Dealing with quackery in nursing
Nurses image illustration
There are serious concerns about the spread of quackerDealing with quackery in nursingy in the Nigerian healthcare system. Through a critical analysis of actual cases and empirical data, the effects of quackery on the nursing profession in Nigeria are detrimental. Unqualified individuals posing as nurses undermine public health, degrade healthcare services and damage the reputation of licensed nurses within the industry. Without mincing words, urgent regulations are needed to protect the nursing profession’s integrity and enhance healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
Last week the Nigerian social media space was thrown into pandemonium as afro-beats giants decided to battle it out in words. Amidst this pandemonium, a trending video gained the spotlight. A video shows a young lady dressed in scrubs purportedly mocking a woman in labour while recording the scene on her phone. Most reactions to the post condemned nurses in general without trying to identify the said lady’s profession. This occurrence damages the reputation of the nursing profession in addition to posing a major risk to public health. It highlights the need for a more comprehensive study of the nursing profession in Nigeria.
A lot of self-proclaimed nurses behave performatively, showing off their abilities and asserting their dominance over professionals with licences. These quacks often parade in uniforms resembling those worn by genuine nurses, performing procedures such as setting intravenous lines and assembling stethoscopes. To most of them, nursing is merely performative. However, their lack of proper training and qualifications poses a serious threat to the health of patients and the public profile of the nursing profession.
The actions of unqualified individuals who masquerade as nurses are not limited to the public profile of nursing as a profession. They are also to blame for Nigeria’s short life expectancy. By giving wrong treatments that result in avoidable fatalities and health problems, these quacks put the health of the public at risk. As registered nurses in practice, we see several patients with complicated medical histories who received inadequate care from quacks prior to seeking medical attention. These situations put additional stress on the already overworked healthcare system, worsening the shortage of qualified staff members and jeopardising patients’ safety.
A report published two years ago in The Guardian explored how quackery has triggered avoidable deaths in Lagos State. According to the report, these charlatans’ actions have a direct correlation with two deaths. The tragic demise of Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad was also allegedly linked to a quack who administered medication to the late singer. One death after another, we all sit on this ticking time bomb, and it makes me wonder how many more deaths before we begin to take real action.
The differences between a nurse and a quack are evident and I apologise to all nurses for the use of the phrases “nurse” and “quack” in the same sentences. For educational and reference purposes, I will be citing these obvious differences.
The International Council of Nurses defines a nurse as “a person who has completed a programme of basic, generalised nursing education and is authorized by the appropriate regulatory authority to practise nursing in his or her country.” The regulatory authority for nursing practice in Nigeria is the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and for anyone to practise or be called a nurse, they must have fulfilled the prerequisites of the NMCN (which involves formal education and a series of examinations) and have their names in NMCN register. Any human practising as a nurse in Nigeria without NMCN’s approval belongs to the category of killers earlier described.
Furthermore, the practices of nurses are grounded in evidence and supported by scientific research. A nurse understands the reasons for his or her actions/inactions. Nursing procedures are informed by science and not merely performative. Every nurse follows a guideline known as the nursing process and it involves knowledge-based assessments, organised critical thinking, diagnosis, smart planning, decision-making processes, and goal-oriented evaluations. This cascade of events is ongoing at every contact with a registered nurse.
Conversely, quacks operate based on imitation or instruction, lacking adherence to laws, principles, or ethical standards. Furthermore, in cases where their actions result in health complications for their victims, they have no licence to lose, and they walk away free, capitalising on our weak legislation.
A nurse understands his boundaries, scope of practice, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Registered nurses will refer you to a doctor after assessment if the condition requires medical intervention beyond nursing care. We refer to our other professional colleagues and with efforts from everyone in the healthcare team, we achieve safe healthcare delivery. In contrast, a quack jumps at every case, taking a cue from similar cases they have seen or heard about during their mushroom training. They exploit patients for financial gain, exacerbate their health issues, and leave them in a worsened state.
In addition, most of these quacks are dropouts from secondary school without good Senior School Certificate Examination results. A nurse on the other hand is expected to have a minimum of five credit passes in SSCE results to be considered for admission into universities or colleges of nursing and midwifery. After admission, a nurse is exposed to basic life sciences, basic medical sciences and finally, core nursing sciences as well as other social sciences needed for human relationships in practice. While a nurse is busy gaining clinical experiences in different accredited health facilities at different levels, a quack is being trained in an informal setting by individuals with questionable integrity. It is, however, sad to see that many people patronise quacks who know absolutely nothing about science.
In conclusion, addressing quackery is crucial for preserving the integrity of the nursing profession and improving healthcare outcomes in Nigeria. Urgent regulatory measures like public awareness campaigns and stringent enforcement are essential to combat this menace. By safeguarding the public from unqualified practitioners, we can enhance the quality of healthcare services and protect lives. A 2020 study recommended public enlightenment as one of the efforts that must be made towards eradicating quackery in the nursing profession. It serves as a call to action, rallying support for efforts to eradicate quackery and uphold professional standards in nursing.
The general public must join hands with the NMCN to save lives in our country as we fight against quackery in the nursing profession and the healthcare delivery system as a whole.
