The country’s healthcare system is facing a crisis as young nurses nationwide are speaking out against the rampant bullying and overwork they endure in government-run health facilities.

This toxic work environment is not only affecting their productivity but also driving many to leave the profession, further exacerbating the already critical shortage of health workers.

Wakadaily learnt that, The nurses, who shared their concerns during a press briefing organized by the Nursing Group Administrators, protested the new certificate verification guidelines introduced by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria.

They revealed that senior colleagues have subjected them to verbal abuse, humiliation, and exclusion, leading to mental health issues and prompting some to seek opportunities abroad.

According to Edike Osemeke, a representative of the group, this disturbing trend is worsening the nursing shortage and compromising patient safety.

He stated, “One of the key challenges highlighted by younger nurses is the unfair workload on their cadre, the reluctance of hospital managements to employ more nurses, and the toxic work culture in their facilities.

“We take these issues seriously because young nurses are the most mobile group and their complaints about frustration and lack of support contribute significantly to their outward migration, especially to private facilities, and non-clinical work settings such as HM0s of federal facilities in Nigeria.

“We believe the Ministry of Health and other relevant authorities should take firm policy decisions that would prevent bullying, ensure fair distribution of workload and promote an amiable and supportive work culture to improve the retention of young Nurses.”

Osemeke criticized the new NMCN verification guidelines, calling them impractical and harmful to Nigeria’s healthcare progress. He believes the guidelines will exacerbate the existing skills gap in the country. Osemeke argued that the excessive documentation requirements and lengthy waiting periods create significant obstacles for nurses seeking knowledge and career advancement.

Another nurse, Cletus Onyekosor, corroborated the hostile work environment, stating that young nurses are overworked, handling excessive patient loads and working long hours, leading to stress and burnout.

This, he warned, can compromise patient care. Onyekosor urged hospital administrators and policymakers to address the issue promptly by implementing anti-bullying policies and supporting young nurses.

He highlighted the physical and mental health consequences nurses face, including back pain, joint pain, infections, assaults, and sexual abuse, contributing to the high number of nurses leaving the profession.

Onyekosor also criticized the NMCN verification guidelines, stating that the Council failed to engage in meaningful dialogue with stakeholders, disregarding the concerns and insights of those directly affected by the measures, which he described as draconian.

He highlighted ,“We demand immediate action from the NMCN to revoke these unjust rules and engage in genuine consultation with nursing professionals and relevant stakeholders. The continued enforcement of these regulations will exacerbate the crisis in healthcare delivery, leading to dire consequences for both nurses and patients.

“Addressing the concerns raised by younger nurses regarding workload distribution, the reluctance of hospital management to hire additional staff, and toxic work culture is paramount. Policy decisions should be enacted to prevent mistreatment, ensure fair workload distribution, and foster a supportive work environment to retain young nurses and mitigate migration to alternative work settings.

“We advocate for the establishment of a robust and objective feedback mechanism by the council and government to monitor the decision-making factors and challenges faced by critical healthcare workforce members like nurses. This can be achieved through regular workforce surveys, exit interviews, and ongoing engagement with relevant associations.

“Building an evidence-based approach will enable more proactive and responsive policy interventions, both in financial and non-financial incentives, to maintain a skilled and motivated nursing workforce.”