The Nurse Within

They say nursing is a calling, but what happens when reality doesn't match the vision that called you?

Here I am, drinking my chilled pepsi and eating okpa after a long night shift, wondering how to start this maiden edition of "Confessions." How do I capture the paradox of our profession, the daily struggles and the moments of inescapable joy? How do I put into words the dichotomy between the nurses we are and the nurses we aspire to be?

Perhaps it's best to start with a story. Last night, as I watched Nurse Nedu use a plastic water bottle as a humidifier for a patient's oxygen cylinder, I couldn't help but think: Is this what we signed up for when we chose this profession?

We enter nursing with big dreams and open hearts. We visualize ourselves making groundbreaking waves in healthcare, advocating zealously for our patients, and pushing the boundaries of medical innovation. But then we are hit hard by reality. We find ourselves in overcrowded wards, stretching limited resources, and making impossible choices about who gets care first.

It's easy to lose sight of our initial passion amidst these daily distractions. But I believe that spirit is still there, buried perhaps, but never extinguished. I see it in the eyes of Chekwube, a nursing student who told me, "I dream of a day when every patient, regardless of their background, receives the highest quality of nursing care." I hear it in my voice when I declare my ambition to become the world's leading research nurse professor.

These stories remind me that beneath the exhaustion and frustration, we are still dreamers and innovators at heart. We are still the nurses who want to revolutionize healthcare in Nigeria.

The question is: How do we nurture that inner nurse while traversing the challenges of our current reality?

That's why we need "Confessions." A space for us to be honest about our hurdles, to celebrate our achievements (no matter how small), and to reconnect with the ardor that brought us into nursing. Each week, we share our stories , tackle tough issues, and offer practical strategies for the growth of both aspiring and already-made nurses. Most importantly, we remind each other of the incredible impact we have, even on the hardest days.

So, tell me:

• What is the gap between the nurse you are and the nurse you want to be?
• What dreams have you put on hold because of the demands of the job?

Never forget this:

Every time you show up for your patients, every time you offer comfort in the face of suffering, every time you advocate for better care – you're not just doing a job.

You're living your calling.

You're changing lives.

And I tell you without a shadow of a doubt, you have the power to change the face of nursing in Nigeria – YOU & I.

Let's start this journey together.

Let's confess, reflect, grow, and dream.

Because the future of nursing in Nigeria depends on nurses like us who dare to imagine a better way.

That will be all for today...

Until next week, take care of yourselves as well as you take care of others.

In solidarity and hope,

Cynthia ??

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