I'm a nurse. Ask me anything about nursing

[RogerNg_185295]

Male nurse molest his colleagues

 

https://www.zaobao.com.sg/znews/singapore/story20180523-861385?xtor=CS2-8

[Philipkee]

Does it affect my promotion and salary if i take too much sick leave as a staff nurse?

Depends. You take too many sick leave and your appraisal gets affected. When your appraisal gets affected, your promotion and salary gets affected (cos your increment the following year might be lesser).

 

Of cos we must see why you take mc, is there a pattern and did you really take too many days mc. Some were hospitalised so it's kind of fair not to penalise but some use up their entire allotment of mc for "cough and cold and headache " and so nicely just before or after rest days. Some were stricken with cancer so they take a lot of mc bht no one begrudges them so it's a bit subjective.

 

I understand it can be controversial. We also don't want sick person to come to work.

 

Ultimately it is one of the more objective ways of measuring output, together with tidiness and punctuality. Cos other ways (good attitude, hardworking) are even more subjective and prone to abuse.

 

Example, a staff might get more compliments than the rest. But later it is found out she never do the work but go round chatting with patients and giving feedback forms to them.....

 

Anyway I digress. Answer to your question is yes if you are overboard with it.

[Jamesc]

Does it affect my promotion and salary if i take too much sick leave as a staff nurse?

 

Do you mean like keng mc?

 

I take one day every month on a Friday or Monday

 

or when have a PH.

 

MC is 14 days of extra leave,

 

If anyone understand people getting sick

 

surely it people in the medical profession right?

 

So go ahead take your MCs. 

 

[Gapyear]

Hi. A few points.

 

1) Please don't misunderstand. From what I know, SCDF does not hire nurses. I am there but I am seconded from MOH. It's different. And I am specialised in a specific area so it's not like you can apply there as a freshee nurse.

 

2) Hours are different in different areas. I suggest you start off with shift duty cos office hours work tend to be places you cannot learn much like clinics. OPERATING THEATRE is also office hours but you can learn a lot but it's very specialised so maybe not a good choice for a new passed out nurse (but some joined so it's not like definitely bad).

 

3) Not sure about good eyesight requirement for paramedics but yeah, with patient care you cannot afford to be blind in one eye. But wearing specs have never stopped anyone from joining. But I am guessing that very poor eyesight will mean lower pes status (like army) which affects your deployment as paramedics cos what I know is they must pass ippt also.

 

4) Foreigner and local tensions? Depends on where you work. Sometimes it's OK. Sometimes they gang up. Just make friends with all and don't form cliques and prejudices and you should be OK.

 

5) Career progression and pay is how you make it. Pay is slightly less than 6k after all allowances and after 17 years in the profession. A lot? Little? Up to you to think. And yes I have a degree. Rank wise not so important cos at the end of the day, nursing is about working on the ground.

Hi bro, nice to see a fellow nurse in MCF. I am a newbie here in MCF. Agreed with everything except point no.1

 

SCDF do accept nursing students for sponsorships/scholarships. Although the job demands differs, SCDF stabilize/control the condition of the sufferers for transportation to hospitals safely for interventions/treatments. Nurses have wider field of specialities depending on your intrest.

 

However higher education pathways after enrolling into the paramedic swing differently, just like mental health nursing professionals and midwives.

 

I am a nursing lecturer and some of my students are sponsored by SCDF. All my friends who joined SCDF upon graduation never quit or switch careers unlike the nursing counterparts. Must be the canteen food too addictive.

[Philipkee]

Hi bro, nice to see a fellow nurse in MCF. I am a newbie here in MCF. Agreed with everything except point no.1

 

SCDF do accept nursing students for sponsorships/scholarships. Although the job demands differs, SCDF stabilize/control the condition of the sufferers for transportation to hospitals safely for interventions/treatments. Nurses have wider field of specialities depending on your intrest.

 

However higher education pathways after enrolling into the paramedic swing differently, just like mental health nursing professionals and midwives.

 

I am a nursing lecturer and some of my students are sponsored by SCDF. All my friends who joined SCDF upon graduation never quit or switch careers unlike the nursing counterparts. Must be the canteen food too addictive. ð

Hi. Do I know you in real life? Hahaha. But I disagree. I was a lecturer also hehe.

 

SCDF does not hire nurses. In the sense that there is no designation in SCDF like SN or SSN. They can sponsor nursing students to become RNS but these students become paramedics when they serve their bond in SCDF. But their designation becomes paramedic though they are qualified nurses.

