Nigerian Nurse in the UK Sacked for Praying for a Patient
A Nigerian nurse based in the United Kingdom has reportedly been dismissed from her position for praying for a 95-year-old patient under her care. This incident was shared on social media by Rakel Morenike, a Nigerian nurse with over a decade of experience in the UK.
According to Morenike, the nurse in question was new to the UK and had recently started her first job, which happened to be on the end-of-life ward. In this particular situation, she entered the room of a 95-year-old patient and began to pray fervently, expressing her hopes that the patient wouldn’t succumb to her prognosis.
The elderly patient, alarmed by the unexpected prayer, informed her daughter about the incident. Consequently, the daughter visited the healthcare facility and spoke with the Nigerian nurse’s supervisor. To ascertain the patient’s claims, they asked the elderly woman to identify the nurse and describe the event, which she did.
As a result, the Nigerian nurse faced accusations of unprofessional conduct and was subsequently terminated from her position. Morenike, while shedding light on this incident, advised newcomers to the UK to acquire the necessary information and understanding of cultural differences to function effectively and avoid violating the country’s protocols.
She acknowledged that while prayer is not inherently problematic, consent should always be sought from the individual receiving the prayer. Morenike also emphasized the substantial cultural distinctions between Nigeria and the UK, especially regarding end-of-life care. In the UK, many individuals in this stage have come to terms with their mortality and may not appreciate false hopes or unsolicited interventions.
