Thread by @Nrs_Kethz

@NunsaNational Firstly, I appreciate the amazing jobs millennia nurses are doing all over the world in changing the public image of Nursing and Nurses.
I appreciate the leadership of @NunsaNational for inviting me. It is obvious that the future is here!
#WhoIsANurse
#RedefiningNursingInNigeria

@NunsaNational WHO IS A NURSE?

#WhoIsANurse
#RedefiningNursingInNigeria

@NunsaNational A nurse is an individual who has COMPLETED a program of basic, generalized nursing education in an ACCREDITED institution ( SON or University) and is AUTHORISED ( LICENCED) by the regulatory authority to practice the ART and SCIENCE of Nursing in his/her country.
#WhoIsANurse

@NunsaNational #WhoIsANurse
#RedefiningNursingInNigeria

@NunsaNational So, for you to bear the Title NURSE, there are 3things to note.

#WhoIsAnurse
#RedefiningNursingInNigeria

@NunsaNational 1.)You must have the basic nursing training in an ACCREDITED institution. In the case of Nigeria, School Of Nursing or University ( Not private hospitals)

2.) You must have completed this program and passed the professional examination.
#WhoIsANurse
#RedefiningNursingInNigeria

@NunsaNational 3.) Then, you must be licensed to practice by the Nursing regulatory body of that country. In Nigeria, the nursing regulatory body is the Nursing and midwifery council of Nigeria ( NMCN)
#WhoIsANurse
#RedefiningNursingInNigeria

@NunsaNational Kindly note that many people started a basic nursing course but didn't graduate, as a result, they can't be addressed as Nurses.
#WhoIsANurse
#RedefiningNursingInNigeria

@NunsaNational Also, many graduated from the University / SON without passing the nursing professional examination, in this case they can't be licensed by the NMCN to practice, becauseso they are not nurses they're not AUTHORISED to practice Nursing.
#WhoIsANurse
#RedefiningNursingInNigeria

@NunsaNational Lastly, Some graduated, got licensed to practice but at some point, they got their licences revoked and names struck off the register, maybe, as a result of malpractices or any unpardonable offences.

#WhoIsANurse
#RedefiningNursingInNigeria

@NunsaNational Also, many started the basic nursing , finished it and got licensed in their home countries and then, during the course of their career, they had to relocate to another country.
#WhoIsANurse
#RedefiningNursingInNigeria

@NunsaNational To be addressed as a nurse and practice nursing in this new country of residence, they have to write and pass the Nursing Council Exam of that country and be licensed.

#WhoIsANurse
#RedefiningNursingInNigeria

@NunsaNational That is why you see a Nigerian nurse having to write CBT and OSCE exam or NCLEX before being registered as a nurse in the UK or USA.

#WhoIsANurse
#RedefiningNursingInNigeria

@NunsaNational However, there are many who didn't fall into any of the categories above and they parade themselves as Nurses.
#WhoIsANurse
#RedefiningNursingInNigeria

@NunsaNational In Nigeria today, there are countless numbers of nurses from China, India, Togo, South Africa , Ukraine, Republic of Benin who are parading themselves as Nurses.
#WhoIsANurse
#RedefiningNursingInNigeria

@NunsaNational You see them at most of the big private hospitals, NGOs, Companies.They're not registered with NMCN. These set of people are not nurses ,they are quacks because they are not LICENSED to practice the Art and science of Nursing in Nigeria

#WhoIsANurse
#RedefiningNursingInNigeria

@NunsaNational The height and worst of it all are individuals that go through illegal trainings in private hospitals, claiming to be nurses, these quacks are those you see engage in all manners of things today because no one is regulating their activities and practices
#WhoIsANurse

@NunsaNational They are the ones you see exchanging babies for money, speak rudely to patients, sleep with patients and relatives, address patients by their disease conditions, run errands for the doctors, and many other unprofessional conducts.
#WhoIsANurse
#RedefiningNursingInNigeria

@NunsaNational Remember I mentioned earlier that to be authorised to practice in a country, you have to be licensed?

This licence can be revoked when you engage in malpractices and unprofessional conducts.
#WhoIsANurse
#RedefiningNursingInNigeria

@NunsaNational This is the exact reason why professional nurses can not engage in these unprofessional acts because no nurse wants his / her name struck off the register and have his/her licence revoked.

#WhoIsANurse
#RedefiningNursingInNigeria

@NunsaNational Sadly, when the society or the media makes report of these nefarious activities, they tag them NURSES and that is the essence of this tweet chat. To separate the wheat from the chaff, and for the media to know who truly, a nurse is.

#WhoIsANurse
#RedefiningNursingInNigeria

@NunsaNational

@NunsaNational WHY IS IT NECESSARY TO CORRECT THESE MISCONCEPTIONS?

#WhoIsANurse
#RedefiningNursingInNigeria

@NunsaNational poor public image has a negative impact on nurses' self‐concept &the development of their professional identity. They are obstacles to the workplace satisfactions of Nigerian Nurses that experience high degree of dissatisfaction with their professional status.
#WhoIsANurse

@NunsaNational When nurses are unhappy and dissatisfied with their jobs, you bear the brunt as a consumer of health. The tendency to make errors amongst others are high puting the health of the nation at risk.
#WhoIsANurse
#RedefiningNursingInNigeria

@NunsaNational In the interest of public safety, it is important that we all work together as government, individuals, and organisations to ensure we jointly change these poor image of nursing and nurses for better care outcome.

