Nurses Are Permitted Legally To Have Nursing and Maternity Homes

General And Private Nurse Practice: You can Be Your Own Boss.

By MUSTAPHA TAOFEEK OPEYEMI, RN, BNSC, PGDE ,GNISP.

Good evening professional colleagues

Its a pleasure to be here with you and a privilege to discuss with us a vital tool  that will liberate Nigeria  Nurses

with the spirit of Aluta and as a political animal I say great nurses!!!

I like to start briefly with a short story While on clinical experience back then in school of Nursing.

A woman  walk  up to me calling Doctor, please kindly help me out I had some challenges and I replied her immediately, oh! am sorry I am a student Nurse how may I help you?

After the whole conversation, she appreciated  my effort and left , then a senior colleague came  telling me after all when you graduate from school you will start practicing in a private hospital as a Doctor. I never give it a thought , although she prophesied.

To practice as Nurse and not  a Doctor I never aware one can practice privately as Nurse before I left school.

In other to foster better understanding of tonight’s discussion, it’s paramount to discuss the history  of Private nursing practice in Nigeria  as history play vital  role in  life.

It is essential we do that to appreciate people who sacrificed for what we are enjoying today.

The history of  starting a  nursing home in Nigeria legally  started  28years ago in Lagos during the Military era of Olagunsoye Oyinlola. When nurses  were  targeted by Lagos state government task force with the master minders Doctors. They started invading any health facility own by nurses,harassing , arresting , molesting and parading them as fake Doctors  right on the street where they practice,  why?

Because they sew them as threat to their practices.

They went ahead to broadcast the video clip on the National television, parading them as fake doctors, this disrupted many  Nurse   practitioners career and the struggle  led to Legal tussle with the government.

Barrister Oyetibo was hired  to fight the course and to God be the glory  we won and the birth  of Private Nurses Association which later metamorphosed to “NIGERIA  PRIVATE NURSES AND  MIDWIVES ASSOCIATION” (NPNMA) and about 10years ago became (AGPNP) ASSOCIATION OF GENERAL PRIVATE NURSE PRACTITIONER during formal registration of the association.

BY LAW OF THE LAND CAN WE START OR OWN A NURSING OR MATERNITY HOME ? YES IN NIGERIA LAW WE CAN.

DECREE 83 of 89 signed by General Babangida (now act of National Assembly  2004) Nursing and Midwifery council etc  state that a Nurse with 5years  post qualification can own or establish a nursing or Maternity home.

Hence once you are a registered Nurse with 5years post qualification experience you are qualify to have one.

Although there is no specification on qualification as compared to developed countries where a master degree in Nursing form the basis of practicing as a private Nurse or Nurse practitioner, then we are good to go.

Starting a nursing home in every state of the federation  differs  a bit from one state to the other, however Lagos set the standard as the Pacesetter  to all other States so  we shall make a case for setting up a facility in Lagos.

Lagos state went ahead to create a law that permit nurses to open  A nursing home or maternity home.

The private Hospital registration Law No. 30 of 1983 and the private Hospital  (Governing  Conditions for the Operations of Regulations 1996 and Private Hospital  (Fees)  Amendment  Regulations  1996)

The following are the prerequisite

1.  must be a Registered Nurse with 5 years post qualification experience

2. Must be REGISTERED WITH THE PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION i.e AGPNP

3. MUST OWN OR HAVE A RENTED APARTMENT FOR THE PURPOSE

4.THE FACILITY MUST BE WELL EQUIPPED.

5. Lastly, must be registered formally with the state government.

PRACTICAL STEPS

Please your attention is of utmost important now as I move towards the end of the lecture.

As a Nurse entrepreneur  your skills and creativity matter.

Your interest is  vital to the survival of the business, remember we are talking business, we are discussing liberating you from financial bondage.

We are deliberating on  liberating yourself from Dr’s superior Ego

and raising your self esteem, I mean practicing what you learnt in school legally.

