Amid dwindling health workers in the health sector, young nurses across the country have raised the alarm over widespread bullying and overwork they face in the state and federal government-owned health facilities, noting that it is impacting negatively on their productivity. They lamented that these are challenges contributing to the declining number of nurses in the profession and posing significant risks to patient care.
The nurses spoke during a press briefing organized by the Nursing Group Administrators to protest against the new certificate verification guidelines set up by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria. The aggrieved nurses lamented that many of them have been subjected to various forms of bullying by senior colleagues, including verbal abuse, humiliation, and exclusion. They noted that these experiences have exposed them to mental health issues, with some choosing to leave the profession and travel abroad to work.
One of the young nurses, who is also a representative of the group, Edike Osemeke, said the alarming trend is exacerbating the country’s nursing shortage, thus, putting patient safety at risk. He added, “One of the key challenges highlighted by younger nurses is the unfair workload on their cadre, the reluctance of hospital managements to employ more nurses, and the toxic work culture in their facilities. “We take these issues seriously because young nurses are the most mobile group and their complaints about frustration and lack of support contribute significantly to their outward migration, especially to private facilities, and non-clinical work settings such as HM0s of federal facilities in Nigeria. “We believe the Ministry of Health and other relevant authorities should take firm policy decisions that would prevent bullying, ensure fair distribution of workload and promote an amiable and supportive work culture to improve the retention of young Nurses.”
Speaking on the NMCN verification, Osemeke maintained that the new NMCN’s verification guidelines are impractical and also detrimental to the advancement of healthcare standards in Nigeria. According to him, the new NMCN’s verification guidelines would worsen the existing skills gap within the country. He further insisted that excessive documentation demands and extensive waiting periods serve as significant barriers hindering nurses from acquiring knowledge and career advancement.
Another nurse, Cletus Onyekosor affirmed the hostile work environment, lamenting that young nurses are also being overworked, with many working long hours and caring for more patients than is safe or manageable. He noted that this has led to increased stress and burnout among nurses, which he noted can negatively impact patient care. The nurse urged hospital administrators and policymakers to take immediate action to address the issue, including implementing anti-bullying policies and providing better support for young nurses. Onyekosor added that strain on the mental and psychological health of nurses and occupational-related health conditions such as back pain, joint pains, infection, assaults, and physical and sexual abuse contributed to the high number of nurses exiting the system across the country.
Speaking on the NMCN verification guidelines, Onyekosor said the Council failed to engage in meaningful dialogue with stakeholders, disregarding the concerns and insights of those directly impacted by what he described as draconian measures. He said, “We demand immediate action from the NMCN to revoke these unjust rules and engage in genuine consultation with nursing professionals and relevant stakeholders. The continued enforcement of these regulations will exacerbate the crisis in healthcare delivery, leading to dire consequences for both nurses and patients.
Addressing the concerns raised by younger nurses regarding workload distribution, the reluctance of hospital management to hire additional staff, and toxic work culture is paramount. Policy decisions should be enacted to prevent mistreatment, ensure fair workload distribution, and foster a supportive work environment to retain young nurses and mitigate migration to alternative work settings. We advocate for the establishment of a robust and objective feedback mechanism by the council and government to monitor the decision-making factors and challenges faced by critical healthcare workforce members like nurses. This can be achieved through regular workforce surveys, exit interviews, and ongoing engagement with relevant associations. “Building an evidence-based approach will enable more proactive and responsive policy interventions, both in financial and non-financial incentives, to maintain a skilled and motivated nursing workforce.”
