I'm a nurse. Ask me anything about nursing

[Windwaver]

I understand male nurses are pretty limited in where they can be deployed.

Just like to understand where are the usual areas or hospital setting for male nurses?

Thanks.

[Philipkee]

2 hours ago, Windwaver said:

I understand male nurses are pretty limited in where they can be deployed.

Just like to understand where are the usual areas or hospital setting for male nurses?

Thanks.

Wards, OT, ICU, A&E  etc.  Not many restrictions in where they want to go except for gynae and obstetrics.

What the restriction is they cannot handle female patients so they can be in the ward but they cannot be in charge of female patients for example.  Same for other departments.  They are restricted from obs and gynae cos the patients are all females.

There is no issue with them being in clinics but usually they are not deployed there because sometimes the doctor will need a chaperon when dealing with a female patient and a female nurse would be more convenient.

That is also why in OT anesthetic nurses tend to be female because the anesthetist are usually males and they need a female chaperon if the patient is female.

Recovery room nurses in OT are usually females also though it's ok to have male nurses as long as there is a good mix.  If the department is small and only one recovery nurse is stationed then only females can work there.

Bottom line?  With exception of obs and gynae, male nurses are not restricted from any other area of hospital.  It's just sometimes more convenient to have female nurses instead.

[Lynmei]

Just to add on something which my friend whom is a nurse from A & E side said male nurses are very much needed for at that side.

I agree on all areas other than O & G. The past week as an observer in another role, I observe student nurse form NYP are all female. So far I only saw a few male student nurse in the pediatric ward at my side.

In fact from what I observe the male therapist from my side they goes to pediatric wards and mostly boy patients. The O & G wards is like 'off bound' to them.

12 hours ago, Philipkee said:

That is also why in OT anesthetic nurses tend to be female because the anesthetist are usually males and they need a female chaperon if the patient is female.

Recovery room nurses in OT are usually females also though it's ok to have male nurses as long as there is a good mix.  If the department is small and only one recovery nurse is stationed then only females can work there.

 

This is also one of the factor I am keen to be at OT on the anesthetic side. As once the patient had been 'knock off' there had to be someone at her side to advocate what is happening when she is not awake!

Same wise at recovery room, when the patient is still in a daze and not sure what is happening around. There must had to be someone around to be the patient's 'voice and eyes'.

Edited February 2, 2020 by Lynmei

[Lynmei]

16 hours ago, Hellobelle said:

All the best ! 

Anyway, maybe I can share my experience for application process for PCP. 

The timeline of the application process is as what is mentioned on the website. 

1. Application Period

Points to note : Ensure that your application is complete, no missing details. Provide all information they require. 

2. Short-listing Process by WSG and Partners

Points to note : There's nothing much to do, except to wait for the call. 

3. Interview at MOH Holdings

Points to note : Do it like how you will go for any job interview. Prepare for questions.

eg. background, qualifications, working experience, why you want to join the nursing profession (give about 2 to 3 reasons, present it like a story), what are the reasons you choose the sponsoring hospital, how will you deal with stressful situation, complain patient. 

Briefly remember mine was along the line of wanting to do a degree in nursing after poly after talking to a friend who was in nursing in poly. However was rejected by nus nursing so went to do something else. In my first job, I had some personal experience of family members having some medical issues and not knowing what to do and was admitted. Then had good experience with a particular hospital and blah blah blah. (Sometimes it doesn't hurt to bootlick a little.)

During your application, you will choose up to 3 sponsoring hospital. It is a panel interview, about 4 people was there if I remembered correctly (1 admin from MOHH + 3 other higher rank (NC/NM/APN) nursing people from various hospital). 

Just be honest and sincere as to why you want to join the nursing profession. Use your daily transferrable skills at your current work place and apply it to nursing. 

4. Clinical Observation with Sponsoring Organisation

Points to note : Report to HR, they will bring you to the ward, then you just observe the nurses as to what they do. I remember I observed NGT feeding. At the end of the clinical observation, the nurse manager will ask some questions as to why you want to join. I don't really know what is their deciding factor on whether you will be chosen or not.  

