Diploma In Community Nursing

Goal of the Programme

The aim of the programme is to produce a polyvalent nurse who would practice preventive nursing within the community. The professional Registered Community Nurse would have acquired knowledge, skills, and attitudes to recognize the total health needs of individuals, families, and communities and participate effectively and efficiently in meeting those needs.

Philosophy

The Nurses and Midwives’ Council believes that: ‘Health is a state of complete physical, social, spiritual and psychological well-being not merely the absence of illness or infirmity’ (W.H.O) 1947). It is a relative state which is determined by several factors (personal values, physical, biological, psychological, cultural, spiritual, and political) within the individual’s environment. The nurses and midwives council, therefore, believes that:

Health is a fundamental right of all communities, families, groups of people, and individuals, irrespective of their race, sex, religion, creed, beliefs, and values. Health, therefore, is the purpose of all nursing behaviors
The attainment of health involves the delivery of health care that integrates conservative, promotive, preventive, curative, and rehabilitative health measures at all levels.
Nursing is a dynamic interpersonal process that seeks to promote maintain and restore health. It is a unique enterprise whose practitioners are skilled in assessment, planning, implementation evaluation of health care.
Nursing is essentially a practice-based activity whose body of knowledge is ground in the biological, physical, and social sciences and therefore requires continuous learning and research to support theory and practice.
To meet the changing patterns to health care demands, nursing requires innovation to offer response whilst working within an ethical and legal framework.
The goal of education is to help individuals and society in their research for the truth and virtues of life and continually contribute to the welfare of mankind. The purpose of nursing education is aimed at positive personality development whilst enabling the nurse to obtain a qualification which provides eligibility for admission to the General Nursing Register kept by the Nurses and Midwives’ Council of Ghana and
To assume the responsibilities and accountability that registration imposes
The special training that the nurse receives, places her in a position to adopt the roles of a counselor, leader, resource person, teacher, researcher, manager, and caregiver, in the health delivery system.

Objectives of the Progamme

By the end of the programme, the nurse will:

Apply the knowledge and skills acquired to meet patients’ and clients’ needs
Use the Nursing taxonomies as a professional tool in addressing the total health needs of individuals, families, and communities
Perform professional core functions effectively and efficiently as a member of the DHMT/SDHT
Develop skills and abilities for imparting knowledge and principles of health to student Nurse, patients, and clients
Contribute to and promote Primary Health Care ‘Services/CHPS in the community especially the vulnerable population and high-risk groups.
Conduct community diagnosis, plan, implement and evaluate community programmes towards preventive, promotive, and rehabilitative services
Provide emergency obstetric care and refer patients/clients with conditions beyond her/his competence to appropriate authority
Plan and conduct health promotion programmes based on community diagnosis and prevailing health issues
Assume a leadership role in managing health care units
Demonstrate responsibility and accountability for professional actions.
Develop evolving interest in trends in nursing globally
Assist in generating knowledge through research and making use of evidence-based research findings.
Implement nation health policies and apply its relevance to nursing
Collect, analyze and evaluate routine data on health activities and identified health problems in the community
Collaborate with other members of the SDHT and other health-related agencies and the community to plan, implement and monitor health activities at the community level
Provide Family Planning VCT, STIs/HIV and AIDS, Adolescent, Maternal, and Child health services
Assess the physical and mental health needs of individuals, diagnose and treat specified diseases and make referrals when necessary
Supervise TBAs and other private/public sector workers within the community
Assess nutritional needs and resources and assist the community to identify appropriate interventions
Identify health and social resources available in the community and mobilize the community to utilize them
Request and manage supplies, commodities, and services

Programme Structure

FIRST YEAR: SEMESTER 1

COURSE CODE 
COURSE TITLE  
CREDITS
T
P
CR
RGN 111 Anatomy & Physiology 1
3
–
3
RGN 112 Basic Nursing
2
6
3
MIP 111 Microbiology & Infection Prevention/Control
2
–
2
TCM 111 Therapeutic Communication
2
6
3
ADJ 111 Professional Adjustment in Nursing
2
–
2
NMI 111 Nursing and Midwifery Informatics
1
6
2
Total
15
Vacation Practicum 1 (General Nursing)
18
3

