Time Is Crucial

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By Peace | January 16, 2007

Nursing Is a noble job. It is a job of helping people, helping sick people, educating people. I want to be a nurse.

Years ago, I want to study Degree In Nursing but they don’t have this course in the any of the tertiary Institution. There were no Nursing Degree in NUS, NTU, Ngee Ann Poly and Singapore Poly. Nursing was only offered as Certificate back then. So I cannot fulfill one of my dream, or rather what I like to do.

I still like to be in the nursing industry. A few years back, there was a opening for those mid-career change for nursing industry. It is a one year course if I remember clearly. Just last year, there was another intake. However, I still miss the chance. I do not know whether I fit in the criteria for entry and most importantly I have to care for my two children. But on the other hand, I wish to have my career. I want to do something that I like and have a life of my own. I am scare that there won’t be anymore such chances available and I will be getting older as each year pass.

I always wonder why other country can have Nursing Degree but Singapore don’t have. It was so unfortunate. I would want to study but to fly overseas for the Nursing Degree is impossible. There were times where I search the newspapers and internet for information about nursing. I even called up hospital about any on the job training. But years back, there were no such things. But later on there is better improvement. They offer Nursing Diploma in the Polytechnic. I called up for enquiry. They don’t offer me tuition grants anymore also. I do not have so much money to study for Nursing Diploma then. So I have to drop the idea when they offer Nursing Diploma in the Polytechnics. Two years back, they offered Accelerated Diploma In Nursing. I miss the first chance, as I need to look after my children. The second year, the same thing. Now, there is Degree in Nursing to be offered at Singapore University of Singapore. It looks so attractive to me.

Now there is finally Nursing Degree in Singapore. I really hope time can reverse and I would have different fate and destiny today. I would be now doing what I like to do and I have more knowledge of what I wish to know. The first batch of Nursing Degree was last year Aug 2006, about 50 students according to the news release. The tuition fee is $7000 per year. That is a lot. The next intake would be around March 2007. I don’t care whether I am an overage student or what. As long as I can pursue my dream, I would be happy. It is a 3 yr course for fresh graduates of ‘O’ and ‘A’ level students. What about people with other qualification? For graduates can they have postgraduate degree in Nursing? If they offer such options that would be marvellous. Normally postgraduate program is a period of a year. So that would be better. However, I don’t mind how many years of study as long as I can pursue my dreams and if I can cope with my studies and my children.

Sometimes it really makes a different which year you are destined to be born. If born later, you get more options to study. I like to study healthcare. Back then there was no such things. Only a few years after I am in the midst of my studies then they is offerings of Occupational Therapist, Radiologists, Physiotherapist. I love to do this kind of job. But that were all Diploma. But it is better than none. But I cannot change what I have taken.

I can visualize myself if I am a nurse — I can help patients when they need care. I can educate the public about healthcare, and I can teach the next generation of nurses if I can get promoted in the nursing job. I can work in various departments, I can choose to work in old folks home or hospital or to be in operating theatre and so on. With a knowledge in nursing, I can help my families and people around me too. Most importantly, with a career which I like and have an interest in, I can have a peace of mind also.