5. Enrolment Procedures

Points to note : Sign deed with sponsoring hospital, go for health check, school sends you an enrolment package and enrol accordingly. 

6. Class Commencement

Points to note : Prepare for school ! 

The whole process actually takes a few months. Hence, you have to take leave (approx. 3 days) to go for these : 

1. Interview at MOH

2. Clinical observation 

3. Sign deed, health check 

Don't tender your resignation until you confirm you are officially enrolled with all documents signed. 

Lmk if there are more questions ! 

 

@Hellobelle u are a lifesaver, had been seeking around to look for canidates under PCP to ask more of their interview details and such. Even the HR staff from one of the hospital at the nurse open house was not able to provide me such details of PCP.

ok some questions from the details provided:

Point 3, How soon are you notified fro the interview? The issue here is AL(annual leave )have to be plan 1 month in advance and subject to approve, and this is something which I have plan/work around it with my supervisor(yes in hospital setting Al will have to plan 1 month in advance).- *use my daily transferable skills at current work place to nursing...not sure how to use my daily skills as a Therapy Assistant on this during interview-Well I have 7 months from now to think about it.

Point 4, what answer did you give in regards to the nurse manager ask? 

Point 5, Can share more details what does the enrollment package generally says?

Point 6, between interview at MOH, Clinical Observation and sign deed/health check, would like to know how soon are u being notified from the actual date to attend.

Last but not least, upon graduating and when one start their bond with the sponsored hospital are you given a choice which area you want to serve? Like Ward base/ Specialise clinic, OT? Or they will straight away throw you in the ward since the first day u start serving your bond?

Some of the nurse manager behave like a discipline mistress in the ward, this was personally experience from last week's observation session with my therapist. Some are very nice and motherly.

 

Thanks again!

Edited February 2, 2020 by Lynmei

[Windwaver]

14 hours ago, Philipkee said:

Wards, OT, ICU, A&E  etc.  Not many restrictions in where they want to go except for gynae and obstetrics.

What the restriction is they cannot handle female patients so they can be in the ward but they cannot be in charge of female patients for example.  Same for other departments.  They are restricted from obs and gynae cos the patients are all females.

There is no issue with them being in clinics but usually they are not deployed there because sometimes the doctor will need a chaperon when dealing with a female patient and a female nurse would be more convenient.

That is also why in OT anesthetic nurses tend to be female because the anesthetist are usually males and they need a female chaperon if the patient is female.

Recovery room nurses in OT are usually females also though it's ok to have male nurses as long as there is a good mix.  If the department is small and only one recovery nurse is stationed then only females can work there.

Bottom line?  With exception of obs and gynae, male nurses are not restricted from any other area of hospital.  It's just sometimes more convenient to have female nurses instead.

Thanks for the reply.

I asked because at one point in my life (actually think considering), I thought of switching career to nursing. However, most male nurses are needed for their strength but I'm limited to light duties because of medical reasons.

I can see from your reply that it's quite flexible for male nurses in theory but on the ground, they are quite limited because female nurses are always preferred. I still think nursing is a wonderful career but unless one is a doctor, if not, male nurses will always be a second choice.

To be fair, males are limited in what they can do not just in medical settings but also in general. I've seen 'female working environment' being part of a job description or at least what hiring managers have on their minds without putting it in black and white.

Nevertheless, kudos to all the folks working in the medical sector, you guys are always angels because being sick is awful.

 

 

[Hellobelle]

9 hours ago, Lynmei said:

@Hellobelle u are a lifesaver, had been seeking around to look for canidates under PCP to ask more of their interview details and such. Even the HR staff from one of the hospital at the nurse open house was not able to provide me such details of PCP.

ok some questions from the details provided:

Point 3, How soon are you notified fro the interview? The issue here is AL(annual leave )have to be plan 1 month in advance and subject to approve, and this is something which I have plan/work around it with my supervisor(yes in hospital setting Al will have to plan 1 month in advance).- *use my daily transferable skills at current work place to nursing...not sure how to use my daily skills as a Therapy Assistant on this during interview-Well I have 7 months from now to think about it.

