We are not ‘Mat Jambu’, says a male nurse

Male nurses reveal what they go through after joining the profession.

KUALA TERENGGANU: He may have been made fun of and labelled “Mat Jambu”, or girly, for wanting to be a nurse.

But the taunts did not discourage Mohd Aswardi Mat Zin, 32, who went on to achieve his ambition.

An anaesthetist nurse at Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital (HSNZ) for the past four years now, he uses his skill in the operating room.

“I had the opportunity to assist surgeons when they perform surgeries for various diseases, including treating damaged internal organs and brain surgery.

“What was most nerve-racking and challenging for me then was assisting them to perform brain surgery, particularly involving accident victims.

“But I overcame and eventually got used to every situation,” he told reporters in conjunction with International Nurses Day celebration on May 12.

His most memorable experience to date was being able to save the life of a patient who became critical after undergoing intestinal surgery last year.

“The operation went smoothly, but suddenly the patient became critical and I, with five other nurses, took turns to provide CPR, and we saved the patient,” said the father of two, who has a nursing diploma from Kolej Islam dan Sains Teknologi.

His wife, Norashikin Che Musa, 28, is also a nurse at the same hospital based at the maternity ward.

“We understand our respective careers and this facilitates our tasks, particularly in regard to night shifts. We also appreciate the support of the family on both sides which is a great help to us,” he said.

Another male nurse, Mohd Hazarul Imam Hamzah, 29, said he had always been interested in the medical field and aspired to be a doctor.

“But to be a doctor is not easy, requiring a great deal of sacrifice to achieve excellent results in every examination.

“I was a bit disappointed, but I still chose to study at Kolej Kejururawatan Alor Setar, Kedah, so that I could serve in the nursing profession which is still within the scope of the career I love,” he said.

After completing his studies at the college, he was posted to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Sabah, where he served for three years before being transferred to HSNZ.

“Alhamdulillah, despite being away from home and unable to be with my parents during Ramadan and Aidilfitri, I can still work with a smile.

“There is no such thing as being lonely and bored at work because there are so many patients who need my attention. They need to be assisted, especially the bedridden ones who require help to move around.

“When I was in Sabah, I did not lose heart because of the huge distance that separated me from my family in Manir, near Kuala Terengganu. On the contrary, because of the moral support given by my family, my resolve to serve the patients became stronger,” he said.

On public perception about male nurses, Hazarul who is currently based at the orthopaedic ward of the hospital, said people did appreciate their role, particularly in assisting patients in the male ward.

“Male patients prefer male nurses to assist them; furthermore, it is quite a challenge for female nurses to handle male patients. I hope more men would become nurses because there is a demand for it,” he said. -FMT