Farina Saheed is a mental health nurse from Leeds. She said “I first thought about a career in nursing when I did a counselling course. I realised how much I enjoyed giving back and helping others so I decided to leave my job in banking to pursue nursing.
“Asian families want their children to be doctors not a nurse. What people don’t understand is that nurses are the backbone of the NHS and we do a range of intellectually challenging work including performance of some medical procedures, clinical research and education and treatment plans for patients.
“I work with adults with mental health problems in hospital as well as in the community doing mental health reviews and helping patients develop coping skills.
“Coming from an Asian background helps me in my role especially when working with older Asian patients. I can tailor the advice to meet their cultural needs.
“I would definitely encourage young people to consider a career in nursing.”
Attitudes are changing with increased understanding of nursing within South Asian communities - said Farina Saheed,
Mariyha Iqbal qualified as a nurse 6 months ago and works at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.
She said “I initially worked as a healthcare assistant on the respiratory ward at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital where I developed a real passion for nursing, so I decided to apply to university to study nursing.
“I was offered a job where I did my second-year placement once I had completed my degree.
“I had to battle with the stigma of being a nurse. My family were really against it, but now they have seen it through my eyes, realising that I am actually making a difference, saving lives so they are very supportive now.
“I love the diversity of my role, some days I feel like a pharmacist or a counsellor, other days I feel like someone’s brother or sister.
“The beauty of nursing is that it keeps you mentally stimulated. You are consistently challenged and there is always something exciting to do, whether its carrying out procedures, caring for patients or just putting a smile on someone’s face.
You get to form close relationships with both patients and other staff members which gives nursing such a sense of community.”
Nurses can specialise in a broad range of roles across all areas of the NHS, including: learning disabilities, mental health and primary care. If you’re interested in a career in nursing search nursing careers.
