Chided solemn nurses at centre, calling them layabouts (6)
I believe the answer is:
idlers
'layabouts' is the definition.
('idler' can be a synonym of 'layabout')
I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for idlers that I've seen before include "The work-shy?" , "They're not inclined to work" , "They hang about doing nothing" , "Lazy people, layabouts" , "Loafers, time wasters" .)