In the spirit of Nurses Week, I want to sincerely appreciate nurses all around the world for their priceless contributions to global health and humanity.
Nurses are the heartbeat of medicine and healthcare. They are the lifeline of every medical profession. Whenever I reflect on the origin and essence of nursing, I cannot help but believe that nursing is more than just a profession , it is truly a divine calling to serve humanity.
Nurses work tirelessly alongside doctors, pharmacists, medical laboratory scientists, dietitians, and other healthcare professionals. Most importantly, they remain the closest to patients, providing care, comfort, advocacy, and hope during vulnerable moments.
In nursing school, nurses are trained across various areas of medicine, acquiring broad and significant knowledge that enables them to support, assist, and collaborate effectively with other healthcare professionals. Nursing requires intelligence, resilience, compassion, discipline, and sacrifice.
Nurses are caring, selfless, and deeply committed to service. To be a nurse is not ordinary; it is a special calling, and every nurse should be proud of the profession.
However, while nurses are called to save lives, they are also human beings who deserve to earn a decent living. Sadly, in many parts of the world, despite their enormous contributions to healthcare, nurses remain among the least appreciated and underpaid professionals. The situation is even worse in parts of Africa, particularly Nigeria, where many nurses are not given the respect they truly deserve.
In some private hospitals, nurses are forced to perform duties far outside their profession , acting as gatekeepers, generator operators, and assistants under poor working conditions, while being poorly paid. Some are treated unfairly and denied the dignity their profession deserves.
It is painful that a profession as noble as nursing continues to suffer neglect in Nigeria. Nigerian nurses excel anywhere in the world, proving clearly that the issue is not incompetence or lack of skill, but rather the absence of adequate support, proper healthcare policies, and political will to create opportunities and improve their welfare.
Another growing concern is quackery within the profession. Today, some unqualified individuals parade themselves as nurses simply because they wear white uniforms, despite lacking proper training and certification. This continues to damage the integrity of the profession and places patients at risk.
Qualified nurses in Nigeria face many challenges — poor remuneration, difficult working environments, lack of government support for nursing education, and constant competition with untrained individuals. Many nurses struggle greatly to finance their education, yet there are little or no educational support systems available for them.
I therefore call on every nurse, especially in Nigeria, to remain proud of themselves and never stop demanding what they truly deserves. Despite the poor environment, inadequate support, and countless frustrations, nurses continue to show resilience, professionalism, compassion, and dedication to patient safety and recovery.
Another serious issue is the way some patients and relatives treat nurses. It is unfortunate that some people believe nurses are slaves or people who should be spoken to rudely. There have even been cases where nurses were assaulted while carrying out their duties, yet little or nothing was done to protect them.
Let us remember that nurses and healthcare workers are human beings too. They get exhausted, emotionally drained, and overwhelmed. They also have personal and family struggles, yet they continue to show up every day with courage and compassion to care for others.
If you ever need the attention of a nurse or healthcare worker, please approach them with respect and kindness. A little empathy can go a long way.
Nursing has never been only about the salary. It is deeply rooted in compassion, passion, sacrifice, kindness, and the intentional decision to care for humanity.
May God bless all nurses around the world and strengthen them in every area of their lives.
To those who have lost their lives in the line of duty through infections, accidents, violence, or patient assaults — you are true heroes. Your sacrifices will never be forgotten, and may the Almighty reward you abundantly.
Happy Nurses Week to all our amazing nurses worldwide. ❤️
I remain your friend and brother,
Maazi Onuora Obodoechi
Pen it down. 