#WhoIsANurse
#RedefiningNursingInNigeria

@NunsaNational

@NunsaNational CHANGING THE PUBLIC IMAGE OF NURSES

Everybody has a role to PLAY!

#WhoIsANurse
#RedefiningNursingInNigeria

@NunsaNational The Government makes laws that influence nursing and health care, we therefore call on them to as a matter of urgency look into the act establishing the Nursing an midwifery council of Nigeria,
#WhoIsANurse
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@NunsaNational Review and amend where necessary to give proper penalty against quackery in the medical profession, most especially nursing and to ensure nurses are able to practice to the full capacity of their trainings.

#WhoIsANurse
#RedefiningNursingInNigeria

@NunsaNational THE ROLES OF THE EMPLOYERS

As employers who hire nurses to provide patient care, it is essential to know the trainings and the educational requirements of a Nurse. It is a fact that non-nurses can not effectively render patients care as a nurse would do.
#WhoIsANurse

@NunsaNational It is possible that a non-licenced person could be “trained” to perform nursing tasks but how do you speak up for the roles of critical thinking, clinical judgment, decision-making, empathy and patient outcomes that are so important in nursing practice?

#WhoIsANurse

@NunsaNational Lastly, Human resource officers , MDs and CEOs of organisations recruiting nurses must see it as a necessity to make reports of certificates/ licence forgery to the appropriate institutions and to make reports of unprofessional conducts of nurses to NMCN.
#WhoIsANurse

@NunsaNational This will go a long way in stemming the tide of quackery as well as correcting the poor public image of Nursing and Nurses.

#WhoIsANurse
#RedefiningNursingInNigeria

@NunsaNational -THE ROLES OF THE MEDIA

From clinic matters to horny nurses and many more ridiculous and ludicrous productions, the media has misrepresented nurses in varying degrees.

#WhoIsANurse
#RedefiningNursingInNigeria

@NunsaNational Many Nollywood movies had depicted and still depict nurses in many untrue, and unimaginable absurd manners, as gossips, prostitutes, baby snatchers, errands, doctors handbags and inferiors, and many other

#WhoIsANurse
#RedefiningNursingInNigeria

@NunsaNational These images denigrate the fact that nurses are highly educated healthcare professionals with critical responsibilities.Imagery in the media influences the perceptions &behaviors of the public—particularly those that are impressionable (youth & the less educated).

#WhoIsANurse

@NunsaNational It is imperative for media organisations to always act in a way that enhances public image of nursing in interest of public health safety. Newspapers and media agencies should ensure they get their facts right, before publications of news injurious to Nurses.

#WhoIsANurse

@NunsaNational Bcause most of the news being peddled around by some of these organizations are nothing but fallacy, and innanities of the highest order. It's lugubrious to note & distasteful that reputable media organizations can't differentiate between quacks and professionals.

#WhoIsANurse

@NunsaNational -YOUR ROLES AS A CONSUMER OF NURSING SERVICES

Consumers of health care depend on their caregivers to provide care that help them get better, support them in maintaining health, or assist them in achieving a peaceful death experience
#WhoIsANurse
#RedefiningNursingInNigeria

@NunsaNational It is important to familiarise yourself with the roles expected of a nurse in providing care as well as the educational requirements. This will make you more likely to request & receive appropriate care. You have the right to safe, respectful & timely nursing care.
#WhoIsANurse

@NunsaNational It is also your right to demand the real identity of your nurse. So always ask whoever presents him/herself to you as nurse for their licences and their institutions of training. You deserve the best nursing experience, this can only be provided by a professional

#WhoIsANurse

@NunsaNational THE ROLES OF THE NURSES AND NURSING STUDENTS

Nigerian Nurses have over the years tried to dispel these misconceptions about nurses through webinars, workshops & campaigns especially on social media like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn etc with little results

#WhoIsANurse

@NunsaNational It is therefore imperative that as Nurses we complement these with attitudinal changes.
Now think about how you carry out your work as a nurse.

#WhoIsANurse
#RedefiningNursingInNigeria

@NunsaNational What does the public see when they look at you? Think about your patients, their families, or your employers.
#WhoIsANurse
#RedefiningNursingInNigeria

@NunsaNational Think about visitors to your facility or the staff from other units you see in the cafeteria. If your practice setting is not in a traditional health care facility like a hospital, clinic, or nursing home, think about the image you portray in your area of practice.
#WhoIsANurse

@NunsaNational In any practice setting, body language, cleanliness, and language convey volumes about how we see ourselves. Do you picture yourself as a quack or a professional? Do you feel good about what you see when you look at yourself in the mirror?
#WhoIsANurse
#RedefiningNursingInNigeria

@NunsaNational What about your attires, does it demonstrate respect for yourself and your profession?

#WhoIsANurse
#RedefiningNursingInNigeria

@NunsaNational What about your behaviors, are you conscientious in how you act? Will patients, families, and employers feel comfortable entrusting people to your care?

#WhoIsANurse
#RedefiningNursingInNigeria

@NunsaNational Remember that the public may not have a clear idea about who a nurse is and what a nurse does – they will form that opinion partly based on what they see in you. The tightening of expectations of employers regarding attire &appearance of nurses is not an accident

#WhoIsANurse

@NunsaNational It is sweet to say nurses are brilliant professionals, angelic, kind and caring, empathetic but it is sweeter when it resonates in our actions, attitudes and relationships with colleagues and health care consumers.
Thank you.

#WhoIsANurse
#RedefiningNursingInNigeria

@NunsaNational I appreciate you all for your time.
Thank for coming
#WhoIsANurse
#RedefiningNursingInNigeria