I have been thinking about this for some time and I couldn't find any answer. Perhaps, nurses in the house could help us understand what is in Nigeria nurses' heads. Come to think of it, Nurses are the most compassionate persons you find in other climes. I have really traveled wide and I have met all kinds of nurses from home nurses to hospital nurses. They are cool, calm, loving, compassionate and full of empathy for their patients.

But in Nigeria hospitals, nurses don't only insult their patients, they go ahead to embarrass patients' visitor. They make you feel unwanted harshly, character trait widely different from what they were taught in nursing school. They are very quick to insult women on labour and mock them at any slight opportunity. After birthing, they hardly assist to take care of the infant.

It is hard time people started taking them to court to learn their work ethics. Has any patient here suffered in the hand of any nurses? Please share

Brb

another set of mean pple after politicians are Nurse's


if they get angry with you....they can leave u to die!


so beta don't provoke them when u re in their Base [hospital]

Most patients are pain in d butt

If you explain 1 thing 100 times they will still do another.

It's worst medical job that leaves you depressed after work.

tolugar:
Most patients are pain in d butt

If you explain 1 thing 100 times they will still do another.

It's worst medical job that leaves you depressed after work.

What will patients do exactly? They are sick and weak. You are to take charge. Workplace aggression is a misdemeanor.

Op,how many nurses have you encountered or is your thread based on assumptions or hearsay?

Thorpido....

The nice nurses are the exception rather than the rule. The OP is correct I've worked with nurses and even though they were not working in the clinic at the time their temperament was unfriendly and quite uncouth.

During immunization at primary health center you need to see all the mums literally kneeling and shivering just to be on the good side of the nurses.

I can't begin to enumerate my experiences here but I assure you they were unpleasant. The only naija nurses who were professional in my
Interactions with them were at a top notch private hospital and it was easy to deduce that it was the environment ensuring they remained professional

tolugar:
Most patients are pain in d butt

If you explain 1 thing 100 times they will still do another.

It's worst medical job that leaves you depressed after work.

Just see what we are saying! The said "pains in your butt" ensure your salary is paid via their bills.
Another thing is how sure are we that you explained well enough for the patient to understand considering that half the time many nurses themselves don't know the right thing
No one forced you to take the job or profession for eg. You're expected to take care of these people cheerfully. You think sickness is fun

Nigerian nurses are the products of Nigerian environment.

You can't be looking for an angel when you are a devil yourself. We all come from an aggressive society where every Tom, Di.ck and Harry is waiting patiently to slit someones throat. From the scum of the Nigerian earth to the person at the head of the totem pole, hell, even our president made the infamous 97%/5% comments concerning his own citizens. Ever heard our aggressive religious preachers preach, our teachers/ lecturers, bus drivers and conductors, huh. Fv.ck, even our various offices is a war zones where people are neglected, shouted on, treated as nonentity and at the end given an indefinite appointment. Banks are not left out. Police and army nko.
Everywhere you poke head people are trying so hard to outdo each other by screaming and shouting.
This passive- aggressive society breeds this set of professionals in question and I will be lying if I expects them to be the sheep in the mixed of wolves. Unless they are adequately compensated as it is done in apex private hospitals where fat salaries keeps them in check to act professionally.

not the one I know .......trust me, she's the definition of considerate and compassionate

What TheArchangel said: Nurses are a product of Nigerian environment. The same shrieking, hissing in impatience, evil Paediatric Nurse from GH will put on a private nurse uniform and be beaming happily at babies in Lifeline Private Hospital. Because there, they are paid enough to provide a veneer of respectability or professionalism.

babythug:
Thorpido....

The nice nurses are the exception rather than the rule. The OP is correct I've worked with nurses and even though they were not working in the clinic at the time their temperament was unfriendly and quite uncouth.

During immunization at primary health center you need to see all the mums literally kneeling and shivering just to be on the good side of the nurses.

