Holy Family Nursing And Midwifery Training College, Berekum

A brief history of the college

The Holy Family Nursing and Midwifery Training College (NMTC) comprise the Nursing Training College and the Midwifery Training School.  Both institutions developed as individual offshoots of the Holy Family Hospital at Berekum to train the requisite nursing personnel for the hospital and sister health facilities in other parts of the country. Since its establishment, the NMTC has trained so many health personnel who are working in different parts of the country.

According to the genesis of  the  NMTC,  in 1943, the late Nana Boakye Yiadom Owusu II, the then Paramount Chief of Berekum Traditional area, appealed to the then Catholic Bishop of Kumasi, Most Rev. Paulisan, to establish a hospital in Berekum to cater for the health needs of the people in Berekum and Jaman Districts.  Nana’s appeal was favourably considered by Bishop Paulisan and his overseas sponsors. Following the approval of Nana’s appeal, the Medical Mission Sisters (MMS) arrived in Ghana in 1948 and established the first clinic of the Holy Family Hospital at Berekum.

Over the years the clinic grew bigger to become a hospital under the care and management of the Medical Mission Sisters.  As the hospital continued to expand and increase services, the Medical Mission Sisters became mindful of the importance of training and replenishing of human resources for health institutions, especially professional nurses for their own hospitals and clinics. They therefore advised the church to immediately establish a Nurses Training School. As a result, Rev. Sr. Catherine (Patrick) Shean of the Medical Mission Sisters founded the Nursing School on 21^st January 1957.  This was later followed by the establishment of the Midwifery Training School in 1964 by Rev. Sr. Rosemary Smith to train midwives for the hospitals.  The two schools went through different stages of metamorphosis and maturity until they weaned from the hospital and became autonomous in 1991.

The Nursing School initially prepared students for the Qualified Registered Nursing (QRN) programme, which was a three-year programme for students with the Middle School Leavers Certificate (MSLC).  The curriculum at the time followed the syllabus set out by the Nurses Board for Ghana. The method of training for the Q.R.N. programme was mainly by apprenticeship, with few hours of formal instruction.  Those who successfully completed the Q.R.N. programme were duly registered with the Nurses Board for Ghana. By 1971, the school had produced eighty-nine (89) QRN nurses (79 females and 10 males).

The nursing tutors at the time included Sr. Mary Ann Tregoning, Sr. Joan Coughlin, Sr. Gerarda Conijn and Rose Kershbaumer.

Following the advice of the Nurses and Midwives’ Council to improve the health care delivery system in the country, the Government terminated the policy on Q.R.N. training in 1968 and replaced it with the State Registered Nursing (S.R.N.) training programme. The College did not, at the time, meet the requirements to start the S.R.N.  Programme.  Nevertheless, in order that the infrastructure would not lie idle, the Enrolled Nursing programme was started in 1969 and continued till 1983, when it was also phased out.  By 1983, the school had produced 289 Enrolled Nurses (222 females and 67 males).  During this period the school recorded a 100% pass rate at the Final State Examinations with many students excelling with credits and distinctions in various subjects. As a matter of fact, the school translated into action its motto: “Before you learn to care, you must care to learn”.

Since its establishment in 1957, the College has gone through the administration of 19 principals:

Holy Family Nursing and Midwifery Training College – Berekum

FOUNDERS, TUTORS IN CHARGE OF NURSING-BEREKUM

1. Sr. Catherine (Patrick) Shean
2. Alice (Cephas) Hanks
3. Sr. Joan Coughlin
4. Mary Ann Tregoning (lay Volunteer)
5. Sr.Gerarda Conijn
6. Rose Kershbaumer (overall Director of Nursing –including Training Schools)
7. Mr. Kwarshie
8. Ms Jane Dyne
9. Mrs Margaret Nkrumah
10. Lia Van Antwerpen
11. Mr. Stephen Nabaale

FOUNDERS, TUTORS IN CHARGE AND SOME MIDWIFERY TUTORS

1. Rosemary Smith
2. Rani (Josepha) Nellikunnath
3. Josephina (Joseph) Veehyanical
4. Catherine (Patrick) Shean
5. Leonie Verhijen
6. Ms Peggy Fitzgerald
7. Mrs A S Prempeh
8. Sr Molly Joseph Koottumkal
9. The overall head – Sr Molly J Koottumkal

10.   Ms Monica Nkrumah (The current Principal)

At the beginning of the institution, the Rev. Sisters contributed immensely towards the infrastructure,administration and management.  The skilled and professional leadership they provided enabled the few tutorial staff in the College to train nurses for the various health institutions in Ghana, particularly the mission hospitals.

