More male nurses soon

Star: PASIR MAS: Do not be surprised to see a male nurse adjusting the drip or taking a patient's temperature at a government hospital.
The Health Ministry is increasing its intake of male nurses to address the acute shortage of nurses.
This year, some 300 to 400 of the 3,000 trainee nurses would be males, said Deputy Health Minister Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad.
“It is not that males are stealing a traditional female-dominated profession but there are certain areas where men are needed in providing nursing services,” he said after attending the Silver Jubilee celebrations of the Tanah Merah district hospital about 35km from here.
Present were hospital director Dr Khalid Ibrahim and Radicare (M) Sdn Bhd CEO Datuk Abdul Rahman Hamzah.
Dr Abdul Latiff said society had generally come to accept male nurses.
He added that the integration of male nurses into the public hospital system could be seen as a natural process.
The Malaysian Nursing Association, he said, was formerly headed by a man.
Dr Abdul Latiff also said the ministry would hold a special programme for nurses to develop soft skills such as public relations apart from clinical skills.
This was to ensure that they could handle medical emergencies as well as patients.
Dr Abdul Latiff lashed out at nurses and doctors who publicly complained about their work.
He said they should bring their grievances to their respective boards.
He said last year, public hospitals treated 50 million cases.
This showed services at public hospitals were generally good despite complaints, he said.