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REGISTERED NURSING-CAREER INFORMATION SUMMARY
WHAT IS NURSING AND WHO IS A NURSE?
Nursing is the profession that assumes responsibility for the continuous care of the sick, the injured, the disabled, and the dying either independently or as part of a multidisciplinary health care team. Nurses also play a critical role in the promotion of health and the prevention of illness in individuals, families, and communities in medical and community settings.
WHERE DO REGISTERED NURSES WORK?
Registered nurses (RNs) can work in any health care facility; health posts, rural health centers, urban clinics and hospitals. They are often the first, and sometimes the only health professional a patient will see and are therefore very important.
WHAT TASKS ARE INVOLVED IN THE WORK?
In a ward setting, tasks involve monitoring patients’ vital signs and updating their charts accordingly. Nurses also administer medications and carry out various other nursing interventions such as inserting intravenous cannulas, catheterization, wound cleaning and dressing, etc. Nurses are required to be able to use basic diagnostic medical devices such stethoscopes, sphygmomanometers (BP machines), thermometers, etc. in order to carry out their work effectively. It is also a nurse’s duty to teach patients and their families on the ways to manage their condition during recovery at home. The aim of the nurses’ work is to provide comfort and care that will enable a patient to improve or recover their health, and to achieve the best possible quality of life whatever their disease, until death.
WHAT IS THE WORK SCHEDULE OF A REGISTERED NURSE?
In a typical Zambian hospital, nurses work in rotating shifts (morning, afternoon, night), one shift per day. This schedule varies depending on the setting (e.g., rural clinic vs. general hospital), the levels of staffing and the level of seniority. Working night duty for seven successive days will normally be followed by seven successive off-days.
WHAT DOES THE JOB MARKET LOOK LIKE?
The largest employer of RNs in Zambia is the government. Other employers are mission hospitals and the private sector including mine hospitals. There is a major shortage of nursing staff in the country therefore the government regularly recruits RNs. All nursing staff in Zambia are required to be registered with the General Nursing Council of Zambia (GNCZ).
SALARY RANGES AND WHAT CONTROLS IT?
Entry-level salaries for RNs range from around 6000zmw net in government to around 8000zmw net in some private institutions. In the private sector, salary is determined among other things by level of experience and how many work hours are put in. Working overtime or over the weekend will usually come with an allowance.
WHAT SORT OF CAREER-PERSONALITY MATCH IS REQUIRED?
As in most health science programs, a nursing student must have an interest in science-based subjects such as biology, chemistry and nutrition. To enjoy a career in nursing, one must have a great deal of compassion and empathy (ability to understand what someone is experiencing without oneself experiencing it). Good communication and listening skills are also needed in order to effectively communicate with clients.
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WHAT SUBJECTS WILL THE PROGRAM COVER?
The foundation semester introduces new students to nursing sciences covering courses such as Anatomy & Physiology, Microbiology, Sociology and Professional practice. Courses covered in the remaining period of study include Medicine, Surgery, Paediatrics, Pharmacology and Reproductive Health.
WHAT ARE THE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS?
Minimum entry requirements to nursing schools are a credit or better in Mathematics, English and Science along with any other 2 subjects at grade 12. Actual cut-off point usually depends on the level of competition at the school of choice. Government schools of nursing tend to be more competitive.
WHAT OTHER PROGRAMS OF STUDY CAN MAKE SOMEONE A NURSE?
Apart from a diploma in registered nursing, one can opt to pursue either a diploma in registered public health nursing (PHN) or a diploma in registered midwifery. PHN is a specialized field of nursing that focuses on the health needs of communities with the aim of promoting and protecting the health of the population. Whereas the client of an RN is the patient presenting to a health center, the client of a PHN is the community. Midwifery in contrast, is sufficiently different that it is not considered a branch of nursing, though the training is similar in structure and length. A school leaver can enrol directly into a registered midwifery program but there are also shortened programs that allow for an RN to become a registered nurse-midwife.
Undergraduate Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Bachelor of Science in Midwifery degrees are on offer at some universities such as UNZA. These are academic degrees with the primary aim of developing Nurse-practitioners, Nurse Tutors and educators. They also allow for greater career advancement opportunities and, administrative and research roles.
WHAT ARE THE FUTURE ADVANCED QUALIFICATIONS AVAILABLE AND WHY?
A registered nurse (RN) can top up their academic qualification by studying for Registered Nurse-Midwifery, Operating Theatre Nursing, Critical Care Nursing, Paediatric Nursing, etc. These are mostly 1-year diploma programs and there aim is for specialization. Minimum entry requirements to these specialized fields of nursing include a diploma in registered nursing. A school leaver can therefore not enrol directly into these fields without first obtaining a diploma in RN.