During the early stages of the NMTC, some of the State Registered Nurses from Holy Family Hospital were engaged to teach at the Schools. They worked hand in hand with the Missionary nurses until one nurse (Ms Jean Dyne) was sponsored by the Holy Family Hospital for tutorship training at the University of Ghana, Legon. She was the first Ghanaian to be appointed as Principal.  She took over the administration of the College from the Medical Mission Sisters in 1978.  She served the institution until 1984 when the Enrolled Nursing Programme was phased out.

In 1987, the school was given accreditation by the Nurses and Midwives’ Council of Ghana to offer a State Registered Nursing (S.R.N) Programme.  Consequently, in August 1988, the first batch of six (6) males and six (6) females were admitted with O’ Level Certificates to pursue a three-year programme leading to the award of a State Registered Nursing (SRN) Certificate.  The Holy Family Nursing and Midwifery Training College was then the only institution in the Brong-Ahafo Region which trained qualified nurses.

In 1999, the College started with the three-year Registered General Nursing (RGN), a Diploma Programme, and ran this programme concurrently with the SRN certificate course, which ended in 2004.  The Diploma is a six–semester programme.

The Midwifery Training School on the other hand was set up in the year 1964, as a post-basic programme to train Qualified Registered Nurses and Enrolled Nurses as midwives.  A total of Four Hundred and Eighty-five (485) Midwives were trained under this programme.

In 1999, the Midwifery School was also upgraded to the status of Post-SRN Midwifery Training School.  As at the time it phased out in 2003, the programme had trained a total of 35 midwives.

In 2003, the College started a three-year Registered Midwifery (RM) Diploma Programme which was at par with the Registered General Nursing (RGN) Diploma Programme with the same entry requirements.

In 2002, both programs were put under one administration with one head and two academic coordinators. The College runs both the Nursing and Midwifery programme side by side, sharing the same facilities. The institution admits qualified students regardless of religion, tribe, nationality or social standing and ensures that students are competently and professionally trained to deliver quality health care to the people.

At the time of its Golden Jubilee Celebration in 2007, the College had produced a total of one thousand, three hundred and thirty-three (1,333) Nurses and Midwives comprising:

Nurses (QRNs, ENs, SRNs,     RGN (diploma)            - 754

Midwives                                                           - 579

Accreditation of the College

Since the introduction of the Registered General Nursing (Diploma) in 1999, the College has been working conscientiously with the Ministry of Health and the Nurses and Midwives’ Council of Ghana to get the College accredited by the National Accreditation Board as a diploma awarding institution.  As a result, the National Accreditation Board visited the College in 2004 to assess the necessary facilities.

In 2005, the Accreditation Committee granted the College a three-year Authorization with effect from 1st September 2005 to continue with preparations for full accreditation.

In 2007, the Ministry of Health signed the Memorandum of Understanding with the College of Health Sciences: University of Ghana, to get all the Nursing Training Colleges, including the Berekum Nursing and Midwifery Training College affiliated to the School of Nursing to facilitate the award of academic diplomas to the graduates.

The National Accreditation Board, at its 63^rd meeting held on Oct. 4^th 2007 approved and granted a three-year Accreditation for the running of the College’s two programs, with effect from September 2007 

Vision of the College

To continue the healing  ministry of Christ, by training young men and women to provide high quality patient care through professional nurses and midwives with ethical and moral standards; who are conscientious as well as professionally competent, motivated and united in their common respect for fundamental human values.

Mission of the College

To train all prospective students without regard to religion, tribe, nationality and social standing as nurses and midwives in order to render nursing and midwifery services to the people of Ghana by:

• Selecting qualified candidates through interviewing
• Teaching and assessing students with all ethical values and discipline presented by the Nurses and Midwives council of Ghana and the catholic church
• Ensuring that students are molded into client oriented responsible nurses and midwives
• Running the college by qualified and experienced tutors in accordance with the Ghana Education Service Standards.

Motto

“Before you learn to care, you must care to learn”.

Aim and objectives of the College

Aim:

The aim of the college is to train the requisite and qualified nursing and midwifery personnel to supply the manpower needs of health institutions in the country.

Objectives:

As part of our objectives we train nurses and midwives to uphold ethical and professional standards.

