Nursing Times Issue 05

Nursing
Times
VOL. 3, NO. 1 JUNE 2021

RafflesMedGrp RafflesHospital

BEHIND-THE-SCENES’ STORIES CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Fertility Nursing - More than just a nurse 04
Lilian Yew
NURSES’ INSIGHTS 10 Karyn Choo Li Ping
Nursing Education Wong Siew Fong
Shaakirah Bte Mohamed Rafi
NURSES’ VOICES 12 Rarama Mary Abigail Vanessa
Nursing Education Hermosilla Roan Villaflores
Michelle Parfiles Numeron
CLINICAL UPDATES 14 Angel Myrn Mae Ambulo
Prevent & Reduce IV Cannulation Jeffry Suva Flores
Related Phlebitis Norazlina Bte Hassan
Sau Lee
ON THE RADAR 15 Wang Hongwei
Yu Chun Yan
Fun Snippets of Nursing 18 Yan Bo

EDITORIAL TEAM
Chief Editor:
Lilian Yew, Chief Nurse

Members:
Karyn Choo Li Ping, Nurse Educator II
Wong Siew Fong, Assistant Nurse Clinician
Shaakirah Bte Mohamed Rafi, Acting
Assistant Nurse Clinician
Rarama Mary Abigail Vanessa, Staff Nurse I
Choo Jie Ling, Staff Nurse I

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2 Nursing Times Vol. 3, No. 1

“Live life when Chief
you have it. Editor’s
Life is splendid Note
gift ~ there is
nothing small Raffles Nursing Times is a quarterly newsletter
about it.” published by the Raffles Hospital, which serves as a
unique platform for our nurses to stay connected.
Florence Nightingale It highlights updates from our nurses and student nurses,
and with these exciting contributions, we keep abreast
3 Nursing Times Vol. 3, No. 1 of clinical practices, new technologies and arm ourselves
with the latest and greatest from the nursing world.

Through Raffles Nursing Times, we also hope to
interact with Raffles nurses and stay in touch with
our nursing friends from all walks of the field.
This is an exclusive e-publication for nurses, prepared by
Raffles nurses.

For this edition of Nursing Times, we put the spotlight
on some refreshing behind-the-scenes stories where we
profile the daily lives of our nursing heroes and heroines
at the Raffles Hospital Fertility Centre. We also have a
chance to hear from our Nursing Education Department
(NED) who amidst this Covid-19 pandemic, went above and
beyond to implement ad-hoc vaccination programmes
that help support the nursing teams who were deployed
to Raffles’ 15 vaccination centres in Singapore. Finally,
we also learn from our nurses on how they are coping
with work amidst the ongoing Covid-19 situation.

The next issue of Raffles Nursing Times will be published in
Sep 2021. If you have stories to share, please submit them
before 1 Aug 2021. Mark your calendars and anticipate
our next issue!

Sincerely,

Lilian Yew (Ms)
Chief Editor

BEHIND-THE-SCENES’ STORIES

More than just a nurse (Fertility Team)

(RH Fertility Team - From left to right: SN II Caballes Ma Ria Karlyn Lai, SEN II Aileen Joyce Delfin Bernido, SSN II Hermosilla Roan Villaflores, SN II Li Yiyu, SSN II Ong Xin Yi, Agnes)

Fertility Nursing:

A calling to give hope,
love and strength

“Being a nurse is to give your
hands to serve and your heart
to love.”

In this issue, we delve deeper to learn more about some
of our nurses in our Fertility Nursing team, a group of
dedicated women who often are the pillar of strength
and support for our female patients on their fertility
journey.

4 Nursing Times Vol. 3, No. 1

BEHIND-THE-SCENES’ STORIES

More than just a nurse (Fertility Team)

