WHAT HAVING NO LEADER/LEADER WITH A VOICE HAS COST US IN NURSING. by Olabanji Joel.

Can we all see, from the pictures added to this write up that dental therapists and dental technologists(HND) are now above degree nurses not to even mention other health care professionals. I have always thought our own dear profession had only retrogressed to the 5th position in the health care industry  but it's all in my imagination because we are just a step ahead of the health care assistants.



It is believed that we have a governing body in nursing which we pay into occasionally and we have an association which many persons pay dues to regularly but are these our leaders representing us well? While I believe we nurses in the profession have our part to play in making the profession well valued I still believe there is so much our leaders have to do.

The external advertisement is from a teaching hospital in Enugu and I'm sure there is a nursing union in that hospital not to talk of the state and then national. What is the duty of a union if not to stand for the people they are representing and come out against oppression? Or are they there only to collect dues and oppress those they are representing?! 

From the advert, we can all agree that the grouping wasn't a mistake as the list was made according to position even before grouping into different salary cadres. In a well regulated profession and region, all the nurses in the hospital should have stopped working and no nurse should be allowed in the hospital for internship until proper placement is being done but no! Nothing will be done about it because our leaders are not representing our interest but their pockets. 

I don't want to call my leaders in the profession bad names but if I do then it's because they have failed us woefully and it's affecting our future, I don't want to live as a second class health care worker despite being a professional with lots of workloads. I don't want to be frustrated and depressed all because I am in a profession without leaders with a voice. I don't want to wait till I am totally wretched and bedridden before my leaders come out to do what is expected of them. If our leaders want to keep on being insensitive to the crisis which has befallen Nursing in Nigeria, they should continue being greedy, they should keep on acting like they will live forever but surely, the situation of nursing in Nigeria will not always be this bad and one day, they will regret never representing the profession well in a very miserable way. 

IF NURSING IS NOT PROPERLY STRUCTURED WITH GOOD NURSING LEADERS, WE SHOULD EXPECT HAVING TO FIGHT FOR LEADERSHIP WITH HEALTH ASSISTANTS SOON AS EVEN CHEW AND CHO ARE ALREADY HEADING HIGHER POSITIONS THAN NURSES.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

2025 International Nurses Day Write-up by Olabanji Joel Orolugbagbe

Image
"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...
Read more

The Reality of Marriage: Beyond Love by Olabanji Joel Orolugbagbe

Image
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...
Read more

PRIORITIZING WHAT MATTERS by Olabanji Joel Orolugbagbe

Image
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...
Read more