I can't begin to enumerate my experiences here but I assure you they were unpleasant. The only naija nurses who were professional in my
Interactions with them were at a top notch private hospital and it was easy to deduce that it was the environment ensuring they remained professional

I wouldn't want to agree with you that nice nurses are the exception.I wouldn't agree with the general impression that nurses in Nigeria are not good.Many nurses are nice and compassionate,though I can't put a percentage on that.You will however find that group more in private hospitals.I'll agree if you say it's because of their workplace.
The most unfriendly ones are in government hospitals.Like TheArchangel said,many have made themselves products of their environment.
In Lagos state,there is a re-orientation going on with healthcare workers generally and you can't get away for long being nasty.A report of you might get to the authorities.

Not just nurses, a sizeable amount of the health workers in a our general hospitals are inconsiderate and lack empathy.

Very common in government hospitals.

I want to look at it from another angle, an average Nigerian when placed in a position will naturally feel superior or not answerable to those he/she is to render service to, therefore it affects the primary reason why they got the job in the first place, which is to render service.

Its also the reason why we have poor customer service almost everywhere and unless there are strict sanctions or monitoring an average Nigerian (most Nigerians I think) may want to be lax in rendering the service he/she is being paid to do. I believe that apart from the renumeration this is also a reason why workers in private hospitals seem to be very efficient, there is a very high probability that If the same set of people get employed in a government setting with the same pay/working conditions their attitude will change and this is because its "government work" and there seems to be this belief that you can't get sanctioned easily.


Anyway I know someone who reported a particular doctor at a GH in Lagos to the authorities and he was cautioned seriously.

babythug:


Just see what we are saying! The said "pains in your butt" ensure your salary is paid via their bills.
Another thing is how sure are we that you explained well enough for the patient to understand considering that half the time many nurses themselves don't know the right thing
No one forced you to take the job or profession for eg. You're expected to take care of these people cheerfully. You think sickness is fun

Well said. Once you are paid to do a job, you must make sure all getting your services must receive the best customer service as there can be!

it's really so annoying and surprising at times to me cos even our mothers in the lord in the church when you see them handling patients you'll shed tears. it seems they loose their conscience when they take up the profession. most show no mercy at all. heartbreaking cases that I've witnessed made me ran away from visiting general hospital. it is well with our nurses

yetseyi:
Not just nurses, a sizeable amount of the health workers in a our general hospitals are inconsiderate and lack empathy.

Very common in government hospitals.

I want to look at it from another angle, an average Nigerian when placed in a position will naturally feel superior or not answerable to those he/she is to render service to, therefore it affects the primary reason why they got the job in the first place, which is to render service.

Its also the reason why we have poor customer service almost everywhere and unless there are strict sanctions or monitoring an average Nigerian (most Nigerians I think) may want to be lax in rendering the service he/she is being paid to do. I believe that apart from the renumeration this is also a reason why workers in private hospitals seem to be very efficient, there is a very high probability that If the same set of people get employed in a government setting with the same pay/working conditions their attitude will change and this is because its "government work" and there seems to be this belief that you can't get sanctioned easily.


Anyway I know someone who reported a particular doctor at a GH in Lagos to the authorities and he was cautioned seriously.

Customer service hasn't fair well in our country. From one sector to another, employees feel like the boss to the customer like he/she is doing you a favour of a sort. And he/she is ready to bark at you if you slight fail to cooperate which include monetary gratification. How long can we continue like this? My expectation is that Nurses should lead the pack in giving excellent services because of their training. They even had a course in workplace, nurses-patients communication. Did they forgot all they learnt or the humanity instinct that led them to being nurses?

TheArchangel:
Nigerian nurses are the products of Nigerian environment.

Absolutely. Wifey' sister is HR manager for a large London hospital, she's always regaling us with stories about how the Naija nurses are always being reported and up for disciplinary action due to their poor bedside manner .

When we had TVJnr, I swear the place was like Agege . Most of the nurses, even the lead one, were all Nigerian. Especially night shift - they love night shift . Lots of the patients sef...my socialite MIL - as ever - struck up convo with the lady in the opposite bed, turns out we "know them". We even had visitor mix-up

"Right", I thought we are moving - we already had technically, the house thing just took like 7 months instead of 3 so we missed it for his birth. Nice leafy suburbia. What did we find when our daughter came along? Almost all the Dr's were Naija...even the lead ObyGyny? Barely a year later I met the Dr who delivered her at a party? Reverse colonisation .