RNs can also enrol for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree where they may be exempted from years 1 and 2. A BSN will allow for a holder to pursue Master’s and PhD programs. These degrees qualify the holder for teaching, research, consulting and administrative roles that would usually not be available to RNs but are not essential for most patient care duties.
References
GNCZ. (2020). Education and Training: Nursing and Midwifery Education. Retrieved from General Nursing Council of Zambia Website: http://www.gnc.org.zm/education/
Healthstream.com. (2019). Personality Traits of a Great Nurse. Retrieved from Health Stream: https://www.healthstream.com/resources/blog/blog/2019/06/24/personality-traits-of-a-great-nurse
UNZA. (2018). Nursing Sciences. Retrieved from University of Zambia Website: https://www.unza.zm/schools/nursing-sciences/about
INSTITUTIONS THAT OFFER NURSING
UNIVERSITY OF ZAMBIA
Programme duration: 5 years (degree)
Mode of study: Full-time
Admitting school: School of Natural Sciences
Intakes: January (only)
Location: Lusaka
Contacts
Tel: +26 0211 252453
E-mail: dean-nursingscience@unza.zm
Website: www.unza.zm/academics/undergraduate/bachelor-of-science-nursing
LEVY MWANAWASA MEDICAL UNIVERSITY
Programme duration: 4 years (degree) / 3 years (diploma)
Mode of study: Full-time and distance learning
Admitting school: School of Nursing
Intakes: January (only)
Location: Lusaka
Contacts
Tel: +260 974 330519 / +260 953 821693
Email: info@lmmu.ac.zm
Website: www.lmmu.ac.zm/levy-mwanawasa-medical-university-fees-structure
LUSAKA APEX MEDICAL UNIVERSITY
Programme duration: 4 years (degree) / 3 years degree
Mode of study: Full-time
Admitting school: Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery Science
Intakes: January and July
Location: Lusaka
Contacts
Email: happy.mtonga@lamu.edu.zm
Tel: +260 979 927901 / +260 966 728629
Website: www.lamu.edu.zm/academic-fees
EDEN UNIVERSITY
Programme duration: 5 years (degree) / 3 years (diploma)
Mode of study: Full-time
Admitting school: School of Health Science
Intakes: January and July
Location: Lusaka
Contacts
Email: edenuniversty@edenuniversity.net
Tel: +260 978 800898 / +260 977 794995
Website: www.edenuniversity.edu.zm/course-fee-structure.html
CAVENDISH UNIVERSITY
Programme duration: 4 years (degree)
Mode of study: Full-time only
Admitting school: School of Medicine
Intakes: January and June
Location: Lusaka
Contacts
Email: jchikonde@cavendish.co.zm
Tel: +260 211 387600 / +260 211 387601
Website: www.cavendishza.org/admissions/fee-structure
KASAMA COLLEGE OF NURSING AND MIDWIFERY
Programme duration: 3 years (diploma)
Mode of study: Full-time
Intakes: January and July
Location: Kasama
Contacts
Tel: +260 214 221024
CHILONGA COLLEGE OF NURSING AND MIDWIFERY
Programme duration: 3 years (diploma)
Mode of study: Full-time
Intakes: July
Location: Mpika
Contacts
Tel: +260 966 362978
SOLWEZI COLLEGE OF NURSING AND MIDWIFERY
Programme duration: 3 years (diploma)
Mode of study: Full-time
Intakes: January and July
Location: Solwezi
Contacts
Tel: +260 218 821404
LIVINGSTONE COLLEGE OF NURSING AND MIDWIFERY
Programme duration: 3 years (diploma)
Mode of study: Full-time
Intakes: January and July
Location: Livingstone
Contacts
Tel: +260 213 321883
NDOLA COLLEGE OF NURSING AND MIDWIFERY
Programme duration: 3 years (diploma)
Mode of study: Full-time and E-learning
Intakes: January and July
Location: Ndola
Contacts
Tel: +260 212 614859
COPPERBELT NURSING POLYTECHNIC
Programme duration: 3 years (diploma)
Mode of study: Full-time and E-learning
Intakes: January and July
Location: Ndola
Contacts
Tel: +260 978 752504
Facebook: Copperbelt Nursing Polytechnic LTD
CHIPATA COLLEGE OF NURSING AND MIDWIFERY
Programme duration: 3 years (diploma)
Mode of study: Full-time and E-learning
Intakes: January and July
Location: Chipata
Contacts
Tel: +260 216 221371
LEWANIKA COLLEGE OF NURSING AND MIDWIFERY
Programme duration: 3 years (diploma)
Mode of study: Full-time
Intakes: January and July
Location: Mongu
Contacts
Tel: +260 217 221468
KABWE COLLEGE OF NURSING AND MIDWIFERY
Programme duration: 3 years (diploma)
Mode of study: Full-time
Intakes: January and July
Location: Kabwe
Contacts
Tel: +260 215 222301