A brochure seems like the most unlikely thing for someone to base a serious decision on. Yet, for Jeannie Chiam, it helped her decide on her future career path.

After her A-level examinations, Jeannie came across a new course offered by the National University of Singapore (NUS) starting this year: The three-year Bachelor of Science (Nursing) programme.

To find out more about it, she attended the NUS open house and picked up the course brochure. Her interest in the nursing degree grew when she learnt that the National Healthcare Group (NHG) was offering a scholarship for the programme.

The 19-year-old then went home to share the news with her family and friends. “I was quite surprised that even my 68-year-old granny urged me to enrol in the course. She said that nursing was a profession that offered good job prospects,” said Jeannie.

With their blessings and encouragement, she applied for the Bachelor of Science (Nursing) programme and NHG scholarship one week later.

“Part of the reason was due to my feeling of helplessness each time my granny suffers from body aches and pains. Hopefully, I’ll be able to do more for her by using what I learn from the nursing course.

When asked why she had not chosen other scholarships that offered the chance for an overseas education, she said a local one was just as good, if not better.

“I’ve never thought of going overseas. I’m very comfortable with the universities here and with Singapore itself,” she said with a laugh.

The Bachelor of Science (Nursing) programme, which commenced in August, helps undergraduates develop critical, analytical and reflective skills that are essential for delivering quality patient care. Graduates will be trained to work independently or with other healthcare professionals in various healthcare settings.

Graduates will have to serve a six-month internship at a hospital and Jeannie will do her internship at the National University Hospital – where she will also serve her bond.

Although she did not know it initially, NUH is the only hospital within the cluster to operate a paediatric unit and that for her is something of a bonus.

“I like working with old people and children. Kids are very innocent and fun to play with,” said the petite nurse-to-be with a disarming smile.

By the time she completes her degree, she hopes to have learnt the basics of caring for both elderly and young patients.

And one of the ways she intends to do so is through communication with patients. She hopes that her warm and cheerful disposition will bring comfort to patients who feel that they are alone and away from loved ones.

To prepare herself for these tasks, Jeannie has already set several targets – one of which is to brush up on Mandarin and dialects.

And as for relieving the suffering of those in pain, Jeannie is getting first-hand lessons from her granny – by offering to help massage her legs whenever she experiences discomfort.