Nurses Advocator: Changing the mindset of a typical Singaporeans towards Nurses

I would like to comment on the article that was published in The New Paper, 5th February 2012, titled “Confessions of a nurse.” I appreciate the article was brought up to highlight the dilemma that a nurse have to go through in this profession. Nursing is a noble job. Majority of the nurses spends more time at work with irregular shift adding on, the stress from own fellow colleauges as to finish up their task and do the best for their patients and also to accommodate the demand from patient’s relative. The implication of providing the best for the patient is to deliver a standard of care and practices to the patient based on hospital policy. Especially when you nurse a drunkard man, perverted and confused patient, we need to understand their psychological and disease process and hence we tend to be forgiving even if they harmed us such as kicking, scolding vulgar words, pinching and many more. Majority of the nurses especially in Intensive Care Unit and General Wards, have no time for break as they have many things to follow up with the patient’s treatments and medications and could not depend on their colleagues on the same shift to take over as their colleagues also have to follow up with their own patient care. Particularly when there are shortages of nurses in the ward who’s on medical and maternity leave, nurses have to cover and take charge of 8-19 patients. Nurses are too overworked and the demand from the doctors and patient/patient relative are too overwhelming. I agree some nurses, have created a close bond with their patient, and sometimes, when the patient passes away, we take it too personally that some I know, cried and even pay a visit to the late patient’s family. Some nurses are frightened to reject the patient demand, as they are threatened in a form of getting complains due to service unsatisfaction. Not only that, nurses are always been observed by the public every single action that they do when they are on their uniform. If they are not up to expectation, they were STOMPED and embarrassed. There goes the career of the affected nurse. The traditional mindset of a public only thinks that nursing job is to clean faeces and urine, and some claimed nursing is a dirty job. The public should be aware that nursing is a more of a profession than just a normal occupation. We save lives and use our instinct, critical thinking, and knowledge to do the best for the patient care. We are always the patient advocator. We speak for our patient and sometimes some of us argued with the doctors to help and fight for the right of our patient. We need the understanding from the public that nursing is a professional job in the world. Thanks to the advancement of new technology, nurses workload are better and improving as compared to the past generation badge of nurses.

The turnover rate of nursing in a department is high as some quit nursing to find other job opportunity,continue their studies and others, worked overseas in popular country such as Australia, United Kingdom and New Zealand, because they felt much appreciated and highly respected as a nurse not only by the patients and relative even the Doctors asked the nurses on their opinions regarding about the patient’s care. Due to fellow Singaporean nurses who find better income opportunity in other country, there is an increase in demand of getting foreign nurses who benefited the salary in Singapore if they were to convert their pay in their selected country. Most Singaporean nurses who work overseas shared that the pay for a nurse with a degree can reach an average around $3k-4k a month excluding tax. In addition, we need to work near 8-10 years to earn a basic salary of $3000 per month and have to go through career advancement such as taking up Advanced Diploma that will add up an extra pay of $100 while if the nurses possess a degree in Nursing, they will be paid an extra $150-$250 depending on their institution. As Singapore is one of the leading countries in Asia for best medical hub and services, nurses pay in Singapore should be put in a par level as in Western countries.

There is a stigma that nurses are being treated like a maid and this topic has been a hot topic that is always been shared among nurses. In Singapore context and based on observation, some nurses felt they were treated like a maid by the patients and caregiver. Even to pour a drink in a cup and there are relatives around, the nurse was called to do that favor. Sometimes, we always encourage patient’s relatives to feed their loved ones, but was shocked with a statement made by a patient relative “I pay, u do!” So, the next questioned here is, can nurses complain?? Yes, we can but only to our superiors and taking part in counseling session. How likely nurses can say No to a patient demand, and as of a statement that was made in TNP “Nursing is a “giving” profession. You need to strike a balance in receiving goodwill as well.” I nursed a few patients coming from other countries and the demand is lesser than our own local patients. I believed that the institution should provide not only a listening ear and support but also to create a strong union for Nurses and listen to the ground and fight for their nurses right.

What do I mean by nurses right? If the nurse is assaulted, having a counseling session alone is not enough; the patient should be checked on their mental status whether he/she is in their unsound mind at the point when they assaulted the nurses. If the patient was found at his sound mind and caught assaulting nurses, the case should be taken up seriously such as fine, warning letters or sentence to jail. The hospital should provide and trained more security officers to assist the nurses in dealing with difficult patients especially in General ward. There are many other ways that can be implemented to help nurses ease their burden and feel safe at work.

A customer is always right in service line but not always in medical and nursing industry. We nurses provide customer service skills in dealing with patient ranging from private A to C class patients and to the patient’s relative. The public have to understand that we cannot 100% cater to their demand. We need to prioritize on our work especially when dealing with emergency situations. Therefore, nurses have to be firmed at times in dealing with difficult patient and relatives.

I would also like to correct the statement on Miss Jenny regarding about the urosheath application. Urosheath is an external condom like catheter that is applied to male patient who is immobile and has incontinence in passing urine. It was unethical to create a misjudgment from the public on the application of urosheath in male patient. It is not indicated in any theory to touch sensitive area to cause erection on a male patient in order to apply the urosheath easily. With good techniques, it would never be a problem. I hope the public would not get outrage or misinterpret the profession of a nurse due to the remark stated.

In conclusion, I would like to take the opportunity from the public to support the nurses in Singapore and create a good impression for our new generation to take up nursing as we might face critical shortage of nurses in the future. I am proud to be a nurse despite of all the challenges as it is a rewarding career, but I hope Singaporeans are also proud for their own local nurses. Not forgetting our foreign nurses, who sacrificed their time and effort to be away from their loved ones in their hometown, with a mindset to take care of the patients and also helping to ease the burden of Singaporean nurses. Hence, we need the upmost support from our superior and institution to acknowledge nurses to the next level of professionalism. In a modern world, we should change the perception of nursing in Asia. Nursing is not a dirty job but it’s a well established career that needs professional and development skills in dealing with people’s life and death. We need to be viewed with respect and dignity by the members of the public. Therefore, the need of patient's relative to participate in caring and supporting their loved ones at bedside are highly recommended and not to depend solely from nurses.

Can you imagine the world without nurses? Who will care for your loved ones?