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Love Works in Mysterious Ways

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LOVE WORKS IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS

by Hajijah Koming

"So much love in this girl from Singapore General Hospital’s Patient Care, and she is only a Trainee.” Such was the sentiment of Ms Joy Sim that she made in praise of Ms Rukumani d/o Pathmanathan, 23, a Patient Care Assistant Trainee, to The Straits Times’ Forum Page. Ms Rukumani took care of Mdm Kwek Pua Gek, Ms Sim’s mother-in-law, when she was a patient at the SGH. The Forum Page was published on 1 October 2007.

Love Cheers
While Mdm Kwek was comforted by the care from Rukumani or Mani, Ms Sim was touched by what Mani told her in a casual conversation: “The last organ to stop working is a pair of ears. We must make sure that whatever we say to our loved ones during the last moments are good and beautiful words. This will help our loved ones move on in peace.”

Mani, who is a shy girl, admitted she was humbled by Ms Sim’s praise. She said: “What I did for the patients is no different from what any caregivers or nurses would do.”

Skill Helps
Before she became a Trainee, Mani had always toyed with the idea of becoming a Nurse. She recalled that during her Red Cross days at Guangyang Secondary School, she had felt for the sick and injured. However, it was not until her father’s sudden death early in the year, due to heart failure, that she made a decision to sign up for the ITE Skills Certificate in Health Care (In-patient) at SGH.

“A few months into the course and I have learnt so much about basic healthcare such as the measuring of blood pressure, performing disinfection and specimen collection. But, there is so much more I have to learn,” said Mani. So what is her plan after graduating with her ITE Skills Certificate in June 2008? “I would like to become an Enrolled Nurse so I can contribute more. I would definitely want to continue to upgrade my skills,” summed up Mani.

The ITE Skills Certificate in Health Care (In-Patient)
programme provides training on health screening and laboratory tests, first-aid and emergencies, nurse call system, admission and processing procedures of patients, moving and treatment of patients, and attending to the patients’ physical comfort. Trainees who graduated from the programme will qualify for the ITE Skills Certificate, as well as progression to Nitec in Nursing. School leavers who have completed their GCE ‘N’ Level can apply for the one-year programme, which comprises theory and on-the-job training.