SSNII Hermosilla Roan zone. Instead of worrying about the new how to prepare and administer medication
Villaflores environment, I took it as a challenge to try independently.
another field of nursing.
9 years in RH Often, at this point it is usually the first
Now I am nearing a decade of experience time the patient is interacting and meeting
Q. Share with us – how did you come to as an Obstetrics and Gynaecology (O&G), us. To assure them of their concerns,
work at Raffles Hospital? fertility nurse. we make sure to set aside enough time
to address all the various questions and
Most of the nurses who came from the Share with us what a day in your work concerns they may have. We believe it is
Philippines to work in Singapore need to at the Fertility Centre looks like? very important for our patients to build
apply for nursing roles via agencies. a relationship with us and to trust our
There are many aspects to the role of a team with their fertility journey, as we
These agencies will coordinate with fertility nurse and each day is different walk together with them and help them
different hospitals in Singapore to hire and busy and it involves a lot of patient with their family planning. Regardless of
foreign nurses. Way back in 2011, Raffles interaction. the type of treatment (e.g. IUI, IVF) we are
Hospital (RH) opened its door for us when acutely aware of the emotional roller-
they went to the Philippines for hire Daily activities typically include patient coaster of infertility and what serious life
nurses. I remembered Sister Lee Lee Boon interviews, explaining treatment options, decisions lie ahead. As fertility nurses, we
assisted us during the exam and in the follow-up appointments; answering do our best to make the experience as
interview. After all the required documents questions and providing support; teaching smooth and as pleasant as possible, and
were processed (papers, our pass, medication administration; usage of generally build a very close rapport with
contracts) I finally reached Singapore and ovulation kits; assisting the doctors during our patients.
started working in RH in August 2011. ultrasound scans and blood tests; as
well as assisting with procedures such Cycle monitoring -
Initially, I was offered the role of an as intrauterine insemination (or IUI), 3rd-4th patient appointment
Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nurse since egg collection and embryo transfers. In
my work experience is in both the adult addition, my work-scope also involves Normally, appointments begin at 9:00
and neonatal ICU setting but Sister Lee other areas in our daily routine such as: am and it is usually busy as we conduct
asked me if I wanted to try working in a blood tests in the mornings so that their
clinical setting, specifically at the Women Patient meetings and education – results can be ready for their scheduled
and Fertility Clinic, which I was not very A patient’s first consultation appointment time. As soon as the
familiar with. I was hesitant at first because results are available, the fertility nurses
I would have to step out of my comfort We conduct nursing assessments of the communicate with the fertility specialist
patients throughout the day. During to report the updates and discuss if the
5 Nursing Times Vol. 3, No. 1 registration, we will meet with the treatment protocol needs any adjustment.
couple or individual patient and obtain
their health and medical history and Depending on the period of the patient’s
information. cycle which they are in, we assist the
doctors when ultrasounds are performed
After consulting the specialists, we will as part of the cycle monitoring. On
discuss the treatment plans with the the scan, follicles on the ovaries will be
patient or couple as per the doctor’s input. counted, measured and the lining of the
In addition, we help to clarify any doubts uterus will be assessed. Depending on
that our patients may have. The steps of the results, patients can be booked for
the treatment are outlined, including how a follow-up ultrasound or scheduled for
to start with the assisted reproductive oocyte (or egg) pick-up (OPU) at the time
program, the pre-requisites that the that is best for their body and treatment.
couple needs to do and comply with, the
types of medication required, what the After the consultation with our fertility
treatment cycle involves, and scheduled
appointments. We also help teach patients

BEHIND-THE-SCENES’ STORIES

More than just a nurse (Fertility Team)

specialist, we will discuss with patient the
preparation required for the treatment plan
and give them discharge instructions either
for intrauterine insemination egg collection,
the sperm collection procedure and embryo
transfer instructions.

Assisting during Assisted Reproductive
Technology (or ART) procedures

We also assist with procedures such as We were exposed to different training that is pregnant is incredibly fulfilling. It is an
intrauterine insemination (or IUI’s), egg strengthened our knowledge, particularly amazing feeling to know we played a part in
collection and fresh and frozen embryo in the different cycle methods that our creating this miracle baby that patients have
transfers. Our role is to help our patients get clinicians used. We attended seminars, waited and hoped for, and have made such a
ready for the procedure, outlining what to mostly these were webinars on what are the difference in someone’s life. Over the years,
expect and answering any questions. new medications that are used in fertility we have often received updates from our
We also assist the doctors during the treatment. These seminars include updates patients on their families. We love seeing the
procedure such as intrauterine insemination, regarding different treatment plans on pictures of our patient’s miracle babies and
egg collection and embryo transfer where different patient profiles and the various their newborns - and how they have grown
we act as circulating and scrub nurses. We protocol that other doctors use worldwide. over time. It always brings smiles to our faces.
also discuss what to do after the procedure, Most recently, a training that helped us
including how to take care of themselves and tremendously is the training with our fertility What attracted you to work at our
the correct time to test for pregnancy. counsellor. This training supports us with one RH Fertility Centre?
of the most challenging parts about being
Administrative work and patient support a fertility nurse – the emotional stress from I want to work in a large hospital environment
our patients. The fertility journey is one that because it provides opportunities for me
Responding to patient queries and concerns is emotionally exhausting for our patients. to expand my knowledge through training
is a 24/7 job. We continuously respond to Most of our patients are already emotionally and by working alongside experts. Initially,
patient queries throughout the day via phone drained when they reach a fertility centre, we I was just looking for a stable, long-term
call and email. It is perfectly normal for need to be able to listen and empathise with position but Raffles showed me its strong,
patients to have questions or need reminders their unique situations. Delivering news that collaborative team culture and career
or reassurance throughout their fertility cycle. a cycle has to be cancelled or finding out that satisfaction among its nurses. The support
a pregnancy test was negative is very hard that the hospital had given me throughout
What type of training did you have to undergo on us. So much time and effort had been the years is incomparable.
while working in Fertility Centre? invested to yield a positive outcome and we
know how first-hand, how difficult the journey
The role of a fertility nurse is both exciting has been for our patients. On the other hand,
and emotionally challenging – but it has huge being able to share in the news that a patient
rewards. Reproductive medicine is a field
that constantly is growing and developing.
This requires us to stay abreast of the
developments and be trained in the latest
industry advances and techniques. The
constant and rapid advances in ART make this
a very stimulating field to work in.

