KUALA TERENGGANU: He may have been made fun of and labeled, “Mat Jambu” or girly for wanting to be a nurse.
But the taunts did not discourage Mohd Aswardi Mat Zin, 32, and on he went to achieve his ambition.
A nursing anaesthetist at the Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital (HSNZ), the last four years, he could see that his skill in the operating room was really needed by the surgeon.
“I had the opportunity to assist doctors when they perform surgeries for various diseases including treating damaged internal organs and brain surgery.
“What was most nerve-racking and challenging for me, was when I was assisting doctors when they perform brain surgery particularly involving accident victims. But I overcame and eventually got used to every situation,” he told reporters in conjunction with International Nurses Day celebration on May 12.
His most memorable experience to date was being able to save the life of a patient who became critical after undergoing intestinal surgery last year.
“The operation was smooth, but suddenly the patient became critical and I with five other nurses took turns to provide CPR, and we saved the patient,” said the father of two, who has a nursing diploma from Kolej Islam dan Sains Teknologi.
His wife, Norashikin Che Musa, 28, is also a nurse at the same hospital, based at the maternity ward.
“We understand our respective careers and this facilitates our tasks particularly in regard to night shift. We also appreciate the support of the family on both sides which is a great help to us,” he said.
Another male nurse, Mohd Hazarul Imam Hamzah, 29, said he had always been interested in the medical field and aspired to be a doctor.
“But to be a doctor is not easy, requiring a great deal of sacrifice to achieve excellent results in every examination.
“I was a bit disappointed, but I still chose to study at Kolej Kejururawatan Alor Setar, Kedah so that I could serve in the nursing profession which is still within the scope of the career I love,” he said. After completing his studies at the college, he was posted to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Sabah where he served for three years before being transferred to HSNZ.
“Alhamdulillah, despite being away from home and unable to be with my parents during Ramadan and Aidilfitri, I could still work with a smile.
“There is no such thing as being lonely and bored at work, because there are so many patients who need my attention. They need to be assisted, especially the bedridden ones who require help to move anywhere.
“Regardless of the South China Sea that separated me and my family in Manir then, I did not lose heart. On the contrary, because the moral support given by my family strengthened my resolve to serve without looking at the background, age and colour of the patient,” he said with a smile.
On public perception about male nurses, Mohd Hazarul who is currently based at the orthopaedic ward of the hospital, said people did appreciate their role particularly in assisting patients in the male ward.
“Male patients prefer male nurses to assist them; furthermore, it is quite a challenge for female nurses to handle male patients because of the physical difference. I hope more men would become nurses because there is a demand for it.,” he said. -- Bernama