FIRST YEAR: SEMESTER 2

COURSE CODE  COURSE TITLE 
CREDITS
T
P
CR
RCN 121 Anatomy and Physiology II
3
–
3
RCN 122 Personal and Environmental Health
2
–
2
RCN 123 Principles and Practice of Community Nursing and Administration I
2
6
3
FED 121 First Aid, Emergency and Disaster Management
3
6
3
STA 121 Statistics
2
–
3
PNM 121 Introductory Psychology
2
–
2
Total
15
Vacation Practicum II (Community Nursing) 
18
3

 SECOND YEAR: SEMESTER 1

COURSE CODE  COURSE TITLE 
CREDITS
T
P
CR
RCN 211 Anatomy and Physiology III
2
–
2
RCN 212 Principles and Practice of Community Nursing and Administration II
2
6
3
RCN 213 Principles of Disease Management and Control I
3
–
3
RCN 214 Medical Nursing
2
6
3
RCN 215 Surgical Nursing
2
6
3
RCN 216 Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Pharmacovigilance
3
–
3
Total
17
Vacation Practicum III (General Nursing)
18
3

SECOND YEAR: SEMESTER 2

COURSE CODE  COURSE TITLE 
CREDITS
T
P
CR
RCN 221 Principles and Practices of Community Nursing and Administration III
2
6
3
RCN 222 Principles of Disease Management and Control II
2
6
3
RCN 223 Health Promotion
2
6
3
RCN 224 Sociology and Traditional Medicine
3
–
3
NTD 211 Nutrition and Dietetics
2
–
2
RES 221 Research Methods
3
–
3
Total
17
Vacation Practicum IV (Community Nursing)
18
3

THIRD YEAR: SEMESTER 1

COURSE CODE  COURSE TITLE 
CREDITS
T
P
CR
RCN 311 Obstetric Nursing
2
6
3
RCN 312 Family Planning
2
6
3
RCN 313 Family Centred Care Study
1
12
3
RCN 314 Primary Eye Care and Oral Health
2
6
3
RCN 315 Community-Based Rehabilitation
1
6
3
RCN 316 Principles of Disease Management and Control III
2
6
3
Total
17
Vacation Practicum V (Community Nursing) 
18
3

THIRD YEAR: SEMESTER 2

COURSE CODE  COURSE TITLE 
CREDITS
T
P
CR
RCN 321 Occupational health
2
6
3
RCN 322 Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health
2
–
2
RCN 323 Gerontology and Home Nursing
3
–
3
SCM 311 Supply Chain Management
1
6
2
RSE 321 Relationship Marketing Strategy and Entrepreneurship
3
–
3
PSN 321 Psychiatric Nursing
2
6
3
Total
16
Vacation Practicum IV

SUMMARY OF CREDIT LOAD PER SEMESTER

YEAR
SEMESTER ONE
SEMESTER TWO
TOTAL NO. OF CREDITS
1
15
15
30
2
17
17
34
3
17
16
33
97

INTRA-SEMESTER AND VACATION PRACTICUM

YEAR
SEMESTER ONE
SEMESTER TWO
TOTAL NO. OF CREDITS
1
18
18
36
2
18
18
36
3
18
–
18
90

Entry Requirements

Age

18 – 35 years.

Overall Aggregate

For WASSCE applicants, an aggregate score of thirty – Six (36) or better in six subjects, comprising 3 core and 3 elective subjects.

For SSSCE applicants, an aggregate score of Twenty-four (24) or better in six subjects, comprising 3 core and 3 elective subjects.

Core Subjects and Minimum Grades

For WASSCE, Credits (A1 – C6) in three Core Subjects i.e. English, Mathematics and Integrated Science.

For SSSCE, Credits (A- D) in three Core Subjects i.e. English, Mathematics and Integrated Science.

Elective Subjects and Minimum Grades

For WASSCE, Credits (A1 – C6) in three Elective Subjects.

For SSSCE, Credits (A – D) in three Electives Subjects

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