6 Nursing Times Vol. 3, No. 1

BEHIND-THE-SCENES’ STORIES

More than just a nurse (Fertility Team)

What were some changes over the years that someone’s life and played a part in creating
have left you a deep impression while working this desired miracle baby. I am delighted
with us? whenever I receive updates and pictures of
The workflow process over the years is one these little miracles from my previous clients.
of the changes that left a deep impression
while working in RH. It is more organised as What steps did you take to educate yourself to
we have all the materials that we can easily be prepared for your current role?
access online via sharing platforms that we
can refer to in case we need to confirm our Reproductive medicine is a field that is
guidelines and protocols regarding different constantly developing and changing, this
assisted reproductive techniques. This helped requires me to stay abreast of and be
us to improve efficiency, productivity, and it trained in the latest industry advances
reduced our stress as we know that we have and techniques. Since I started working
protocols in place. in Raffles Fertility Centre, I have attended
relevant training seminars about assisted
During policy reviews, when there is a need SSNII Michelle Parfiles reproductive technologies that provided me
to change our workflow processes (i.e. Numeron with the essential knowledge and skills in my
changes in ARP protocols, new guidelines workplace.
and procedure), these changes are often 9 years years of experience What were some of the challenges faced over
effectively communicated to us and involves the years as an SOC nurse?
each member of the team in implementing Q. How did you come to work with Raffles
these changes. Hospital as a Fertility Nurse? By the time patients reach a fertility centre,
they often are emotionally exhausted from
Another change that RH started last 2017 was My first job abroad was with Raffles Fertility their fertility journey, this often makes things
the introduction of the paperless data input Centre in 2012. Being a fertility nurse was a bit harder for me. As a fertility nurse, I need
and output via Electronic Medical Records a big adjustment since I was a NICU nurse to have empathy and listen to each patient
(EMR). With this, it supported collaborative in my previous employment. Caring for sick and their unique situations, identifying their
care for the patient as each nurse is able neonates is very different from caring for needs to provide quality healthcare.
to see the patient’s data on a consolidated infertile couples and helping them conceive. One of the most challenging tasks for me is
platform with a single view. It had other However, I took it as a personal challenge delivering the news that a pregnancy test
benefits such as an improvement in patient to learn and grow in a new and exciting field. result was negative or that clients must
satisfaction and better clinical outcomes as Learning about fertility matters was tough, cancel a cycle. I know how difficult the
we use a single system to gather pertinent but fortunately, Raffles Fertility Centre journey is for my patients because I can see
details on patient treatment plans and has had a great team who helped me along the considerable amount of time, finances,
updates. It also lessened the use of paper, the way. and emotions they invest in the whole
which is environmentally friendly. process of conceiving.
Nonetheless, I would consider a fertility
What has been your main source of motivation nurse’s career one of the most emotionally
at work for so many years? challenging but most rewarding.

Throughout these years, seeing my patients Share with us your most memorable
conceive successfully has been my primary experience working in the Fertility Centre.
source of motivation to work in Raffles
Fertility Centre. It is an overwhelming Every positive outcome is memorable for me.
feeling to know that I made a difference in It is a special moment to witness a couple’s
reaction to a positive result after years of
trying and undergoing an exhausting IVF

7 Nursing Times Vol. 3, No. 1

BEHIND-THE-SCENES’ STORIES

More than just a nurse (Fertility Team)

treatment. Being part of a couple’s journey me determined to create a welcoming
to achieve a family dream is a truly fantastic environment for them. Additionally, having
feeling. kind-hearted colleagues whom I can always
depend on and have an enjoyable lunch with
What were the transitional changes you have allowed me to remain driven in my work.
experienced over the years working with
us- i.e. Workflow processes, technology, and What do you enjoy most working in the
patient care activities?. Fertility Centre?