Apologies for derailing jare...just feeling the boy this morning

yetseyi:
Not just nurses, a sizeable amount of the health workers in a our general hospitals are inconsiderate and lack empathy.

Very common in government hospitals.

Where the conditions and environment are probably harsh for workers and patients. The nurses, as are everyone else, just products of this.


TV

^{Morning yetseyi, how far? I've been watching YouTube videos of Bro' Gbile. I'm quite surprised about the low number of views. Some barely make a 1'000 - and I listen to each one at least 2ce}

TV01:





Where the conditions and environment are probably harsh for workers and patients. The nurses, as are everyone else, just products of this.


TV

^{Morning yetseyi, how far? I've been watching YouTube videos of Bro' Gbile. I'm quite surprised about the low number of views. Some barely make a 1'000 - and I listen to each one at least 2ce}

I do understand the pressures of working at a GH (it can be very terrible to be honest) its just that we expect better from our health workers, one should be able to control some things to a reasonable extent.


_{Morning Oga TV I am not really surprised , bro Gbiles messages are not really pleasing to the ear to a lot of hippy/modern Christians, Its for those who want in-depth exposition of the scriptures}

babythug:


Just see what we are saying! The said "pains in your butt" ensure your salary is paid via their bills.
Another thing is how sure are we that you explained well enough for the patient to understand considering that half the time many nurses themselves don't know the right thing
No one forced you to take the job or profession for eg. You're expected to take care of these people cheerfully. You think sickness is fun

TBH, Nigerian patients can also be a pain. Patients will refuse to take meds, abscond from treatment, start attending a "Bible believing church" and when things go south, rush to the hospital demanding miracles and then tell the world the hospitals failed them. One of the popular cases on NL was in that situation. Or patients plead with tears in their eyes to treat without payment, then abscond when they recover. Plus all the salary delays and barely any working infrastructure
It's rare to see a practitioner in Public Health being cheerful after 6 months. Add to the fact that in Nigeria, Customer Service is like a dirty word (unless the person in front of you looks wealthy, then they start to show flattering deference).

TheArchangel:
Nigerian nurses are the products of Nigerian environment.

100% agree with you.

yetseyi:


I do understand the pressures of working at a GH (it can be very terrible to be honest) its just that we expect better from our health workers, one should be able to control some things to a reasonable extent.


_{Morning Oga TV I am not really surprised , bro Gbiles messages are not really pleasing to the ear to a lot of hippy/modern Christians, Its for those who want in-depth exposition of the scriptures}

I'm sure many start with idealistic aspirations to really make a difference - then they jam the system . In some ways it's probably coping behaviour.

I'm sure some of the things they see will be heart-rending and they wouldn't be able to function, or function at best, if they let the softer skills get in the way, or try and remember those little touches .


TV

^{...abi. Some of those messages are like 2 hours . I mostly listen whilst cooking on Sunday evenings.}

TV01:

I'm sure many start with idealistic aspirations to really make a difference - then they jam the system . In some ways it's probably coping behaviour.

I'm sure some of the things they see will be heart-rending and they wouldn't be able to function, or function at best, if they let the softer skills get in the way, or try and remember those little touches .


TV

^{...abi. Some of those messages are like 2 hours . I mostly listen whilst cooking on Sunday evenings.}

OKay but how do the exceptionally nice health workers in GHs do it. I have met a few that are very professional and I can't help but wonder if its not the same public health system.


^{loool, who wants to listen to a 2hr bible exposition that doesn't contain motivational speeches in this time and age?}

yetseyi:
OKay but how do the exceptionally nice health workers in GHs do it. I have met a few that are very professional and I can't help but wonder if its not the same public health system.

They get paid accordingly. Money answereth...


TV

^{...wifey came in once and laughed at his accent, I chased her commot for kitchen, as in eh?...I'm not even conscious of the accent, just the content. I'm actually thinking of retrning whence I came...to the religion thread.}

TV01:

They get paid accordingly. Money answereth...


