Once wary, student now keen on elderly nursing career

Wu said the final competition set different scenarios to test competitors' skills and medical knowledge.

"For example, in the 'home service' part, we were required to help an elderly male patient cough up phlegm by correctly patting his back, and then we had to help him eat a meal. Under this scenario, we competitors also had to teach his wife to learn how to pat his back correctly. We only had 15 minutes to do all this," she said.

"We were also required to assist seniors with Parkinson's disease in their rehabilitation training, and we had to transfer elderly people from their beds to wheelchairs and have them take their pills under other test scenarios," she said.

She said she once had a negative perception of nursing the elderly, thinking of it as a messy, exhausting job.

"The competition changed me," Wu said. "Acting as a nurse in the hospital means you have to follow more strict operational procedures and orders, while nursing the elderly allows the nurse to make more personal and flexible plans. I can get really heartwarming and positive feedback from working with the elderly, and that touches me deeply."

She said winning the gold was a starting point for her, as she plans to continue her education after graduating next year and eventually work as a nurse for seniors, not only helping them deal with their ailments but also educating them about services.

"I'm from a small village in Henan province," she explained. "Many old people in my hometown have no idea about pensions or nursing services, and they are unwilling to live in nursing houses as they think they are being deserted by their families if they live in such places."

Wu said that she wishes more elderly people in both urban and rural areas would learn about nursing services, which will benefit their personal health and contribute to the nation's rural vitalization efforts.

"I'm very happy that many of the peers I met at the competition have similar career plans. I think the elderly nursing industry needs young people who have more strength and innovative ideas," she added.