Just finished your BSc Nursing and wondering if you can open your own clinic? Short answer: Not exactly—but there’s a brilliant alternative that might work even better for you.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) reserves general clinic ownership for medical doctors with at least 5 years post-graduation experience. But here’s the thing many nurses don’t know: you can absolutely establish a maternity home or specialized nursing facility under specific conditions. No wahala—let’s break down your real options.
Registered nurses with BSc degrees can legally operate maternity homes, focusing on primary healthcare, maternal services, and community wellness. Ready to turn your nursing expertise into a thriving business? This guide covers everything from NMCN requirements to funding strategies, equipment lists, and the step-by-step licensing process.
Legal Requirements & Eligibility for Nurse-Led Healthcare Facilities
NMCN Regulations for Private Practice
The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria sets clear boundaries for what nurses can and cannot do in private practice. While you can’t open a general medical clinic, the regulations actually favour specialized nursing facilities.
Here’s what you need to qualify:
- Valid NMCN registration and current practising licence
- Minimum 6 months clinical experience (verified by workplace attestation)
- For maternity homes: Registered Midwife (RM) certification with 5+ years experience
- Clean professional record with no disciplinary actions
Distinguishing Nursing Home, Maternity Homes from General Clinics and Hospital Licensing
Many nurses get confused about what they can legally operate, you should know that not all healthcare facilities are equal under Nigerian law. Let’s clear this up:
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Clinics: Small-scale, outpatient-focused. Nurses with five years’ experience can run them for minor cases. Limited to 12 hours daily, with mandatory referrals for complex cases.
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Nursing Homes: Specialise in maternal and child care—antenatal, delivery, post-natal. Nurses, especially midwives, can operate these with NMCN approval. Licensing mirrors clinics but focuses on maternity-specific standards.
Maternity Homes (Nurses Can Own):
- Antenatal care and routine check-ups
- Normal deliveries and postnatal care
- Immunizations and child welfare services
- Basic diagnostic tests (blood pressure, weight, urine)
- Health education and family planning
General Medical Clinics or Hospital (Doctors Only):
- Complex medical diagnoses
- Prescription of controlled medications
- Surgical procedures beyond basic wound care
- Treatment of serious medical conditions
- Only medical doctors with MBBS and five years’ experience can own hospitals. They offer inpatient care, surgeries, and 24/7 services. Licensing is stricter, requiring MDCN approval and more robust infrastructure.
Nurses can’t own hospitals, but clinics and nursing homes are within reach. Know your lane
Understanding Your Scope: What You Can and Cannot Do
Primary Care Services You Can Provide
Your clinic excels in frontline healthcare:
Treatment Services:
- Malaria diagnosis and treatment
- Minor wound care and dressing
- Basic infection management
- Hypertension monitoring
- Diabetes screening and education
Preventive Care:
- Routine immunizations for children and adults
- Family planning counseling and contraceptive administration
- Antenatal and postnatal care
- Health education and lifestyle counseling
- Nutritional assessment and guidance
Emergency Response:
- First aid for minor injuries
- Stabilization before hospital referral
- Basic life support (within nursing scope)
Legal Boundaries and Compliance with National Health Act
Prohibited Cases: No surgeries, no complex diagnostics (e.g., CT scans) requiring specialized equipment exceed your scope. No treatment of chronic conditions like cancer without a doctor’s oversight or clear referral protocols.. Always refer serious cases—heart attacks, severe trauma—to hospitals.
NMCN doesn’t spell out “minor cases” clearly, so err on the side of caution. When in doubt, refer.
Can nurses legally provide prescription services in their clinics? Limited prescription authority exists for certain medications within nursing scope, but controlled substances and complex therapeutic regimens require physician involvement.
Nigeria’s National Health Act (2014) is clear: only licensed health professionals can operate clinics, and only within the scope of their license. Nurses cannot represent themselves as “medical doctors”. Also, every health facility must maintain accurate records, confidentiality, and ethical standards.
If a patient dies under your care due to an avoidable error, you’re liable. Malpractice suits in Nigeria are rare, but rising. Documentation and referral discipline are your best defence.
Staffing and Referral Obligations
Even if you’re qualified, you can’t work solo. You’ll need:
- At least one other registered nurse
- A visiting doctor (some states make this compulsory)
- A functional referral agreement with a nearby hospital or general facility
Nurses who can open a clinic in Nigeria
Many nursing professionals in Nigeria hold various certifications that don’t grant clinic-opening rights. These limitations often surprise graduates who assume all nursing qualifications carry equal privileges.
- Certificate holders in General Nursing (CGN) serve as enrolled nurses but lack independent facility-ownership authority. Their practice scope remains limited to supervised roles within existing healthcare institutions.
- Enrolled Nurse Certificate holders support RNs on hospital wards throughout Lagos, Abuja, and other major cities. Their valuable contributions to patient care don’t extend to establishing standalone clinics.
- Auxiliary Nurse Certificate holders work within public health centres under direct supervision. The NMCN doesn’t recognize this credential for independent practice or facility licensing.
- Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs) focus on immunisation programs and community outreach. Their certificates restrict them to these specific functions without clinic-establishment rights.
- Community Health Officers (CHOs) provide primary care support under district health boards. Any private facility they’re involved with requires supervising physicians and additional licensing.
- Health Assistant Grade I & II certificates represent government-approved supportive roles. These positions, whilst important for Nigeria’s healthcare system, don’t carry NMCN-mandated autonomy for opening health centres.
- Post-Basic Specialized Nursing Certificates in areas like Critical Care or Peri-operative Nursing enhance your clinical skills. These valuable qualifications boost your professional profile but don’t expand your practice scope for clinic ownership beyond your base RN status.
- Higher National Diploma (HND) holders in Nursing possess strong academic foundations. They still require full RN registration and facility licensing from NMCN/FMOH before opening clinics.
- Nurse Assistant Training Certificate holders provide essential bedside care support. This credential doesn’t confer legal authority to register or operate hospitals or private clinics.
Bridging the Gap: Upgrading Your Credentials
Healthcare professionals holding these alternative certifications can still achieve clinic-ownership goals. The pathway involves upgrading to BSc Nursing through accredited Nigerian institutions or NMCN-recognized international programs.
After obtaining your BSc Nursing degree, complete NMCN registration and secure your annual practising licence. Then satisfy FMOH facility-licensing requirements, including premises inspection, supervising-doctor agreements where needed, and NHIS registration.