 

But perhaps I am playing with words. They do hire nurses but when they are hired, they take on the vocation of paramedics as opposed to hospitals, when they hire nurse, the nurse takes on the vocation of nurse in the hospital.

 

But you have a point. It's like army hire nurses also but they become combat medics upon starting work. I was thinking more of the vocation name as opposed to the qualification when I said scdf don't hire nurses.

Edited May 31, 2018 by Philipkee

[Gapyear]

Hi. Do I know you in real life? Hahaha. But I disagree. I was a lecturer also hehe.

 

SCDF does not hire nurses. In the sense that there is no designation in SCDF like SN or SSN. They can sponsor nursing students to become RNS but these students become paramedics when they serve their bond in SCDF. But their designation becomes paramedic though they are qualified nurses.

 

But perhaps I am playing with words. They do hire nurses but when they are hired, they take on the vocation of paramedics as opposed to hospitals, when they hire nurse, the nurse takes on the vocation of nurse in the hospital.

 

But you have a point. It's like army hire nurses also but they become combat medics upon starting work. I was thinking more of the vocation name as opposed to the qualification when I said scdf don't hire nurses.

In a sense yes, they are paramedics and not nurses by form. They does not need to report to singapore nursing board, paramedics have their own regulatory board.

 

Just inputing for those want to sign on, if they need a diploma or degree to qualify for the entree requirements they can join via nursing courses. Especially those equipped with only ‘O’ level certs.

 

But once you join paramedic, you are essentially not a nurse anymore. Hope it helps for those seeking directions. Cheers.

[Camrysfa]

this pic was in the papers - what is the balloon like object held by the person in blue?

 

 

 

[Kopites]

this pic was in the papers - what is the balloon like object held by the person in blue?

 

 

 

air viva?

 

I used to hold one during army. This was in blue colour.

 

no rubber condom.

[Camrysfa]

air viva?

 

I used to hold one during army. This was in blue colour.

 

no rubber condom.

[Philipkee]

purpose?

To breathe for you or to help you breathe.

 

The bag contains the volume that is supposed to go into your lungs. When the person squeezes the bag, air goes through a one way valve. In the picture you can see a mask.

 

Basically, if you need someone to breathe for you, you should be unconscious and have an oral airway or ETT inserted into you. The mask covers your mouth and nose and air is forced into your lungs (for oral airway) or the mask is removed and air is forced into your lungs via ETT.

 

There are of course exceptions to this but this is on case by case basis.

 

Needless to say, there are different sizes of masks and bags catering to different types of patients, from paeds to adults.

 

I believe the picture shows the adult bag and mask.

[Hellobelle]

Hello, not sure whether this question have been asked before. Currently working as a staff nurse. Is it better (in terms of salary, promotion, recognition) to do a top up degree under the approved institutions under SNB or to apply for NUS nursing. Considering that there will be exemptions for most of the year one modules in NUS. Appreciate any advice. Thanks !

[Philipkee]

Hello, not sure whether this question have been asked before. Currently working as a staff nurse. Is it better (in terms of salary, promotion, recognition) to do a top up degree under the approved institutions under SNB or to apply for NUS nursing. Considering that there will be exemptions for most of the year one modules in NUS. Appreciate any advice. Thanks !

It's actually up to you.

 

There may be misconceptions or just difference in opinions..

 

1) NUS is better for promotion? Yes BUT you need to be chosen to go into NUS so you probably will be promoted anyway and if you get selected it means the sister already think highly of you.

 

2) top up degree it's up to you. It's very tiring to do part time degree with shift. You do get exemptions though if you have a diploma in nursing. If you do study full time overseas, you get NO exemption cos you are full time.

 

Hope this helps.

[archcherub]

Hi. Do I know you in real life? Hahaha. But I disagree. I was a lecturer also hehe.

 

SCDF does not hire nurses. In the sense that there is no designation in SCDF like SN or SSN. They can sponsor nursing students to become RNS but these students become paramedics when they serve their bond in SCDF. But their designation becomes paramedic though they are qualified nurses.

 

But perhaps I am playing with words. They do hire nurses but when they are hired, they take on the vocation of paramedics as opposed to hospitals, when they hire nurse, the nurse takes on the vocation of nurse in the hospital.

 

But you have a point. It's like army hire nurses also but they become combat medics upon starting work. I was thinking more of the vocation name as opposed to the qualification when I said scdf don't hire nurses.

 

so combat medics, nurses and paramedics are all trained under roughly the same educational / training courses?

[Philipkee]

so combat medics, nurses and paramedics are all trained under roughly the same educational / training courses?

