Fighting the Epidemic of Quackery… And Other Reasons Nurses are Considered Wicked

On Who I Am…

My name is Osho Motilewa Christiana; I am a registered nurse and a nursing officer in Avon Medical Practice. I am a young, intelligent and enthusiastic nurse with certifications in Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS), Emergency airway management and Electrocardiography interpretations. I am very inquisitive, hardworking and possess a good problem-solving skill. I’m also very friendly and I’ve been told I smile a lot. Lol.

What People Don’t Know About Me

• I absolutely don’t like to watch movies most people love. For example, I never watched Game of Thrones; not even a scene.
• I don’t like taking 7up/Sprite, it makes me feel very sick.
• A day doesn’t pass by without me imagining myself as a world-class chef. Flipping veggies in a pan and making several intercontinental dishes (I think I should work on that though).

The Nickname Thing

Most people prefer to call me by my last name as it is short and simple compared to my first name. However, my family calls me by the nickname ‘Nurse Mo’. They call me by this name because they know how much I love my job and proud of it. My mom actually initiated the name as she finds it very fascinating. ‘It syncs well’ according to her.

Some people call me ‘Lewa, which seem to be easier for them as most people find my name hard to pronounce or remember for the first time. Also, especially because it’s a rare one.

Growing Up

My childhood wasn’t great, but it wasn’t terrible either. I never had a rebellious phase when I was a teenager. My parents were, at times, a bit stricter than I appreciated but I never really had anything to rebel or act out against.

I was a stereotypical nerd – good at math and science, enjoyed drama and quiet.

Deciding to Be A Nurse

It’s tough to nail down a single reason why I chose to be a nurse. It started as a child when I watched my aunt working as a nurse. I saw her build relationships with her patients and do whatever she could to make them feel comfortable. As an adult, nursing speaks to me because of the rewarding work that challenges me while also giving me stable work opportunities. I want to continue learning and growing in the field, and nursing gives me chances to advance and specialize, so I can continue challenging myself while ensuring my patients get the best care possible. Also, considering the fact that I’m a person who thrives on being challenged and I always have new goals to achieve, so nursing suits me as few other careers offer as much diversity and learning opportunities.

Joining The Group?

I joined the group in 2019, March 7th and I’m currently working at the Head office of the Medical branch located in Surulere.

A Typical Workday

My typical workday ends as ‘another day of survival’ like I always call it. What makes it interesting is how unexpected the shift can be. It may be a series of continuous chaos or complete tranquillity.  My typical day at work ranges from having to attend to more than a hundred out-patients, ensuring their vitals is adequately and correctly checked and documented, to running other special clinics like antenatal, administering immunization to babies who will end up crying almost ceaselessly and attending to emergency situations that may serve as a test to one’s clinical competence.

Wicked Nigerian Nurses?

Truth is, our country is inflicted by an epidemic of quackery. Sadly, anybody dressed in white or who gives injection is being addressed as a nurse regardless of whether or not the person possesses the required qualification. Most people patronize hospitals with quacks popularly called ‘auxiliary nurses’ where they are being given less than satisfactory care and treated unprofessionally maybe because of its affordability. Therefore, the experience of some persons with these quacks causes the generalization of ‘nurses are wicked’

However, even though one of the qualities of a good nurse is his/her ability to render care compassionately, it is true that some persons already have some personal personality issue even before deciding to become nurses. This personality will definitely affect the quality of care they render, relationship with patients and even relationship with other members of the health care team.

Experiences on the field

One of the hardest experiences a typical nurse will always mention generally is how some patients talk down on them and even say very mean things while you are putting in your all for the patient’s wellbeing. They do not appreciate little things such as how you find dignity in serving a bedpan or doing a bed bath because most people have the popular belief of ‘it’s your job and you signed up for it.

Even though I’m still very young in the profession, I have so many memorable experiences; both good and bad that I may never be able to forget.

For instance, in 2016, I was still a very naive and inexperienced student nurse with little or no experience about the practical way of taking delivery of a child. It was really challenging for me when I had to choose between trying or losing two lives (even though I do not know them). I had to summon the courage to take delivery in a moving vehicle without being completely sure whether or not I’m doing it right. Thankfully, both the mother and baby were healthy and alive before arrival at the hospital.

However, it’s not all the time these experiences make one feel like a hero. I’ve also had to deal with situations where I have to tell my patient to stop crying (meanwhile, I’ve cried for minutes before going to their bedside). Although most people will say it’s not okay to cry because you’re a nurse or a doctor, but then, we’re humans too after all

On Wanting to Quit times

Yes, the journey has often been challenging to the point of exhaustion. Nursing is very demanding and requires a high dose of emotional intelligence. This, I keep learning so I can retain the consistent satisfaction of doing what I love.

