Madonna University has expelled one nursing student and suspended 14 others following the circulation of a viral social media video recorded in a hospital environment.
The video reportedly showed nursing students engaging in a playful recording while undergoing clinical activities. It was accompanied by the caption, “No sick o, na Gen Z full hospital,” which subsequently attracted widespread attention and criticism online.
The incident has triggered concerns over professional conduct among nursing students, particularly the expected standards of behaviour while undergoing clinical training in healthcare facilities.
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) confirmed that 14 students were suspended, while one student, reportedly the person who made the social media post that triggered the controversy, was expelled.
NANS National President, Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, acknowledged that the students’ conduct was inappropriate and inconsistent with the discipline and professional standards expected of trainee nurses.
However, the students’ body appealed to Madonna University management to reconsider the expulsion and replace it with a warning or another less severe disciplinary measure.
NANS argued that the expulsion could have significant consequences for the affected student’s education and future nursing career, noting that the students had already invested considerable time and resources in their professional training.
The association said its appeal did not amount to condoning misconduct, but was intended to encourage a disciplinary response that would correct the behaviour while allowing the affected student an opportunity to continue his or her education.
The controversy has also renewed discussion about the use of social media by students during clinical placements and the need to maintain patient privacy, professional boundaries and institutional rules within healthcare environments.
Madonna University’s Department of Nursing Science states that its programme places emphasis on clinical discipline, moral integrity and ethical principles as part of the preparation of students for professional nursing practice.
As of the latest reports, the university had not announced a reversal of the expulsion. NANS has continued to appeal for the sanction against the expelled student to be reviewed.
The disciplinary action comes amid broader concerns about ensuring that healthcare trainees understand that conduct in clinical environments can carry academic and professional consequences, particularly when material from such settings is published on social media.