TV

^{...wifey came in once and laughed at his accent, I chased her commot for kitchen, as in eh?...I'm not even conscious of the accent, just the content. I'm actually thinking of retrning whence I came...to the religion thread.}

Apologies for butting in but please don't.
There is a mental picture I always have whenever I read your posts. It feels like someone pouring water on my head on a very hot afternoon. I don't even know if this makes sense.
If truly your way of thinking is as a result of Christianity, I would pick up my studies again.
This is no flattery Sir.
*goes back to lurking*

thorpido:
Op,how many nurses have you encountered or is your thread based on assumptions or hearsay?

I think I agreed with the OP....I have encountered them myself and I did not like what I saw....

I paid my elder sister a visit one day... she worked with one of the Government Hospital in Abuja...

On getting there, I discovered a lady was almost in labour because blood was coming out from....u know where.....But to my surprise, she was asked by the nurses to keep walking up and down the corridor of the maternity ward ...They were angry with her because they felt she should have known the rules of getting things ready based on the anti-natal preaching and teachings and that besides, it was not her first child ...She was expected to come with things like Dettol, soap, hand glove etc. since delivery was free of charge, she was expected to get those things for her own use....so they sent one of her relatives to go and get those things...

I couldn't stand there watching, I was kinda upset with my sis....She was like.. what do you want me to do? do you want me to use ordinary hand to deliver the baby...what are we going to use to clean him/her up after delivery..I was like are u telling me that in this big hospital, they got none of those things that you people required for the delivery?...As we were just talking, two of her colleague walked in and asked my sister why I was upset, she told them I was expecting her to use her hands to deliver that lady....To my surprise, both of the nurses started laughing.....one said.. do u expect this Hausa people to know and understand anything?

To cut a long story short, they delivered the woman of a baby girl using the spare gloves and other things they found in the hospital before those relatives of hers came due to my discomfort and persuasion..... This is just one out of the numerous lack of empathy I have seen Nigerian Nurses display....I have been to South African Government Hospital, I have been to Australian Government funded Hospital...It was not like that...You only get a good customer service by a Nigerian nurse if it was a Private hospital because they know that they can be fired at anytime..

Richy4:


I think I agreed with the OP....I have encountered them myself and I did not like what I saw....

I paid my elder sister a visit one day... she worked with one of the Government Hospital in Abuja...

On getting there, I discovered a lady was almost in labour because blood was coming out from....u know where.....But to my surprise, she was asked by the nurses to keep walking up and down the corridor of the maternity ward ...They were angry with her because they felt she should have known the rules of getting things ready based on the anti-natal preaching and teachings and that besides, it was not her first child ...She was expected to come with things like Dettol, soap, hand glove etc. since delivery was free of charge, she was expected to get those things for her own use....so they sent one of her relatives to go and get those things...

I couldn't stand there watching, I was kinda upset with my sis....She was like.. what do you want me to do? do you want me to use ordinary hand to deliver the baby...what are we going to use to clean him/her up after delivery..I was like are u telling me that in this big hospital, they got none of those things that you people required for the delivery?...As we were just talking, two of her colleague walked in and asked my sister why I was upset, she told them I was expecting her to use her hands to deliver that lady....To my surprise, both of the nurses started laughing.....one said.. do u expect this Hausa people to know and understand anything?

To cut a long story short, they delivered the woman of a baby girl using the spare gloves and other things they found in the hospital before those relatives of hers came due to my discomfort and persuasion..... This is just one out of the numerous lack of empathy I have seen Nigerian Nurses display....I have been to South African Government Hospital, I have been to Australian Government funded Hospital...It was not like that...You only get a good customer service by a Nigerian nurse if it was a Private hospital because they know that they can be fired at anytime..

Thank you for confirming and sharing your experience. I have encountered many nurses neglects and aggression in Nigeria public hospitals like they are the one paying their patients. It is time we started talking about it and take the profession to its glory days of empathy.

I really am not on the side of Nigerian Medical Practise (because they get so much wrong) but in their defence, I've met not-so-great nurses in the US. Same with Drs.

