At Equality 4 Black Nurses, we have long recognised the troubling trend of Black nurses, particularly international nurses, facing harsher scrutiny and more severe consequences than their White colleagues. We are seeing this pattern again, but this time Nigerian nurses are at the centre of the storm.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has placed over 512 Nigerian nurses under investigation, branding them as potential fraudsters due to "unusual" exam times at a test centre in Nigeria. Yet, many of these nurses have retaken their tests in the UK and passed again, with similar fast times.
Let's be clear: cheating happens everywhere, not just in Nigeria. Every country, including the UK, has instances of fraud and misconduct. For example, a British-trained nurse in Sussex once submitted a plagiarised essay during her training at the University of Surrey. Despite being caught, she only received a six-month suspension for serious professional misconduct. She is now back on the NMC register, continuing her career without further issues. The double standard is glaring and deeply concerning.
Why, then, are Nigerian nurses treated so harshly and collectively labelled as fraudsters?
The answer is as disheartening as it is familiar: stereotypes. It is easier to label these nurses as cheaters than to accept the possibility that they are simply brilliant professionals from a culture that excels in standardised tests.
This knee-jerk suspicion of Nigerian nurses is not just wrong; it's dangerous, discriminatory, and profoundly unjust.
We at Equality 4 Black Nurses stand with these Nigerian nurses. We welcome and appreciate them for their expertise, commitment, and life-saving care. While other trade unions and nursing associations remain silent, or worse, complicit in their exclusion, we are here to support them.
We will not let racial bias and harmful stereotypes undermine these nurses' contributions to the NHS and our communities. However, the NMC's actions aren't just about test scores and fraud accusations. More profound, disturbing patterns are at play, and the public needs to know the shocking truth about how the NMC operates.
One of the most harrowing revelations about the NMC is that within a short timeframe of 12 months, six nurses took their own lives while awaiting outcomes from the NMC's Fitness to Practise process. These nurses were left "in limbo" for years - some investigations stretched for as long as ten years.
Can you imagine the emotional toll of being suspended in uncertainty, your career and livelihood at risk, while your case drags on endlessly?
These tragedies directly result from the NMC's systemic failure to treat nurses with the care and respect they deserve. The fact that lives were lost during this process underscores just how devastating the NMC's actions can be. And now, over 512 Nigerian nurses are in a similar "limbo," branded as potential fraudsters and awaiting an outcome that could take years. How many more lives must be at risk before we address this injustice?
The assumption underlying the NMC's investigation is clear: Nigerians must be fraudulent because they completed their exams too quickly. But is that really the most logical conclusion?
Let's consider other, more rational explanations for these fast test times:
Nigerian nurses are trained to a high standard, often under conditions far more challenging than their counterparts in the UK. The fact that they can quickly pass a standardised test is not evidence of fraud; it's evidence of expertise. Why is it so hard for the NMC to accept that these nurses are simply highly skilled? Is it because they are Nigerian? Because they are Black?
This assumption betrays a deep-seated bias that we cannot ignore.
These nurses have taken the Computer Based Test (CBT) before. Unsurprisingly, someone who has already seen the format, pacing, and question types would complete the test more quickly on subsequent attempts. Rather than recognising this as standard, the NMC clings to its preconceived notions that something sinister must be at play.
Would this suspicion exist if the nurses were White?
Nigerian nurses often undertake intensive preparation for these exams, attending rigorous coaching programs designed to help them succeed. In fact, Nigeria has a proud tradition of excellence in education. But instead of acknowledging their hard work, the NMC and others reduce their success to fraud.
This is not only an insult to these nurses but to the entire Nigerian education system.
It's not uncommon for exams to have recurring themes or similar questions. Nurses who have taken the test before during practice could easily recognise specific patterns, allowing them to answer more quickly. Yet, rather than accepting this as a natural consequence of retaking the exam, the NMC insists on viewing their speed with suspicion.
Are we really saying that Nigerians can't be efficient without cheating?
Many Nigerian nurses have mastered test-taking strategies that help them excel in multiple-choice exams. This is a skill, not a crime.
Instead of praising their ability to think quickly and act decisively - traits we should value in healthcare professionals, the NMC punishes them.
Why? Because their speed doesn't fit the NMC's narrow view of what's "normal"?
