Meaning Of RN, RM, BSN (Bsc. Nursing)

Students often ask which one they should go for between BSc nursing through a university degree and registered nurse – through a school or college of nursing (SON).

Let’s explain it in terms of opportunities in the future.

School or College of Nursing and Midwifery
In Nigeria, if anyone goes into the school of nursing and midwifery, the person’s future can be predicted as:

You Obtain a Teaching Hospital Admission form

1. School of Nursing is run by a university teaching hospital (TH) except private. Such teaching hospitals will sell admission forms usually every year to admit a new set of students for the new academic session which is always at the beginning of each year.
2. After purchasing the form, the students are admitted through entrance exams, physical interviews, and medical tests. This is based on the people who passed both the entrance exams and interviews.
3. The next thing the student does is to remain a nurse student for the next three academic sessions which are majorly practicals centered and oriented period.
4. After the completion of the student nursing course and passing external exams known as Hospital Final, the student is awarded a registered nurse (RN) title.
5. The student nurse who has acquired an RN together with a license can begin to practice as a registered nurse.

15 List of Schools/Colleges of Nursing in Nigeria

1. University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital School of Nursing
2. Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja School of Nursing
3. Kaduna State College of Nursing
4. Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital School of Nursing
5. Oyo State College of Nursing, Eleyele Ibadan
6. Ogun State School of Nursing and Midwifery
7. University of Benin Teaching Hospital School of Nursing
8. Benue State School of Nursing
9. University of Ibadan Teaching Hospital School of Nursing
10. Ahmadu Bello University teaching Hospital School of Nursing
11. Kastina State School of Nursing and Midwifery
12. Adamawa State College of Nursing and Midwifery
13. University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital
14. Imo State College of Nursing
15. Abia State School of Nursing

Let’s quickly delve into University or School of Midwifery
Unfortunately, the RN is not equivalent to BSc Nursing or Degree Nursing. This is the reason why many consider university instead of RN, especially when they are not contented with it. Although, they can use the certificate to work as a staff nurse in any hospital and health center. Therefore:

1. If you choose to proceed to university after acquiring an RN, you will have to obtain the JAMB Direct Entry form which is necessary, and choose a university of your interest.
2. If the school offers you admission, that means, you will be admitted to a 200 or 300-level Degree in Nursing; depending on the school policies.
3. You will spend another 4 or 3 years to complete a BSc. Nursing or Degree in Nursing; after which you’ll be awarded a Registered Midwifery and BSc Nursing or BSN.

Changing From RN to Midwifery (RM)

1. Another stage after RN at a School of Nursing is called a School of Midwifery. This is administered usually by the same teaching hospital.
2. If the student prefers this instead of obtaining a JAMB DE form, the student may need to spend another 1 or 2 years after RN for your midwifery course. Then the student will have two certificates altogether – RN and (Registered Midwifery) RM.
3. The student can also first obtain her Registered Midwifery Certificate, and then apply for Post-Basic Nursing in Schools of Nursing.

Studying Nursing at University Instead Of School Of Nursing

If you must choose a university to study Nursing instead of the School of Nursing/ Midwifery, Below is what your journey will look like:

Obtain Your JAMB Form

1. The student will have to register for UTME for the admission year, like a Jambite (any other candidate seeking admission) into other courses in different Schools.
2. The student must score the required mark of his/her proposed school – usually 200 and above, the student then obtains a post-UTME form and takes their post-UTME test where required. Schools like OAU, UI, UNILAG, UNN, BAYERO, ABSU, ABU, IMSU, UNIBEN, UNIZIK, etc conduct post-UTME tests while schools like UNIOSUN, KWASU, etc do not.
3. If the student eventually gets admitted, the student will be studying the course for 5 years after which the student will be awarded three certificates – RN, RM, and (Bachelor of Nursing) BSN.

Career/Jobs For RNs and BNSCs

Whatever your fate, either with a BSc in Nursing or a School of Nursing/Midwifery
Your academic journey will surely come to an end. Finally, you’ll be done with your nursing degree or midwifery. Then here is the picture of your predicted future. The next is to face the labor market or start work.

It’s now a known fact that has shown that graduates of universities are senior officers above those who completed RN only – or plus RM.

This is to say, that if we have a staff with RN and RM who have been working for a couple of years say ten years or more, she will eventually be a subordinate or junior colleague to a new staff with BSc nursing.

Did I hear you scream? This is how it has always been over the years.

Now, this question is, which would you want to go for?