Point 4, what answer did you give in regards to the nurse manager ask? 

Point 5, Can share more details what does the enrollment package generally says?

Point 6, between interview at MOH, Clinical Observation and sign deed/health check, would like to know how soon are u being notified from the actual date to attend.

Last but not least, upon graduating and when one start their bond with the sponsored hospital are you given a choice which area you want to serve? Like Ward base/ Specialise clinic, OT? Or they will straight away throw you in the ward since the first day u start serving your bond?

Some of the nurse manager behave like a discipline mistress in the ward, this was personally experience from last week's observation session with my therapist. Some are very nice and motherly.

 

Thanks again!

@Lynmei

Point 3 : 'How soon are you notified from the interview?' 

I remembered it was after the application was closed, I was called during the first few weeks of shortlisting. My best suggestion to get leave for the interview if you really need it urgently is to take MC. (not the right way, but the best solution, hopefully no one sees you on the street....) 

Actually as a therapy assistant, you get to interact with patients almost everyday. So you can say something like, you have observe that nurses were able to spend more time with patient. As a therapy assistant, you may only spend 20 to 30 minutes each session, but as a nurse, you are able to use your therapy assistant skills to reinforce activities to your patient. Maybe you have a met a patient who was unwilling to participate in activities for a few days, what did you do to encourage the patient. 

Because really, a nurse is like a jack of all trades. Need to have some medical knowledge, nutritional knowledge, therapist knowledge, care for their social needs, administrative documents, know where are the fire exits, how to operate the extinguisher, computer not working how to fix, deal with complains of toilet dirty, waiting time of scans/surgery, customer service for patients etc etc. (it's endless :P) 

So ask yourself, what makes you want to be a nurse. How ready are you to deal with all the good and bad of nursing. 

Point 4 : 'What answer did you give in regards to the nurse manager ask?'

I said the same thing as what was said during the MOH interview. The conversation was more of a get to know you and casual. Just be yourself. 

Point 5 : 'Can share more details what does the enrollment package generally says'

From the sponsoring hospital : All the clauses (similar to a contract) + monthly allowance (as per whatever rate that is indicated on the WSG website) 

From school : They will mail you an enrolment package, you have to fill up forms, agree that you will be enrolling in the course (can't rmb whether it was online or have to mail back). 

Point 6 : 'Between interview at MOH, Clinical Observation and sign deed/health check, would like to know how soon are u being notified from the actual date to attend.' 

Interview at MOH to clinical observation (approximately 1 to 1.5 month apart) 

- Interview at MOH, they will also call you to make interview arrangement. If there's a particular date you are unable to make it, ask them what's another available date. 

- MOH staff/ sponsor hospital staff will call you to make arrangement for the clinical observation. (I can't rmb which one). 

- Once the hospital decides to sponsor you, the flow goes something like this : 

Sponsor hospital offer you sponsorship > accept > school sends enrolment package > accept > go for health check > accept > sign bond with hospital > 2 years of school > 2 years of employment (approximately 2 weeks to 1 month) 

For me, I think it took almost 5 months for the whole process to be officially confirmed. But looking at the WSG website PCP for ENs, the process is about 3 months so everything may be fast forward. 

After graduation, HR will ask you to request areas where you will be interested to work. Put in the request, if they need staffing there, most likely you will be able to go to the area you request. But don't be so quick to decide right now as you go along your studies, you will know which areas you are more interested in.

For myself, after going through the various areas, I knew I dislike the OT because I felt cooped up in the walls, unknown to day or night and hated the cold. The only thing I enjoyed was not having to wash uniform 😅But I really enjoyed the ER and community setting. However, I thought I may want to improve on my skills first before moving to other areas hence I am still in the ward.