I think a lot of complaints people have is with the younger nurses. I have heard Head of School of Nursing in Lagos complained about them and I notice that even in private hospitals, nurses whom are older/matrons still won't baby or pet you, they will be brisk and efficient in a caring manner. The current nurses I'm seeing at private clinics, young and cannot be bothered to look too much at me even though they are smiling away. Same with Drs, some of my siblings say they would stop accreditation of several medical schools if they could.

TheArchAngel couldn't have put it more aptly.

The average Nigerian nurse is a product of a psychologically unhygienic society – the [Nigerian] society – wherein frustration and depression abounds and is enough to make even the sanest person go postal.

Just as one cannot create buzzes and expect symphonies, so also is it impossible to live in a madhouse and expect to retain one's sanity.

I, however, believe nurses in Nigerian GHs are one of the worst crop of humans ever; I also agree 100% with Babythug that nice nurses are more of outliers than the general norm.

I've had many unsavoury experiences with Nigerian nurses, and seeing how they treat patients never fail in making me sweat bullets made of grade-A disbelief.

I've always wondered why some – no, not some, but why many [Nigerian] nurses choose to detach their humanity from their work. And whether some glimmer of warmth exists beneath that cold, unfeeling human carapace of insensitivity that bites off my nose whenever I see how they manhandle patients with stern, uncaring gloves of indignity. Isn't humanity par with the nursing profession?

I won't pretend they alone merit all imputations of blame. Some patients do as well, and the government, of course, takes the lionshare in that apple pie of blame.

How many patients remember to send thank-you notes, or cards, or gifts to these nurses after they've been discharged? How many remember to mutter one or two words of gratitude after their health have improved?

This is not to say that gifts of appreciation puts, or should be the sole raison d'être that nurses should be on their best behaviour, but, still, it's hard to deny that they could function as instruments of motivation that'll nudge these nurses toward the right direction.

Everyone loves to be appreciated, and patients could be crucial in bringing about an attitudinal transformation of these nurses by being grateful and generous with words of appreciation, gifts, and cash toward these nurses. Is it really that difficult to be grateful?

Much said, Nigerian nurses ought to change and improve on their approach to their work – especially the ones in general hospitals.

Nation-wide workshops and seminars should be organised for these nurses. Welfare services should also be hedged in place, and Government should double up their efforts in ensuring that nurses are adequately compensated for the noble service they render to humanity.

I recoil in disgust whenever I read about nurses and doctors deferred salary payment to the extent that they have to go on strikes – that's just reprehensible and inhumane on the part of the Government.

Teachers, nurses, doctors -- these set of professionals deserve to be treated like kings and queens.

Onegai:

TBH, Nigerian patients can also be a pain. Patients will refuse to take meds, abscond from treatment

True, but in cases of recalcitrant patients, isn't that where the professionalism of these said nurses is expected to prevail over the impulses of their emotions? I'm sure they were trained for situations as such in nursing school.

...

I'm not very good at taking pills as well, and the last time I fell ill, I asked the doctor if I could take injection(s) instead. I explained my aversion to drug-taking to him, and even informed him of how I barf sometimes after swallowing a pill.

Would you believe the doctor said, "Sorry, you have to take the drugs, there's nothing I can do about that”? It's not just that he muttered those cold words of indifference, but that he conveyed his message in the most gravelly and uncompassionate voice ever. What would you say about that?

DarkRebel101:


True, but in cases of recalcitrant patients, isn't that where the professionalism of these said nurses is expected to prevail over the impulses of their emotions? I'm sure they were trained for situations as such in nursing school.

...

I'm not very good at taking pills as well, and the last time I fell ill, I asked the doctor if I could take injection(s) instead. I explained my aversion to drug-taking to him, and even informed him of how I barf sometimes after swallowing a pill.

Would you believe the doctor said, "Sorry, you have to take the drugs, there's nothing I can do about that”? It's not just that he muttered those cold words of indifference, but that he conveyed his message in the most gravelly and uncompassionate voice ever. What would you say about that?

