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.