There are notable transitional changes made Personally, every day is a brand-new
in Raffles Fertility Centre over the years. challenge for me, and the stimulating
We have created instructional YouTube environment of the Fertility Centre is truly
videos on the step-by-step instructions for what I enjoyed most. Each patient may
self-administration of fertility medications, be different and difficult at times, but the
guiding our patients in managing their sheer joy on their faces when they conceive,
fertility injections at home. Raffles Fertility especially after difficult long IVF cycles makes
Centre also offers counselling sessions with all the effort worthwhile.
psychologists and embryologists, which
helped alleviate the patient’s anxiety over SPSSO SAU LEE Share with us your day-to-day routine in the
the IVF journey. We have utilized most Fertility Centre.
technological updates from the different
training seminars to improve our IVF and 18 years of experience Every morning, we start the day by sanitizing
reproductive medicine services. the consultation room, making sure it is a
Q: How did you first started out working at the clean environment for both patients and the
Fertility Centre at the Raffles Hospital? doctor. After that, when clinic starts, I assist
the doctor in their routine consultations,
Originally, after taking care of my children, helping with the positioning of patients for
I wanted to find a job to occupy my time. the doctor to do the ultrasound scan, and
As such, I decided to join the Raffles Fertility assisting in procedures such as IUI as well.
Centre as a patient service officer. After When the day’s clinic has ended, I helped
working for several years, I thoroughly in the upkeep of the clinic, ensuring that
enjoyed the environment, patient and everything is stocked and ready for a
colleagues, and thus stayed on until now. brand-new day.

What has been your main source of motivation
at work for so many years?

For me, seeing the patients every day
has been a good source of motivation.
Seeing familiar patients and new patients
who remain hopeful to conceive makes

Do check this out: What to Expect: Fertility
Screening at Raffles Fertility Centre

#whattoexpect #fertilityscreening #rafflesfertilitycentre

8 Nursing Times Vol. 3, No. 1

BEHIND-THE-SCENES’ STORIES

More than just a nurse (Fertility Team)

Share with us your most memorable experiences working
in the Fertility Centre.
After seeing so many patients every day, there were a
few notable cases that remained memorable to this day. I
remembered a patient who went through 3 very difficult IVF
cycles that failed. She was hopeful when starting her fourth cycle,
but it was evident she was losing hope with each failed cycle.
I remember holding her hand during the day of her embryo
transfer, as she was very tense and worried that this may be
another failed cycle, comforting her as she was on the table at
the operating theatre. During the day of her review, I kept my
fingers crossed and to my surprise, she finally got pregnant, and I
was beyond ecstatic. The sheer joy on her face and the relief and
delight on the face of her husband remains etched in my brain.

(from left to right: SSN II Ong Xin Yi Agnes, SSN II Michelle Parfiles Numeron, SN II Cabelles Ma Ria Karlyn Lai, SSN II Hermosilla Roan, SEN II Aileen Joyce Delfin Bernido & SN II Li Yiyu Shirley )

9 Nursing Times Vol. 3, No. 1

NURSES’ INSIGHTS

Nursing Education

During this tough pandemic season, the entire healthcare sector came together as one, working tirelessly for Singapore to accelerate its
national vaccination programme. RMG is proud to be one of the healthcare providers appointed by the Ministry of Health (MOH) to respond
to the nation’s call – by setting up 15 vaccination centres all across Singapore including the first vaccination centre at Changi Terminal 4,
kickstarting the national vaccination effort.
Let us find out how our colleagues at the Nursing Education Department has contributed to this effort.
10 Nursing Times Vol. 3, No. 1

NURSES’ INSIGHTS

Nursing Education

WRITTEN BY It was a big challenge as we had to collate We were very happy that it was a good
NE II KARYN CHOO the information and techniques learnt of collaborative effort together with our NED
the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine quickly and team and RHCI to pull everything together
COVID-19 implement a structured outline for our within such a short period – preparation
Vaccination Vaccination Training programme. Our of the competency checklists, competency
(VC) Training - educators also went down to the VCs to logsheets, consumables for practice,
Nursing Education observe the workflow and the operations booking of venues. Our VC programme
Department (NED) process and fine-tuned the training details involved giving not only lectures based on
– ensuring our training was suitable to meet Pfizer’s manufacturer and MOH guidelines;
the needs of our own RMG VCs. there were also demonstrations, together
We worked closely with RHCI, Ms Loke Mei with hands-on practice for the nurses. We
Choo, and her team for the initial run of the managed to collect the used vaccine vials
VC programme. As it is skills-based training, from the VCs for the hands-on and the nurses
we had to quickly develop competency used cut-out sponges to simulate the correct
checklists within a few days before the vaccination techniques.
first run.

2021 has continued to be a turbulent period
for all that are in the healthcare sector due to
the ongoing pandemic. I still vividly remember
the unexpected challenges in 2020 where we
were thrown off the tracks by the emergent
situation of Covid-19 and how we had to
implement ad-hoc training programmes for
the nurses who were deployed from other
clinical areas to help with inpatient wards.

