When it comes to healthcare workers, doctors have always gotten the lion’s share of glory, leaving nurses, who form the backbone of hospitals and clinics across the world, overlooked and underappreciated. Therefore, it’s only right that we celebrate their contributions to Singapore on Nurses’ Day.
Commemorated here annually on 1 August – instead of the global norm of 12 May, Florence Nightingale’s birthday – it is done so as a nod to Singapore’s own nursing history.
In case you didn’t know, our very first nurses were in fact not supplied by our British colonial rulers, but instead were nuns from a local French convent who supported the work of doctors at the General Hospital beginning 1 August, 1885.
In the 139 years since that fateful day, nursing and the healthcare industry at large has evolved into something altogether different, largely thanks to novel technology and updated practices.
One thing remains steadfast in the face of change – the nurses of Singapore’s dedication to serving others at the frontlines, even when the odds are stacked against them. Here’s what four nursing veterans have to say on the trials and tribulations of working in the healthcare industry in Singapore.
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Ker Yok Tin, 74: I poured my heart and soul into nursing for 51 years
Ker Yok Tin was raised in a kampong in Jurong, where she’d often see her father ferrying midwives to and from the clinic whenever her neighbours were in need.
And so she did, right after she completed her O-Levels and all the way till today, more than half a century later.
"And I have encountered moments etched deeply into my soul."
One of these “unforgettable incidents” was the catastrophic 1978 Greek tanker explosion at Jurong Shipyard, where Yok Tin, then a 28-year-old nurse, “grappled with attending to badly burnt patients and comforting grieving families” in the wake of the chaos.
Today, having received the prestigious Tan Chin Tuan Nursing Award in 2020 (recognising outstanding nurses committed to advancing the profession) and the 50-year Long Service Award last year, Yok Tin remains committed to sticking with nursing for as long as she can, despite already being in her mid-70s.
Irene Yeo, 68: Nursing is never boring
Like Yok Tin, Irene Yeo fulfilled her “childhood ambition” when she donned her “very impressive” white uniform as a newly graduated nurse back in 1977 – and hasn’t looked back since.
Along the way, she developed community wellness projects, helped hospitals transform to snag international healthcare awards, and worked in the various departments ranging from urology to obstetrics and gynaecology.
Most recently, the senior nursing manager spearheaded specialist eye and ENT (ear, nose and throat) clinics at Alexandra Hospital, before leading a work group using data-driven insights to reduce falls, which can pose one of the biggest dangers to already frail patients.
But even with close to 50 years under her belt, Irene still remembers her roots in the early days of nursing.
"So when the doctor tells us to find a specific patient’s medical history, we would have to spend a lot of time digging through drawers and folder to find that specific file. It's completely different now thanks to e-filing systems."
While these improvements and innovations went a long way in moving “time and energy back to what matters, which is the patients”, they weren’t able to completely eliminate the rigorous nature of the job.
While “continuously training and developing talent” is one way for the healthcare industry to keep up with demand, Irene also hopes that more people will step into nursing.
"And of course, it's also very rewarding."
As the silver nurse approaches her 70s, she hopes to continue working for “as long as [she’s] needed”.
Zhang Meixiang, 56: Patients can see your warmth in your smile
Every day, before Zhang Meixiang comes in to work as an assistant nurse clinician at the National University Hospital (NUH), she tunes into an English listening test for half an hour.
It’s not that her English skills aren’t up to scratch – after close to two decades living in Singapore, the China-born nurse’s command of the language is impressive – but more an expression of her commitment to continually improve her communication skills.
After all, the 56-year-old is working in the human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) programme at NUH’s Multidisciplinary Infectious Disease Clinic (MDIC), where a major aspect of her nursing now involves talking to, and understanding the problems of, patients from “multiple cultures, different ages, different genders and different sexual orientations”.
It was a huge departure from her previous nursing experience of over 20 years at the emergency department in NUH and back in China before that, though it was a challenge that Meixiang took up with open arms.
"Where there is a will, there’s a way."
And indeed, the way seems bright for Meixiang to continue doing what she loves. She just received the Nurses’ Merit Award, recognising her exceptional performance in MIDC as NUH’s only specialist nurse.
The healthcare worker is currently pursuing a master’s degree in counselling, which she hopes she can use both now and in the future as a volunteer counsellor post-retirement – not that she has any plans to retire soon.
"And always remember – we are nurses. We provide the best care for our patients, but we cannot save every patient."
Nurse Chan, 56: Helping people while working is its own reward
For Chan (not her real name), a nurse of over 30 years at Singapore General Hospital, then Tampines Polyclinic, the challenges she faced as a nurse during the Covid-19 pandemic remain fresh in her mind.
But that fear, ironically, paled in comparison to the distrust she faced from some members of the public.
"Even at work, people would get angry when we stuck the stickers (demarcating whether patients had a fever) on their shirts directly and start shouting at us."
These examples, though extreme, highlights the daily challenges that nurses face working long hours and irregular shifts in often difficult conditions, doing work that many consider “dirty” and certainly laborious.
Nevertheless, she takes the difficulty of her chosen in stride.