Yes, they should be trained to handle high-pressure patients. And if the hospital were unable to give you your meds as injectibles, what was the Dr supposed to do? He told you he was sorry and that it was not possible. I hear a lot of horror stories about bad Drs and bad patients so I understand both sides. They are human and there is a lot that happens. None of my family members whom are medical people are going to hold your hand in a warm, friendly manner but they are some of the best, qualified Drs out there and at the end, their patients agree: they would rather have a stern Dr who treats well than some smiling, ineffficient guy. One of my Gynaes in a private hospital was a tough old nut, I disliked him and complained (he very harshly asked me where my scans were). He was right, my initial Dr had forgotten to attach my scans/had not done one yet and quickly checked his notes to see what she missed. I later found out he was a Professor Of Gynaecology. Did I want a nice Dr? Yes. Did I want a healthy pregnancy and smooth delivery? Freaking Yes!

Tired of having to defend the Profession almost every time. Someone always has to say something bad about to say about Nurses. If they aren't been called slu. ts, someone else is generalizing about ALL nurses being bad and rude. All other Professionals are Saints apparently.

There are good nurses, I have worked and schooled with several, I am one. And as we have with every other profession, there are bad eggs. People just seem to capitalize more on the bad eggs ,wouldn't know why, maybe all nurses they have met have left bad impressions.
Like someone said we are all a product of our Environment. There are good and 'bad' people everywhere, profession notwithstanding.
And the condition some or most nurses have to work in can sometimes make one develop apathy, when just 2 nurses are to care for over 15 patients, critical cases, demanding relatives, uncooperative patients, having to improvise for almost every damn thing,people talking you down and all and someone is expecting efficient nursing care in such situation, how? Many are burnt out and just there for the pay check (when it comes), etc.
Not making excuses though, there are bad nurses and nothing can justify not treating the patients well, they are the reason we are there. There are good ones too, no one talks about them though, no one as ever gotten a nice gesture from a nurse, no one has ever been treated right by a nurse, they are all usually rude and uncompassionate.

Reason I don't like 'bedside' nursing, need my Sanity.

Richy4:


I think I agreed with the OP....I have encountered them myself and I did not like what I saw....

I paid my elder sister a visit one day... she worked with one of the Government Hospital in Abuja...

On getting there, I discovered a lady was almost in labour because blood was coming out from....u know where....But to my surprise, she was asked by the nurses to keep walking up and down the corridor of the maternity ward ...They were angry with her because they felt she should have known the rules of getting things ready based on the anti-natal preaching and teachings and that besides, it was not her first child ...She was expected to come with things like Dettol, soap, hand glove etc. since delivery was free of charge, she was expected to get those things for her own use....so they sent one of her relatives to go and get those things...

I couldn't stand there watching, I was kinda upset with my sis....She was like.. what do you want me to do? do you want me to use ordinary hand to deliver the baby...what are we going to use to clean him/her up after delivery..I was like are u telling me that in this big hospital, they got none of those things that you people required for the delivery?...As we were just talking, two of her colleague walked in and asked my sister why I was upset, she told them I was expecting her to use her hands to deliver that lady....To my surprise, both of the nurses started laughing.....one said.. do u expect this Hausa people to know and understand anything?

To cut a long story short, they delivered the woman of a baby girl using the spare gloves and other things they found in the hospital before those relatives of hers came due to my discomfort and persuasion..... This is just one out of the numerous lack of empathy I have seen Nigerian Nurses display....I have been to South African Government Hospital, I have been to Australian Government funded Hospital...It was not like that...You only get a good customer service by a Nigerian nurse if it was a Private hospital because they know that they can be fired at anytime..

I will agree that nurses and other health workers need to show more empathy.However,the bolded part of your posts raises questions.First she was told to walk up and down to aid her labour so it wasn't a punishment.
The second part is really the issue.Tell me why a pregnant woman who falls into labour has no bag packed for delivery?Do you know out of 10 patients in a government hospital,about 3 or 4 will present that way?How do you keep working with people like this and not get frustrated?The government provides limited resources so you really don't have extras in the hospital.There is poverty in the land but I think many patients are just careless.
Do you know many health care workers provide for patients from their pockets?