Hello! My name is Keziah, and I am an ICU nurse from Germany. For the past six weeks, I have had the privilege of living and working in Egbe, Nigeria. From the very beginning, I felt warmly welcomed—whether it was the driver who picked me up from the airport, the guesthouse staff, the nurses and students on the ward, or the hospital’s heads of department. Everywhere I turned, I was met with kindness and hospitality.
Being here has been a true privilege, both personally and professionally. It has given me the opportunity to learn firsthand how nursing is practiced in Nigeria and to experience healthcare in a very different context.
First Impressions of Egbe Hospital
My first impression of the ward was a large open room filled with beds and curtain compartments—certainly not much privacy by Western standards. Yet, patients seemed not only to accept it but to enjoy the sense of community, often forming friendships with one another.
Each patient is cared for by a family member, who provides meals and much of the day-to-day support. Many of these family caregivers sleep wherever they can—sometimes sharing the bed with the patient, sometimes on a chair, on the floor, or outside on a bench. I will not forget the sight of a mother caring for her two-week-old baby while sitting upright in a chair for days, without a bed of her own to rest. She herself had given birth just two weeks earlier. It struck me deeply, especially when I thought of how new mothers in the West are usually pampered and supported by their families. The Nigerians I experienced truly demonstrate strength and resilience, accompanied with broad smiles and laughter.
One thing that struck me was learning that many nursing students can only afford one meal a day. They sometimes come to work their shifts without having eaten at all- which sometimes made it hard for them to follow along and concentrate on bedside teachings due to bouts of dizziness, or having the need to sit down. I definitely could not be able to come to a long work day and function properly without eaten before. Patients, too, often go without adequate meals, which is so vital for healing. Thankfully, a new Nutrition Program has been launched at the hospital, which now provides very poor patients with food and the nutrition they need for healing. A Student Meals Program has also been started to help students who don’t have the funds to eat, to get meals daily.
Working as a Nurse in Nigeria
Working as a nurse in Nigeria also means learning to improvise with limited resources. Back in Germany, I was used to having a whole selection of wound dressings to choose from. Here, the main option is sterile gauze and plaster. I also had to learn to be more mindful with basics like gloves!
I also noticed how broad nursing education is in Nigeria. While in Germany, nursing is divided into separate specialties—adult, pediatric, geriatric care, and midwifery—Nigerian nurses are trained across all these areas to a certain extend. For me, this meant the joy of caring for pediatric patients alongside the staff nurses, which I especially loved and am normally not able to do in Germany being an adult ICU nurse, even though it was sad to see so many children suffering from severe malaria, sometimes with fatal outcomes. It is said that up to 50% of Nigerian children under one year of age die from preventable causes such as malnutrition and malaria.
The Role of Prayer at Egbe
Another unique and enriching aspect of my time here has been the role of prayer. Every Wednesday, prayer rounds are held on the wards, where prayers are offered for each patient in the hospital. At first, it was a bit stepping out of my comfort zone, but I have now realized how beautiful this practice is. Not only does it mean a lot to the patients, but it’s also good for us—to pray not only for ourselves, our families, and close friends, but also for people we may not even know, to ask for their needs and prayer requests. Prayer is woven into everyday life here—at handovers, before celebrations or teaching sessions, or simply when patients request it. I loved seeing how faith is so naturally integrated into both work and daily life.
My Time in Egbe
During my time in Egbe, my main role was to serve as an educator and mentor for students and staff nurses. Most of the teaching happened spontaneously at the bedside, and for two weeks, I also shadowed and supported newly hired nurses. Working side by side with the staff not only allowed me to contribute professionally but also gave me the chance to build new relationships—some of which I hope will grow into long-lasting friendships.
The first two weeks were slower as I was still getting to know everyone, but the final weeks were the most productive and rewarding. So for anyone considering coming to Egbe, definitely opt for a longer stay if that is possible, especially if it is the first time around!
Working in a hospital is, I would argue, one of the best ways to truly get to know a country and its people. Through this experience, I have learned more about Nigeria—its culture, people, strengths, and quirks—than I ever could have as a tourist or any other way in such a short time without such close involvement in the community.
– Keziah E., Volunteer Nurse
My Thoughts
Being in Egbe has been an enriching, eye-opening, and rewarding experience. It has helped me grow personally and professionally, and I would wholeheartedly encourage anyone to step out of their comfort zone and consider an opportunity like this. Not only will it change you, but it can- and hopefully will- also be a blessing to the people you serve.
