“I had never imagined such an opportunity”

IUBAT College of Nursing alumnus, ARIFUL HAQUE (Tutul) writes, “I enrolled at IUBAT in 2008, January. At the beginning, it was not easy for me to learn new subjects, absorb a new environment and always speak English on the campus. I had never done anything like this before. Each semester was very challenging but I followed the advice I received - study regularly, work hard but maintain a balanced life, never plagiarize, be adaptable and patient.

“After completing my BSN, I joined the midwifery program at BRAC University as a course coordinator and faculty member. This was my first job so I felt very proud because I had never imagined such an opportunity and it really helped me to move forward. After two years, I re-joined IUBAT as a lecturer and clinical supervisor for Anatomy, Basic Nursing and Medical Surgical Nursing.

“In 2016, I joined the government sector as a senior nurse, spending almost six years at the country’s leading institute, Dhaka Medical College and Hospital. I worked in the emergency ward, operating theaters, surgical wards and administration. Looking after very sick patients, I realized that my IUBAT experience had taught me to provide a high standard of care to every patient, to protect my patients’ privacy and to be kind and helpful to all. These values helped me to develop a good reputation in my work place.

“In addition to my clinical work, I wanted some research activity. So far, colleagues and I have published three research-based articles on self-administration of antibiotics without prescription and use of telehealth services by Bangladeshis.

“After overcoming several hurdles, I came to Kuwait in 2023 to join Jaber Al-Ahmed hospital as an RN. With no previous life outside Bangladesh, it was once again challenging to work with people from different backgrounds, language and culture. Now, however, I feel that I have settled in quite quickly because of my previous experience at IUBAT.

“In the future, I hope to qualify as an RN in Europe, UK or USA or to achieve my MSN and PhD from a developed country. Ten years from now, I would like to be working as a clinical specialist in emergency and surgical nursing, continuing my research work and ultimately, perhaps, working as a nurse manager or a professor in a nursing college.”