"I witness my patients and their caregivers at their most vulnerable, and while we can't always change the outcome, being there for them helps me feel that I've done something meaningful."
- Nor Rasidah Sidik, Nurse Clinician at Woodlands Health
Please tell us more about your current role at Woodlands Health.
I am a Nurse Clinician in charge of the Specialist Outpatient Clinic Level 4, which includes nine medical and surgical disciplines. I also specialise as a Breast Specialist Nurse at Woodlands Health.
How long have you been a nurse, and can you give us a brief overview of your career?
I have been in nursing for 27 years. I graduated from Nanyang Polytechnic and started my career at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital as an Anaesthesia Nurse. I later trained as a Paediatric Nurse in the Children’s Emergency at National University Hospital and currently serve as a Breast Specialist Nurse, also overseeing a medical centre at Woodlands Health.
What role do you think nurses play in shaping healthcare, beyond patient care?
Nurses improve healthcare by not only advocating for and caring for patients but also by leading, teaching, researching, and enhancing the healthcare system for everyone.
Can you share a specific challenge in your role that required you to think critically or problem-solve, and how you approached it?
A significant challenge I faced was influencing my team to adopt a change in long-standing practices. The resistance came from habit and fear of the unknown. I took the time to listen to concerns, understand the root causes, and provide support for the transition. I led by example, demonstrating the benefits of the change while openly discussing the potential risks of not adapting. This approach helped us move forward together.
In your opinion, what is one thing that the public doesn't fully understand about the nursing profession?
The public often doesn’t realise how demanding and emotionally challenging nursing is. It’s not just about following doctor’s orders — it requires critical thinking to manage difficult situations while providing compassionate care.
Nursing can be emotionally
demanding. How do you cope with the emotional challenges of the profession, and what helps keep you motivated during difficult times?
I witness my patients and their caregivers at their most vulnerable, and while we can't always change the outcome, being there for them helps me feel that I've done something meaningful. My colleagues and family provide invaluable support and remind me that I'm not alone in this journey.
What moment in your nursing career made you realise you were exactly where you were meant to be?
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when families couldn’t visit their loved ones in the Community Treatment Facility, I not only cared for elderly patients clinically but also offered emotional support. Holding their hands when they cried from loneliness, missing their families, showed me the true heart of nursing. Despite the exhaustion from wearing Personal Protective Equipment and the chaos, I found a deep sense of purpose. That was when I realised I was exactly where I was meant to be.
Looking at your career, how has your personal life influenced your nursing practice, and vice versa?
My parents instilled in me the importance of respecting others and taking pride in everything I do. This has shaped how I treat patients with kindness and care. Nursing has also taught me to be compassionate and strong, and to show respect in both my professional and personal life.
Can you share an instance when you went above and beyond for a patient or a colleague, and what that experience taught you?
During the COVID-19 pandemic, while deployed to Expo, my team and I helped raise funds for a COVID-positive foreign worker whose wife had passed away. He was grieving, isolated, and unable to return home due to restrictions. We supported him not just with medical care, but with compassion. This experience taught me that nursing is about showing humanity, standing by someone when they have no one else.
What advice would you give to someone just starting out in nursing, knowing what you do now?
Nursing is tough, so be kind to yourself and prioritise your own well-being. It’s okay not to know everything — don’t be afraid to ask questions and seek guidance from your seniors.
Do you define this 24/7 shift job as demanding?
Nursing is both physically and emotionally demanding, but knowing that our work makes a real difference in people's lives makes it meaningful and rewarding.
Was nursing your dream job? What made you choose nursing eventually?
Nursing wasn’t initially my dream job, but my mother always told me that nursing is a stable and noble profession. Regardless of economic changes, there will always be a need for compassionate and skilled nurses, and that’s what drew me to this field.
