Ms Kok Hui Scen once thought of quitting the nursing profession because of work pressure, but her patients gave her strength.
A nurse in the palliative care setting at Tan Tock Seng Hospital, she said: “My cancer patients demonstrated much resilience and persistence, which strengthened my will to care for them. As I reflected on what I could have done better to help them, my commitment to nursing grew stronger.”
The 34-year-old, a senior staff nurse at Tan Tock Seng Hospital, also worked on the frontline of the nation’s fight in the Covid-19 pandemic. She was part of the hospital’s healthcare team in charge of suspected Covid-19 cases.
In 2018, Ms Kok embarked on a two-year part-time Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing with Honours (Top-up) programme with Ngee Ann Academy, awarded by King’s College London. She is graduating this year.
She says the course has equipped her with well-rounded nursing skills and in-depth knowledge, which is particularly helpful as she comes across patients from different backgrounds who require different kinds of care.
She adds: “The physical assessment module, for example, has strengthened my foundation in clinical practice and given me greater confidence to manage more complex care.
“My experience with King’s College London has taught me the importance of independent learning and how it should be a continuous effort that goes beyond the classroom.”
She hopes to apply her new knowledge and skills to provide greater patient-centred care. Ms Kok says she is also looking forward to pursuing a master’s degree to advance her nursing career.
She finds joy in caring for her patients and gaining their trust to improve their quality of life.
“The journey of nursing can be challenging but one must never give up. Find your internal drive that can help you to overcome the barriers. Lifelong learning is also essential for nurses to keep our skills sharp and think outside the box to handle any situation. No matter what type of nursing work you do, it all contributes to making a difference to patients’ lives,” she says.
