Auxiliary nurse in Nigeria- Meaning, training, salary and all you need to know

In most countries, auxiliary nurses are known to assist professional Nurses in providing healthcare to patients. 

They take care of the basic needs of patients in areas like hygiene and physical support. Auxiliary Nurses are often known as nursing assistants. They are the backbones of the healthcare system of most countries.

Some registered nurses often start out as auxiliary Nurses while working on getting professional Nursing qualifications. Unfortunately, the National association of Nigerian Nurses and midwives has stated that auxiliary nurses are not a recognized as part of the nursing profession in Nigeria. The Lagos state government recently banned the practice.

If you are interested in working as an auxiliary Nurse, this article would take you through key facts about the profession, to help you gain clarity and plan your future career.

Meaning of ‘auxiliary nurse’

Auxiliary nurses assist either doctors or registered nurses to provide healthcare services to patients under the guidance of either doctors or nurses.

They can work in hospitals, psychiatric centres, nursing homes or clinics. Auxiliary nurses are not considered to be as qualified as professional nurses but they still provide essential services and boost the number of workers in the healthcare sectors of most countries. 

What is the role of an auxiliary Nurse?

Auxiliary nurses perform various tasks in hospitals. In order to create a clearer picture of the role they play, I would list some of them below;

• They help patients to maintain personal hygiene and a clean environment even as they recover from their illnesses. Specifically, they help keep patients’ environment clean, assist them bathe, clean their mouth, use the toilet etc.

• They communicate with patients to understand the state of their health, observe their symptoms, complaints, document it and report to other health professionals like doctors and nurses.

• They also monitor patients’ health metrics such as temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, body aches or discomfort.

• They collect samples of patients’ body fluids for laboratory tests.

• They help patients receive the correct dosage of medication and ensure these are taken at the right time.

• They assist patients that are unable to move on their own by wheeling them about to receive medical attention or to exercise their bodies.

• They provide support to doctors and physiotherapists during procedures like surgery, or physical therapy.

Is an Auxiliary Nurse a professional?

Yes. Auxiliary nurses are professionals that play vital roles in the healthcare sector. However, they are not recognized as qualified professionals in the healthcare sector in Nigeria.

This does not mean that auxiliary nurses do not currently provide services in Nigeria. They do. It is just that without the proper legal recognition, they stand the risk of being penalised for doing so.

That being said, auxiliary nurses can provide services in other countries where they are recognised.

Types of auxiliary nurses

The functions of an auxiliary Nurse would vary based on the type of medical centre where they work. The types of auxiliary nurses based on that criteria include;

• Midwife auxiliary Nurse
• Mental health auxiliary nurse
• Hospital auxiliary nurse
• Community care auxiliary nurse

How to become an auxiliary Nurse in Nigeria

In the UK there are diploma programmes that train auxiliary nurses. It is not the same in Nigeria. Auxiliary nurses are trained by hospitals in Nigeria.

To become an auxiliary nurse, you can either decide to receive training from reputable foreign institutes or from private hospitals in Nigeria.

I would advise you to get trained as an auxiliary nurse in a country where you can practise freely. 

What is the difference between an auxiliary Nurse and a Registered Nurse?

An auxiliary nurse is generally considered to be an assistant to a registered nurse. They are allowed to provide basic services to patients under the supervision of either a registered Nurse or a doctor.

Salaries of Auxiliary Nurses in different countries

Let me go over the annual salaries of auxiliary nurses in different countries including Nigeria. I have selected other countries where Nigerians love to migrate to for employment opportunities.

S/N	Country	Auxiliary Nurse’s Average Annual salary
1	Nigeria	N708,000
2	USA	$74,826
3	Uk	£28,371
4	Germany	€30,000
5	Italy	€32,040
6	Spain	€22,973
7	Saudi Arabia	SAR 142,300
8	South Africa	R 180,000
9	France	€28,929
10	United Arab Emirates	AED 44,664
11	Brazil	BRL 48,183
12	Ghana	GHC 18,000
13	Ireland	€28,371
14	China	¥73,506
15	Australia	$61,212
16	Canada	$68,250

What skills do you need to be a good Auxiliary Nurse

If you want to work as an auxiliary nurse there are some skills that are key to your success. I will go over them below;

• You must possess the ability to collaborate and work in a team of other health professionals.

• You should possess the quality of genuinely caring for others and showing compassion.

• You should have basic education. This means you should have completed secondary education and have basic literacy and numeracy skills.

• You should be friendly and able to communicate effectively with patients.

• You must also be able to provide basic support to patients in order to enable them to improve hygiene.

How to apply for auxiliary Nurse training

In Nigeria, your ability to be trained as an auxiliary nurse would depend on the requirements of the healthcare facility where you would be trained.

I would advise that you stay informed on the clinics around you so that you can know when there is an intake of new trainees.

Conclusion

If you want to work in the healthcare sector as a nurse in Nigeria, it would be better to become a registered nurse. You can work as an auxiliary nurse in states where there is no ban on practising it while pursuing your Nursing qualification.

You can also consider working as a caregiver instead which is perfectly acceptable. There are many reputable institutes where you can train and qualify to be a caregiver including LASUTH.

Caregiving utilises the same skills as auxiliary nursing. It can also give you the much needed experience in the healthcare sector that would be useful after you become a registered nurse.

If you are over the age limit for gaining admission to study nursing in Nigeria (Around 35 years) consider studying Nursing in a country with no upper age limit such as the UK or the US. But if you can’t afford it right now, you can start out as a caregiver in Nigeria. It is also important to consider how long it takes to study nursing in these countries.

Frequently Asked Questions

Let us go over some frequently asked questions you might have about being an auxiliary nurse.

What is the difference between an auxiliary and ancillary Nurse

Both auxiliary and ancillary nurses are very similar but the key difference is that ancillary nurses work with doctors in different departments to carry out operations. Unlike auxiliary nurses, ancillary nurses are less concerned with bedside care.

Is an auxiliary nurse the same as a caregiver?

No. An auxiliary nurse is quite different from a caregiver. A caregiver gives support to a patient in carrying out daily activities just like auxiliary nurses.

The main difference is that auxiliary nurses are trained to also offer some medical support like checking the patient’s vital signs and collecting samples.

Can an auxiliary nurse give injections?

Yes, but not in Nigeria. In other countries like the UK, experienced auxiliary nurses are allowed to give injections but this is outlawed in Nigeria.

What is the meaning of ‘auxiliary nurse midwife’

An auxiliary nurse midwife is a type of auxiliary nurse that provides support to pregnant women.