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Nurse

Nursing aims to prevent illnesses and promote health care, healing and rehabilitation among individuals or groups. Nurses thus provide nursing care for physically or mentally ill or recuperating persons with the focus on relieving of pain and discomfort.

Job Characteristics

  • Assisting medical doctors and professional nurses in their tasks, i.e., administering medicine and drugs, preparing patients for surgery, etc..


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  • Applying surgical dressings and giving other forms of treatment under instructions from physicians.


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  • Assisting in preparations for physical and psychiatric treatment of mentally ill patients and in preparations for social adjustment, development and education of mentally or physically handicapped patients.


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  • Making beds, helping to bath and feed patients who are too ill to cope by themselves.


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  • Comforting and relieving patients who are ill or in pain, offering gentle kindness to the dying and understanding to their relatives.


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  • Keeping records of the treatment and progress of patients, and planning, assessing and implementing/evaluating nursing care.


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  • Advising on and administering birth control methods and advising on community health care.

    • Requirements
     
    Secondary Education
    Possession of a HIGCSE or IGCSE Grade 12, or equivalent qualification, with a minimum of 25 points on the UNAM point evaluation scale and passes in at least five subjects, are required to be admitted to UNAM. Admission is also considered for persons who qualify through the mature-age entry scheme (see Part I). Although there is a high demand for nurses, a selection procedure has to be passed, in order to be accepted for a training course.
     
    Compulsory subjects
    None
     
    Tertiary Education
    UNAM offers a first University Diploma in comprehensive Nursing and Midwifery Science. This is a four-year diploma course with in-service training. The university furthermore offers the Advanced University Diploma in Nursing Science, a Bachelor of Nursing Science (B. N. Sc.) and the Master and Doctor of Nursing Science. Nursing students should furnish proof of their registration with the Namibian Nursing Board. After completion of the diploma, they register with this board as registered nurses.

    Personality
    The prospective nurse must have a genuine interest in people, should possess sound judgement qualities and be mentally stable. Nursing expects from candidates to be patient, tactful, unselfish and trustworthy. They should also stay calm and efficient in any emergency situation. Nursing is hard physical work and therefore requires a fit, healthy and positive person, who must be disciplined and able to take orders.

    Work Opportunities
    Nurses are employed in private and state hospitals, community health clinics, private clinics and organizations for the aged or disabled. The Namibian and South African qualifications in nursing are recognised internationally.

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