I chose nursing over teaching as a career as the knowledge and skills acquired can be lifesaving.
As for teaching, my other passion, there's no lack of opportunities to teach as a nurse!
I once cared for a renowned cardiothoracic surgeon. It was his first hospitalisation and he was very anxious. He found it difficult to switch into a patient's role but eventually managed to pull through with his family's support. He later shared that he became more empathetic towards his patients through this experience and that he learnt a lot from me.
I want to encourage young nurses to be a force for positive change, to go out of their comfort zones and practice self-care. Nursing will continue to evolve but the basics won't change – nurses are patients' advocates. Though challenging and sometimes frustrating, nursing is richly rewarding."
Dr Juriyah Yatim
Senior Nurse Clinician (Advanced Practice Nurse)
Singapore General Hospital
Tags: Nurse