Even at ward level, you can choose surgical or medical ward, so it all depends on preference of an individual. And you will definitely know which area you are more interested in when you study and go through the clinical placement. 

As for the nurse manager, indeed, some behave like a discipline mistress in the ward and some are very nice and motherly. There are such people everywhere in every job, but just do what you need to do, maintain good standards, know that you have done your best for your patients, that's all that matters. 

🙂

Edited February 2, 2020 by Hellobelle

[Lynmei]

7 hours ago, Hellobelle said:

@Lynmei

Point 3 : 'How soon are you notified from the interview?' 

I remembered it was after the application was closed, I was called during the first few weeks of shortlisting. My best suggestion to get leave for the interview if you really need it urgently is to take MC. (not the right way, but the best solution, hopefully no one sees you on the street....) 

Actually as a therapy assistant, you get to interact with patients almost everyday. So you can say something like, you have observe that nurses were able to spend more time with patient. As a therapy assistant, you may only spend 20 to 30 minutes each session, but as a nurse, you are able to use your therapy assistant skills to reinforce activities to your patient. Maybe you have a met a patient who was unwilling to participate in activities for a few days, what did you do to encourage the patient. 

Because really, a nurse is like a jack of all trades. Need to have some medical knowledge, nutritional knowledge, therapist knowledge, care for their social needs, administrative documents, know where are the fire exits, how to operate the extinguisher, computer not working how to fix, deal with complains of toilet dirty, waiting time of scans/surgery, customer service for patients etc etc. (it's endless :P) 

So ask yourself, what makes you want to be a nurse. How ready are you to deal with all the good and bad of nursing. 

Point 4 : 'What answer did you give in regards to the nurse manager ask?'

I said the same thing as what was said during the MOH interview. The conversation was more of a get to know you and casual. Just be yourself. 

Point 5 : 'Can share more details what does the enrollment package generally says'

From the sponsoring hospital : All the clauses (similar to a contract) + monthly allowance (as per whatever rate that is indicated on the WSG website) 

From school : They will mail you an enrolment package, you have to fill up forms, agree that you will be enrolling in the course (can't rmb whether it was online or have to mail back). 

Point 6 : 'Between interview at MOH, Clinical Observation and sign deed/health check, would like to know how soon are u being notified from the actual date to attend.' 

Interview at MOH to clinical observation (approximately 1 to 1.5 month apart) 

- Interview at MOH, they will also call you to make interview arrangement. If there's a particular date you are unable to make it, ask them what's another available date. 

- MOH staff/ sponsor hospital staff will call you to make arrangement for the clinical observation. (I can't rmb which one). 

- Once the hospital decides to sponsor you, the flow goes something like this : 

Sponsor hospital offer you sponsorship > accept > school sends enrolment package > accept > go for health check > accept > sign bond with hospital > 2 years of school > 2 years of employment (approximately 2 weeks to 1 month) 

For me, I think it took almost 5 months for the whole process to be officially confirmed. But looking at the WSG website PCP for ENs, the process is about 3 months so everything may be fast forward. 

After graduation, HR will ask you to request areas where you will be interested to work. Put in the request, if they need staffing there, most likely you will be able to go to the area you request. But don't be so quick to decide right now as you go along your studies, you will know which areas you are more interested in.

For myself, after going through the various areas, I knew I dislike the OT because I felt cooped up in the walls, unknown to day or night and hated the cold. The only thing I enjoyed was not having to wash uniform 😅But I really enjoyed the ER and community setting. However, I thought I may want to improve on my skills first before moving to other areas hence I am still in the ward.

Even at ward level, you can choose surgical or medical ward, so it all depends on preference of an individual. And you will definitely know which area you are more interested in when you study and go through the clinical placement. 

As for the nurse manager, indeed, some behave like a discipline mistress in the ward and some are very nice and motherly. There are such people everywhere in every job, but just do what you need to do, maintain good standards, know that you have done your best for your patients, that's all that matters. 

