From Housewife to Nursing
When she later chanced upon an ITE advertisement for nursing students, she decided to enroll on the encouragement of her husband. Julie was then 38 years of age and had been a homemaker for over ten years.
Back to School
Following the completion of a two-year course with the Institute of Technical Education (ITE), Julie joined St Luke’s Hospital as an Enrolled Nurse (EN). “In the beginning, there were so many things to become skilled at,” said Julie. “Fortunately, I was well-supported by a good team, and was able to overcome the difficulties and gradually became more comfortable in my job.”
Having been an Enrolled Nurse for three years, Julie felt that it was time to upgrade herself in order to progress to a Staff Nurse or Registered Nurse. With a career plan in place at SLH, Julie had the opportunity to upgrade to Registered Nurse on a Place-and-Train Programme for Registered Nurses sponsored by SLH. This programme was offered by Parkway College and the Singapore Workforce Development Agency.
She recalled having to complete many modules, going through a few attachments at hospitals for practicals, and undergoing several tests and examinations to attain the necessary knowledge and skill-sets to become a Staff Nurse. However, Julie was grateful that SLH had assigned her with a designated Nurse Manager as her mentor to provide guidance and support during the three years.
From Enrolled Nurse to Staff Nurse
“A Staff Nurse holds more responsibilities in overseeing the wards. You’re expected to take charge and to make fast and accurate decisions for patients. So having gained the right training and experience, it helps me to react and to know how to respond to difficult situations while on the job or in my ward.”
Julie further revealed that it was a former Staff Nurse of hers that inspired her to do what she is doing now and to be better in her role as a team leader.
“She never failed to care for her juniors. She will ask about their progress and help to solve their problems. Even when her juniors encountered difficulties, she was calm, steady and wise in solving issues. That’s the kind of Staff Nurse I wanted to be. Not just seeing patients recovering and returning home with their family, but also inspiring, encouraging and helping my own team to perform, to work as a team, and to do their work with pride.”
Looking Ahead
Now that Julie is enjoying her second career, she looks back fondly and is thankful for programmes like the ones she attended which transformed her outlook in life and allowed her to fulfill her calling in nursing.
She said: “I have enhanced my knowledge and am able to advocate for patients and attend to their needs. Acting as a bridge between the doctors and the patients and their family, I aim to provide the best care and a better environment for my patients to maximise their rehabilitation potential.”
While Julie is still new to her role as Staff Nurse, she hopes to continue to perform and improve, such as taking up courses in more specialist fields. An area of interest that is close to her heart is Gerontology, which is the study of the social, psychological and biological aspects of aging.
Rewarding For All
For those who are considering a career or mid-career switch to healthcare, or looking to return to the workforce like Julie, she has the following advice.
“Preparation is the key in this job, and you should also be prepared to be sweaty and tired,” says Julie. “You have to be open-minded and be able to accept criticism, as you’re always in the line of fire in having to help patients and their families. However, when what you do is appreciated and acknowledged by heartfelt thanks from patients, you’ll find job satisfaction and feel that what you do is all worth it.”
For more information on Place-and-Train Programme for Registered Nurses, click here.
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