Challenges Faced by Nigerian Nurses: A Critical Examination of NMCN's New Verification Policy

Nursing is a noble profession in almost every part of the world with only few countries not placing so much value on the procession. sadly, Nigeria belongs to the group of few countries that doesn't value Nursing as a profession and this has made many nurses trained in the country to opt for better opportunities in developed countries.

In recent times, the nursing profession in Nigeria has faced numerous challenges, with a significant number of nurses seeking better opportunities abroad due to perceived under valuation and inadequate recognition. Unfortunately, the latest circular issued by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) regarding the verification of nurses pursuing international opportunities seems to lack a nuanced understanding of the underlying issues faced by nurses in the country.

The new circular by the NMCN as regards verification of nurses who want to explore international opportunities shows that NMCN has no knowledge of the problems facing nurses in Nigeria or probably decides to turn a blind eye while still preventing us from getting our self sought freedom.

In one of my write ups in 2020 where I wrote about a Chairman Medical Advisory Committee of a particular teaching hospital in Nigeria who was actively involved in training and using quack Nurses in his facility, I pointed out some reasons why Nursing will remain undervalued in Nigeria.

 https://olabanjijoel.blogspot.com/2020/07/latest-update-on-just-revealed-den-of.html.

The new circular by the regulatory body empowers heads of hospitals to decide the fate of nurses who might want to explore other opportunities in countries where we are being valued. Will a head of hospital training quacks while underpaying and undervaluing the professional nurses working in their facility respond promptly to a verification request or give a genuine referencing knowing fully well that this is a freedom pathway for the staff?. 

Also, why is a two year post study experience needed for verification? Why are 6 months needed for verification that can take less than 3 days if digitalised? Is this for the best interest of nurses or a requirement by international employers? Nursing and Midwifery Council sure need a re-orientation on why nurses are leaving the country, benefit to the profession, harm to the profession, benefit to the country, and harm to the country. In every situation, there is usually a positive and negative effect, and the same applies to nurses migrating.

Before trying to put in measures to forcefully discourage nurses from leaving the country, why not look into why we are leaving and proffer solution? Why should nurses be forced by our regulatory body in a country that completely ridicules our profession and training? The same practice and training that is valued by developed countries. 

Beyond the mass exodus of Nurses from Nigeria which seems to be the main target of the federal government of Nigeria and Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, the Government need to sit down to study the reason why the younger generation of Nurses do not want to stay in the country. it is widely believed that people migrate from developing countries to developed countries all because of the search for wealth, but this definitely is not so for everyone. Some nurses in Nigeria were frustrated out of the country by the system, which has no regard or value for the majority of the nurses irrespective of the years spent in service, educational qualification, and experience gathered. I am still looking forward to seeing nurse specialist and nurse consultants operating independently in the country.

The devaluation and exodus of Nurses in Nigeria wont stop until Nurses are fully seen as part of the multi disciplinary team working to ensure adequate care of the patient, the active involvement in the decision on patient's care, the active participation in the hospital's administration, due regard to Nurses with specialty and higher degrees. One of the major things that will improve the image of the nursing profession in Nigeria will be a quality assessment of all healthcare facilities in the country with nursing staffing and practice duly assessed. The training of quack nurses by the head of health institutions will make these individuals disrespect and disregard the profession, make policies that will further devalue the profession and see no need for the professionals to be involved in the decision making of the patients. 

A DOCTOR TRAINING A SECONDARY SCHOOL DROP OUT TO BECOME A NURSE WILL NEVER VALUE NURSING

A DOCTOR TRAINING A NURSE WILL NEVER BELIEVE IN THE INDEPENDENT PRACTICE OF A SPECIALITY NURSE, SUCH A DOCTOR WILL NOT REFER A PATIENT TO A SPECIALTY NURSE WHEN NEEDED.

Talking about value, the wages attached to the profession can not be thrown aside. Why would an undervalued professional be well paid? Why should professionals that can be substituted by unqualified persons after receiving 6 months of training be well paid? 