Depends on definition of "roughly"

 

Nursing = polytechnics or university

Paramedic = ITE/ SCDF

Combat medic = school of military medicine/ SAF

 

Curriculum is roughly the same as in all learn how to do CPR, iv plug setting, serving meds.... but focus is different.

 

Nurse = nursing in the civilian hospital

Army = first responder in a combat situation

Paramedic = first responder in a civilian situation

 

What differentiate nursing from combat medic and Paramedic is that nurses work under direction of the doctor while combat medics and paramedics are given more autonomy and have lesser resources (ambulance vs hospital). Nursing is also general while Paramedic and combat medic is more specialised in skill and environment where they work in.

 

As an emergency nurse, my training involve attachment to SCDF and visits to army combat centre so I roughly know what they do but I won't dare say I am trained to take over them.

 

I just say one remark a senior emergency doctor ever told us.

 

"In a disaster situation, at the site of disaster, I would rather have 10 trained paramedics than 20 trained emergency nurses."

 

Not saying who is more qualified but at the end of the day, training focus is different and that's all that matters.

[archcherub]

thanks for the sharing!

[AlfonsoREYES1978]

I realise that there have been questions popping up about SCDF and ambulance.  From contacts with my friends and even family members, there seem to be a lot of misconception of what we do in the nursing field.  What we can do, what we cannot do, bed situation and the such.

 

Following from Hardwarezone threads, I thought it might be helpful if I started a thread on nursing.

 

A little background.

 

Graduated from nursing over 15 years ago

Worked in C class and B2 ward in a restructured hospital

Worked in major OT in restructured and private hospital

Worked in Accident and Emergency department in restructured and private hospital

Lecturer in nursing

 

Attachments include SCDF posting when going for a specialist course

Of course the on and off volunteer missions overseas

 

So ask me anything.  If I can answer without compromising my identity or place I work, I will do so, within reason.

 

p/s  with O levels coming out soon, this thread is also for those who might consider nursing as a career but cannot seem to get the on the ground info

 

 

 

 I really appreciate what you do. 

[Padukone72]

hi would like to ask you i had just graduated from NYP with my diploma in nursing with gpa of 2.54. I had tried to get into kings college of london sadly the requirment was gpa of 2.7 and they rejected my application. hence am wanting to ask as im pondering if i should do the advanced diploma in nursing get a gpa of 3 atleast then apply for bachelor of nursing with honors or just go straight to do my bachelore in nursing at la trobe or another good college then after my degree finishes apply for honors programme. im very unsure and am a bit lost aas tot how to go about. 

[Philipkee]

hi would like to ask you i had just graduated from NYP with my diploma in nursing with gpa of 2.54. I had tried to get into kings college of london sadly the requirment was gpa of 2.7 and they rejected my application. hence am wanting to ask as im pondering if i should do the advanced diploma in nursing get a gpa of 3 atleast then apply for bachelor of nursing with honors or just go straight to do my bachelore in nursing at la trobe or another good college then after my degree finishes apply for honors programme. im very unsure and am a bit lost aas tot how to go about.

Up to you.

But please note. Advanced diploma is a specialist diploma so it's strongly not advisable to take it just after graduation with a diploma. There is also a waiting list so you probably have to wait a year at least before being considered for advanced diploma.

 

Are you planning for a promotion or migration? In my humble opinion, any degree done that is recognised by SNB is good enough for promotion (eventually) to nurse manager and for the degree allowance.

 

If you are planning to migrate it is different. Example. University of Sydney and university of curtin both offer degree in nursing (specifically bachelor of science -nursing) but sydney one costs a lot more (2010 time). So it doesn't make sense to spend more on sydney if you are just after the allowance. But if you plan to migrate to Sydney it's a different story.

 

Promotion wise it's the same unless you aspire to be director of nursing one day MAYBE the better university will make you stand out when it is time for promotion to that level.

 

My suggestion as to all newbie nurses

 

1) work for at least a year in the specialty you desire. Many people gave a lot of aspirations when they enter nursing and many become jaded after joining amd can't wait for bond to end/ bonus to come so that they can resign. Some apply for transfer to clinics or areas where it's only regular hours like day surgery. After one year if you still like it, apply for advanced diploma.

 

2) Degree? Any time but make sure you can cope. Doing a degree part time while working shift is exhausting. If you are doing it full time, make sure your finances are in order or you are sponsored.

 

3) good university? Honours program? Depends on your ultimate objective. For me, I got a degree because it is the way of the future. And the catalyst was at his deathbed, my ex NC tell me not to waste time and get a degree, even when he was almost literally at his last gasp of air.

 

Hope this helps

Edited November 19, 2018 by Philipkee