Nurses' Merit Award 2022

 

Chen Lin

Nurse Clinician, Gerontology

I began my 20-year nursing journey in 2002 at TTSH – one that has been challenging but fulfilling.

I recall an incident in my early years when the AED was newly introduced. After a busy morning, all the doctors were having their break when a visitor ran into the ward and exclaimed that a man had “fainted” in the lift. I ran to the scene and realised the collapsed victim had no pulse and was not breathing.

As we quickly rushed him to the ward for resuscitation, I recalled what I had learnt a few days ago and used the AED on the patient. His pulse immediately returned. My colleagues and I continued to attend to him and saved his life!

A few weeks later, we were happy to learn that the patient had been discharged.

This incident strengthened my belief that with good clinical knowledge and proper training, every nurse can make a difference.

 

Erwana Binte Ismail

Enrolled Nurse

It has been 14 years since I started work at Tan Tock Seng Hospital. I started my journey as a Healthcare Assistant and, thanks to the support of my seniors who kept encouraging and motivating me to upgrade myself, I embarked on my learning journey to become an enrolled nurse in 2015.

What motivates me most is the sense of belonging and camaraderie among my seniors and peers. We always help and look out for one another and encourage teamwork in our daily work.

I vividly remember an incident about 4 years ago, where my colleagues and I successfully revived an elderly patient using CPR and saved her life. This experience taught me to achieve the best care for my patients by continuously upgrading my nursing skills.

I always encourage budding nurses to consider this as a profession – find meaning and purpose in a highly-satisfying environment."

 

Foo Chui Ngoh

Senior Nurse Manager, Oncology

Switching from banking to nursing in 2003 was one of the best decisions I ever made. I am still grateful to my friend who encouraged me to give nursing a shot amidst the financial situation that year.

In April 2021, when TTSH had a cluster COVID-19 outbreak, I witnessed the true kampung spirit of the hospital, with colleagues banding together to do everything possible for patients and staff. Swift decision-making by the management enabled us to withstand the Delta and Omicron variant waves. It was an unforgettable experience.

I am thankful for the opportunities in the different career tracks within the organisation. With these experiences, I learnt the essence of effective communication and camaraderie.

I hope to groom and nurture more nurses to be an effective communicator. My heart is warmed whenever I see my nurses moving up the career ladder and doing well in their area of interests."

 

Hafizah Bte Hasim

Senior Nurse Manager, Critical Care

This year marks my 24th year as a nurse. I have never regretted even a minute, even though my work can be challenging and overwhelming at times. As a Critical Care Nurse, I am proud to be part of the care team.

I have had many unforgettable moments at the Intensive Care Unit. I was once tasked to care for a young lady who was pronounced “Brain Dead” Her parents opted for the Medical (Therapy, Education and Research) Act, as it was her wish to help others who are in need. Her heart was successfully transplanted to a single mother with three young children who had been waiting for a suitable donor. Tears always roll down my cheeks whenever I think about that day.

The recipient requested to meet her donor’s parents so they could hear their daughter’s heart beating in her. This taught me to treasure life and the people around me."

 

Joel Quek Wee Teck

Senior Staff Nurse, Critical Care

Returning to bedside nursing after five years as an Army combat medic was difficult choice, one that many around me questioned. But after six years in the Intensive Care Unit, I have grown a lot professionally.

As an ICU nurse, I help my patients by standing in the chasm between life and death, either pulling them back to health or providing care as they pass on with dignity. Initially, the deaths due to COVID-19 were extremely sad as the patients were alone. Families were not able stand vigil by their side due to their contagious status.

I vividly remember having the privilege of standing by a patient’s bedside, holding his hand and whispering messages to him on behalf of his family as he passed on. It is such opportunities, where I am able to make a difference in the lives of my patients that motivate me to strive for my best."

 

Koh Poh Sim (Xu Baoxin)

Nurse Clinician, Orthopaedics

Having completed 13 years of service as a nurse, I am humbled to be one of the recipients of the Nurses Merit Award 2022.

One highlight of my nursing career has to be playing a part in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. I recall activities like closing wards, shifting furniture, sorting out manpower within the department, losing a family member, working alongside with my team of nurses and juggling my studies for a master’s programme. Looking back, I knew I had to go beyond my call of duty for the nation.

I am motivated to provide physical support and exercise empathy to bring comfort to patients when they are not at ease. This desire to help could also extend to playing an active role in coordinating care between different healthcare professionals throughout a patient’s recovery journey. It is extremely rewarding to see my patients’ health conditions improved."

 

K Renganathan

Senior Staff Nurse, Medical Surgical

I have been a registered nurse in TTSH/NCID for 10 years. One particular event that stands out for me involves an 80-year-old female patient I cared for in 2016. She almost always referred to me as her grandson, and would tease me often as we built great rapport.

I vividly remember the day she passed on; we were joking and I was encouraging her to have her meal. However, her condition deteriorated quickly and, despite my best efforts to lift her spirits, she eventually passed on.

One day, I received a letter from her daughter. It was extremely emotional for me as the daughter wrote how happy her mum had been in the hospital, still smiling till her time was up. It reminded me how important our role as a nurse is… even bringing joy to patients during their final moments can provide some happiness to their loved ones." 