As a catholic institution we instill in our nursing students the gospel values of the kingdom of God, among which are love, compassion, forgiveness, humility, sacrifice, tolerance; and care for the sick, women, children, and the vulnerable.

In other words we train not only the mind but the heart too and that is what makes us unique.

Programme and Courses Offered by the College

The college runs two Diploma programs in concurrence: Registered General Nursing (RGN) Diploma and Registered Midwifery (RM) Diploma.

Registered general nursing

This programme prepares the individual to give general nursing care in the hospital and the community.  It is a six-semester (three year) programme.  At present there are fifteen (15) general nurses training colleges being run by the Ministry of Health, including mission schools of which BNMTC is one.  This programme is opened to both sexes.

Course description / structure of programme

The college shares the same philosophy, goals, aspirations and objectives of the Nurses and Midwives’ council (NMC) in relation to training students to become qualified nurses.

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, economic, psychological, cultural, spiritual and (political) within the individual’s environment.

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 a delivery of health care that integrates conservative, promotive, preventive, curative, and rehabilitative health measures at all levels.

Nursing is a dynamic interpersonal process which seeks to promote, maintain, and restore health.  It is a unique enterprise whose practitioners are skilled in assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of health care.

Nursing is essentially practice-based activity whose body of knowledge is grounded in the biological, physical and social sciences and therefore requires continuous learning and research to support theory and practice.

In order to meet the changing pattern of health care demands, nursing requires innovation to offer creative responses whilst working within ethical and legal frame works.

The goal of education is to help individuals and society in their search for the truth and virtues of life, and continually contribute to the welfare of mankind.

The purpose of nursing education is to promote positive personality development whilst enabling the nurses to obtain a qualification which provides eligibility for admission to the General Nursing register kept by the Nurses and Midwives’ Council for Ghana and to assume the responsibilities that nursing registration imposes.

The special training that the nurse receives, places her in a unique position to adopt the role of a: counselor, leader, resource person, teacher, researcher, manager and a care giver, in the health delivery system.

Goal of the programme

The goal of the programme is to produce a polyvalent nurse who would practice general nursing in any sector of the community.

The professional nurse would have acquired knowledge, skills and attitude to recognize the total health needs of individuals, families and communities, and participate effectively and efficiently in meeting those needs.

Objectives of the programme

By the end of the programme, the nurse will

1. Use knowledge acquired in the principles of homeostasis to meet patients’ needs;
2. Use the nursing process as a professional tool for meeting the total health need of individual, families and communities;
3. Perform professional functions effectively and efficiently as member of the health team;
4. Develop skills and abilities for imparting knowledge and principles of health to student nurse and patients;
5. Contribute to and promote Primary Health Care Service in the community; recognize, manger and refer, client/patient where necessary.
6. Carry out community diagnosis, plan, implement and evaluate community programs towards preventive, promotive and rehabilitative services;
7. Plan and carry out health education based on health needs of the community;
8. Exhibit administrative and leadership capabilities in managing health care units within the framework of the National Health Policy;
9. Demonstrate critical thinking and problem-solving abilities in the provision of nursing interventions.
10. Demonstrate responsibility and accountability for her professional actions;
11. Demonstrate commitment to the Nursing Profession, show an ever-increasing interest and enthusiasm in the nursing profession
12. Assist in generating knowledge through research and make use of evidence-based research finding
13. Show an understanding of the national health policy and its relevance to nursing;
14. Demonstrate the ability of life-long learning within a changing society.

Midwifery

There are two types of programs under midwifery being run in Ghana by MOH.  These are

1. Two-year post basic midwifery
2. Three year direct entry midwifery (registered)

The college however runs only the three-year direct entry midwifery programme.

Three-year Diploma Midwifery

This programme prepares individual in basic nursing with special option in midwifery.  It is a six-semester (three year) programme which admits individuals from the senior secondary school (SSS) now known as the Senior High school.

This programme is however opened to ONLY FEMALES.

Course description/structure of programme

The college shares the same philosophy, goals aspiration and objectives of the Nurses and Midwives’ Council in relation to training students to become qualified nurses.