Nigerian nurses are trained to approach exams with efficiency and precision, a cultural strength that reflects their educational background. Yet instead of embracing these differences, the NMC finds it easier to lump these nurses into a box labelled "fraud." This isn't just ignorance - it's racism.
The inability to appreciate cultural learning differences shows a lack of respect for the diverse backgrounds that make the NHS stronger.
There are cases of cheating in every country, including the UK, but this investigation is based on nothing more than timing patterns. If these nurses can pass the exam again in the UK, under strict supervision, why does the NMC persist in its witch hunt? The truth is that the NMC's obsession with fraud is driven by harmful stereotypes about Black people and Nigeria, not facts nor evidence.
The idea that fast exam times automatically indicate fraud is absurd when you consider that many standardised tests follow predictable patterns. Highly trained professionals like these nurses can quickly recognise and respond to these patterns. Shouldn't this ability be praised? Instead, the NMC seems determined to paint them as criminals.
It's also worth noting that familiarity with the software can significantly reduce test times. Why isn't this a more plausible explanation than fraud? Could it be because the nurses in question are Black and from Nigeria? It's easier to assume fraud than to confront the racial biases at play.
The NMC's systemic issues don't end with its investigations. The report revealed a toxic workplace culture rife with bullying, favoritism, and discrimination. Over 40% of staff reported experiencing or witnessing microaggressions in the workplace, and there were multiple cases of overt racism, such as recruitment panels dismissing candidates based on their names. How can we trust the NMC to conduct fair investigations into Nigerian nurses when their staff are subjected to such racial prejudice?
The NMC also has a history of incompetent safeguarding decisions.
One particularly shocking case involved a white male nurse accused of sexual assault and rape who was allowed to continue practising for seven years before finally being struck off. How can the NMC take such a lenient stance on a case involving sexual misconduct but aggressively pursue Nigerian nurses based on nothing more than fast exam times?
The double standard is glaring, and it highlights the racial bias in the NMC's decision-making process.
To make matters worse, we have heard troubling reports that some law firms and nursing associations are signposting these Nigerian nurses to lawyers and nurse consultants, charging them over £1,000 to prepare and draft simple responses to the NMC's inquiries. Instead of providing genuine support and guidance, these professionals are exploiting already stressed nurses, adding to their financial and emotional burden. This exploitation is disgraceful, and it highlights how these nurses are being failed not only by the NMC but also by those who should be standing by them.
By focusing on fraudulent behavior without fully investigating cultural and educational factors, the NMC is not just failing Nigerian nurses, it's actively discriminating against them. Blanket accusations and one-size-fits-all investigations send a clear message:
Black and Nigerian nurses are guilty until proven innocent.
This approach is devastating for these nurses, many of whom have uprooted their lives to come to the UK and help save the NHS. They are being treated as if their only value lies in their potential to be "caught" cheating, not in their ability to provide expert care.
At Equality 4 Black Nurses, we are here to fight for these nurses. We see you. We know you are skilled, capable, and deserving of your place in the NHS. While other trade unions and nursing associations remain silent or, worse, complicit in your exclusion - we welcome you with open arms.
We stand ready to support you, to amplify your voice, and to demand justice on your behalf.
We know that you are not a fraudster. You are brilliant, hardworking professionals who have earned the right to be where you are. And we will continue to fight against the racial bias and discrimination that seeks to undermine your contributions.
The NMC must confront the uncomfortable truth: their investigation into Nigerian nurses is rooted in harmful racial stereotypes. Rather than acknowledging cultural learning differences, they have chosen to view these nurses through a lens of suspicion, and that is fundamentally wrong.
It's time for the NMC to re-evaluate their approach, drop biased assumptions, and recognise these nurses' immense value to the NHS.
At Equality 4 Black Nurses, we will continue to stand with these nurses, fighting for fairness, equality, and the respect they deserve. We refuse to allow stereotypes and racial bias to destroy the careers of those who have worked so hard to care for us.
To all Nigerian nurses, we stand with you and will not stop fighting until justice is served.
If you have been affected by the issues discussed, whether you've lost your PIN, lost your job, received a workplace downgrade in banding or pay, or are being refused entry onto the NMC register, please reach out to us.
Equality 4 Black Nurses is committed to supporting you through these challenges.
Contact us:
Phone: 0208 050 2598
Weekly Zoom Session: Join us every Tuesday at 9 PM for our Zoom meeting
We are here to help you navigate these difficult times and ensure that your rights are protected. You are not alone in this fight.
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