Celebrating nursing excellence: Honoring trailblazers in healthcare

Healthcaretoday, Persatuan Jururawat Malaysia, Malaysia Nurses Association,

Celebrating nursing excellence: Honoring trailblazers in healthcare

May 13, 2025

Healthcaretoday, Persatuan Jururawat Malaysia, Malaysian Nurses Association, International Nurses Day, Nursing Excellence, Nurse Leader 2025, Healthcare Heroes, Inspiring nurses, Nursing leadership, Healthcare dedication, Nurses Of Malaysia, Nursing careers, Patient care, Nursing awards, Community health, Healthcare mentors, Registered nurses,

From right: (4th) Nornisah Bakri, (4th left) Sareah Wahet, (5th) Adjunct Professor Dr Mariyammah Masalamani with (6th) Dato' Indera Dr Nor Azimi Yunus (Deputy Director-General of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia), (3rd left) Dr Aisyahton Suhaimi (President of the Malaysian Nurses Association), (2nd left) Dato' Dr Wan Abdul Rahim Wan Muhamad (Pahang State Health Director), (1st from right) Suria Aziz (Pahang State Chief Nursing Officer), (2nd from right) Gowry Narayanan (Director of Nursing, Ministry of Health Malaysia), and Dato' Ir Razali Kassim (Chairman of the Pahang State Public Works, Transport, and Health Committee).

In a heartfelt ceremony marking International Nurses Day, three remarkable nurses were honored for their outstanding contributions to the nursing sector, their unwavering commitment to patient care, and their pivotal roles in advancing nursing education. The prestigious event, organized by the Malaysian Nurses Association, took place in Kuantan, Pahang, and paid tribute to these inspiring healthcare leaders.

Pioneering nurse leader: Nornisah Bakri
The first recipient of the 2025 Nurse Leader Award (Service) was Nornisah Bakri, celebrated for her tireless service and dedication to the nursing profession. Nornisah embarked on her nursing journey with a three-year Basic Nursing Training program at University Hospital Kuala Lumpur (UHKL) from 1984 to 1987. Upon completion, she joined UHKL as a Staff Nurse in November 1987, initially working in a female medical ward.

Throughout her illustrious career, Nornisah demonstrated exceptional versatility by serving in various critical care settings, including the Intensive Care Unit, Postnatal Ward, Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Nursing Development Unit, Emergency Department, and the Lactation Unit. Her dedication led to her promotion to Nurse Manager (U32) in 2006, and she retired as U36 in February 2021.

Nornisah’s thirst for knowledge propelled her to pursue continuous professional development. She completed a Post-Basic Midwifery course at Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah (HTAR) in 1996 and earned a Bachelor of Nursing Science (Administration) from University Malaya (UM) in 2005. Besides her clinical roles, Nornisah actively participated in voluntary work with the Malaysian Navy Volunteer Unit and represented the University Malaya Medical Centre netball team, reflecting her well-rounded commitment to service.

A lifelong commitment to nursing: Sareah Wahet
The 2025 Nurse Leader Award (Service) was also presented to Sareah Wahet, whose passion for nursing was ignited while caring for her late mother in 1977. This life-changing experience motivated her to enroll in the School of Paramedical Personnel in 1980. After completing her training, Sareah joined Miri Hospital in 1983 as a staff nurse.

Her dedication and expertise led to numerous career advancements. She pursued a Post Basic Orthopaedic course in 1992 and a Bachelor of Nursing International in 2001. Over the decades, Sareah served in prestigious institutions such as Sarawak General Hospital, Sarawak Heart Centre, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Kota Kinabalu, and the Nursing Division, Ministry of Health, Malaysia.

Known for her leadership, Sareah played a key role during critical public health challenges, including the COVID-19 outbreak, cholera outbreaks, and humanitarian missions in rural areas. A respected mentor, she continually encourages younger nurses to enhance their skills through further studies. Her humanitarian spirit extends to her involvement in health screening and cancer awareness programs, even in remote communities like Ulu Baram and Penan areas.

Advancing nursing education: Dr Mariyammah Masalamani
The Nurse Leader 2025 Award (Education) was presented to Adjunct Professor Dr Mariyammah Masalamani, an accomplished nursing educator and clinician. Dr Mariyammah began her career by completing a Certificate in Nursing Course at Sekolah Latihan Jururawat Johor Bahru in 1979. After earning her credentials, she served at Hospital Muar and later at Kota Tinggi Hospital, gaining experience across multiple disciplines.

Dr Mariyammah’s passion for education led her to complete advanced training, including a Post Basic Midwifery course and a Post Basic Management Course. As a dedicated educator, she currently teaches obstetrics and gynecology to Year 4 and 5 medical students at Monash University Malaysia.

Her contributions to nursing education are far-reaching, including her work on the Diploma of Nursing Programme, Advanced Diploma in Midwifery, and Bachelor of Science Nursing Programme. An advocate of evidence-based practice, Dr Mariyammah has delivered presentations on critical topics such as Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Midwifery and the Challenges of Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing. Her scholarly work includes a significant study on the association between chlamydia infection and pregnancy outcomes.

A legacy of excellence and compassion
These three exceptional nurses—Nornisah Bakri, Sareah Wahet, and Dr Mariyammah Masalamani—embody the spirit of dedication, compassion, and lifelong learning. Their stories serve as an inspiration to both current and future generations of healthcare professionals, reminding us that excellence in nursing goes beyond patient care—it also means leadership, education, and community engagement.