Focusing on Young Nurses Initiative

Over the past few days, a podcast episode has circulated across Twitter, TikTok and other platforms where a self-styled “health expert” made statements that many registered nurses found triggering.

For young nurses, here’s our mentorship perspective:

1️⃣ Speak up. Keep speaking up.

Silence helps misinformation grow.
Correct false narratives. Share evidence. Educate the public. Defend the integrity of nursing practice. Professional advocacy is not noise, it is public protection.

But remember: advocacy must remain professional. No insults. No emotional outbursts. Facts. Structure. Evidence.

2️⃣ Understand this: Quackery is systemic.

Quackery is not just one loud voice on a podcast. It is layered. It thrives where regulation is weak, enforcement is inconsistent, and the public lacks health literacy.

In Nigeria, we already have legal frameworks:

The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria Act (Cap N143 LFN 2004) – regulates nursing practice and protects the title “Registered Nurse.”

The Medical and Dental Practitioners Act (Cap M8 LFN 2004) – addresses unlawful medical practice.

The National Health Act 2014 – outlines standards for health service delivery.

The Criminal Code Act – can be applied in cases of impersonation and fraud.

The Consumer Protection Act 2018 – protects citizens from deceptive services.

The problem is not the absence of law alone. It is enforcement.

Real change requires:

Stronger regulatory monitoring,Stricter penalties for impersonation, clear public awareness campaigns, policy advocacy at the National Assembly level.

Social media outrage alone will not dismantle quackery. Structured advocacy will.
Young nurses must learn policy engagement, not just online engagement.

3️⃣ Beat the assumption with competence.

One of the dangers in moments like this is that the public may lump everyone together.
You cannot control that fully.
But you can control this:
Your competence, professionalism, depth of knowledge, ethical standard.

Do not practice at surface level.

Master your skills. Document well. Communicate clearly. Stay within scope. Pursue specialization. Attend CPD. Build expertise that is undeniable.
When your practice is sharp, consistent, and ethical, the “smell” of quackery will never stick to you.

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This is for young nurses who are deeply uncomfortable with what they see in the system. Nurses who have tried, who care, who are frustrated, but who feel stuck because the usual responses are not working.

One thing needs to be said clearly. This problem will not be solved on social media. It will not be solved by banter, by viral posts, or by an us versus them mindset among healthcare professionals. Noise is not the same as impact.

What works is ....

As a profession, we have not consistently positioned ourselves as solution-builders on a scale that commands national attention. That matters.

Not because of ego, but because influence follows visible impact.

Other professions, medicine is an obvious example, have advanced not simply because of favoritism, but because they have produced outcomes that are hard to ignore. Results speak. Ignoring that reality helps no one.

There comes a point where impact has to move past "doing your job well" into shaping how the job itself is done.

What you’re seeing on social media right now, the back-and-forth between CHEW, doctors, optometrists, physiotherapists, Lab Scientists and whoever is next, is mostly noise. Loud, emotional, and ultimately unproductive. It distracts from the work that actually lasts.

If you are serious about leaving a legacy as a nurse, there are deeper priorities that should shape how you think and act.

First is leadership, not leadership as a title, but leadership as service. Leadership that notices problems others have normalised. Leadership that feels responsible enough to seek solutions rather than just complain about systems. Nurses solve problems every single day at the bedside, but too often that problem-solving never translates beyond our immediate tasks.

There comes a point where impact has to move past “doing your job well” into shaping how the job itself is done.

As a profession, we have not consistently positioned ourselves as solution-builders on a scale that commands national attention. That matters. Not because of ego, but because influence follows visible impact. Other professions, medicine is an obvious example, have advanced not simply because of favoritism, but because they have produced outcomes that are hard to ignore. Results speak. Ignoring that reality helps no one.

This isn’t about comparison or competition. It’s about learning. It’s about asking harder questions: What problems in patient care keep repeating themselves? What gaps exist that no one seems willing to own? What systems are harming the quality of life, and how could they be redesigned?

That’s where nursing leadership must mature.
If you want to leave something behind that outlives social media arguments, start thinking differently. Think leadership, think impact, think solutions. Think beyond your shift, your ward, and your job description. Measure success not by applause or banter online, but by real improvements in how people live, heal, and are cared for.

That is legacy work.

We asked young Nurses about what they find most concerning at this time in their Career. See the responses. What do you think about this?

As we step into 2026, we are grateful for every nurse, mentor, partner, and supporter who has walked this journey with us.

Thank you for believing in the vision of raising and supporting young nurses. We look forward to another year of growth, learning, and impact together.

Wishing you a peaceful, purposeful, and fulfilling New Year.

Season’s greetings!

As the year draws to a close, we are grateful for your support, partnership, and commitment to empowering young nurses.

We wish you a joyful Christmas and a New Year filled with peace, purpose, and renewed strength for the work ahead.

SILENT SACRIFICES OF A NURSE

Walking down the ever-busy road to my workplace, I was lost in deep thoughts about the sacrifices I have made, and continue to make to be and remain in this profession. My mind drifted back to my university days: the strict codes of dressing, even to the colour of our hair, as though we were still in secondary school. University was supposed to represent liberty and freedom, but mine felt far from that.

Our breaks were tightly controlled by the department. We were constantly in school for one posting or another, and in an entire year, we struggled to spend barely two weeks with our parents. The mental stress, emotional instability, tears, frustrations, and silent pains were overwhelming. There were things I would never have imagined myself enduring, yet I had to obey all because of this profession.

Suddenly, a woman walked up to me and asked, _“What happened? Why are you crying?”_
What answer could I possibly give?
_“I’m fine,”_ I replied, but that was far from the truth. This was someone dying silently under her breath.

She walked away, gently saying, “All will be well.”

I hurried along, overwhelmed by the feeling that I had been scammed by life. Here I was, a married woman, employed, yet still required to work during festive seasons instead of being with my family. Was it the bonding I missed with my children? Or the reality of not seeing them for an entire week because of night duties? And then there were the patients, those for whom we leave our comfort, love, and families, yet some still shout at us and fail to appreciate our sacrifices.

As I arrived at the hospital, my eyes caught an inscription that stopped me in my tracks:

To every staff nurse and nursing student out there, we see your sacrifices. You are the best. Thank you for trading your comfort for our comfort. We love and celebrate you.

In that moment, I leaped with joy. My heart felt light, and happiness filled me in a way I hadn’t felt in a long time.

We specially send Compliments of the Season to all Nurses, from FYNI

As we embrace the final chapter of the year, we take a moment to celebrate the incredible journey we've shared. Your passion and commitment to the nursing profession have been truly inspiring. This December, let's continue to uplift one another, exchange ideas, and empower the community around us. May this month be filled with happiness, achievement, and the realization of your dreams. Let's end the year with pride and positivity, making a lasting impact together!

A Journey in Nursing by Elizabeth Adeoye.

She has creatively journalled how many young nurses constantly seek for the clarity and meaning in a short poem.

We hope this inspires you in some way.