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I N S P I R I N G S T O R I E S O F T H E O L D E R G E N E R A T I O N

PUAN ROSLAH SHEIKH SALIM

“You need to have good qualities as a nurse. That's what makes us humane. "
by Stephanie Hooi Kah Wai & Yeoh Wanyu
“ When Puan Roslah was asked about the most

Being a nurse is a very challenging job and
there are three qualities you need to abide by,
work, she pondered for a while and told us, “I
namely passion, empathy, and memorable and impactful incident during her
professionalism. remember we held a birthday party for a little boy
-Puan Roslah because we knew he was not-long-for-this-world. It
touched my heart when all of us were preparing for
his birthday celebration, thinking that it could be
Prior to Puan Roslah's retirement, she had the last birthday celebration for this boy." She said
worked at the General Hospital for many that during the birthday of her patient, they
years. After retiring from Universiti Malaya bought him a cake. She and her colleagues
Medical Centre (UMMC), she continued to gathered together to give the boy a birthday
serve the country by working at Beacon surprise. Needless to say, the birthday
Hospital. Life was never easy being a nurse. celebration came as a surprise to the boy. Their
Stress, depression and anxiety. However, she heart-warming act had definitely driven the
truly enjoyed her life being a nurse. boy’s sorrow away. What’s more, it could even
have been the happiest day in the boy’s life.

"I love my job very much,” she said. It was the
positive vibe that carried her through the
tough time being a nurse. Growing up, nursing
was not Puan Roslah’s first ambition, but her
father became her source of inspiration when
she did not manage to pursue her dream as a
teacher. Her father told her that being a nurse
can be another way to serve and take care of
the welfare of others instead of being a
teacher. She applied again for a nursing course
and further her studies in that area. The Birthday illustration by Canva Pro
passion grew in her when she slowly ventured
into the nursing career. Her tender love for
children drove her to further her studies in the
paediatric nursery. She has been enjoying her
career life as much as she could by treating all
her patients as part of her family members.

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