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HOW I BECAME A MEDICAL CONSULTANT WITH JUST A BNSc NURSING DEGREE

Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2018 1:04 pm
by Kunle Emmanuel
HOW I BECAME A MEDICAL CONSULTANT WITH JUST A BNSc NURSING DEGREE

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Okay, Screw the title above, I will come back to it.......

Just have a good read, learn the lessons shared and move on!!

Life is too short!!

I worked in a Primary Health Center where I did most of the work, had 2 Medical Laboratory Scientist who did little or nothing because we had no laboratory and a Doctor who was always out of town as well one of the other Laboratory Scientist who was out of town to manage her other business....
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We were all appointed the same month and graduated almost the same period from the University....

End of Month, What happens after government tax deductions?

*****Government Pays the Doctor (Always in absentee) N700,000

*******Pays the 2 Laboratory Scientists N333,000 (The female Scientist in absentee, the other Scientist was always around helping out with diagnostic tests using simple rapid test kits)

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******And me?.....Story!!

.....I go home each month happy but over worked and stressed with N167,000

(Hmmmm, I know most of you haven't even seen this amount as salary in 2 years; well I pity and feel for you big time, Nursing practice in Nigeria made it so)

My Doctor and Lab. Scientist colleagues as narrated above got the benefits they deserved....

Yes, Irrespective of their minimal participation in the work place, they were opportuned to have studied professional courses where after graduation workers incentives and salary placement are held in high priority......

For me?......

I Suffered the same fate and challenges most of my colleagues, if not all Nurses working in Nigerian health sector suffer as Registered Nurses.....

Grace fall on you if you don't get a government job.....

My story with a Private hospital I worked with immediately after graduating is a storyline for another day....
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I had little or no time for myself, was depressed most times, lacked the finances to take care of my personal needs but my Doctor and Medlab colleagues?

They had other jobs, earned more income, married, had cars.......and one even started a house project.

In No time I resigned to become a.......?

Read on..........

Okay, let's go back to my Post Title......

After graduating from the University of Port- Harcourt as a Registered Nurse, I decided to change the narrative for myself and others.....

I would always claim that I have no Nigerian Nurse who I look up to as a role model, none influenced me in any way as a student....

Maybe because I had a high standard for excellence and success in life which no Nigerian Nurse is yet to attain (Sorry If I offend you, my opinion though...... You have your own standards I guess)

Who is your own role model in the Nigerian Nursing profession....?
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But I wanted to be that Nigerian Nursing Professional who others would look up to as a role model and influencer.....
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I started by doing things successful people outside Nursing profession do........
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While looking out for my next job that would pay me what I'm worth as a Registered Nurse........?
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I started an NGO (360degreeleadNetwork, a health and leadership consulting platform), Organise online courses and teach people online.... organized health awareness campaigns and seminars, published a book, appeared more on radio stations to discuss sensitive issues that most Nursing Professionals will shy away from, got a training and certification to become a highly sort after life coach to help people grow their influence and live their best life now, utilized online tools to grow my influence as a blogger and thought leader, started training social media users on how to utilize the platform to do business and earn 6-7 figures from the comfort of their homes wearing boxers or pyjamas.......and lots more...

l even thought of going into a theological school to become a Pastor too.....

Okay, you may not feel comfortable with me showcasing my profile......I understand, it's always hard for Nurses to celebrate other Nurses......It's like a ritual, right?

But I Care less.....Just read on,

In less than 24 months after graduating from the University with a BNSc degree and 6 months after leaving that job I narrated above, I now organise rural based medical outreaches, consult for government and non-governmental agencies, coach professionals in business and the health sector, help individuals, NGOs, Health experts and politicians collaborate and source for funds from multi national companies to organize free community based outreach, etc

The photo attached to this post is a Facebook message from a Medical Doctor who consulted me for a mentorship program to help her get her clinic started and registered with HMO and NHIS......

You know how much a 1 month session with her would cost?

Okay, check my previous salary above......its actually close to that amount...... I do nothing but just chat with her online.....No gloves, bed pan, bed making or insult from patient's relative....
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What am I driving at?

It pains me when Nursing professionals in Nigeria are placed as sub medical or paramedical practitioners and we take to the streets to protest.....
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Are you surprised.......?

No we shouldn't be.....We gave other players in the health care sector the leverage to use us and trample on our rights....

Until we show our relevance in and outside the main stream Nigerian health sector, we will remain the way we are.....

Nobody will celebrate us, and we will keep earning peanuts....

But before we continue with the discourse, let’s ask ourselves these questions;

Where are the nurses in the decision-making processes of government?

Government is even too far; where are the nurses in the decision making board of our community/rural based health centers?

Where is the evidence that they are doing things right or are being listened to?

Why are there so few nurses visible in the political arena, either in appointed or electoral positions?
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Why is it that when nurses are at the core of healthcare delivery, their contribution to policy development and decision-making are marginalised or at best often ignored?
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Why do politicians always describe nursing as a profession not worthy of delving into the political arena, evidenced by the event of a Nigerian Nurse and politician who was denied a political appointment by the Senate because he was a Nurse?

And why do we let them maltreat us?

Our Nursing Students need role models, they need leaders and they desire change.....

Additionally, the nurses of today are younger, more educated, and more diverse; they are forming movements like Fellow Nurses Africa, Nursing world Nigeria, Nurses on Air, Lead Nurse Africa, Nursing Revolution, Ugonsa, etc......

They bring more energy, more ideas, and more ingenuity to the nursing profession. Perhaps they will even bring more political activism.

But the problem is that they lack the resources to launch their genius, they lack empowerment, they are not encouraged, they are helpless!!

On a final note, I know this is just another rant from a misguided colleague.......

But my next plan now is to start an Agricultural (poultry, fishery, plantain and cassava farm) business until I get that Nursing job that would pay me hot 7 figures that I'm worth......
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I would rather start selling Chicken, fish, plantain and garri.........

And you will buy it!!.....

I'm Eze Victor Obinna, Nursing is my profession, our profession and we can only make progress once we decide to utilize the tool of personal and professional leadership to grow......

Re: HOW I BECAME A MEDICAL CONSULTANT WITH JUST A BNSc NURSING DEGREE

Posted: Wed May 30, 2018 5:25 am
by donniekush
That's good! Wow! This article barely helped me a lot finding a job for myself.

Re: HOW I BECAME A MEDICAL CONSULTANT WITH JUST A BNSc NURSING DEGREE

Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2021 8:27 pm
by elizondoguillermo739
I was a medical attendant for years. I would see all the doctors and nurses that came into the wards; some of them made unbelievably huge mistakes, yet they still had their jobs. It frustrated me to no end. So when my sister died because of medical mistakes, I knew it was time to leave my job and study full-time towards devoting myself to my true passion: Studying injuries due to negligence in medicine.

I completed an undergraduate degree in Nursing at BNSc, then enrolled on a course in Legal Practice (LLB) as part of GCC's esteemed Master Law degree programme*, which prepared me thoroughly for work as a litigator allied with clinical professionals.