Why should professionals who can not make independent decisions on patient care be well paid? 

Why should a specialist nurse who is not regarded be well paid? 

Why should a well-educated and senior nurse who doesn't  have a say in the running of his/her unit and hospital be well paid? Who would value individuals that don't matter?

Yes, I know people would say that nurses matter in the running of the hospital, but are we treated as such in the country?

 If nurses are valued, then we won't be treated like health care assistants because even the senior nurses on the ward are not regarded by the junior doctors. Why would a junior doctor who just started work today respect and listen to the directive of a senior nurse who has been in service for 14 years but earn lesser than him who just graduated from school less than 2 months ago?

WHERE IS THE VALUE WHEN THERE IS NO INDEPENDENT OF PRACTICE AND GOOD REMUNERATION?

  In my published 2022 Nurses' week, write up https://olabanjijoel.blogspot.com/2022/05/international-nurses-week-policies.html I talked about specialities in nursing, which have been explored in Nigeria but not being practised as it is meant to, and such is the anaesthetic nursing. Also, I talked in the same write up about many unexplored specialties in Nursing which if well explored and allowed to be practiced effectively will add to the value of nursing/nurses and also enhance effective patients care, such specialty is Heart failure Nursing, Diabetic Nursing, Parkinson Nursing etc.

The state of Nursing in Nigeria is in a mess which has made many to leave the country and if not attended to with emergency will further deteriorate beyond imagination irrespective of the restriction put in place by NMCN and FGN. Instead of restrictions and the use of force, NMCN should work for nurses, advocate for better pay, improved value, better opportunities, and funding for nursing programmes. Patients safety will be jeopardized if there are no enough Nurses to care for patients and by then, solution will be more expensive as diaspora nurses will be re-invited back into the country with huge sum of money as salary or the system will be forced to be dependent on persons with lesser qualificationsor training. Yes, Nigeria is tilting towards such a situation. How much can the federal government offer me to return back to Nigeria to practice? Still 🤔. 

Nursing is a noble profession and must be treated as such.

Nursing is the heart of the health care system and must be valued and protected.

Nursing will not be possible without Nurses, therefore Nurses must be valued.

More nursing speciality should be explored in Nigeria, and Nurses should be allowed to optimally practice in their area of specialization,

NOTE; Some specialties in Nursing such as the perioperative nursing cannot be practiced fully without a doctor because a surgeon is needed to perform a surgery and Nigeria has not evolved to a state of having a Nurse Surgeon but specialties such as Diabetes specialist Nursing, plastic Nursing, Tissue Viability Nursing, Vascular Nursing etc can be fully practiced independently without a Doctor unless in cases of further clinical intervention therefore, should be explored, In this case, a referral can be made by the Doctor to the specialist Nurses and the specialist Nurses can make a referral back to doctors when needed, this is how multi disciplinary team works not just a set of professional making all the decisions and getting overwhelmed.

The NMCN's focus should shift towards advocating for better pay, improved value, increased opportunities, funding for nursing programs, and ensuring the quality assessment of healthcare facilities, considering nursing staffing and practice. Specialities in nursing, such as anaesthetic nursing, need to be explored and practised effectively to contribute to the overall value of the profession.

In conclusion, the challenges facing nursing in Nigeria demand urgent attention and a shift in perspective. The NMCN should champion the course of nurses revitalisation, advocate for our well-being, and address the systemic issues leading to the mass migration of nursing professionals. Restrictive measures is not the solution, people will find a way round it; instead, a collaborative effort is needed to enhance the value and recognition of nursing in Nigeria. 

I SAY NO TO NMCN NEW VERIFICATION RULE

I SAY NO TO INTIMIDATION BY NMCN.

OUR REGULATORY BODY SHOULD BE FOR US AND NOT AGAINST US.

THE REGISTRAR SHOULD SERVE NURSING AND NURSES NOT THE OTHER WAY ROUND.

Olabanji joel

A Nurse, Writer and Socialist.