🙂

@Hellobelle, Thanks again for answering all the questions.

Yes I agree now is too early to jump to the gun which area to station at after graduation, however back in my mind I had shortlisted a few areas and that is yet to wait for my ITE attachments to my deciding point.

Sorry would u kindly explain what is the diff vetwewn surgical ward and medical ward?

This is something new.

[Ash2017]

For the past few years I have spoken when I can to my colleagues with regards to the salary of nursing staff. Take home less than $2K is not right for a professional occupation dealing with life and death situations. Furthermore most are degree holders.

Our driver earns more than a nurse in public hospital, let alone tuition teachers.

 

Without your voices, my lone voice is not going to do much especially when my colleagues are so anal about spending money even though the money is tax payers money.

 

[Philipkee]

1 hour ago, Lynmei said:

@Hellobelle, 

Sorry would u kindly explain what is the diff vetwewn surgical ward and medical ward?

This is something new.

Let me try.

Medical wards are for medical cases like asthma or fever.

Surgical wards are for surgical cases like appendicitis.

But patient condition is usually not so straightforward so you have medical/surgical wards that cover both.  But there are surgical wards as well.

Example

Medical  wards

- medical/surgical (usually its "c" class)

- general medical

Surgical wards 

- medical/surgical 

- surgical 

You notice that medical/surgical wards are in both...that's because regardless of your posting (medical or surgical, you can be sent to the same ward for both medical or surgical). Also as mentioned patients condition is sometimes not straightforward so they have both.  Example appendicitis is straightforward but someone with pressure sore requiring wound debridement usually have both medical and surgical problems.

I didn't include other wards like neuro medical or ortho or cardio or paeds etc cos usually as far as postings go, these are considered specialised postings.  You CAN be posted to a resp ward for medical posting but usually the ward is known as resp ward.  Or even to an ortho ward for surgical posting.

I am talking as a beginner nurse.  If you are a doctor or a nurse undergoing specialised training like advanced diploma in nursing, the definitions are different.  So please understand why I describe things in a certain way.  Because i assume the context is for people wanting to join nursing as a beginner.

Hope this helps.  

Edited February 3, 2020 by Philipkee
Spelling

[1fast1]

On 2/2/2020 at 3:03 AM, Philipkee said:

Wards, OT, ICU, A&E  etc.  Not many restrictions in where they want to go except for gynae and obstetrics.

What the restriction is they cannot handle female patients so they can be in the ward but they cannot be in charge of female patients for example.  Same for other departments.  They are restricted from obs and gynae cos the patients are all females.

There is no issue with them being in clinics but usually they are not deployed there because sometimes the doctor will need a chaperon when dealing with a female patient and a female nurse would be more convenient.

That is also why in OT anesthetic nurses tend to be female because the anesthetist are usually males and they need a female chaperon if the patient is female.

Recovery room nurses in OT are usually females also though it's ok to have male nurses as long as there is a good mix.  If the department is small and only one recovery nurse is stationed then only females can work there.

Bottom line?  With exception of obs and gynae, male nurses are not restricted from any other area of hospital.  It's just sometimes more convenient to have female nurses instead.

A few other settings where I've seen lots of male nurses:

Rehab: male nurses are useful for their physical strength in moving patients around, there's a lot of this required in rehab (and the physios are often female and need help). A lot of the neuro rehab patients require regular (4h) in-out catheterisation (with post-void ultrasound) for emptying their bladders. Technically, they're not supposed to touch this procedure for males (owing to the longer urethra and anatomical obstructions) and leave it to doctors but the male nurses often help with the male patients. This is, of course, predicated on good will between nurses and doctors. If a doctor is a metaphorical prick, no favours in handling literal pricks will be done. Fortunately, I got along well with the male nurses so they were always happy to help. 🙂

IMH: another big area. In the chronic wards, there are a lot of female nurses but males are still hired in case the patients turn aggressive. One area where it's pretty much 100 percent male is in the forensic ward (block 7 if memory serves). Those are the criminal cases. And the nurses are usually the huge muscular kind, often with previous gang involvement themselves. Quite fun, hearing their stories, bunch of cool guys.