Philosophy

The Nurses and Midwives’ Council believes that:-

1. Reproductive Health is a fundamental right of all families and individuals irrespective of their race, sex, religion, creed, beliefs and values.  It embraces all behaviors that ensure safe motherhood.
2. Individuals have right that must be respected.  The individual is a rational being endowed with intelligence and must be encouraged to utilize her potentials in solving important problems.
3. Individuals belong to families and communities with specific physical, socio-cultural and economic factors which influence their health behaviors and health patterns.
4. Midwifery education prepares the midwife to function effectively and improves her knowledge and skills by participating in professional and community activities.
5. The purpose of midwifery education is to enable the student midwife to obtain a qualification which makes her eligible for registration by the Nurses and Midwives’ Council for Ghana and to assume the responsibilities and accountability that Midwifery registrations impose.
6. The special training that the midwife receives places her in unique position to adopt the role of a counselor, leader, resource person, teacher researcher, manager and a care giver to assist individual mothers and families to promote good family health.
7. With the knowledge of Midwifery, Social Science, Traditional Medicine, Family Planning, Moral Principles, Infection Prevention, Statistics, Research and Computer studies, the Midwife should be able to provide total Reproductive Health care to the individuals, families and the community at large.
8. The student-midwife can best provide total midwifery care by being provided with learning experience in real midwifery situations which will stimulate motivation and self-direction.
9. The midwife has the ability to perform her function independently, work in co-operation with her colleagues other members of the health team, families and community member for the achievement of better family health.

Goals of the programme

The goal of the programme is to produce a polyvalent midwife who will practice midwifery in any part of the community, country and sub-region.

The professional midwife would have acquired knowledge, skills and attitudes to recognize the total reproductive health needs of individuals, families and communities, and participate effectively in meeting those needs.

Objectives of the programme

At the end of the programme the midwife will:-

1. Use knowledge acquired  in the principles of homeostasis to meet clients/ patients’ needs;
2. Use the midwifery process as a professional tool for meeting the total health need of individuals, families and communities;
3. Develop skills and abilities for imparting knowledge and principles of productive health to student midwives and clients/patients;
4. Plan and carry out health education based on reproductive health needs of the community
5. Utilize the knowledge acquired to :-
   • Plan and implement safe and effective reproductive health care to the expectant mother and her family through the obstetric cycle
   • Recognize abnormal obstetrical conditions and seek prompt medical intervention
   • Give advice and treatment when necessary to prevent maternal and infant morbidity and mortality;
6. Co-operate with her colleagues, members of the health team and community in providing comprehensive (i.e. preventive, promotion, curative and rehabilitative reproductive health care to the expectant mother and her family;
7. Develop the habit of continuously seeking to improve herself and her profession through       continuous education and participation in professional and community activities;
8. Develop research appreciation through the use of scientific methods (or processes) in nursing the expectant mother and her family;
9. Exhibit administrative and leadership capabilities in managing health care units within the
10. framework of the National Health Policy;
11. Demonstrate responsibility and accountability for her professional actions.

Course Description

Rational for the programme

As part of the reforms to tertiary education system in the country, the government white paper (WP) No.3/91 (white paper on the Reforms to the Tertiary education system) issued directs that:

In the interest of cost-effectiveness and improved quality education through the sharing of facilities and better management, provision should be made for institutions such as teacher training Colleges, Agricultural training Colleges, Nurses training Colleges in each region to be amalgamated or unified in such a way as to improve cost-effectiveness by the sharing of teaching facilities, infrastructure and equipment.

The main focus of the reform is to bridge the gap between university education and other tertiary educational programs by upgrading the content and process of the institutions under a well-defined framework, thereby bringing them to the mainstream of higher (tertiary) education.

In the light of the above, a new three year midwifery programme has been designed for SSSCE graduated with the requisites aggregate of 24 or better.  At the end of the three years students who satisfy the accredited body will be awarded Diploma in Midwifery.

The programme is designed to cover three years of six semester periods.  Students are required to submit one client care study and a group research project during the programme.  Each candidate must present a copy of the research.  These form part of the programme requirement for the final licensure examination.

Staff

14 teaching staff including Principal

30 non-teaching staff

CONTACTS/LOCATION OF THE COLLEGE

Holy Family Nursing and Midwifery Training College

P.O.BOX 21

BEREKUM,

Brong Ahafo Region, Ghana, West Africa

TEL: +233-3522-22124

FAX: +233-3522-22474

WEBSITE: www.nmtcberekum.com

Bankers: Ghana Commercial Bank and Agricultural development Bank

Auditors: Ministry of Health and Catholic Diocesan Health Service Auditors

Academic year:  October to August

Language for Instruction: English