This year yet again RMG answered the To date, we have already managed to train a total of 300 local and foreign nurse vaccinators,
nation’s call to help with the Covid-19 including VC supervisors to meet the demand. Later on, we also had to refined our programme
pandemic through national vaccnation and added more details to our training programme when the Moderna vaccine was approved
efforts. There was a demand for vaccinator in Singapore and deployed at the vaccination centres.
nurses at 15 of the vaccination centres that
were run by RMG, all across the island. Looking back, I could see our great efforts being paid off together with the various support
As one of the main healthcare providers we had received from our bosses, other departments and colleagues. It was a memorable
for vaccination centres, we had to scramble experience that has shaped us well – as it tested our perseverance and team spirit amidst
quickly to train up our pool of nurses to be challenging times like this.
vaccinations – both SNs and ENs as approved
by SNB. All of us educators and a large pool
of NCs/supervisors were sent to NUS for the
Train-The-Trainer programme – to learn and
impart the skills and knowledge to our nurse
vaccinators.

11 Nursing Times Vol. 3, No. 1

NURSES’ VOICES

Work Life during Covid season

SN 1 Earlier in May, there were new updates regarding the social distancing measures here in
Rarama Mary Singapore to start on the 1st of May 2021. We have been urged to have no more than two social
Abigail Vanessa, gatherings a day, as part of tightened measures put in place to curb the spread of Covid-19 in
Ward 13 the community following a spike in new cases. I was looking forward to our government relaxing
rules and measures regarding social distancing and travelling, however it seems like there is still
a long way to go with the new clusters of Covid-19 infections.

For many of us here at the hospital it has been exceptionally challenging especially for us who
come from overseas. With the ongoing Covid-19 travel restrictions, we could not go back to our
own countries to see our families or travel for leisure, to rest and to relax. Stay-Home-Notices
(SHN) for travel had also been extended to 21 days upon return to Singapore, which is very
expensive. To add to the challenges, the hospital took on more patients from public hospitals to
alleviate the patient loads at public hospitals to focus on Covid-19 patients. This meant that we
had to work for more shifts to cope with the surge of patients from other hospitals. Thankfully,
we had a lot of help from deployed staffs from other wards.

We have to be able to adjust to the current situation and also to support other hospitals to
handle the sudden influx of inpatient cases. There were several changes made to the visiting
hours as well and the number of people who are allowed to visit the patients. We had to be
consistent and enforce to the visitors as some of the relatives who will keep trying to visit during
odd hours outside visitation timings! In addition, we started the weekly swabbing process for
all staffs and donning of N95 and PPEs when necessary, as per individual ward/area protocol.
Also, not to miss out on the strict safe entry scanning that we always have to do before coming
inside the hospital premises. Working from home has been implemented again and dine in is
restricted, so we had to bring our food if we are not able to go down and have it for takeaway.
These all present challenges on top of our daily jobs.

As they say, life goes on and somehow all of us have to do some other activities or recreational
things so we can still lead a positive attitude towards being able to live on and push through this
pandemic. Physical and mental health are both important and we have to put ourselves on top
of our priority list and try to be in tip-top shape so we can continue to take care of our patients
and give them our best. We have to keep moving forward and try to help each other so that we
can get through these difficult times, and must always remember to mask up!

12 Nursing Times Vol. 3, No. 1

NURSES’ VOICES

Work Life during Covid season

This pandemic has brought us all fear and we were all caught off guard. It made us worry SN I
about the safety of our family back home and fear for our own safety because as medical Ambulo Angel-Myrn
staff, we are at high risk of exposure to the Covid-19 infection. Mae Miranda,
ICU
When the Covid 19 situation intensified, Raffles Hospital then initiated the implementation
of an isolation ward. While I am originally an ICU nurse, I was posted to the isolation
ward for three months. As far as I recall, at first, I was very uneasy each time I came to
work because of the strict implementation of infection control measures to protect and
ensure quality care for patients but also for our own safety as well. It was tiring to manage
my usual duties, on top of all the infection protocols, such as the donning of complete
personal protective equipment while doing all the nursing care. However, the help and
support of our supervisors and managers helped me cope with the situation. I kept a
positive mindset and accepted that this was going to be the “new normal”.

Moreover, this pandemic has prevented us from travelling home to be with our families.
There were also unexpected events that make us more desperate to be home because
we are worried about their health and safety. Under this circumstance, my mother was
infected with the Covid-19 virus in the Philippines while I was here in Singapore taking
care of other patients; the sad life of an overseas worker. It was difficult for me to see
her having laboured breathing and on oxygen therapy without anyone beside her. As
with other patients with Covid-19 infection here, she could not have any visitors during
her three-week stay in the hospital. I believed that this experience helped me be more
empathetic when I interact with my isolated patients. Thankfully, technology has its way of
helping us to stay connected with our loved ones despite these tough times and support
them with their endeavours.

13 Nursing Times Vol. 3, No. 1

CLINICAL UPDATES

Adopting Phlebitis Scoring WRITTEN BY
Chart to Prevent & Reduce IV SNC II NORAZLINA BTE HASSAN
Cannulation related Phlebitis
Incidences OUR POLICY STATEMENT

The Phlebitis scoring chart is an essential tool that facilitates the timely removal of short All patients with an intravenous access
peripheral intravenous catheters at the earliest signs of phlebitis. This chart also empowers device in place must have the IV Site
nurses to recognise and remove the IV Cannula at the first indication of phlebitis. Early checked per shift for signs of infusion
recognition of phlebitis will help to maintain patient’s safety and comfort. The Phlebitis phlebitis. The subsequent score
Chart was adopted since August 2019. All nurses were briefed on the chart and incorporated AND action(s) taken (if any) must be
in the policy as a reference. documented.

