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

The Ministry of Health’s Health Training Institutions (HTI) Directorate has issued a stern warning to nursing and midwifery trainees, as well as practicing professionals, to immediately desist from creating social media content while wearing their official uniforms.

Speaking at the 2026 Annual General Meeting and Scientific Session of the Nurse and Midwife Educators’ Society in Takoradi, the Acting Head of Health Training Institutions, Tony Goodman, cautioned that using professional attire for social media entertainment, tarnishes the dignity and public trust of the profession.

Mr. Goodman revealed that his office, in active collaboration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), has established monitoring mechanisms to track online behavior and enforce strict 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,” Mr. Goodman warned.

“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.”

Zero tolerance for sexual exploitation

Beyond social media conduct, Mr. Goodman turned his attention to institutional integrity, delivering a strong rebuke to male educators implicated in the sexual harassment and exploitation of female trainees.

Describing sexual misconduct as an intolerable stain on the public service, he urged tutors and administrators to strictly adhere to professional codes of ethics or 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 stated.

“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.”

The Directorate reaffirmed its commitment to restoring professional discipline, safeguarding students, and preserving high ethical standards across all health training institutions nationwide.