Skip to main content
Home The New Paper
  • Home
  • News
    • Singapore
    • World
    • Business
    • Views
    • Backstage
    • Others
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Singapore Football
    • Team Singapore
    • School Sports
    • Athletics
    • Basketball
    • Cricket
    • Swimming
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Racing
    • Others
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Music
    • TV
    • Star Style
    • School of Frock
  • Lifestyle
    • Makan
    • Hed Chef
    • Weets Eats
    • Health
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Shopping
    • Biker Boy
    • Celeb Chow
    • Others
  • Racing
  • Your Tip-Offs
  • Read E-Paper
  • Contests
  • Coupon
  • Team

Popular

  • COURT & CRIME
  • Food & Drink
Singapore

Inspired, they decided to make the switch to nursing

Inspired, they decided to make the switch to nursing
Mr Zaid Rahmat (centre) and Ms Tey Poh Choo are two of 1,900 individuals who joined the healthcare industry mid-career since 2003.PHOTOS: COURTESY OF ZAID RAHMAT, CHANGI GENERAL HOSPITAL
Inspired, they decided to make the switch to nursing
Mr Zaid Rahmat and Ms Tey Poh Choo (above) are two of 1,900 individuals who joined the healthcare industry mid-career since 2003.

Watching his dad battle pneumonia sparked his decision to change jobs; becoming a caregiver helped her make the switch

Samuel Devaraj
Dec 11, 2020 06:00 am
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • E-mail this article
  • 0 Engagements

Three years ago, Mr Zaid Rahmat's father died of pneumonia and it left a profound impact on him.

"It was a traumatic experience for our family," Mr Zaid, 34, told The New Paper. "But as my father was transferred between wards, I was struck by the care from the nurses."

Their kindness lit the spark for him to become a nurse.

He took up the professional conversion programme (PCP) for registered nurses last year.

With that, Mr Zaid, a former civil servant with a degree in real estate, became one of 1,900 individuals who joined the healthcare industry mid-career since 2003.

The government would like more to do so, and plans to open up 900 training places over the next three years for mid-career switchers entering nursing and allied health roles, Minister of Manpower Josephine Teo said yesterday.

Making creative mantou buns fresh, fun and healthy
Singapore

Making mantou buns fresh, fun and creative

Apr 15, 2021

Related Stories

Resilience is key for manufacturers to stay afloat amid pandemic

Schneider Electric and EDB set up new venture, creating 100 jobs

9,500 have taken up SGUnited traineeships and attachments

Mr Zaid's interest in nursing was also sparked by his two older female cousins. He noticed how they applied their nursing knowledge in their daily lives, and that became even more relevant when his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016. They were also able to help Mr Zaid and his mother understand the various treatments and medications.

Mr Zaid will graduate from the National University of Singapore's Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies in July next year, and he hopes to become an emergency department nurse when he joins Khoo Teck Puat Hospital.

Like Mr Zaid, Ms Tey Poh Choo, 47, was also inspired to become a nurse through a family experience.

She was an administrative and accounting executive in a construction company when her mother began having issues with walking and hypertension.

Ms Tey learnt how to be a caregiver, and later realised that by becoming a nurse, she could also be gainfully employed.

Ms Tey completed her PCP in 2018 and became an enrolled nurse at Changi General Hospital.

She works in the surgical ward, helping patients with tasks like feeding and showering. She also speaks to them regularly to see if they have concerns.

Ms Tey said: "I now have the knowledge to take care of the elderly... My mother also talks me up to her friends and tells them I can provide medical advice."

Get The New Paper on your phone with the free TNP app. Download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store now

Employment

Samuel Devaraj

Read articles by Samuel Devaraj
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • E-mail this article
  • Newslink -  Purchase this article for republication

Top Stories this Month

Naiise closes last store at Jewel, may wind up operations
Singapore

Naiise shutters last store at Jewel, may cease operations

Apr 12, 2021
HDB resale prices up for 9 months in a row, could pass all-time high
Singapore

HDB resale prices up for 9 months in a row, could pass all-time high

Apr 09, 2021
Gas blast during hotpot meal costs woman her new job
Singapore

Gas blast during hotpot meal cost woman her new job

Apr 05, 2021
Home
  • Contests
  • Coupon
  • Team
  • Home
  • News
    • Singapore
    • World
    • Business
    • Views
    • Backstage
    • Others
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Singapore Football
    • Team Singapore
    • School Sports
    • Athletics
    • Basketball
    • Cricket
    • Swimming
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Racing
    • Others
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Music
    • TV
    • Star Style
    • School of Frock
  • Lifestyle
    • Makan
    • Hed Chef
    • Weets Eats
    • Health
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Shopping
    • Biker Boy
    • Celeb Chow
    • Others
  • Racing
  • Your Tip-Offs
  • Read E-Paper
  • Contact TNP
  • About SPH
  • Privacy Statement
  • Data Protection Policy
  • Member Terms & Conditions
  • Website Terms & Conditions
SPH Digital News Copyright © 2021 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. Co. Regn No. 198402868E