Auditied wards

Figure 1: Inpatient Phlebitis Assessment Audit Yr. 2020 to Q1 2021

In Year 2020 – Mar 2021, we have audited 1290 patients with IV Cannula during admission stay (Refer Figure 1). Out of 1290 cases, only
10 patients developed phlebitis. Most phlebitis are mostly chemical and mechanical related phlebitis. All the phlebitis was treated and
recovered well. Nil advance stage of thrombophlebitis that requires additional stay in hospital.

The incidence of infusion phlebitis varies.
The following ‘Good Practice Points’ may assist in reducing the incidence of infusion phlebitis:

• Observe cannula site Per Shift
• Secure cannula with a transparent intravenous dressing (Tagederm)
• Replace loose, contaminated dressings
• Cannula must be inserted away from the joints whenever possible
• Aseptic technique must be followed
• Use the smallest gauge cannula most suitable for the patient’s needs
• Replace the cannula at the first indication of infusion phlebitis (Stage 2 on the Phlebitis scoring Chart)
• Plan and document continuing care

14 Nursing Times Vol. 3, No. 1

ON THE RADAR

On the

Radar

We welcome three new inpatient nursing leaders who have joined
our RH family and the following new nurses from the month of
February 2021 till May 2021.

SNC II YU CHUN YAN, LABOUR WARD
I have never ever thought of leaving restructured hospital to join a private sector in the past
28 years of my nursing life, until I got to know Ms. Lilian Yew from Raffles Hospital. Honestly,
I did go through a big struggle over days and nights for a month...and finally I made up my
mind to make this move.
Now I have become a member of Raffles Medical Group family, I have personally seen and
experienced what it is like to be a part of this family. Yes, I do see problems and issues here
and there, but I have also seen spirits of teamwork and leaders on the ground to be together
with the team. They are one family, and they are one team. I have no regrets making this
move to RH, being together with the family, and contribute to our nation.

NC II YAN BO, WARD 9B
I worked in multi-disciplinary wards, specialized in medical-surgical and cardio, cardiovascular
thoracic nursing in restructured hospital where I gained valuable experiences for the past 15
years of the nursing career. I decided to take the challenge to join Raffles Hospital. To I’m grateful
to Raffles Hospital for giving me the opportunity to be a part of the team and my thanks to the
different colleagues at various levels for giving me the support to embark on this journey. I look
forward to working with you as one family and make my contributions to this family

15 Nursing Times Vol. 3, No. 1

ON THE RADAR

SNE II WANG HONGWEI, NURSING EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

I joined Raffles Hospital’s Nursing Education Department (NED) in February 2021 and my experience
thus far has been enriching and exciting.
With over two decades of nursing career, of which 11 years are focused on nursing education
(hospital-wide education/ ward-based education), I still anticipated some challenges when starting
out afresh here. I am grateful to Chief Nurse Ms. Lillian Yew, who provided the guidance, support and
mentoring for me to settle as soon as possible. In the past 3 months, with our friendly NED members,
the department has embarked on many projects with demanding timelines.
• In March, we submitted the application for re-accreditation with Singapore Nursing Board. After

the evaluators’ scrutiny during the onsite visit, we are successfully accredited as a hospital for
clinical nursing education till March 2024.
• In March and April, we trained 306 vaccinators (RNs and ENs) within Raffles Hospital/ Raffles
Medical Group and 33 foreign vaccinators to support the national vaccination initiative. We take
pride in being part of the initiative to serve the nation and join the fight against COVID-19 together!
• Currently, we are preparing for the next big event in nursing ANCC re-accreditation. Our course
planning committees are actively preparing and revising the documentations.
• We also partnered with our ever-ready inpatient nursing leaders/ colleagues in a recent Quality
Improvement Project to enhance patient and staff experiences and safety.
The above is just some of the highlights of what the NED team has done in recent months and I am
sure you can sense my excitement. With a leaner structure in the private hospital, every one of us
have more opportunities to contribute and to achieve more, both individually and as a team. I am
glad to be given the opportunity to contribute to Raffles Hospital and specifically, NED. I appreciate
all our educators, inpatient nurses and supervisors who have rendered their supports in one way
or another. I strongly believe that as we continue to work closer, we will foster stronger collegiality
and friendship.

