As a young child, I always thought working in the healthcare line was a noble profession and worked towards that ideal. However, as I grew up, that impression waned somewhat, as I did not relish the idea of facing death and illness all the time, and so, became an architect instead. However, while a part of me enjoyed immense satisfaction in doing well in architecture with a well-paying job, the nagging feeling that my life was spiritually unfulfilled continued to nag at me. I contemplated a career switch but had no idea of what direction to take. Then, NYP and WDA launched a new Accelerated Diploma in Nursing under the Professional Conversion Programme (PCP) together with the two healthcare clusters, to enable mid-career workers to make the switch to the healthcare sector. Suddenly, everything clicked into place and after a brief moment's consideration, I applied for the course. That was two years back, and I've never regretted that decision since, even though it meant a drastic pay cut.

The Acc. Dip.in Nursing has equipped me with a sound nursing foundation and the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively embark on my new nursing career. The two year course was intensely hectic but manageable. Through the polytechnic course and various clinical attachments in the hospitals, I've found immense satisfaction in being able to contribute to nursing the ill back to health and providing comfort and support to patients and their relatives. Of course, this satisfaction often came with its moments of frustrations when nurses are taken for granted at times by both doctors and patients alike!

My chosen sponsor, NUH, has also provided me with ample learning opportunity to explore the myriad areas of nursing and enabled me to focus eventually on intensive care nursing - my area of interest, as I felt that I would be able to contribute back to society most in that aspect.

Now that my course has just ended, and I'm about to embark on this exciting new journey in critical nursing, my hope is to play a part in increasing the Singaporean public's perspective and awareness that nursing is a critical profession that is worthy of respect on its own.

My heartfelt thanks to NYP, WDA and NUH for giving me this stepping stone to be a part of the nursing profession. I look forward to many more fulfilling years of working in this field with NUH.