IN the early years after Merdeka, public healthcare in Malaysia was still in its infancy.
Healthcare was focused on disease prevention and creating health awareness among the multiracial population.
Nurses took on the vital role of imparting health knowledge, often travelling to rural areas to speak to kampung folk about vaccination, hygiene, newborn care and maternal health.
They played a crucial role in ensuring that healthcare was accessible to all.
Their approach was very hands-on, going house-to-house in villages and they were the first line of contact for rural folk in dealing with health conditions, says Tun Tan Cheng Lock College of Nursing Assunta Hospital principal Theresa Arul.
"They would examine and assess, and refer those who required further treatment to clinics or hospitals."
This was a time when many people did not have access to medical care or hospitals and most babies were still born at home.
The Tun Tan Cheng Lock College of Nursing, the first private nursing institute in the country, opened its doors in 1961, just a few years after the nation achieved independence. It was then known as the Assunta School of Nursing.
The nursing school was started by Sister Madonna K. Purcell with the prime objective of providing career prospects for young girls in the field of nursing.
It was primarily set up to provide nurses for Assunta Hospital, which was founded by a group of missionaries from the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary in 1954.
In the newly independent nation, women were slowly venturing out of their homes for employment and at that time, teaching and nursing were considered the two most fitting occupations for young women.
The school was officially opened by the country's first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, in 1967.
At that time, it was just a classroom of 20 and training was primarily skills-based.
Theresa says today, training has evolved tremendously with greater emphasis on theory besides practical training, and upon completion of their three-year programme, nurses can also choose to specialise in various fields or further their studies up to degree or postgraduate level.
Nurses are the backbone of our healthcare system, stresses Theresa, and while their job scope and responsibilities may have evolved tremendously since Merdeka, their primary role as caregivers makes their services invaluable.
"Nurses are there during a person's most vulnerable moments, and during birth and death. Our roles are irreplaceable and we work with doctors to provide holistic care for our patients."
Assunta Hospital assistant head of nursing Sharma Kalidass is a good example of the evolution of the profession.
Once viewed as a female occupation, nursing is now attracting more male candidates.
Sharma entered nursing inspired by his mum, a nurse, and encouraged by his father, a former army officer.
"Nurses have evolved from being mere caretakers of patients to functioning as highly qualified professionals in the healthcare sector," he says.
Many nurses today specialise in fields like elderly care, critical care, mental health or infectious diseases and are even heading healthcare centres, adds Sharma.
Nursing manager Law Mui Fah, who has been in the profession for more than 30 years, starting as a fresh-faced 23-year-old, says the skills one acquires through the profession are invaluable.
The ability to problem-solve, make decisions and the medical knowledge gained are valuable skills in all aspects of life, says Law.
"I joined nursing after working as a clerk because I felt I could learn much from this job, and I have not been disappointed."
Newcomer to nursing, Nur Qamarisha Kamarozaman, 24, who's just one year into the job, has no regrets either.
The staff nurse says she was moved to join the profession by her desire to help others, and she realises it's crucial for nurses to be patient and calm when dealing with people who are sick or in pain.
"We are their first point of contact for information, reassurance and care, and we never take that responsibility lightly."
The role of nurses in Malaysia has evolved from primarily providing bedside care to encompassing a broader spectrum of responsibilities, including education, leadership, advocacy and specialised clinical practice, says Malaysian Nurses Association president Dr Aisyahton Suhaimi.
This evolution reflects the changing healthcare landscape and the growing recognition of the importance of nursing in promoting health and delivering high-quality patient care, she adds.
"A nurse plays an important role in any healthcare system, without which effective coordination would be difficult. Their role is to bridge the gap between doctors and patients."
They offer a unique blend of knowledge, skills and compassion, which positions them as essential in patient care
.
COURAGE AND CARE
ONE of the most famous local names in nursing is Sybil Kathigasu.
Malaysia's war-time heroine, a trained nurse and midwife, ran a clinic in Papan, Perak, together with her husband, a doctor, during the Japanese occupation of Malaya.
The couple provided much-needed medical aid to the local community and also resistance fighters battling the Japanese.
Sybil was eventually captured by the Japanese secret police and jailed. During imprisonment, she was repeatedly tortured.
She survived three years of horrific treatment at the hands of the Japanese and after the war, left Malaya for Britain for medical treatment. She was awarded the George Medal for Gallantry.