Liu Xiaojing, 33, from Shandong province, who worked as a registered nurse in Singapore for 18 months from 2010, says she was impressed by the city state's strict working rules for nurses.

At the KK Women's and Children's Hospital, where she worked, Liu was once harshly criticized after she gave a patient pills two hours before the time stated.

"Such cases are easily ignored in China's hospitals, where giving pills earlier or later doesn't matter too much," she said.

But in Singapore, her mistake resulted in harsh punishment. She was asked to write a long report on the case and to apologize.

"After returning to China, this case always serves to remind me to treat every patient more carefully and seriously," Liu said.

She also said that doctors in Singapore can clearly remember every detail about the health of their patients. The doctors spend more time with their patients, rather than preparing for a variety of tests for career promotion, Liu said.

"In Singapore, medical staff members treat patients well. In return, patients give them more respect," she said. "In China, it is the opposite."

In Singapore, about 40 nurses serve every 30 patients, while in China three patients share one nurse. "Low pay and less respect from patients really affects Chinese nurses," Liu said.

"I would encourage more young nurses to work overseas for a time. Such experience means far more than just learning, but also acquiring a more positive attitude toward the job. These nurses will gain a stronger awareness of professional ethics and their responsibilities."

- Yang Wanli and Tang Yue

(China Daily USA 09/25/2013 page6)