This Nurses’ Day, I’m sharing my story as a nurse. It’s been over a decade, and my path hasn’t been a straight line, but every step, every detour, has brought me back to the heart of what I love: Providing compassionate care and making a real difference in people’s health journeys.
The Beginning: A Nurse’s Calling
My journey into nursing started when I was in secondary school. My father was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Those long days and nights at the hospital, accompanying him to doctor visits and staying by his bedside when he was admitted, watching the nurses care for him with such dedication – it really touched me. From a family member’s point of view, I saw firsthand the incredible impact nurses have on patients’ lives. Of course the doctors were there, but to me, it was the nurses who were a constant, doing the heavy lifting, making a difference in every patient’s care and comfort. That’s when I knew: I wanted to be a nurse.
So, after my O levels, I chose to go straight into nursing. After completing my nursing studies at Nanyang Polytechnic, I graduated in 2008 and jumped right into working at Changi General Hospital (CGH).
It was a different world back then – lots of paperwork, no electronic records, and sometimes one nurse could be looking after 16 to 20 patients! But I embraced every challenge. I got to experience so many different specialties, from surgical to orthopaedic, even obstetrics. I was even lucky enough to be one of the pioneers in CGH’s pre-admission ward, which meant I saw a huge variety of cases, from the very sick to those just needing overnight monitoring. It was a whirlwind, but I relished the hands-on experience. I met and made lifelong friends – fellow nurses and doctors I worked alongside every day.
Spreading My Wings: A Short Detour
After four years at CGH, I craved a change. Life’s short, right? My dad’s passing and losing friends too young really drove that home for me. I wanted to see the world, experience something different. So, with the full intention of returning to nursing someday, I decided to take a leap and join Singapore Airlines as a stewardess. I ended up flying for five incredible years.
Even up in the clouds, my nursing skills often came into play. I’ll never forget one particularly wild flight to Sydney where I had five medical cases on board – asthma attacks, nosebleeds, allergies and serious vomiting. My first aid kit was completely empty! We literally turned the back galley into a first aid bay. It was intense, but my training kicked in, and I knew how to help. Being able to assist people even in that environment was incredibly fulfilling.
Returning to Healthcare
Five years of flying was amazing, but I knew it was time to come home to nursing. The healthcare world is always evolving, and I wanted to stay current, keep my skills sharp.
When I came back, I explored different facets of healthcare. I worked as a sales representative for a laboratory company, which was fascinating – I got to see the entire “behind-the-scenes” world of medical testing. Then, I joined one of the budding digital health companies at the time. In the small and budding team, I was employee number four, heading up business development and home nursing. As the only nurse on the team, I was able to bring a clinical perspective to the tech startup environment.
That’s how I eventually came to Doctor Anywhere. One of the company’s pioneering doctors, someone I’d known since my early nursing days when he was a houseman, invited me to join. I started in regional business development, helping to expand DA across different countries. After a period of extensive regional work and frequent travelling, I took on a new challenge and moved to a specialist centre, managing outpatient clinics and leading a project to provide healthcare for migrant workers during COVID-19.
Now, I’m back at DA, and it feels like home. I’ve been involved in setting up DA’s GP clinics, building DA MedSuites, and currently, I’m focused on supporting Doctor Anywhere’s subsidiary, Asian Healthcare Specialists as a Nurse/Operations Manager. My journey has given me such a broad perspective of the entire healthcare ecosystem, not just direct patient care. I’m so grateful for all the different experiences.
My Take on Wellness, and a Simple Tip
For me, health and wellness really starts from within. It’s about finding meaning in what you do, feeling fulfilled and happy. There’s no point dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. Live in the present, find your joy, and your physical health will naturally follow.
Of course, I also believe in staying active! My current favourite workout is a 1.5-hour walk with my dog. Carrying my 9.5kg pet along the way is surprisingly good exercise. I also love snowboarding in Japan once a year and am looking forward to getting back to F45 after a shoulder surgery.
And my simplest health tip for everyone? Just drink more water. Seriously, we underestimate how much water we need. I’ve seen so many patients who are just dehydrated, and it makes such a difference. So, hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!