 

[1fast1]

3 hours ago, Turboflat4 said:

A few other settings where I've seen lots of male nurses:

Rehab: male nurses are useful for their physical strength in moving patients around, there's a lot of this required in rehab (and the physios are often female and need help). A lot of the neuro rehab patients require regular (4h) in-out catheterisation (with post-void ultrasound) for emptying their bladders. Technically, they're not supposed to touch this procedure for males (owing to the longer urethra and anatomical obstructions) and leave it to doctors but the male nurses often help with the male patients. This is, of course, predicated on good will between nurses and doctors. If a doctor is a metaphorical prick, no favours in handling literal pricks will be done. Fortunately, I got along well with the male nurses so they were always happy to help. 🙂

IMH: another big area. In the chronic wards, there are a lot of female nurses but males are still hired in case the patients turn aggressive. One area where it's pretty much 100 percent male is in the forensic ward (block 7 if memory serves). Those are the criminal cases. And the nurses are usually the huge muscular kind, often with previous gang involvement themselves. Quite fun, hearing their stories, bunch of cool guys.

 

@Philipkeehope you don't mind me asking, but why does my post shock you? 😂

[Philipkee]

1 hour ago, Turboflat4 said:

@Philipkeehope you don't mind me asking, but why does my post shock you? 😂

Nothing.   I just kind of like the shocked emoticon.  Hehe.  If you notice that's kind of my default response.

Edited February 3, 2020 by Philipkee

[1fast1]

58 minutes ago, Philipkee said:

Nothing.   I just kind of like the shocked emoticon.  Hehe.  If you notice that's kind of my default response.

Yes, I noticed a lot of things shock you. Which is not typical for a HCW. 😂

[Ash2017]

6 hours ago, Turboflat4 said:

A few other settings where I've seen lots of male nurses:

Rehab: male nurses are useful for their physical strength in moving patients around, there's a lot of this required in rehab (and the physios are often female and need help). A lot of the neuro rehab patients require regular (4h) in-out catheterisation (with post-void ultrasound) for emptying their bladders. Technically, they're not supposed to touch this procedure for males (owing to the longer urethra and anatomical obstructions) and leave it to doctors but the male nurses often help with the male patients. This is, of course, predicated on good will between nurses and doctors. If a doctor is a metaphorical prick, no favours in handling literal pricks will be done. Fortunately, I got along well with the male nurses so they were always happy to help. 🙂

IMH: another big area. In the chronic wards, there are a lot of female nurses but males are still hired in case the patients turn aggressive. One area where it's pretty much 100 percent male is in the forensic ward (block 7 if memory serves). Those are the criminal cases. And the nurses are usually the huge muscular kind, often with previous gang involvement themselves. Quite fun, hearing their stories, bunch of cool guys.

 

you left out para-clinical such as radiology and pathology

 

you not scare your buddy scold you for not including him

 

[1fast1]

1 hour ago, Ash2017 said:

you left out para-clinical such as radiology and pathology

 

you not scare your buddy scold you for not including him

 

No nurses in Pathology. 

Not sure about Radiology, but I believe they're all technologists like in Pathology. 

[Philipkee]

43 minutes ago, Turboflat4 said:

No nurses in Pathology.  

Actually I am not too sure about pathology.  Many years ago when I was still studying, there was an attempt to recruit male nursing students  to pathology.  We were supposed to be working with the pathologist.  The department of forensic medicine was supposed to be hiring. 

We were promised instant promotion to nurse manager from almost the first year of working with the pay.  And the CFM (centre for forensic Medicine) would buy our bond.  They were willing to fund our education abroad cos this is a very niche field where there are no courses on this in Singapore.  And they need male nurses cos there is something against females working with the dead.  It was very tempting.  

