Advances in Nursing Education in Nigeria: Challenges and the Way Forward

Abstract

Skilled and long-lasting healthcare professionals are needed in Nigeria and nursing education is critical to this. The Nigerian nursing education has witnessed tremendous improvements in the last few years, including the proliferation of university-based nursing programs, more training opportunities, curriculum reform, competency-based education, e-learning, simulation-based learning, continuing professional development, and increased emphasis on artificial intelligence and digital health. This has been driven by the need to strengthen the nursing workforce in Nigeria and the rising healthcare demands of the country. However, there remain significant barriers affecting the access and quality of nursing education. These include insufficient infrastructure, lack of clinical training chances, lack of financing, poor internet connectivity, lack of digital resources, migration of nurses and educators and the continuous theoretical practice gap. Fast developments in artificial intelligence both opportunity and ethical challenges to nursing education. The paper presents a critique of the present trends in nursing education in Nigeria, its major impediments and solutions in the long run. It argues that increased student enrolment must be accompanied by investment in teachers, facilities, clinical education, technology, research and quality control. Nursing education should be enhanced to develop trained, morally upright, digitally savvy and patient-centred nurses capable of meeting the changing health demands of Nigeria