Working Lives: The Nurse Who Saved the Life of an IVF Baby Alone

Working Lives: The Specialist Nurses of Nigeria

In this series, we bring to you the Working Lives of some of Nigeria’s most educated nurses. Let’s be frank, most us would not expect a nurse to discuss specialist areas of medicine we have never heard about. These nurses have qualifications in them! But as usual, it is their life stories that are compelling rather than the details of what they do at work. Delve in and discover.

Working Lives: The Nurse Who Saved the Life of an IVF Baby Alone

OKPARA SHULAMITE

I am the fifth child. We had two maids. It was a full house. I am the only one in the medical line. The first daughter is a policewoman. The second child is a teacher. The third and fourth children studied mechanical engineering. The last-born studied banking and finance. It was not easy for us but by the grace of God we all passed through the walls of the university to become what we are now.  

Where are you from?

I am from Ikeduru in Imo state.

Which school did you attend and when did you graduate?

I attended Model Primary School, Aba in Abia state. And I also attended Immaculate Girls Secondary School, Aba for my secondary school education. I graduated in 2002.

Where did you study to become a nurse?

I took the long route. I attended the School of Nursing in Owerri. Then I came over to the west where I did my midwifery at the School of Nursing and Midwifery in Oluyoro, Ibadan.  I got admission into my dream institution, Obafemi Awolowo University to study for a degree in nursing in 2012.  It was a part-time programme.  Everything they taught others from Monday to Friday, we were taught in just two days. So it was not an easy task. I had to go from Lagos to Ife every Friday and come back every Saturday night. It was not easy at all. I had to travel and also find time to study. And I had two children. But today, by the grace of God,  I have a  BSc in Nursing Science.

When did you get to Lagos?

I got a job in Lagos in 2011. That was how my journey in Lagos started.

Also Read: Working Lives: The Paediatric Nurse Who Has a Nose for Trending Merchandise

How and when did you decide to study nursing?

I have always wished to be a nurse since I was a little girl. When I was young, I had this big aunty who was a nurse who was living with us. The way she behaved and how she carried herself made me fall in love with nurses. Then  I acted as a nurse in a play in primary school.  My determination only strengthened in adolescence.

Please, tell us about your family?

I grew up in a family of 8: 5 girls and a boy. My dad worked in a company where they produce and sell cooking gas. He has passed on. My mother was a businesswoman. She was into baking. She bakes cake, doughnuts, pies etc. We helped her out in supplying shops and companies on wholesale and retail basis. We worked with her before leaving for school. I am the fifth child. We had two maids. It was a full house. I am the only one in the medical line. The first daughter is a policewoman. The second child is a teacher. The third and fourth children studied mechanical engineering. The last-born studied banking and finance. It was not easy for us but by the grace of God we all passed through the walls of the university to become what we are now.

Where do you live and how much is the rent?

I now  live in Ibadan with my husband and kids. We live in  a three-bedroom flat and we pay N150,000:00 per annum. I work at the University College Hospital, Ibadan.

How many hours do you work for?

I work for 40 hours in a week. But when I am on night duties, my hours may rise to  50 .

What is your best day like on the job?

I can never forget the day.  I took a baby for an X-ray and on my way back the child had an apnoeic attack. This means the child stopped breathing.  I administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation. I alerted the doctors and the nurses but fortunately for us the child had resumed breathing when they arrived. The airway had cleared and the child had come back to life. Let me put it that way.  The doctors and the other nurses were angry at me for raising a false alarm.

Hope you didn’t get into trouble?

Not really.  The baby’s mother told them all I did to resuscitate the child. I was really concerned because I knew the parents had waited 8 years and had spent millions of naira on IVF to have the child. God helped them to have the baby. So why will a child like that just die because we went for an X-ray? They may have sued the hospital if the baby died and I would have had to start writing reports. It may have become a big issue.  But to the glory of God, my prompt intervention really helped resuscitate the baby. I can never forget that day. God gave me victory.

Have you had any shocking encounters with a patient before?

I have always worked in a children ward so the kids always cooperate with us. But we always have relatives that do not cooperate. Patients’ relatives sometimes cause trouble especially when a child dies. They fight the nurses and doctors. Once we had to call in security to calm the situation.

How much are you paid?

I am paid N80,000:00 plus.

How much do you spend in a day?

I have 3 children. I spend between  N3,000:00 – N4,000:00 daily on foodstuffs, snacks and other things for the children.

What other things do you spend money on?

I spend money on the workshops and seminars that I attend. I send some money to my mother.

For how long have you been practicing as a nurse?

I have been practicing as a nurse for over 9 years now.

Do you have savings and how much do you save in a month? 

I try to put aside N5,000:00  monthly.

Do you have plans to venture into something else apart from your nursing career?

I love nursing and I also love making up.  I would want to venture into becoming a makeup artist but I will still be working as a nurse.