LIFE at SGH Campus | Mar/Apr 2014
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The future of nursing is at SingHealth
Daughters and SoN 1986: a group of young women entered the SoN (School of Nursing). They followed the thousands who had lived at SoN where they studied, formed close bonds with their course mates, and created precious memories. We speak to some past students from class PTS 95 of 1986 to gain an insight into the evolution of nursing education.
What change in nursing education amazes you the most? Ong C E: Nurses today are highly educated and in specialised fields. 20 years ago, obtaining a post-basic certificate was considered very good. Today, many nurses hold basic and even PhD degrees.
M Chia: I was inspired by an aunt who was a Nursing Officer at Tan Tock Seng Hospital and had my parents’ support. I also felt it was a noble career with an ‘iron rice bowl’. Puspa: I was a member of the Red Cross Society in school and had a passion for Nursing.
M Chia: I am happy that I had a lot of clinical experience during my training. It made me confident and I was able to independently perform my duties as a Staff Nurse when I graduated. Poonam: My tutor Miss Wong told me that when I became a Registered Nurse, I would be responsible for the entire ward and hold the key to the MC drawer (this is where the medical certificates were kept). Even the doctors had to come to us for the certificates. From then, I realised the importance of my role.
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M Chia: We had lots of fun gossiping, cooking and studying together. We shared our grievances and this helped us cope with the pressures of school and clinical practice. Cheong C P: We formed special bonds, encouraged and helped each other especially during the examination period.
What made you take up nursing studies? Chua S M: My interest for nursing started with my frequent visits to my grandmother in the hospital.
What do you appreciate most from your SoN training? Ong C E: Living in the hostel with friends. The six-week study blocks were also enjoyable as we got to meet course mates who were posted to other hospitals.
What did you enjoy most of your hostel days? Ong C E: We didn’t have to travel to school so we got more sleep! We also became independent as we had to do our own washing and cooking. The shared meals and revisions of school work also instilled a sense of belonging and discipline.
Urine testing in the old days
Name one activity/task in your training that you are glad is no longer taught? Chua S M: The laborious testing of diabetic urine using the chemical and test tube method. If you weren’t careful, the urine solution would overheat and shoot out of the test tube! Today, we use urine lab sticks which are much easier, faster and less messy to use.
Chua S M: Using life-like manikins in teaching nursing clinical skills like defibrillation, intubation and cannulation etc. These 'Patient Human Simulators' are able to simulate real life clinical scenarios and allow trainee nurses to learn in a safe and conducive environment.
What is one advancement in nursing that gives you the greatest satisfaction? Too A L:That would be the evolution of the taskcentric care to patient-centric care. This is what I call holistic care for patients. Chua S M: The restructuring of the nursing career track means nurses can now focus on Informatics, Research, Advanced Practice, Education etc. Nurses now also have more opportunities for promotions, sponsorships and awards. Puspa: Nurses like the Advance Practice Nurses are empowered to make decisions in patient care and are recognised as equal partners in multidisciplinary teams. What is your wish for the future of nursing? Puspa: Nursing must be recognised as a noble profession by the younger generation. All nurses must grow in the profession and not give up the patient contact which gives the most satisfaction. M Chia: Yes, I’d like more recognition and respect for the profession, especially locally. Ong C E: My wish is for nurses to have less administrative paper work to do, so that we’ll have more time for our patients.
Who’s who:
Too A L: We were taught to massage pressure sores with soap and water where the redness was. This was not evidence based and today we know it actually causes more harm. Cheong C P: Depending on the condition of the babies, we had to prepare bottle feeds in different concentrations and amounts. I could never remember the formulae.
PTS 95 students on the first day of posting to Major OT
The class of PTS 95 in 1986
SNM Cheong Chiu Peng, ward 47 ADN (education) Chua Siew Mui, Alice Lee IAN NC Martha Mabel Chia Jia En, ward 77 SNC Ong Choo Eng, stoma care SNM Poonam Vas Dev Bajaj NC Puspalatah Sathasivan, Clinic G SNC Irene Too Ai Ling
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