Hello hive,
My name is Joseph Malgwi, and I'm from Adamawa, Nigeria as I previously stated in my intro post. I'm so happy to be writing this post today, because I have a big testimony to share with you guys
I'm officially a Registered nurse
I studied at college of nursing sciences Yola Adamawa state, Nigeria. I joined the school 2023 and I graduated 6th November 2026, it was a 3 year programme. When I first joined the school, I was so excited. The school doesn't have slot of infrastructure but it's not bad. The uniform we wore is white shirt and a brown trouser. Nil stripe indicate year I, one stripe indicate year II, and three indicate year III. The girls have theirs on their nightingale.
Why I chose nursing
To be honest, I have always wanted to become a doc, soldier or a pilot since when I was a kid. Those are what keep saying to myself. But due to family background, lack of support and environmental causes, I couldn't even get that. I went to federal Polytechnic technic mubi and studied SLT, science lab tech. I was thinking i will get a work at the hospital. To serve humanity, to treat humans but unfortunately, everywhere I apply job, they keep telling me, "we need mlt not SLT". Below are some of the reasons why I chose nursing:
I grew up wanting to help the wounded, so I want to serve humanity.
To promote health
To alleviate suffering
To help people that cannot speaks for themselves in hospital
To create awareness regarding the causes of disease in my community and measures to prevent them
To help my family
My mother always support me go become health personnel etc
How the journey started.
I once applied same CONSY 2017 but I didn't pass the interview, I pass exams but they said I didn't pass interview, it was because normally that's what they do. So I went to federal Polytechnic mubi and graduate with upper credit in science laboratory technology 2019. I was just lying down on my bed 2023, I now saw adverts on Facebook that CONSY form is on sale, 12,500 naira. I was having 20,000 in my acc, so I decided to purchase. I paid everything and uploaded my documents using my phone successfully.
When sit was time for screening I did it successfully, I waited and my name came out of successful applicant, I went ahead and wrote the exams. After the exams our name came out among those that got admission. That was where the main problem starts. It's not getting admission it's more than that.
The obstacles I faced that nearly made me quit.
- The clinical obstacles
Clinical posting was another war, waking up 6:30 and prepare to enter vehicle to MODIBBO ADAMA teaching hospital Yola, for good three years, almost everyday am on the road. Apart from that, you will go to ward, the superiors will be seated but the students will not be allowed to seat. I remember what one of our superior said while seated in A&E, "go and be observing your patients, you should not be seated". Hunger, stress, delagation. A superior can delegate a work for you, like be doing 2 hourly vitals or 30 minutes feeding while, he/she is heavily asleep.
The first day I was posted was during night duty to female medical ward, immediately we went, a patient died and we are the once that performed last office and take it to the ambulance. I then asked myself "can I do this work" but I realised dead is part of nursing and I have never been scared of daed body.
Many of my postings, I have come in contact with many occupational hazrd, many blood spills on me, touching patients without gloves in specialist hospital yola. Many other stuff but this are the few I can summarise.
- Emotional obstacles
Before we use to meet with my friends, play online games. Gist for many hours, since after I joined CONSY, I began to isolate myself from them, not because want to but because I had to. Sometimes I come back home by 7 pm after 4-6 pm classes. They thought I use to avoid them but I had to explain to them that it was not intentionally. I missed weddings, birthday parties and other events that clashed with my academic activities.
- Financial obstacles
This is the biggest obstacle I got during my school days, I will not go deep into it but to be honest sometimes I use to say I will quit this school. My mom supported me to the best that she could. She wasn't working. When I started school I thought it will be easy but sometimes I had to beg for money from other relatives, some turned me down, some helped and some took me as a lier. There was a moment i couldn't transport myself to the school because I'm financially down. I couldn't pay my fees, sometimes I nearly cry. But it's all in the past.
- Final obstacles, Nursing and midwifery exams
Just two months ago, were told to make payment for our council exams. I told the people I'm staying with long ago, but I was told there is no money. Midnight to closure day my friend borrowed me 65,000 naira to make the payment at around 11:45 pm, just 15 minutes to closure, I could have missed that but God is not asleep and God is not man. I'm forever grateful to hear. I was very disturbed when the result, I prayed waited and was very much stressed psychologically. The results was supposed to be out since yesterday but was postponed until today. We were told to enter school by our HOD, then he announced the people that failed. They got it from nursing and midwifery council but didn't upload it. 30 students failed but the unannounced once passed. I wanted to upload it here but my portal keeps showing awaiting results. I can't wait for it but am happy. And sad at same time, many of my friends couldn't scale through.
I'm writing this our nursing and midwifery council exams just came out today and I passed PAPER I,II AND OSCE exams, am officially a registered nurse
This are just summary of what I want through, if I'm to say it all, I might end up writing until tomorrow
I learned alot, I understand that not every family member can help you, some have it in abundance but an outsider is willing to help the little they have than some family members.
My advice is that:
If you are still in nursing or will join nursing, and you are facing obstacles listen to me.
Your obstacles is not your end, it is your training.
Don't compare yourself to others.dont quit because you failed once
Rest If you are tired but don't stop.
Your own victory is coming
Thank you for reading my story