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Nigerian nurses oppose potential paths to legality for auxiliary nurses

Piece on auxiliary nursing in Nigeria struck a deep chord among nurses

By Editor

March 15, 2018

Nigerian nurses oppose integration of auxiliary nursing to healthcare, suggest ways out of country’s dilemma

Earlier today, HealthNewsN.G reported on how Nigeria can handle its auxiliary nurses problem. The report stimulated widespread perspectives particularly among Nigerian nurses many of which were opposed to the idea of involving auxiliary nurses in advancing universal health coverage in Nigeria.

Read more: How can Nigeria best handle its auxiliary nurses?

However, there were also those that recommended helping the brilliant auxiliary nurses with access to formal nursing training. Many of the nurses blamed the Nigerian Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria for not doing enough to regulate nursing practice in Nigeria – a development that created a vacuum that are being filled by auxiliary nurses.

“The reactions showed that auxiliary nurses are causing great pain to the practice of nursing in Nigeria and many nurses are understandably not happy. Several ideas that can actually work were suggested and should be looked into especially the fact that the regulating council should be at alert because it is only when there is no repercussion for actions that illegalities preponderate,” said HealthNews.NG’s Managing Editor.

Here are the top reactions:

Sponsoring them to attend Nursing schools, some of them are passionate & interested in nursing but financially handicapped.

— Abiodun (@hxxyz) March 15, 2018

Saying “they have been around for decades & will continue to” while true, you neglected to mention that years back they were known as AIDES & were not working as NURSES before private facilities decided it was cheaper to use in d healthcare setting with d public none the wiser

— Nursingworld Nigeria (@Nursingworld_Ng) March 15, 2018

I read your article n I wan2 remind u dat those countries u mentioned also have physician assistant programs even up to degree level. I think the govt should also create this cadre to help in shortage of doctors in Nigeria

— Kessy Paul (@kessywealth) March 15, 2018

There is nothing like auxiliary nurses in Nigeria if u are not a Registered Nurse u a quack nurse we must stand against quackery in Nigeria health system. Auxiliaries Dr’s nko? Pls call dem quack cos that’s what they are

— Kessy Paul (@kessywealth) March 15, 2018

The fight is a collective one and all relevant Authorities must stand up to cub this menace

— princewill aghedo (@aghedoprincewi4) March 15, 2018

Auxiliaries should not be encouraged since there’s nothing like auxiliary Doctors. Nurses are jobless,many are ending their careers at the private hospitals earning peanut. The only reason auxiliaries should be allowed in Nigeria is when there’s a proven shortage of Nurses.

— Fellow Nurses (@FellowNurses1) March 15, 2018

We Nigerian Nurses have to take full responsibility. NMCN is busy with a lot of tasks at hand.

— Abiodun (@hxxyz) March 15, 2018

The fight is a collective one and all relevant Authorities must stand up to cub this menace

— princewill aghedo (@aghedoprincewi4) March 15, 2018