16 Nursing Times Vol. 3, No. 1

ON THE RADAR

Let’s welcome our new nurse joinees
for the month of February 2021 – May 2021:

Magdalene Oh Chai Ching Ward 8C Han Nway Oo Children Centre
Rosita Binti Abdul Rahman Labour Ward Cayabyab Christian Cosme OT
Simi Ann Jacob OT Cabrera Geraldine Montenegro OT
Lim Zihuan Children Centre Chen Xiaodong (Jane) ICU
Li Yiyu Fertility Centre Chew Zi Ting, Fabian ICU
Sujitha Subramaniam ICU Sri Ghandimadi Viyapuri Labour Ward
Wang Hongwei Nursing Education Sevilla Joanna Clarisse Vidal Northpoint
Nor Syahirah Binte Shafie Aesthetics Centre Algarme Michelle Turingan Eye Centre
Zhao Xu Aesthetics Centre Lariosa Aiko Paeds Ward
Freda Bessir Ward 13
Tan Hui Qi Fertility Centre Virrey Caren Villapando Accident &
Vikneswari D/O Chandra Tampines 1 Emergency
Samoy Grace Ann Valero Ang Mo Kio Alba Rachel Dagohoy
Dizon Angelica Pagulayan Bishan Accident &
Yu Chunyan Labour Ward Alitao Cherry Jane Callanta Emergency
Wu Yanbo Ward 9B Espanol Renee Kyla Angeles OT
Navarro Jovan De Dios RJC Dionela Rochell Ayungao Ward 8C
Xu Jingjing Ward 8C Lim Chia Shing Paeds Ward
Pagsibigan Jem Tagle OT Pan Lijing Labour Ward
Jai Vaishnavi D/O Jayakumar Nursing Education Vijayaletchumy Vejeratnam Ward 13
Tin Tin Yu Dialysis Centre Berongoy Ma Triza Jade Loquias NICU
Gulfan Michelle Arcilla Airport Velasco Angelica Barbo MBFC
Doromal Clarence Senoren RJC OT
Thian Jan Kian Labour Ward
Christina Arul Rudge Arulanantham Ward 10
Wang Xiaochen Labour Ward

17 Nursing Times Vol. 3, No. 1

Fun Snippets
of Nursing

“Nurses by day, ______ by night” –

Let’s dive into the favourite past times of our
lovely nurses to help motivate them physi-
cally and spiritually in this tough season!

Ms. Cynthia Ko,
Manager Raffles Shanghai Hospital

Yoga makes me happy.
During the mat-time, yoga allows me to stay grounded during my
practice, offering me self-reflection and self-awareness. This is
much needed as the hustle and bustle of life leaves me with very
little time to quieten and calm my mind down. It is always essential
to offer personal time to myself even with the busy work schedules.

Yoga gives me a well-needed me time to destress from work and
life, as well as the detox and rejuvenation after every session.

SN I Choo Jie Ling,
Accident & Emergency

I remember being led through this cramped backstage corridor whilst
jostling through the frenzied performers, taking a fleeting glimpse
through the proscenium and listening to the boisterous cheers from
the circle seats. There are some uncanny resemblances between the
ways dance and nursing makes me feel. Some days I am filled with
exhilaration. I am fatigued, weary for no good reason.

Most days I work up a good amount of effort, running on passion,
purpose and determination, doing the things that I do. There is an
intrinsic value in dance, amidst the art of movement, exists a state of
tranquillity that provides me with patience and composure.

Especially during times of difficulty, incorporating various qualities of
dance and nursing into my daily life seem to be the recurring theme
of it all. Harrison Storm is absolutely right. “Darling, you gotta keep
breathing. Lose yourself in that feeling, just be slow, just be slow.”

18 Nursing Times Vol. 3, No. 1

SN I Wenaleen Villarma, Ward 9D and
SN II Alvin Cris Villarma, Ward 10

“Life is like cycling you have to keep on moving”
My love for cycling started when my husband asked me
to join him in his hobby. At first, I was hesitant but when I
realized that aside from doing it as a form of our bonding,
it is also became a regular exercise for me.

My husband also encouraged me to take part in what they
called “round the island” wherein you will cycle around
Singapore. As he said, it was a 100km ride in 5.5 hours
wherein I thought it would be impossible for me to finish
as I’m not used in that kind of long ride. After that long and
tiring ride, it gave me a different feeling of accomplishment.

It taught me to be more patient and focused despite the
physical exhaustion and not to mention the heat from the
sun that is directed towards you.
That experience might be tiring but it is worth the try.

SSN I Jeffry Suva Flores, Ward 13

Some people believe that nursing is not for everyone. It
takes a very strong, intelligent and compassionate person
to take on the ills of the world with passion and purpose
and work to maintain the health and well-being of the
planet.

Being a nurse is more than just a job but it’s a way of life.
I am blessed that God has given me bountiful talents,
other than nursing, I also have my other passion and
that is singing. It is not just a talent but it also is a way of
alleviating stress so that I can keep going especially with
the current situation that the world is experiencing right
now.

