Nursing: A Calling or a Career Choice?
When you ask ten nurses in Africa why they chose the profession, you’ll likely get ten different answers.
Some will smile and say, “I’ve always wanted to care for people.”
Others might shrug, “It was the course I was offered.”
A few will admit, “It wasn’t my first choice, but here I am.”
In a continent where healthcare systems are fragile and nurses are often undervalued, the question of whether nursing is a calling or just a career is more relevant than ever. The lines are blurry, the expectations are high, and the challenges are real. Yet, in the middle of it all, something beautiful blooms—something deeper than uniforms, shifts, and paychecks.
My Nursing Journey: Where It All Began
For me, nursing wasn’t just a practical choice. It was a seed planted early. I was the child eager to clean and bandage minor wounds, always the first to care for my family when they fell sick. It seemed like second nature.
But it wasn’t until I lost my only brother that I truly understood the weight of what it means to care. That grief birthed a promise within me—to be someone who saves lives, who shows up when others can’t.
No, I’m not a savior. But that loss gave me direction. Nursing became more than a profession—it became a purpose.
The Reality of Nursing in Africa
Still, the journey isn’t always fueled by inspiration. The truth is, many nurses in Africa start out with very different motives—job stability, social respect, or limited options in university placements. And that’s okay.
But here’s the magic: what starts as “just a job” often transforms into something more. You’ll find nurses educating mothers in rural communities, running outreach campaigns, and advocating for healthcare reforms. Somewhere along the way, many discover a deeper purpose.
Career or Calling—Why Not Both?
For some, nursing was always a calling—a deep-seated passion to serve humanity. For others, the profession grew on them as they witnessed the impact of their work.
The African nurse is more than a caregiver. We are leaders, educators, first responders, and often the backbone of our communities. Yet, we’re still called “just nurses.” We face delayed salaries, unsafe working conditions, and limited growth opportunities. These systemic challenges can dim the flame that once burned so brightly.
But despite it all, we rise. We show up. We push forward.
Embracing Your Journey in Nursing
Whether nursing found you or you found it, your journey matters. You don’t need to fit into a perfect box of “called or not.” Purpose often unfolds with time, and passion can be nurtured through experience.
I’ve seen it happen—nurses who once felt lost now leading health initiatives. Nurses who never imagined a future in healthcare becoming champions for change. That’s the power of this profession.
So own your story. Embrace your role. Because you are not “just a nurse.”
You are a lifeline, a professional, and a force for good in African healthcare.
Final Thoughts
Nursing may begin as a career or a calling. But in Africa, it becomes so much more—it becomes a mission. Whether you wear scrubs in a bustling hospital or a uniform in a remote clinic, you carry something powerful: hope.
Let’s continue to serve, to grow, and to shape the future of healthcare together.
About the Author
Ojebode Dorcas Ifeoluwa is a passionate Nigerian nurse, writer, and public health advocate. Known online as The Nurse_writer, she uses storytelling to spotlight healthcare realities in Africa, challenge outdated stereotypes, and inspire reform from within the system. She is the founder of KOFa4Health, a community health initiative birthed during her NYSC service year in Kano, focused on health education and impact. She believes in the power of nurses to shape policy, transform communities, and lead innovation in healthcare.