1.DO A VISIBILITY STUDY  (on the location you want to establish  your facility ) as a Nurse entrepreneur  you need to solve people’s  problem hence search for  where your  services will be  needed. A developing area is ideal.

2. Secure an apartment – A 3 bedroom  flat is Idea for a start. I know what is on your mind  where do I get the money   don’t be discouraged   you can start with   a single room  u can do it.

Your  interest matter most  I have 50k only when I rented the 3bedroom apartment I use for my practice.

3. Equipment, yes it is money  but possibly  you can start small,  I started with a  single bed,  vital signs  apparatus, forceps for dressing and suturing , they are not expensive It’s all about planning.

Hints – many people out there are willing  to help you out  provided  you have the zeal to triumph.

Many has invited me  to use their apartment for my practice,

4. REGISTER  WITH  AGPNP –  Your  certificates and a  token to be remitted  to the association. The pepper grinder association pay more to register with their association.

5.Proceed to register with the  government.

6.Enjoy  your  practice

7.Create awareness, organize free medical check up.

More to be discussed but time will not permit to go further.

At this juncture, I want to thank you for your time.

Great Nurses!

QUESTION 1.

Sir, I like to own my own private facility but I heard Nurses can’t diagnose, prescribe medications and treat patients. How then do I operate?

ANSWER 1.

THANKS FOR YOUR QUESTION, IT IS A PROPAGANDA  BY DOCTORS. IF NURSES CANNOT DO THAT IN A NURSING HOME HOW THEN DO THE SAME NURSES  DO THAT IN PRIMARY HEALTH CARE  OWNED BY THE GOVERNMENT?

A nurse diagnose and treat  minor ailments, treat injuries among others.

in fact in Lagos state one of rhe requirements for  establishing a nursing home is that you  need a small operating theater  for minor surgeries.

QUESTION 2

Can we get a snapshot of the document where the particular law is stated or can we get it online?

2. Can you please explain your staffing process to us sir?

3. What are the Scope of practice of nurses practitioners

ANSWERS

I will send the snapshot  later , its not clear right now.

online ? I’m not sure.

Staffing process, Basically  a  Registered Nurse  is required as the operating officer, If you do not have the required years of experience then you can get a senior colleague  to cover for you.

in fact in certain cases it is over looked, aside that a staff Nurse per 10 in patient beds  per shift is required by law,

meaning a registered nurse must be available at every shift ,practically if you are on ground 24 7, a registered  Nurse and ward assistant will be sufficient.

On the scope of practice  of a Nurse practitioner, WE DIAGNOSED WE TREAT AND MAKE REFERRAL WHERE NECESSARY.

Nigeria is a confused country, if nurses will be deterred from doing  what we are thought in school then the TBAs, the quacks  have to be check mate and not us professionals.

QUESTION 3.

Sir, I learnt that if you have to own a private clinic, you will need a Dr’s certificate to stand in for you, how true is this.?

ANSWER 3

Yes  according to  Lagos law as stated in

The private Hospital registration Law No. 30 of 1983 and the private Hospital  (Governing  Conditions for the Operations of Regulations 1996 and Private Hospital  (Fees)  Amendment  Regulations  1996) but it does not stand the test of time.

A scenario  back 2007 when a Dr demanded an exorbitant amount to cover  for a colleague and according to the law page 13  paragraph 4 One medical Practitioner  in charge ( supervision).

for supervision only hence AGPNP make a case  with the government and since then  we can register without a Dr certificate although it has not been erased from the form.

I registered my facility 5years ago without a Dr’s certificate.

Conclusion:

It’s high time we ventured into private nursing practice,  quacks are outside taking up our duties and building houses. In fact some are opening  health facilities using our nomenclature  with the help of some ignorant colleagues who sells their profession for peanuts.

When we professionals are not there to give our people quality care, then the influx of quacks  who do that  unprofessionally.

It is high time we woke and start something from where we live and treat patients.

There is money in Nursing Private Practice.

Thanks and God bless!