Starting a nursing career at 60
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Many people say they will give back to society once they have earned enough or reached a certain stage in life. At 60, Mr Khaider Khalid is putting that into action.
A father of three and grandfather of one, he spent more than three decades mostly in the banking sector before leaving to study for a Bachelor of Science (Nursing) in 2022. Two years later, he became the oldest graduate in the NUS Class of 2024.
Today, six months into his new role as a Staff Nurse at Ng Teng Fong General Hospital (NTFGH), he sees his career shift as a natural progression. “In my life, what I thought was my first career is like a first mountain, where you focus on wealth, ambition and personal goals,” he said.
“Then after that, at a certain age, you encounter a second mountain – personal fulfilment, making your life meaningful and contributing to people. So that’s why I told myself, okay, this is the time to change.”
A wake-up call
It was not that Mr Khaider disliked his old job. Over 33 years, he rose to the rank of senior vice president at a foreign bank, working in the internet banking team and collaborating with teams in Singapore, India and China. The salary and benefits were good, and he had a strong team.
But seeing colleagues take ill with conditions such as high blood pressure, stroke and heart attacks made him think twice. “They were on long sick leave, and one of them passed away,” he recalled. They were all younger than me, so I thought, maybe this could happen to me, too.”
“That’s when I started thinking: I must focus on health. We don’t want to be sick when we are old or be a burden to others.”
And so, determined to prioritise his health, he left banking and enrolled at the National University of Singapore (NUS) – returning to school some 33 years after earning his first degree in computer science in 1989.
His wife and children were shocked by his decision. His children wondered if he could take orders from younger colleagues after years of leading teams and whether he could handle tasks like cleaning urine and stool. “But once they saw I was serious about the change, they rallied behind me,” he said. “My two oldest daughters even served as guarantors for my application.”
Mr Khaider, with his family.
Going back to school was surreal, given that his course mates were easily four decades younger.
Mr Khaider with his course mates at their NUS convocation ceremony.
“I never imagined returning to NUS as a full-time student,” he said. Adjusting to lectures, tutorials, and exams after so many years was a challenge.
At first, he stuck to pen and paper, but by the second semester, he switched to a tablet like his younger classmates. “Many of them were curious why I resigned from my job to study and switch to nursing,” he said.
The accelerated two-year conversion course was “intensive and stressful”, but he enjoyed the experience. “I don’t know if I will ever get the chance to do something like this again,” he added. Graduating in 2024 was, to him, a deeply rewarding achievement.”
Today, easily the oldest nurse on NTFGH’s ninth-floor ward, he works alongside interns, fresh graduates and those who have been in the job for a handful of years.
Mr Khaider is keen to learn as much as possible – even from younger colleagues. “There are many branches of nursing but in the hospital, we learn a lot,” he said. “So for now, I want to gain as much knowledge as possible. After that, I will think about how I can help people.”
The ones who can’t be helped
The hardest part of nursing is not every patient can be helped due to their health condition, he said. “It is sad seeing patients in pain, and a few of them pass on.”
Dealing with difficult situations is to be expected, he added. “Nursing involves a lot of interaction with people, so encountering unreasonable patients and their families is part of the job.”
Mr Khaider would not have it any other way. He loves the work. “I feel at peace because I can help people,” he said.
“When I see patients recover, smiling and sharing their appreciation, I like it because it makes my life meaningful.”
– Mr Khaider Khalid
In consultation with Mr Khaider Khalid, Staff Nurse, NTFGH.
