursing processes and manage a facility’s nursing resources. They also ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations and policies
Doctor of Nursing Practice
Becoming a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is the preferred entry-level practice for all APRN clinical roles (clinical nurse specialist, nurse practitioner, nurse anaesthetist, and nurse midwife).
As a nurse with a doctorate in Nursing, you prepare individuals to be systems change agents who identify and address clinical practice problems to improve healthcare quality and patient outcomes.
The highest degree available for practising nursing is the DNP. DNP programs can educate graduates for employment in organizational and executive leadership, health policy, or nursing informatics in addition to APRN concentrations.
Nurses who already hold an MSN can obtain this degree in a post-master’s DNP program, while RNs with only a BSN can do so through a BSN-DNP program.
Post-Graduate Certificate
An MSN or DNP and certification in one or more APRN jobs are prerequisites for obtaining a post-graduate credential.
Through extra coursework and practical experiences, an advanced practice certificate (APRN) broadens the practice area for APRNs into new patient demographics and/or practice settings.
These can include certificates such as family nurse practitioner (FNP), pediatric nurse practitioner-primary care (PNP-PC), pediatric nurse practitioner-acute care (PNP-AC), and psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP)
They also have adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioners (AGPCNP) and adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioners (AGACNP) roles, as well as many other APRN roles.
PhD in Nursing
A doctorate in nursing, or Ph.D., equips nurses to conduct research and further the field of nursing science. PhD programs require considerable effort and cover leadership, statistics, and research methodologies.
A nurse with an MSN, DNP, or BSN can also obtain the degree. Nurses with doctorates typically hold positions as nursing faculty in higher education, insurance businesses, and nurse researchers in healthcare facilities.
Courses under nursing courses in Ghana.
- Nursing Fundamentals
- Physiology
- Introduction to Psychology
- Microbiology
- Gerontology
- Psychology and Mental Health
- Pharmacology
- Women and Infant Health
- Leadership Management
- Ethics in Nursing
- Community and Environmental Nursing
- Care Transitions
- Population Health
- Clinical Theory
- Clinical Study
FAQs: Types of nursing courses in Ghana
What subjects are covered in nursing courses?Nursing courses generally cover subjects related to biology and chemistry. Biology courses focus on anatomy, epidemiology, microbiology, and physiology. Chemistry courses include biochemistry, organic chemistry, pharmacology, and pathophysiology. Outside of the life sciences, nursing courses include study in mathematics, psychology, and sociology.
Are nursing classes hard?Programs are intended to prepare nurses for a rigorous profession; they can be intense and challenging, but not impossible. Courses teach the complicated practices necessary for nurses to provide the best care to their patients. To ensure nurses can perform to the best of their ability, programs need to ensure students are up to committing themselves to a difficult yet rewarding profession.
What is the easiest class in nursing school?Some of the most accessible classes in nursing school tend to be general education courses. These often focus on memorising key terminology or developing soft skills, such as collaboration and communication. Some courses considered easier than others include the social sciences, introduction to speech, and information technology.
What is the shortest nursing program?The shortest programs typically focus on becoming a practical nurse. Learners can become certified nursing assistants (CNAs) or licensed practical nurses (LPNs) quickly. CNA programs take 4-12 weeks to complete and prepare students to assist RNs in helping patients with daily functions. LPN programs take approximately one year to complete, preparing them to provide basic nursing tasks. Unlike CNAs, LPNs are licensed nurses.
