Writings of Olabanji Joel

Yesterday, I discharged a very demanding patient home. As she was about to leave the ward with her daughter, she called me over for a hug and expressed her gratitude. She told her daughter that I was a good nurse and was happy that I was part of her care team throughout her hospital stay. This gesture hit me differently, and it motivated me to do even more for my patients. As an adult with family responsibilities, I have come to realize that my profession is not just a job but a source of sustenance. I have learned to prioritize my role as a nurse above every thing I was actively doing before having a family, and the appreciation from patients like this one means a lot to me. Recently, I had a conversation with my cousin, and I shared with him that the only thing that can get under my skin is being told I am not good at my job because I see it as a threat to my source of livelihood and if genuinely done, I see it as a push to improve myself. I have accepted that I have shifted my focus...

In my three years of marriage and what I have seen of marriages around me, I have come to realize that every day is an opportunity to celebrate love, foster understanding, practice forgiveness, and make sacrifices. Contrary to the notion that all you need for a successful marriage is love, I have learned that it takes intentional effort and investment from both partners. Sacrifices and forgiveness are just as crucial as love in making a marriage last, peaceful, and happy. Marriage is often romanticized, but the reality is that it requires hard work and dedication, which many marriage speakers tend not to speak about. Love alone isn't enough; financial stability also plays a significant role in strengthening the bond in marriage. Forgiveness and sacrifice are essential, not just during challenging times but as a continuous process. Both partners must be willing to sacrifice their individual interests and preferences to maintain peace and harmony and family growth. As the saying goes...

Yesterday was a day set aside to celebrate a boy child. I am posting a rough picture of how I mostly look. This picture describes what a boy child who has developed to become a man goes through daily. Behind the cute pictures posted online, there are several things going on. Days of continous hardwork which is more than the days spent relaxing and enjoying. Life is stressful, and growth is stretching. There are multiple bills to pay, and it doesn't end unless we do not want to grow. I don't only have to think about myself. I always have to think about my family. My son, whom I owe a better life, my wife whom I owe a good life. As a man, I have to get up to work even when I don't feel like, I have to do things I wouldn't do when I was single just to make money for my family and make us all comfortable. Aside from my nuclear family, I still have to think about extended family and friends. Yes, success is being recorded and celebrated, but there is rough life, work, and  s...

"Caring for Nurses: The Key to a Stronger Economy" The 2025 International Nurses Day theme, "Our Nurses, Our Future; Caring for Nurses Strengthens Economies," resonates deeply with nurses worldwide. As the International Council of Nurses (ICN) aptly puts it, "Building on the success of the 2024 International Nurses Day theme, The Economic Power of Care, the 2025 theme shifts focus to the health and wellbeing of nurses." The Unseen Struggles of Nurses Nursing has evolved significantly over the years, with numerous specialities and forms of care aimed at promoting patient health, preventing illness, and facilitating coping with disabilities and nursing patients to a peaceful death. However, the emotional, physical, social, and financial toll on nurses remains largely unaddressed. Who cares for the heart that cares? The increasing workload, economic pressures, and fear of litigation have made nursing jobs more challenging than ever. Several nurses have left t...

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 ...

In the annals of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC) College of Nursing, a saga unfolded in 2020 when the Alumni Association, driven by a genuine concern for transparency and accountability, dared to question the fees paid by nursing students and the utilization of these funds. Same questions we all should come together to ask today because all the concerns we raised still exist till this day. In 2020, The Alumni Association of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex Schools of Nursing, Midwifery and Perioperative Nurses with an open heart raised a concern on the fee paid by nursing students and utilization of the fees. Instead of asking about our reason for raising the concern, many persons saw our actions as a fight against the school management. We simply asked questions that could have been answered with explanations on why students have to pay for services but get denied of these services as this was the reason for our probe. For exampl...