Madonna University, Elele Campus, Rivers State, has expelled a final-year nursing student and suspended 14 other 500-level nursing students following the circulation of a viral social media video recorded within the university’s teaching hospital.
The video, which attracted widespread attention online, showed nursing students dancing and recording themselves in different areas of the hospital, including a waiting area, staircase and corridor.
The clip was reportedly part of a social media trend involving healthcare workers and students and carried the caption, “No sick oo, nah Gen Z full hospital.”
According to reports, the video was uploaded in August before gaining wider attention after being shared by social media platforms and blogs. A 15-second version reportedly accumulated more than 1.7 million views on X after it was published by YabaLeftOnline on September 1.
The university’s Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Chima Achu, confirmed that disciplinary action had been taken against the students. He said the institution was preparing an official statement on the matter.
The expelled student was identified in reports simply as Mercy. She is said to have appeared at the beginning of the video dancing in a hospital corridor and reportedly received her expulsion letter during the week. The other 14 students involved were suspended.
The disciplinary action has generated debate over professional conduct, student discipline and the use of social media by students undergoing clinical training.
Nursing students spend significant portions of their training in healthcare environments, where professional conduct, respect for patients and adherence to institutional rules form part of their preparation for practice. The incident has therefore prompted criticism from some members of the public and healthcare community who considered the video inappropriate for a hospital setting.
However, calls for clemency have also emerged.
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) appealed to Madonna University to reconsider the expulsion and replace it with a stern warning. NANS acknowledged that the students’ conduct was inappropriate but argued that expulsion could have serious consequences for their education and future careers, particularly because some of those affected were in their final year.
The National Universities Nursing Students’ Association has also reportedly begun discussions with relevant stakeholders to seek a review of the disciplinary measures and a fair resolution for the affected students.
Medical influencer and content creator Nurse Girma, who helped draw attention to the case, also appealed to the university to reconsider the sanctions, particularly after learning that the students were undergraduates rather than already registered nurses.
The controversy has consequently produced mixed reactions, with some people supporting the university’s decision as necessary to uphold professional standards, while others have called for a less severe punishment that would allow the students to continue their education.
Madonna University is yet to release the full official statement outlining the specific regulations breached by the students and the basis for the individual sanctions.
The incident has also renewed discussion about the boundaries of social media content creation in professional and clinical environments, particularly for students preparing to enter highly regulated professions such as nursing.
Post a Comment