“What if, during chest compressions, we accidentally break the casualty’s rib cage?”

This thoughtful question, raised by one of the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) Senior Middle 3 students, captured the spirit of curiosity, critical thinking, and compassion that nursing embodies. It also set the tone for our participation in the Course Exploration Day at Hin Hua High School, held on 26 April 2025. This collaborative event between IMU University and Hin Hua High School saw the IMU Nursing Division proudly participating, alongside other programmes such as Chinese Medicine, Chiropractic, and Digital Health.

A total of 28 UEC Senior Middle 3 students participated in the Nursing programme session. The IMU Nursing Division was represented by Dr Lim Swee Geok, Head of Department, together with Ms Chow Suh Hing, Ms Nurazlina Binti Md Noor, Ms Deepa A/P Kaliappen, and Ms Lee Mei Ying, who conducted the activities and guided the students throughout the programme.

Dr Lim Swee Geok began the session by introducing what students need to know about nursing. Dr Lim explained the fundamental aspects of the profession, including the responsibilities, values, and skills that define a nurse’s role in today’s healthcare environment. Building on this foundation, Dr Lim then inspired students to view nursing not merely as a job, but as a lifelong journey filled with purpose and possibilities.

Dr Lim shared that while caring for patients’ personal needs remains a fundamental aspect, nursing today stretches far beyond bedside care. Nurses lead teams, drive research, teach future generations, and influence healthcare policies. With a strong foundation in nursing, many have also ventured into academia, entrepreneurship, business, and community leadership. Whether within Malaysia or across the globe, nursing offers a future shaped by one’s ambition, passion, and dreams.

After the talk, students had the chance to step into the shoes of a nurse and experience the real-world skills that nurses use every day.

Through small group rotations, students practised life-saving techniques. Students performed adult cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) with the use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), learned how to manage infant choking and perform infant CPR, and applied cervical collars and bandages to stabilise trauma injuries.

These hands-on activities gave students a powerful glimpse into the critical role nurses play. Students realised that nursing is not limited to caring for daily needs but also involves being the first to respond when emergencies strike. In those vital moments, it is nurses who deliver first aid, provide basic life support (BLS), and help stabilise patients when every second truly matters.

This session helped raise awareness that nursing is not a stand-alone profession. Nurses form the largest and most essential part of the healthcare team, working closely with doctors, paramedics, therapists, and other healthcare professionals. Although some of the skills nurses perform may overlap with those of other roles, such as providing first aid, basic life support, or emergency care, what truly distinguishes nursing is not just technical competence but also the attitude of care, empathy, and patient advocacy that nurses bring to every encounter.

In nursing, knowledge, skills, and practice are fundamental, but they are never complete without compassion. Nurses may not always be able to cure diseases, but they are privileged to accompany patients on their journey toward recovery and offer comfort along the way. Whether in hospitals or in the community, nurses promote health, educate, and support individuals and families, making a difference not only through clinical expertise but also through unwavering dedication to care. A nursing journey often begins with small and humble steps, but over time, it grows into a career shaped by leadership, resilience, and a lasting impact on the lives of others.

Although today’s encounter was brief, we hope it helped to address some of the common taboos and misconceptions about nursing. More importantly, we hope it planted a seed of inspiration among the students, offering them a vision of nursing not merely as a hospital-based profession, but as a powerful force for positive change within communities and throughout the world. Ultimately, we believe that nursing is not just about healing the body. It is about touching lives, lifting spirits, and leaving a legacy of care that the world will never forget.

 It only takes one nurse to bring comfort, care, and hope to those who need it most.

Written by Lee Mei Ying
Reviewed by Dr Lim Swee Geok