QUACKERY IN NURSING- A big issue that should be faced squarely by Olabanji Joel.

Exactly two weeks ago, I was given an assistant at my place of work following my persistent request due to high workload. I thought the assistant would be a Nurse but a quack was brought to me as a Nurse, he studied Estate Management in school but now working as a quack without any knowledge of what caring is. 

On the arrival of the assistant, the nurse who brought him to me happens to be a senior  Nurse at one of the Lagos state general hospitals. She told me to teach my assistant many things as he will assist me well and he should also learn from me, I immediately told her I am one of those in nursing who works against quakery and I will not show him or teach him anything. Meanwhile, the Senior nurse called the quack nurse (name withhold) and told him to learn from me well. After telling her my stand against quackery she said that's how people from the upper region (Osun, Ondo, Ekiti etc) act. I frankly told her I can't trust my patient in the hand of a quack

The quack started with me and I gave him orders on what I want him to do but I maintained my nursing procedures including the ones he told me he could do well.I told him to go for nursing if he want to be a Nurse, I have given him reasons to go back to school if he want to and if not, he should go back to what he studied in school but this man said he has been in it even before I got to nursing school but my response was that a Nursing graduate of yesterday and him practicing quackery for 30years are not mate, the fresh graduate is by far not his mate in all ramifications when it comes to the profession.

Though, maintaining my nursing procedures even to vital signs still makes the work stressful for me but I am always happy doing my job and not giving it to a quack who doesn't know why he is doing what he is doing. He has tagged me as a man who says "this is my procedure don't worry, you can leave".

Point number one- There are Nurses who encourage quackery, even if a nurse can't be paid for, someone who studied health assistance or a community health officer can be employed to assist the nurse, not by bringing an individual who doesn't know what health is to care for a patient. A senior Nurse telling me to teach a quack is unheard of but that is what is happening in our country 

Point number two: We should be careful of what we do while trying not to be overworked, many nursing procedures has been made medical procedures because nurses didn't guide the procedure jealously, we were comfortable when they were taking what belongs to us away because we thought it would relieve us of many duties but these people now see us as doing nothing and will tell you nurses are not doing anything. It's not their fault , it's ours, because of our laziness misunderstanding of what responsibility is.

Lastly, knowing what you want, standing up to your responsibilities, standing your ground and doing what is right at all times keeps you at a respected height. Irresponsibility comes with shifting responsibilities which should originally be carried out by you to another person. Decentralization is good but you should know what your personal responsibilities are.

I stand strongly against quackery, defend what is yours jealously so that you won't lose it today and regret it forever. Thanks

Olabanji Joel
Edited by Nurse Fajimolu Deborah O.

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