Born to help: from caregiver at 16 to highly qualified registered nurse
CHIRAGUDEEN Shaik was just 16 when he discovered his passion for helping people.
His journey started when he saw an advert offering a three-month caregiver training course, which had a minimum requirement of a Grade 10 pass.
He decided to leave school and immerse himself in the health care environment, to learn all he could in preparation for following his calling for caregiving.
“The only way my mother would agree for me to leave school to pursue the caregiver training course was to get a commitment from me that I would continue my school work through a correspondence course,” said Shaik.
“It was always my intention to complete my Grade 12 qualification, but I felt such a passion for health care that I simply couldn’t wait to get started.”
Shaik, 26, has since not only completed matric, but has also earned the title of registered nurse, having completed his Bachelor of Nursing degree with distinction.
After completing one month of theory and two months of practical caregiver training, the ambitious young man started working for a care agency and in February 2009, he was placed at the cancer care ward at Netcare Parklands Hospital.
“As a 17-year-old carer, this was a huge learning opportunity for me, although it was also very challenging, both in terms of the work and personally,” he said.
“I had to mature quite quickly because I was working with seriously ill patients and their families.
“However, it was very rewarding for me to be making a contribution to their care. I gained invaluable experience and learnt so much from the nurses and everyone I worked with during those months.
‘‘My hard work paid off and the hospital approached me for a job interview and I was given permanent employment as a caregiver.
“Over the next two years, I developed a passion for nursing and I knew that I would soon have to make a decision about furthering my studies.”
In January 2014, Shaik was accepted to study for a Bachelor of Nursing degree at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN).
“I made the most of this opportunity, and worked hard to complete my degree cum laude, obtaining the Dean’s Recommendation, and seven certificates of merit for midwifery, psychiatric nursing, primary health care, general nursing, community health nursing, nursing administration and fundamentals in nursing.”
As a result of his hard work and dedication, Shaik received a scholarship award for his performance in his third and fourth years of study, and a second scholarship for graduating cum laude.
“I have now been accepted for the Honours programme and I will be going back to university to start my Honours degree in nursing management in February at the UKZN Howard College campus,” he said.
I had to mature quite quickly because I was working with seriously ill patients and their families
Chiragudeen Shaik Qualified nurse