Department of Psychiatric Nursing has been training in two post basic programs in order to achieve its mission in the field of health since 2010, at Wallaga University, Institute of Health Sciences, School of Nursing and Midwifery, in the Western part of Ethiopia. When this department is set up, it is in line with the vision and mission of Wallaga University and to meet the need for mental health professionals to work in the different parts of the country by providing preventive, curative and rehabilitative services to the community.
The program began with two and half year post basic training programs in post basic psychiatry nursing and post basic ophthalmic nursing for three consecutive batches to address some of the demand of mental health professionals and ophthalmic nursing professionals in the country. Currently, after the cessation of the post basic training, our department started training of BSc in psychiatry undergraduate program to fulfil some gaps of middle level of mental health professionals.
DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHIATRY NURSING
ሳይካትሪ ነርሲንግ ትምህርት ክፍል
Overview
Department of Psychiatric Nursing was established in 2015 as a unit under Institute of Health Sciences, School of Nursing and Midwifery. The goal of this particular programs is to prepare a competent professional nurse and to provide a foundation for under graduate education programs in Psychiatry. Training of these specialty nurses is found more feasible and effective in solving common mental health problems of the population. Mental health workers describe misconceptions as a challenge in mental health conditions. The future of psychiatric nursing depends on the social, cultural and financial background of each community. Our department maintains a commitment to professionalism through reflective and systematic evaluation of practice and ongoing professional growth.
The PON department previously had two programs under it. This meant that the program was psychiatry nursing and ophthalmic nursing.
These two programs were under school of nursing and midwifery. According to the department, expatriate instructors recruited from abroad were continued to teach until the end of 2024.In the meantime, the department of psychiatry nursing has become independent in 2025 and has started training 40 generic students.
The first department head was Mr. Eba Abdisa (June,30/2018 to June 15/2019) after he becomes school dean. Mr. Hunduma Gelalcha (June,16/2019- January,26/2021) led the department until he left for his postgraduate study. Thirdly Mr. Mesfin Dabasa was in charge of the department head (January,27/2021 to January,26/2023). Currently, Mr. Workineh Bekele (January, 27/2023 till date) is acting as department head.
Vision, Mission and Objectives of the Program
Vision
- The vision of our program is to produce knowledgeable and compassionate professional Psychiatric and who will provide the highest quality of patient care that truly makes a difference in patients’ lives.
Mission
- To produce competent and innovative psychiatry nurses in various disciplines through practical, lifelong learning; engaging in research, technology transfer and community services and promote good governance to the development endeavors.
- To produce competent, compassionate, innovative and committed psychiatry nurses who undertake preventive, curative and rehabilitative mental health services compatible to the needs of the population and that would meet the present and future priority mental health needs of the Ethiopian population and fulfil international professional standards.
Objectives of Psychiatry Nursing Program
Prepare competent and motivated psychiatry nurse who are able to:
- Apply legal and professional ethics
- Communicate, collaborate and work with people
- Apply health informatics and emerging technologies in mental health services
- Promote mental health and prevent mental illness
- Provide mental health rehabilitation service
- Provide mental health curative service
- Participate in community mental health service
- Participate in teaching-learning and research activities and community activities
- Lead and manage health service
Program Rational
Psychiatry nursing department trains psychiatry professionals to meet the high level of need that currently exists in Ethiopia. Ethiopia has been suffering from a wide range of mental health problems. Ethiopia facing the triple burden of diseases such as infectious or communicable, noncommunicable and injuries. Moreover, the effects of financial instability, lifestyle changes, social isolation, natural disasters, wars, and rapid urban growth and overcrowding all together increases the prevalence of mental disorders resulted in an increased demand for mental health care.
In response to the public’s high demand for mental health care, the government of Ethiopia highly committed to expand mental health service and fulfil the shortage of mental health professionals throughout the country. Mental health is categorized as one of public health importance diseases and one of component of primary health care (PHC). Ethiopia identified it as one of the priorities in its policies and strategies.
The proportion of highly qualified mental health professionals is very low compared to the size of the population served. This situation requires the increased training of appropriately trained psychiatrist some key issues remain: training of psychiatrist takes a long period of time and is too expensive. This situation requires training of psychiatry graduate (BSc Level) in adequate number. Therefore, training of BSc in psychiatry is found more feasible and cost effective in solving common mental health problems of the population in Ethiopia.
Program Admission Requirement (Eligibility)
- Candidates must be a natural science (biology, chemistry, general sciences) student and fulfill the following criteria;
- Meet the set criteria by the Ministry of Education for degree students to join higher learning institution.
- Be physically fit (at least the candidate should be physically healthy capable of undertaking the four techniques of diagnosis of disease in clinical medicine i.e inspection, palpation, percussion and auscultation) and not having hearing problem.
- Female candidates will be encouraged
- Preferably, those who have interest to choose the profession.