Norul Izzi Binte Abdul Samad, Senior Staff Nurse, National Heart Centre Singapore
Having her second child four years ago was a joyous time for Senior Staff Nurse Norul Izzi Binte Abdul Samad. But managing two children under two years of age soon took its toll, especially when it came to her career.
Izzi, now 35, was then with the Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit (CTICU) of the National Heart Centre Singapore (NHCS); it was her first job since entering the nursing profession in 2009. She grew to love the fast-paced environment. “I enjoy the adrenaline rush,” said Izzi. “The challenges of work were manageable but, as I made the transition to being a mother of two, it proved to be a bigger hurdle.”
“Managing a toddler and a baby on top of shift work was overwhelming for me,” said Izzi. She wanted to breastfeed her baby but found it difficult due to her work schedule. “After work, I would manage the household chores such as cooking because I wanted to give my toddler home-cooked meals. But it became overwhelming.”
Izzi considered giving up nursing to focus on being a stay-home mother. “I enjoy nursing a lot and the independence from earning an income. On the other hand, I also thought that I should stay at home to take care of my children. After all, money can’t buy my children’s growing up years,” she shared.
Izzi considered taking on a less demanding role in another hospital and department but realised that she really enjoyed working in the CTICU — it was where she started as a nurse, so she found it difficult to leave. She decided to confide in her supervisor, Senior Nurse Manager Yeoh Lee Shien. “I asked if it would be possible to work three morning shifts a week which I felt was more manageable.”
Sister Yeoh was more than supportive, and Izzi made a switch to part-time work instead. “I was so touched that she personally made the arrangements with our bosses, including the chief nurse, to allow this change,” said Izzi. “I thought that my only option was to leave.” Now with three children, Izzi has struck a happy balance between family and career with part-time work. The experience has taught Izzi an important lesson: “If we share our vulnerabilities, people around us are willing to help. Sometimes we are just scared and unsure, thinking there’s only one solution.”
Izzi treasures these close relationships at work, and sees them as blessings in this season of her life.
Duong Nguyen
Bao Khanh
(Vivian,
Staff Nurse,
Sengkang Community
Hospital
Hailing from Ho Chi
Minh, Vietnam,
Vivian came to Singapore in 2016 on an
Asian Nursing Scholarship. However, the
22-year old was hampered by her poor
English. “I wasn’t able to articulate my
thoughts well enough to those around
me, which led to misunderstandings,”
recalled Vivian of the trying time she
had as a nursing student. “I didn’t have
the confidence to speak up, and this
affected my ability to pick up the right
skills and techniques.”
Although she failed her internship
twice, Vivian did not give up. She decided
that, for her third and final internship,
she would improve her language and
communication skills through self-study
while balancing work. Prior to her shifts,
she allocated time for self-study, and
familiarised herself with her patients’
diagnoses and the names of their
medications. She learnt to ask for help and even conducted her own additional
research. Having overcome her inhibition
to communicate with others, she passed
her final internship.
Vivian credits her preceptor at Bright
Vision Community Hospital for turning
things around. “She was friendly and
guided me with a non-judgemental
attitude, making it comfortable for me to
open up to her,” recalled Vivian.
Vivian went on to secure full-time
placement at Sengkang Community
Hospital (SKCH), where she benefited
further from her preceptor, Senior Staff
Nurse Sarena Binte Rahim, and her
then-supervisor, Nurse Clinician Kitty
Ho. Both colleagues taught Vivian the
ropes while taking time to understand her
as a colleague and friend. “They knew
that I was sometimes unsure of which
work to prioritise, so they’d guide me to
organise my workload efficiently. With her
experience in the emergency department,
Sister Kitty also taught me what I needed
to do if the patient’s condition worsens,”
said Vivian.
The nurturing of her nursing educators
sparked a desire in Vivian to grow her
knowledge and improve her critical
thinking skills. With the support of her current supervisor, Nurse Clinician Yvonne
Shi, she decided to take up a nursing
degree, which she is currently pursuing.
Vivian is inspired by her advice to “look for
improvement and not perfection”.
Vivian has the support of colleagues
in the ward, who adjusted the roster to
accommodate her studies. Being far
from her family and homeland, this
camaraderie is priceless to Vivian.
“My colleagues have not only sparked
my own personal growth, but have also
inspired me to be a better nurse, to deliver
care well, and to serve patients to the best
of my abilities.”
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