Trainee nurses risk dismissal for social media content in uniform – HTI Head warns

The Ministry of Health’s Health Training Institutions (HTI) Directorate has warned nursing and midwifery trainees, as well as practising professionals, against creating social media content while wearing their official uniforms.

The Directorate said the practice could undermine the dignity of the nursing and midwifery professions and erode public confidence in healthcare workers.

Acting Head of Health Training Institutions, Tony Goodman, issued the warning at the 2026 Annual General Meeting and Scientific Session of the Nurse and Midwife Educators’ Society in Takoradi.

Mr Goodman said his office, in collaboration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), had established monitoring mechanisms to track online conduct and enforce disciplinary measures against offenders.

“We are going to watch social media now. And if we see you as a student using uniforms to be doing those TikTok videos, we will find a way of removing you from the school,” he warned.

He said the Directorate was determined to enforce professional discipline to ensure that current educators and trainees upheld the standards expected of the healthcare workforce.

“We have decided that we must be strict, we must be serious about what we are doing. Otherwise, the generations that will come after us will say these people didn’t do anything, and that is not what we want,” he added.

Health Ministry Cautions Against Misuse of Professional Uniforms

The warning highlights the Ministry’s concerns about the use of official nursing and midwifery uniforms in online entertainment, particularly in videos circulated on platforms such as TikTok.

According to Mr Goodman, professional attire carries responsibilities and should not be used in ways that could damage the image of healthcare workers or weaken public trust in the profession.

The proposed monitoring measures are intended to reinforce professional standards among students and practitioners across health training institutions.

The Directorate’s warning also places greater emphasis on the responsibility of trainees to conduct themselves in ways that reflect the ethical expectations of their chosen professions.

Tony Goodman Warns Tutors Against Sexual Exploitation

Beyond social media conduct, Mr Goodman addressed concerns about sexual harassment and exploitation involving male educators and female trainees in health training institutions.

He described sexual misconduct as a serious issue within the public service and urged tutors and administrators to uphold professional codes of ethics.

He warned that educators who exploit their positions of authority could face severe administrative and legal sanctions.

“It is a serious matter in the public service. People are not happy with that, parents are not happy,” he said.

Mr Goodman further urged educators to maintain appropriate professional boundaries with the students entrusted to their care.

“Please, you cannot be training and be damaging. Please, there are a lot of women in town. There are a lot of them in town, not the ones we have brought to you to train,” he stated.

His remarks underscored the responsibility of educators to provide a safe learning environment and protect students from abuse of authority.

Directorate Reaffirms Commitment to Professional Standards

The HTI Directorate reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening professional discipline, safeguarding students and maintaining high ethical standards across health training institutions nationwide.

The measures outlined by Mr Goodman reflect the Directorate’s stated intention to address conduct it considers inconsistent with the responsibilities of nursing and midwifery trainees, tutors and practising professionals.

The Ministry’s position places emphasis on protecting the reputation of the healthcare professions while ensuring that training institutions remain safe and professional environments for students.