It was a great time discussing and listening to how each other has been doing. The experiences, the change of thinking and the worries each has. But yet, the issues raised up left me reflecting on how clinicals and reality have caused many to lose the passion and purpose to which they have when they first stepped in on Day 1.
We were reflecting on organisational structures of the healthcare system in hospitals, the beliefs, attitudes and priorities of the members in it. We brought up many issues and talked through them. One main fear of many is the fear of starting work. I myself thought through about the reason why I’m also feeling the same way as that of many of my course mates. Why is it that we are all so afraid of starting work? Why is it that we all so afraid of being incompetent? Isn’t it human to not know everything on the first day of work? Isn’t it normal to make mistakes here and there as we step into a steep learning curve in the beginning of our career? Then we realised why….
Our culture is one that does not allow for mistakes to be made. It is a culture of blaming and scolding. It is one governed by power. This has resulted in much fear and stress to perform. It’s a ‘ Perform, you must. Make no mistakes ever. If not, you die’. The vertical and horizontal violence that result from power is horrible. The blame culture is so strong that it has really caused many to run away from responsibility and in thinking critically. Defence medicine/nursing, that is…many are practising now. It has resulted in people going to work having just one goal in mind… SOLO: To not be scolded or getting complained/sued.
No wonder so many don’t dare to step out and speak out.
This culture is so strong that many of our friends have become contaminated from it. Subtly, thoughts have been guided by what they see and experienced. And yes, how best to protect themselves from all these. Fitting in, into the culture that everybody agrees that its wrong. It got me thinking then. What’s the point of NUS nursing then? What’s the point when we’re just the same? Shouldn’t we be thinking critically about everything that we see? Leaders of the future? What kind of leader will we be when we allow ourselves to fit in and do things as how it is being done in the past even though it is wrong?
Being a student is great. Because it allows you to step back and see things from a side view. And for the good or bad experiences that we have… It helps us to understand what is good or what is not good and what needs improvement. I treasure those times when we tell each other, " Wow. This is good. When I get to this position, I must be like this." and " Yee.. This is so bad. When I get to this position, I must not be like this." But we must must remember what we have learnt and not to become the same.
There is no need to gain favor of superiors by lying and being so insincere (what we call, suck up). Do not listen to seniors who say that. It gets you nowhere. It only makes you that kind of person to which you dislike. Really, to choose between character and position, I would rather choose character. There is no point in gaining the world, but losing your soul.
Say no to bitchiness.
Say no to gossip.
Say no to cold war.
Say no to blaming.
Guys, we need to stand up.
We need to stand out.
Let us never stop thinking critically and reflecting about all that we do.
Let our minds not become blinded by power and greed.
Let us come back to the sincerity of heart to serve our patients.
For the Christians, let our hearts be guided by the love of God. And to believe that without the fakiness and politics, God will still bless.
Trust God, for He promises:
“ For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
But the way of the wicked will perish.”
Live by God’s standards. Do not discount your soul for worldly perishable things.
Let us not be under or over confident. Lets believe that we are able and we CAN make a difference. Let us believe that we have been and are trained to be leaders. You may be a staff nurse, a ward sister, the head manager in your own department, A/DON or even the director of nursing in the future. Maybe you’ll be head of ALCNS and leading the nursing education in S’pore. Perhaps, you can even become the next head in the healthcare sector and become in charge of all the policy makings. But no matter which position you may be in the future, let us hold on to our ideals. Let not anything take that away from us. But yet, lets lead and serve humbly… And to place our confidence in God and God alone.
To our graduating pioneer batch of NUS nurses…
We have gone through so much together.
We have experienced the good and bad together.
We have talked about so many issues and things that we want to change.
We have been disappointed and encouraged.
We have seen what the healthcare system is.
We have seen and reflected on our culture.
Now, its our turn to walk the talk.
Let us be like Deborah.
Let us be someone who does not deny the position that we’re in, be it in the hospital or outside in society. But let us not allow ourselves not to be hindered or stopped from learning, thinking critically and accomplishing significant things.
Let us not be just a nurse.
Let us not be hindered by what others think or say about us.
We must go beyond the standard that we see in the wards.
We must believe.
We must believe
We CAN change the culture.
We CAN change policies.
We CAN change the way of doing things.
We CAN stand out.
We CAN make a difference.
And we MUST.
Because if we don’t, then who will?
Our generation must take the lead.
We must rise up to take the responsibility.
We must stand together.
Then, only then can we be an example and support to our juniors who like us, are looking for that someone to whom they can model after.
Let us all have an attitude that even if nobody does it, then I will still do what is right. I will still rise up and speak up. I will not fit in like how others do. I will lead the change. I will follow my commander-in-chief, Jesus no matter what others do.
The world has yet to see what God can do through "just a nurse".
Just a nurse, you may be.
But lead you will.
Influence you will.
Change, you will.
When you look to and trust the God who says:
Just a nurse
But just the way I will use
When you rise up to be just the way I have made you to be.
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