The Lagos State chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) has stated that most Nigerian nurses in both public and private hospitals are overworked, while their pay is not commensurate with the kind of jobs they do.
Drawing attention to this, the chairman of Lagos State branch of NANNM, Mrs. Olatunde Olushola, said an average nurse cares for 30 patients per day, adding that, this far exceeds World Health Organisation’s recommended number of patients to be attended to by a nurse daily.
Olushola, who spoke during the 2nd Nurses Week and Annual Scientific Conference, held in Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Igbobi, said despite the enormous work pressure and challenges faced by nurses, they were hardly appreciated for the value of work and services they put in, adding that, the voice of nurses were hardly heard even when administrative decisions were being taken.
She said the challenges in the hospital and at home were part of factors contributing to the unfriendly attitude of some nurses in the country, but added that it was not in the nature of any nurse to be hostile but circumstances often force them to do so. According to her, apart from the poor renumeration and overwork, some institutions do not have the required working tools. “Now tell me, if I want to take delivery of a baby and there is no light and I now have to hang my handset as a torch on my head to attend to the woman that is in distress, won’t I be tensed and stressed up?”
Olushola, however, said such unfriendly attitude was tarnishing the nursing profession, and should be mitigated, adding that what is expected of professional nurses was for them to remain professional even in the face of challenges and distress.
“As professionals, the expectation is that a nurse should carry out her duties against all odds, even in the face of inhibitions that include acute staff shortage, non-conducive environment, poor facilities and lack of adequate welfare among others.
“In the past, when a level 14 nurse retire, two or three nurses are employed to replace her and the retired nurse’s salary is divided among them. Today, however, we are having a situation whereby 75 nurses retire and the management is planning to employ 23 as their replacement,” she noted.
Also speaking at the event, the Chief Executive Officer, Radio Continental, Mr. Richie Johnson, described nursing as a noble profession that only people who have compassion for humans should venture into.
By: Martins Ifijeh
This Day News
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