health

NMCN Urges Nurses To Dedicate Two Years To Attain Certification

By Abimbola Kintum

The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) has enhanced the criteria for certificate verification requests from members of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives. As per the NMCN, qualifying candidates must possess at least two years of post – qualification experience starting from the issuance date of the permanent practicing license.

This information was disclosed in a memorandum released on Wednesday, as nurses and midwives across the nation expressed concerns about the deactivation of the verification portal by the council since December 2023.

The memorandum was directed to all state health ministries, specialized units in university teaching hospitals, federal medical centres, the headquarters of National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM),  Universities providing nursing courses, nursing science colleges, nursing and midwifery schools, all post-basic nursing programs, and all zonal offices of the  nursing and midwifery councils of Nigeria.

The memo signed by the Registrar of the Council read in part, “A refundable fee per application shall be paid for verification to foreign boards of nursing as specified on the portal. This shall cover the cost of courier services to the applicant’s institution(s) of training, place of work, and foreign board.

“Eligible applicants must have a minimum of two years post qualification experience from the date of issuance of the permanent practising licence. Any application with a provisional licence shall be rejected outrightly.

“The council shall request a letter of good standing from the Chief Executive Officer of the applicant’s place(s) of work and the last nursing training institution attended and responses on these shall be addressed directly to the Registrar/CEO, NMCN. Please note that the council shall not accept such letter(s) through the applicant.”

The NMCN also stated that applicants must have an active practising licence with a minimum of six months to the expiration date, and processing of verification application takes a minimum of six months.

It added that the implementation of the guidelines takes effect from March 1, 2024.

The council is the only legal, administrative, corporate, and statutory body charged with performing specific functions on behalf of the Federal Government to ensure the delivery of safe and effective Nursing and Midwifery care to the public through quality education and best practices.

NMCN is mandated by law to regulate the standards of Nursing and Midwifery education and practice in Nigeria and to review such standards from time to time to meet the changing health needs of society.

 

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