Two healthcare professionals at NUH share the meaning behind their work, what continually inspires them, and where their careers are headed.

By Lim Yan Wen

Radiation therapy is a branch of medical treatment that most people do not fully comprehend, until they are faced with the need to understand it better.

This is precisely what Serene Cher experienced when a close friend was diagnosed with leukaemia about seven years ago. Her firsthand experience of being there for her friend as she went through treatment exposed her to the importance of the healthcare profession, and in particular, radiation therapy. This friend's subsequent passing had an inspirational and catalytic impact on Serene, and was her impetus for deciding to join the ranks of the healthcare industry as a Radiation Therapist.

“I've always been interested in the health science profession, but it was seeing my friend go through therapy that got me exposed to this area, and her passing motivated me to pursue Radiation Therapy to save lives,” Serene says.

Given her interest in health science and deep conviction in helping cancer patients put up a good fight, Serene sought out a scholarship awarded by the National Healthcare Group (NHG) to study Radiation Therapy – a medical treatment for controlling and eliminating malignant cancer cells.

The NHG Health Science Scholarship gave Serene the chance to obtain a Diploma in Radiation Therapy from Nanyang Polytechnic, before moving on to the University of Sydney for a year to convert the diploma into a degree.

Immense Satisfaction
Serene has been working as a Radiation Therapist at the National University Hospital (NUH) since last August after completing her degree programme in Sydney. The Radiation Therapy Department's work can be broadly categorised into two areas – planning and treatment.

In the Planning Unit, once the doctors have diagnosed each illness and determined its severity, the therapists take over and devise an optimal treatment plan for each patient. Serene, who currently works in the Treatment Unit, notes that the delivery of treatment usually requires much care and precision.

“We have to ensure that the tumour gets sufficient dosage, and also that tissues in the surrounding area do not suffer from overdose,” explains Serene.

Typically, Serene would start the day by conducting quality assurance checks to ensure the machines are running optimally. As every patient's needs are different, the treatment plans proposed by the therapists differ accordingly. Depending on the duration of each treatment session, Serene and her colleagues can attend to 25 to 60 patients in one day.

As it usually takes about 20 sessions for patients to complete their full treatment cycle, Serene was pleasantly surprised when one of her patients, who had come in bedridden, managed to overcome his pain and started walking again after only two sessions of treatment.

“It was exceptionally fast for this patient, and it was satisfying to know that the work we do can help patients move by relieving their pain,” reflects the 24-year-old.

Carving a Niche
While Serene has only just begun her journey of healing others at NUH, Yeo Ai Wah, a Geriatrics Nurse Clinician, has served at the hospital for the past 13 years.

Ai Wah was also drawn to the profession of nursing after personally witnessing how the nurses who cared for her grandmother, who had suffered a stroke, gave their all for her.

“The caring image of nurses also certainly helped me in choosing a career when I just graduated,” Ai Wah says.

The 34-year-old is a proud recipient of the Nurses Merit Award in 2006, a national award given in recognition of outstanding performance and contributions to nursing. She was sponsored by NUH to pursue a diploma and an advanced diploma in Nursing. Subsequently, she went on to complete her degree a year later, and out of the three nursing career tracks (namely Management, Education and Clinical), Ai Wah opted for the Clinical route with a specialisation in geriatrics, which is medical care for elderly patients.

Self-improvement opportunities offered by NUH have allowed Ai Wah to progress and carve out a niche in her career path. She is now qualified to conduct pre-consultation assessments with patients before referring them to doctors when necessary, and in the meantime also manages a team of junior geriatrics nurses.

Dealing with elderly patients is an enriching experience for Ai Wah. “Seeing them discharged with no complications and coping well thereafter is very fulfilling indeed,” she says.

Furthermore, there is nothing more heartwarming than to hear a sincere “Thank you” from her patients. She cites the example of how a middle-aged woman who had developed complications after an operation brought her daughter to the hospital after she was discharged.

“The little girl just said, 'Thank you very much for taking care of my mummy', and that gesture was very encouraging,” Ai Wah recalls.

A Special Touch
Both Ai Wah and Serene acknowledge the importance of developing good interpersonal skills to excel in this profession. For Serene, who comes into contact with patients who are cancer-stricken, staying optimistic is important in order to give her patients the strength and hope to go through the sessions.

“Most of the time, my patients are optimistic. I have also grown emotionally stronger so that I can be there for my patients,” Serene says.

Meanwhile, Ai Wah, who deals with elderly patients, also reckons that communication skills are vital.

“With elderly patients, it's not just the verbal communication, but also the non-verbal. When they get agitated, we have to try to find out why they're agitated. Touch is very important, and we usually touch them to calm them down and let them know we're here,” Ai Wah says.

Both Serene and Ai Wah look forward to opportunities provided by NUH. Through the scholarship, Serene has enjoyed job rotation within the Treatment Unit over the past year.

“I hope to further hone my skills as a Radiation Therapist, and maybe be rotated to the Planning Unit for better career exposure,” Serene enthuses.

Meanwhile, Ai Wah's supportive supervisor has advised her to pursue a master’s degree, which will propel her into a new role of Advanced Nurse Practitioner.

Being in the healthcare industry requires patience, emotional resilience, selflessness and the desire to serve and care for others. Ai Wah and Serene have both experienced a deep sense of satisfaction from their work.

Says Ai Wah, “At the end of the day, this is a tough but immensely fulfilling job.”