Why nursing? The answer is simple. It is because I would like to spread the love to those who are in need and earn a living. Yes, it is as simple as that. Until today, I still have the same answer and have no regrets choosing nursing as my career. 
Four years since graduation, I have been nursing the people of my own nation. The Island of Pearls (“The Pearl of the Orient”) is where I start off with. This beautiful island is where I gradually began to understand nursing more and more. Being a nurse is more than doing hands – on care. Allow me to share the journey that I went through these four years in Gleneagles, Penang. I started off as a newly graduated nurse in a Medical-Surgical Ward, the experience gained was overwhelming. As a modern private acute care hospital, I had the opportunity to nurse patients with various types of diseases and conditions. Two years later, I was given an opportunity to work with a group of Orthopaedic Surgeons as their Patient Education Nurse in the similar hospital. The role allows me to educate patients and families on wound care, pre- and post-operative care, low purine diet, foot care in patients with diabetes and application of orthotics. As a Patient Education Nurse, I managed to spend more time with patients and families teaching them on home care and listening to their worries, doubts and fears, especially prior discharge. 
As a part of the hospital voluntary team, I have the opportunity to organise and participate in various health camps that provide free health checkups for the society, especially for those in rural areas. It brought me back to those days when I was a student at the International Medical University (IMU) where my friends and I had a similar experience gained at the Adopted Village Programme under IMU Cares. Continuous education is crucial in healthcare. Gleneagles, Penang is actively organising conferences, symposiums and workshops for healthcare professionals. It is indeed a great experience to be given an opportunity to be part of the committee in organising them. At the same time, I also get to participate in various workshops in Malaysia related to my scope of practice. Along the journey, I met a group of supportive colleagues who guided me and helped me in providing better patient care. We learn from each other as a team. Healthcare is only complete when we work in a multidisciplinary approach. Doctors, nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists, dietitians, lab technicians and other staff of the hospital will provide better patient care when we work as a team. I enjoyed working with my fellow colleagues and nursing my patients until today. 
Being a nurse is more than a job, if you truly love what you are doing. To me, the most memorable and rewarding moments are those where I can make even the slightest difference in someone’s recovery. I love my profession.
This article is written by IMU Nursing Alumni and Registered Nurse, Cindy Lee
