Meet the male nurse who bravely pursued his passion despite judgement

Meet five inspiring personalities who are fearlessly pursuing their passions by opting for careers in female-dominated fields. These individuals have eschewed the idea that certain professions should be gendered and have found success in what are traditionally “feminine” careers.

Ask Mohamed Ridwan Mahat if he has ever regretted his career choice, and the answer is quick and firm: “No, not once.” Although the nurse clinician has always aspired to be a doctor, he knew that it was a pipe dream as he “was not academically inclined”. “The second best option was to be a nurse,” he says. “And I’ve never regretted my choice.”

The 45-year-old nurse clinician at Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) realised his calling when he had to become his grandmother’s main caregiver. “I had to bathe her, assist in feeding her, clean her existing wounds, and complete many other tasks – all while I was just a third-year student nurse studying at Nanyang Polytechnic. It was then that I realised the importance of acquiring such useful nursing skills and knowledge,” he explains.

Although his career path came easily to him and his parents were supportive of his choice right from the start, not many around Ridwan accepted his decision. “Before 2000, male nurses were very rare. During my nursing school days, only two out of 20 students were male. Even before I entered the field, my own relatives who knew that I had applied for a nursing role told me that nursing is a female occupation.”

When he started out as a staff nurse, there were only two male nurses in the 30-odd nursing staff team. Of course, being one of the only males in a department comes with its fair share of politicking, but Ridwan takes it in his stride.

While the number of male nurses has risen incrementally over the years, the ratio of male to female nurses remains disproportionate. In Singapore, only around one in 10 nurses are men, according to 2021 figures from the Singapore Nursing Board. “Even now, I still face discrimination by female patients and their family members, and I have to be very careful when caring for them,” says Ridwan.

He recounts an incident that occurred when he was assisting a female patient onto the commode chair to head to the toilet: “As the female patient was quite heavy, a female nurse had asked me to assist her in transferring the patient. While I was holding onto the patient’s left arm near her armpit region, she suddenly reacted and said that I had purposely touched her chest area. My colleague and I explained to her that we had to hold her that way in order not to drop her, but she refused to listen. The matter was reported to my supervisor, the care team and her next-of-kin. Thereafter, no male staff attended to her to prevent any further misunderstanding.”

Despite such instances, Ridwan still manages to find the silver lining in his job. He met his wife at TTSH as well – she is a former nurse who has since resigned to look after their three children.

And, despite the occasional gender discrimination, there are instances when being one of the few male nurses has been advantageous: “There was an incident where I had to attend to this aggressive and angry patient,” he reveals with mirth. “While attending to him, I realised that I was all alone with him. The female nurses were standing far away from the patient, watching how I would resolve the issue. Come to think of it, it was quite funny – all of a sudden, I found myself under observation. I guess I have one key role to play in the ward – which is to support my colleagues.”

Five questions with Ridwan

What's the biggest misconception people have about your industry?

That nursing is all about cleaning patients up, bedside care and being the doctors’ handmaiden. As nursing roles evolve, nurses are now critical thinkers and influential decision-makers to problem solve in changing situations. They play a vital role to co-shape our healthcare landscape. 

What’s an achievement at work that you're particularly proud of?

I was the recipient for the 2023 National Awards (COVID-19), and received The Commendation Medal (COVID-19) in recognition for outstanding contributions to Singapore's fight against COVID-19. Together with some colleagues, we prepared and opened Communicable Disease Centre 1 (CDC1) for COVID-19 patients who were waiting for Community Care Facility placement.

At the same time, I was deployed to manage EXPO Hall 5 & 6 for two months before the proper handover to Raffles Hospital. When CDC 1 opened, we rendered care to the COVID-19 patients there, ensuring their safety and arranging medical assistance for them.

The best piece of career advice you've ever received?

After I failed my first interview to be a Nursing Officer, I was approached by our Assistant Director of Nursing, Sister Kala, with these words: "I know you can do it. Your work is excellent, but during the interview you were very reserved. To impress the panel, you need to have more confidence to put your skills out for others to see." This encouragement has since stuck in my mind and become my work mantra.

One thing you wish you knew when you first started your career?

Male nurses who have been to National Service (NS) may resonate with my experience: I joined TTSH not long after my NS. Here’s the catch: the abbreviations used by the hospital and NS are pretty identical. For instance, SOC in the hospital means Specialised Outpatient Clinic, but for NS it means Standard Obstacle Course. It took me about two months to get used to it. 

What advice do you have for others who are considering a career in your industry?

Nursing is never an easy job. It is tiring but at the end of the day, it’s worthwhile. If you love to help others and want a rewarding job, do join nursing. The joy on your patients’ faces when he or she says goodbye and waves to you when they discharge is priceless. 

Photography NUR ATHIRAH ANNISSA
Art Direction ADELINE ENG
Grooming BENEDICT CHOO, USING MAKE UP FOR EVER