 

Low Su Ting

Nurse Manager, Orthopaedics

After 18 years in the nursing profession, I am still grateful for the support from my family, peers and mentors who have always trusted me and given me timely advice to become a better nurse.

In fact, you could say my journey to becoming a nurse started 28 years ago, when my father was diagnosed brain dead after a car accident. A very kind nurse gave me a warm hug, consoling me at the heart-breaking moment. She inspired me and was the determining factor in my choice of profession.

Despite the unknown challenges and overwhelming workload at times, what keeps me going is when recovered patients come back to say “thank you, nurse”. It really touches my heart and their smiles are the biggest reward!

Nursing is a meaningful journey, adding value to people’s lives. I hope the young generation will consider joining nursing and be proud to be a nurse." 

 

MayFlor Gamil Fuertes

Nurse Clinician, Emergency Nursing

Emergency nursing is about providing the quickest possible care for patients who might be suffering from life-threatening illness or injuries.

From my 24 years as an emergency nurse, I can still vividly remember an incident during one of my night shifts. I attended to a patient who was experiencing shortness of breath. Just moments after the point-of-care tests and medications were administered, he suddenly turned bluish due to low oxygen level in his blood. We rushed him to the resuscitation room, where the monitor showed ventricular fibrillation. Shock was delivered and the ECG showed massive acute myocardial infarction (heart attack). He was sent for percutaneous intervention after he was intubated.

The case was later presented in monthly nursing rounds. I am happy that he was discharged (ambulatory) after seven days of admission, which was uncommon after an impending death. I felt a sense of fulfilment to save a life and it boosted my confidence."

 

Ong Wan Qiu

Nurse Manager, Ophthalmology

My interest in nursing started when I was young, as I always wanted to do my part to help the community. The wonderful experience I had working with the nurses as a Patient Service Associate back in 2003 sealed my decision to make the career switch in 2005. It has been 15 years since and nursing has taught me many valuable lessons in life.

Nothing is more rewarding than seeing patients recover. I remember nursing a child from Indonesia for more than half a year during my second year in nursing. Our nursing team built great rapport with the parents in the process and, even after the child was discharged, we still keep in contact via Facebook. It is truly miraculous to see a bedridden child recover to the lively adolescent that she is today.

I am glad to continue this rewarding journey and look forward to many more years in nursing."

 

Pauline Chong

Senior Nurse Clinician, Critical Care

The nursing profession, which I joined 26 years ago, has provided me with opportunities in various specialties from cardiothoracic surgery, intensive care to chronic disease management.

Currently, I am a nurse clinician and have been in pain management service for last 16 years. It was a challenging but amazing journey.

I vividly remember caring for a terminally-ill patient who was delighted to go home to his daily routine with an analgesic pump. He spent his final days in a hospice and I worked with the wonderful hospice care nurses to ensure he was in minimal pain when he passed on. I was truly inspired by this patient’s positive outlook in life.

Nursing is a meaningful and rewarding profession. I will continue to deliver quality care to our patients, keeping them comfortable with minimal pain to facilitate rehabilitation, helping them achieve independence or even when they are approaching end of life." 

 

Prema Harrison

Senior Nurse Manager, Critical Care

This is my 22nd year in nursing, and I have had the opportunity to work with many wonderful nurses. In fact, I consider myself privileged to be guided by the best preceptors in my formative years in the Intensive Care Unit. Thus, my most memorable moment, albeit a simple one, was when I was promoted to a Senior Staff Nurse. I felt that my success was an ode to them for always looking out for me and guiding me along.

In TTSH, exemplary nursing leaders have motivated me to do my best as I see how hard they worked, even before the pandemic. They have led by example and their tireless support towards the ground nurses is something we really treasure.

I hope that the future generation of nurses see nursing as more than a calling and be ready to take the profession to greater heights!" 

 

Tay Lily Inez

Assistant Nurse Clinician, Operating Theatre

Having joined the nursing profession in 1995, I am still very grateful for all the valuable experiences and am looking forward to more it has to offer.

The most memorable incident in my career was when I completed my probation in my current work setting. I scrubbed in to assist in my first neurosurgical case - the patient was one of three workers who fell from height. Unfortunately, he did not survive. The impact on me was amplified when I found out later that the patient was my godfather’s colleague.

I definitely enjoy every moment of my work in the Operating Theatre. As technology advances, our perioperative nursing role evolves and that is the challenge that motivates me.

Work-life balance can be achieved with full family support especially during challenging times such as the SARS outbreak and the COVID-19 pandemic." 

 

Wang Zhifan

Nurse Clinician, Radiology

I come from a family of healthcare professionals – my father is a doctor, my mother is a nurse and I have been in the nursing service for 19 years.

It is quite clear that my mum influenced me to join nursing. From the time I was a teenager, she would talk to me about her job, how satisfied she felt when she provided quality care to her patients and received a “thank you” from her patients. I could tell that she was passionate about her work through her stories and expressions. She is my main influence in the profession.

I graduated from Nanyang Polytechnic in 2003, the year of the SARS pandemic. Due to the pandemic, all the newly-graduated nurses needed to start work early. As a new nurse, I panicked due to all the new challenges and uncertainties. I remain thankful to my seniors who encouraged me and motivated me throughout that period.

Sister Lay Hoon, our former nurse educator, and my mum are my nursing role models – they are my nursing role models – passionate, friendly, knowledgeable, and approachable."