Left Behind? The Struggle of Nigerian Nurses in a Tech-Driven Era
Technology has crept into almost every aspect of our lives, including nursing. Even in Nigeria, where the healthcare system is still catching up with global standards, technology is slowly making its way into practice. However, while there has been some progress, there are significant gaps to fill.
The Bright Side of Technology
Technology has helped Nigerian nurses improve their skills through online learning. Nurses no longer need to travel to attend seminars. Online courses, webinars, and training videos are available at their fingertips. Nurses can take specialized courses, certifications, and even degrees online, allowing them to expand their knowledge and skill set without leaving their current jobs. This flexibility is especially beneficial for those with demanding shifts.
Additionally, online learning includes forums and live webinars where nurses interact with professionals worldwide, sharing experiences and learning from each other. This approach is affordable compared to attending physical classes. In Nigeria, where physical access to quality education is limited, online platforms bridge the gap, enabling nurses to improve their skills and provide better patient care.
In practice, another thing is that technology is helping nurses manage patients’ information better. In some hospitals, paper records are gradually being replaced by electronic files. This makes it easier to retrieve a patient’s history without flipping through bulky files, which can be so stressful. Although many hospitals are still using paper, those that have switched to digital records are seeing how much faster things can be. This reduces errors, too, because a nurse is less likely to misread or lose a file when it’s stored on a system. Also, some hospitals have gradually included electronic gadgets that can help read vital signsmore accurately. For example, the pulse oximeter is used instead of the old way of reading pulse by palpating the radial artery which is tedious and might be restarted over and over again on just one patient.
Public health awareness has also improved. Nurses can now share health information with patients through SMS or social media during outbreaks like cholera, Ebola, and COVID-19, helping communities with limited healthcare access stay informed about preventive measures.
Where Technology Falls Short
Many hospitals in Nigeria lack the basic infrastructure needed for advanced technology. Reliable electricity and internet access remain major challenges, especially in rural areas. Without these, digital tools and systems cannot function effectively.
The cost of technology is another major issue. Many hospitals cannot afford modern equipment or advanced software. Telemedicine, which could revolutionize rural healthcare, is still rare due to high setup costs. Even basic devices like pulse oximeters are sometimes unavailable, forcing nurses to rely on manual methods, increasing their workload.
There is also a lack of structured training programs for new technologies. Nurses are often expected to “figure it out,” leading to underutilization or incorrect usage of tools. Some nurses resist adopting new technologies, preferring traditional methods, which further limits the benefits of these advancements.
Technology is a double-edged sword for Nigerian nurses, it’s helping us make progress, but the challenges are just as real as they are. If we can overcome these hurdles, then technology can truly transform nursing in Nigeria, making our jobs easier and improving patient care across the country.
But until then, we use what we have to do the best we can while actively seeking for improvement. We do this because we are nurses.
We hope for a better Nigeria so we can be on the same page with other advanced countries in the world in the healthcare sector .
Ituen Theresa Idonesit