Training and practices of quack nurses in Nigeria: A public health concern.

Abstract

Training of quack nurses by health care workers across all levels in Nigeria is gradually becoming the new normal and major malpractice worsening the country's health care system. This article addresses the causes and effects of this malpractice. The proliferation of quackery in the nursing profession can be linked to many sources. This includes doctors and nurses' greed and selfishness in the need to make mega-profits from practice in private hospitals and clinics; lack of political will and commitment towards the health sector; poor regulation and routine supervision by professional associations; ignorance and misinformation. Effects of training quacks include increase maternal and childhood mortality, increase unemployment rate of registered nurses and midwifery, discredit medical and nursing education, poor treatment outcome and weakened healthcare system. Recommended solutions are: improving state health insurance, improving financial coverage, enforcing the law against quackery and increase awareness in local communities.