Proud to be 'agent of care'

Proud to be 'agent of care'
‘RARE BREED’: Mr Luther Yiew, 26, is one of only nine male nurses of 1,800 nurses at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital.
PHOTO:

He is one of only nine male nurses out of 1,800 nurses working at KK Women's and Children's Hospital.

Mr Luther Yiew, 26, said: "It was interesting at first because people would stare at you, but it doesn't really get to me any more. We're the 'rare breed' there, but everyone works hard together."

Mr Yiew, who also contributed to Nursing the Heart, grew up in an engineering family, as his mother and both his older brothers are engineers.

His family never imagined he would choose nursing as a profession. "They were really taken aback, particularly because I'm male. At first, they tried to get me to reconsider," said Mr Yiew, who has been working as a nurse for two years.

SCEPTICISM

However even in the face of scepticism from his family, he remained firm in his decision.

"When I was in national service seven years ago, I told people that I wanted to be a nurse, and everyone was also very surprised," Mr Yiew said.

He added: "Even though male nurses face a bit of a hurdle due to social norms, I knew the nursing profession was a noble one. I stuck to my original goal and passion and it's been worthwhile."

Now, Mr Yiew, a senior staff nurse, has a degree in nursing from the National University of Singapore, and his family has accepted his career choice.

Mr Yiew, who has been engaged for two years, said: "Nursing is a very rewarding career. What I enjoy most about my job is that I can alleviate parents' and children's anxieties. I am an agent of care."


This article was first published on July 31, 2015.
Get The New Paper for more stories.

This website is best viewed using the latest versions of web browsers.