Relaxing?

Usually, after a typical workday which will definitely leave one knackered, the most important thing is ‘sleep’. So, most of the time, I prefer to have a good sleep, watch movies, be with my family and go to beautiful places in order to unwind.

On Nursing During A Pandemic

It is terrifying, but not just for me. My parents are always very scared for me, and during this period, I have seen them become infection control activists with their constant dose of ‘make sure you stay safe and very careful. Our prayers are with you always’. They got so bothered that they advised me to stop work. Of course, the idea was impossible. If a soldier quits in the day of battle, what was his purpose for enlisting?

My Pandemic Thoughts

The COVID-19 pandemic and the wall-to-wall news coverage that has come with it has changed many of our lives seemingly overnight. This pandemic had brought out a series of unexpected life-changing events.

I feel as though the Covid-19 pandemic has caused a seismic tear in both the communities of the internet and real-life by upheaving peace and normalcy. Online, new articles, hashtags, and posts about every little update and tidbit about the Coronavirus are being pumped out every second, every minute, every hour, every day and in every corner, leaving no digital stones untouched. Therefore, self-care is important for everyone at this time, due to the multiple sources of anxiety under the conditions of the pandemic.

So many health workers who are mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, daughters, sons, wives, husbands, girlfriends, boyfriends, fiancé and fiancées to many all around the globe are putting their lives and that of their loved ones on the line while fighting tirelessly to combat this virus.

But I feel incredibly optimistic about the future, there is an antidote to fear, as it is HOPE that will pull us through these difficult times. By having faith that this virus will pass, listening to the medical professionals and authorities, staying indoors, keeping good hygiene, social distancing, not giving in to the fearmongering (like hoarding toilet paper and such), and being mindful and supportive for those deeply affected either physically or emotionally. I whole- heartily believe that we will be able to persevere and come out stronger than ever!

On Finding the Silver Lining

With the onset of the coronavirus, to say life has changed dramatically is an understatement. In our small communities, we all know someone who has been exposed to the virus or has contracted the illness, some mildly and others life-threatening. How we live, work, think, behave and even breathe is now radically different. We are living in a new time –one we were not prepared for or even equipped to adequately handle. To watch the news and see how this virus is spreading worldwide, and even more so in our own backyard, is beyond belief.

Like the times of Noah from the Bible, most people are cooped up in their homes, isolated, socially deprived, praying for a sign of hope, be it a dove, a job offer, schools re-opening, or even a plateau of the pandemic curve.

Maybe there is a silver lining to the coronavirus pandemic. Perhaps the world was moving a bit too fast. Maybe there was too much divisiveness and intolerance in the world. Have we been taking things for granted, not appreciating the preciousness of our daily existence and the vulnerability associated with our own finitude? Have we forgotten the principles of the Golden Rule? Have we not made time to smell the roses, let alone spend an evening playing a game or watching a movie with your kids? Perhaps isolation and solitude are not such a bad thing.

As we so often come to discover during and after a crisis passes, there are often beautiful byproducts that emerge through the sorrow and pain. This crisis should be no different. There is something that we can all learn and carry with us through and beyond this experience. We of all ages have now come to know better the pain and sorrow, as well as the heartbreak, of true isolation. We have experienced the frustration that comes from being stuck in our homes. We have now lived with the anguish of the loneliness of not being in the daily presence of friends and neighbours. Of not being able to be with children or grandchildren and feel their precious hugs and experience that tender touch of another human person.

As we feel these longings and experience these emotions, we can come to fully embrace them as we realize the reality of what so many of our elderly brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, grandparents and neighbors, feel each day in their lives. In lives that certainly now are being threatened by this pandemic and in lives that will go on after it is controlled and behind us. We now know firsthand these feelings of loneliness that isolation brings them. Isolation from friends as safe physical mobility diminishes. Loneliness and social distancing as circles of friends get smaller or disappear completely due to death. And the resultant feelings of despair and frustration that begin to take over in our elderly loved ones who were once vibrant and joyful people. Our social distancing and isolation of today is only temporary and will end soon. But for many of the elderly in our communities, it will go on way beyond this pandemic.

Our living sense of compassion can and must be enhanced by the internalization of these feelings that we are experiencing these days. As compassionate humans, we can and must emerge from this pandemic more empathetic than ever to the reality of loneliness that so many experiences each day throughout their twilight years.