It has been proven that singing has physical benefits
because it is an aerobic activity that increases oxygenation
in the bloodstream and exercises major muscles group
in the upper body. Your body produces “feel good”
hormones called endorphins, which rush around your
body when you sing which is linked to our sense of
emotional well-being. I think that it is the secret why I’ve
been enduring this nursing profession for more than 15
years. I will not stop sharing my talent and passion for
singing and nursing.

19 Nursing Times Vol. 3, No. 1

NE II Karyn Choo
Nursing Education Department

Since the Circuit Breaker period and during my free time, I enjoy exploring new
food recipes, to cook and display them in an aesthetic way to make me feel like
I’m brunching out in cafes – in the comfort of my cosy home. It lifts my spirits
and it is one of my favourite pastimes till today, preparing food for my family.
You won’t be able to enjoy cooking if you think of it as a duty. Even though it
may be tedious in the preparation of ingredients, cooking nice food displays
acts of love when done together with your loved ones.
There is this quote that says – “A recipe has no soul. You, as the cook, must
bring soul to the recipe.”

Brunch ~ featuring French Brioche Big breakfast set – Thai cuisine ~ featuring Pineapple fried rice, Thai
german sausages and rocket salad green curry chicken and seafood, handmade jelly
bobo cha cha

Seafood dinner: featuring Handmade Lobster rolls,
Prawn Caesar salad and Beer coconut mussels

NUS Paula Evangelista Joy,
RMG nursing scholar

Hey! I’m Paula, Year 3 student from NUS and a nursing scholar of RH.
I’ve been coming to RH for my clinical postings! When I’m not on duty,
studying, or binging Netflix, you can find me creating content for @
nursesays!

Nurse Says is a healthcare education platform that I started during the
pandemic last year. So much fake news then! Frustrated, I decided to
share bite-sized, evidence-based healthcare information to the general
public. Alas, Nurse Says was born!

I draw inspiration from things that I have learnt in the ward, so thank you
so much to our RH nurses (hi W13 and W8D!) for teaching me well! Nurse
Says is on Instagram, (Facebook, and YouTube, with over 1,500 total
supporters. Join us!

20 Nursing Times Vol. 3, No. 1

Skincare Tips
for Nurses

ACTING ANC SHAAKIRAH BTE BASIC
MOHAMED RAFI SKINCARE
ROUTINE
With COVID-19 here to stay, some of us
are experiencing bad breakouts and skin Cleanser
irritation due to the masks. It is a result of
clogged pores and friction. So, here are some Removes makeup and impurities.
tips to treat and prevent MASKNE (mask-
acne): Toner
1. Avoid touching your face!
2. Always clean your hands. Clarifies skin and preps it for
3. Change face masks daily. maximum product absorption.
4. Wash your face when you get home
5. Drink at least 2 litres of water daily Moisturizer

Acne treatments vary depending on your skin For locking in moisture and
type. Whether it is normal, dry, oily, sensitive providing lasting hydration.
or combination - there is something out there
for you. Here is what you can do: Sunscreen

Help strengthen your skin barriers.

21 Nursing Times Vol. 3, No. 1

La Trobe University
(Melbourne) and Nurses
Learning Hub invite Registered
Nurses to apply for the
Bachelor of Nursing (Top-up).

DEGREE AWARDED
This programme is designed to enable
Registered Nurses in Singapore to expand
their knowledge base in the discipline of
nursing and apply this to their practice
without leaving home. Students who
successfully complete the programme will
be awarded the Bachelor of Nursing by La
Trobe University.

COURSE DELIVERY
The Bachelor of Nursing programme is
conducted in block mode with face- to-face
sessions for both lectures and tutorials,
and is fully taught by academics from
La Trobe University. This Degree is also
supported with on-line learning utilising
study guides, required readings and
activities, and assessment briefings for
each subject.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Applicants must hold a current nursing certificate or diploma from a recognised school of nursing and

have current registration with the Singapore Nursing Board.

Duration: 24 months (Part-Time)

Designation: Bachelor of Nursing

Accredited by: Singapore Nursing Board

Supported by: Singapore Nurses Association

For promotion information and to apply, contact:
Singapore Nurses Association
77 Maude Road Singapore 208353
Tel: (65) 6392 0770
Fax: (65) 6392 7877
Email: [email protected]

“Save one life, you’re a hero. Save a 100 lives, you’re a nurse.”
instead of using “I attritube my success to this – I never gave

or took any excuse”

Florence N ightingale

WHAT IS NURSING? NURSES @ RAFFLES
Nursing can be described as both an art and a science; The nursing team at Raffles is closely-knitted.
a heart and a mind. Nursing is more than a career. It is Our nurses come together to care for our
a calling. patients.

A NURSING CAREER WITH RAFFLES Our nurses are given opportunities to develop
Find out more about the career development and build on specialised areas of interests, and
track and opportunities. are encouraged to pursue lifelong learning.

(v 1.0 03/21)