We talked to three very senior nurse managers there.  They were the only nurse managers there and in fact the only nurse there (so nurse manager not managing any nurse in reality).  They were about to retire and were willing to pay any price to get someone to take over them.

We talked to our nursing lecturer.  He told us frankly the job offer is tempting BUT if we were his children, he would tell us not to go into it.  Cos once you choose that path, your  nursing career in the clinical or academic(which is mental health, medical/ surgical and teaching) is effectively over cos you will specialise in dealing with dead people.  Nursing manager is just a title.  You can even call yourself Director of Nursing Division in Coroner office if you want to (you are the only nurse per shift so you can call yourself whatever you want) but the job prospects and duties will not change. 

This was in the late 1990s.   I was still thinking how bad could it be cos after all I still had to serve my NS after graduation before starting work.  But me and my friends never took that offer.  I didnt find out what happened to the three senior nursing managers.  I dont know of such jobs still exist.  Our office was supposed to me at the mortuary at SGH and follow/ assist the pathologist and coroner when needed.

Edit.  It might not be the dept of pathology as we understand today cos it's called the centre for forensic Medicine.  I only remember what I was told.  Did not investigate more and I dont have any friends who go into that field (nursing or otherwise) so I cant say if the job offered was as described.

Edited February 3, 2020 by Philipkee

[Philipkee]

49 minutes ago, Turboflat4 said:

 

Not sure about Radiology, but I believe they're all technologists like in Pathology. 

There might be.  You must understand that radiology is not merely xray or scans.  There is this also.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interventional_radiology

So it's possible there are nurses there assisting the doctor.  And not merely technicians.

[1fast1]

5 minutes ago, Philipkee said:

Actually I am not too sure about pathology.  Many years ago when I was still studying, there was an attempt to recruit male nursing students  to pathology.  We were supposed to be working with the pathologist.  The department of forensic medicine was supposed to be hiring. 

We were promised instant promotion to nurse manager from almost the first year of working with the pay.  And the CFM (centre for forensic Medicine) would buy our bond.  They were willing to fund our education abroad cos this is a very niche field where there are no courses on this in Singapore.  And they need male nurses cos there is something against females working with the dead.  It was very tempting.  

We talked to three very senior nurse managers there.  They were the only nurse managers there and in fact the only nurse there (so nurse manager not managing any nurse in reality).  They were about to retire and were willing to pay any price to get someone to take over them.

We talked to our nursing lecturer.  He told us frankly the job offer is tempting BUT if we were his children, he would tell us not to go into it.  Cos once you choose that path, your  nursing career in the clinical or academic(which is mental health, medical/ surgical and teaching) is effectively over cos you will specialise in dealing with dead people.  Nursing manager is just a title.  You can even call yourself Director of Nursing Division in Coroner office if you want to (you are the only nurse per shift so you can call yourself whatever you want) but the job prospects and duties will not change. 

This was in the late 1990s.   I was still thinking how bad could it be cos after all I still had to serve my NS after graduation before starting work.  But me and my friends never took that offer.  I didnt find out what happened to the three senior nursing managers.  I dont know of such jobs still exist.  Our office was supposed to me at the mortuary at SGH and follow/ assist the pathologist and coroner when needed.

Edit.  It might not be the dept of pathology as we understand today cos it's called the centre for forensic Medicine.  I only remember what I was told.  Did not investigate more and I dont have any friends who go into that field (nursing or otherwise) so I cant say if the job offered was as described.

Pathology generally refers to the hospital department dealing with anatomical Pathology, Microbiology, Molecular Pathology, Clinical Chemistry and Haematology. 

Forensics is outside the hospital, and it's under the purview of the Health Sciences Authority. They are indeed very niche, but you're basically limited to that one thing if you join them. I have no idea what sort of organisation they have in there but I doubt very much they need "nurses". They need attendants to deal with dead bodies. It's probably better you didn't join them.