Two of a kind
What do Issac Ong and Tan Chor Lin have in common? They are a couple that share the same profession and mission: Making their patients’ lives better. Their lives have also become more meaningful at the same time.
By Charmaine Baylon
Portraits by Nick Tan
If you choose to rely solely on first impressions, you could miss out on a good thing.
Issac Ong and Tan Chor Lin can attest to this. Both used to assume that nurses merely did menial tasks like cleaning up after patients, and are only there to care for the elderly.
But today, both are nurses in training and healthcare scholars.
These misconceptions changed for Issac in a very direct way. “When I was 15 years old, I contracted appendicitis and had to be warded at the National University Hospital (NUH),” he shares. “Throughout my stay, I observed how the nurses, doctors and allied health professionals collaborated and delivered care to the patients. Nurses, in particular, shone above the rest for me as they acted as an advocate for the patient – and were with patients 24/7!”
Another misconception about the nursing profession is that it’s for students who didn’t try hard enough.
“When I was younger, I honestly had the impression that nursing is for those who slack off during their ‘O’ levels and thus do not make the cut for ‘better’ courses,” confessed Lin.
A close relative soon helped change that notion. “I have an older cousin who I always looked up to because she was pretty and funny. I was shocked when she joined nursing after her ‘O’ levels. After some years, I realised that she transformed into a resilient and compassionate person,” Lin relates.
“From then on, I began to observe the qualities of some nursing friends and individuals I came across. They tend to have a different vibe from others – one that is robust and gentle at the same time.”
The journey begins
Lin left junior college after a year to go after a Diploma in Nursing at Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP). She became eligible for the Bachelor with Honours in Nursing Practice programme at the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT), a joint collaboration with University of Manchester, and was offered an MOHH scholarship. Currently she is a staff nurse on her probation at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital.
Lin (left) and her fellow nurses. Strong team collaboration + saving lives makes = a fulfilling career, she says.
Issac headed to Ngee Ann Polytechnic for his Diploma in Nursing, and was also selected for an MOHH scholarship for his Bachelor with Honours in Nursing at the University of Manchester under SIT. He is now a staff nurse on his fifth month of probation at NUH.
What did their parents think? Lin shared that her family was initially doubtful about her choice, but were convinced only after a few months. “I know that I have really won their hearts when they consult me about their medications or certain diseases.”
There were no family objections for Issac, thankfully. “My parents were supportive so long as it’s what I love to do,” he adds.
“Plus my brother was influenced by the work I do – he is now a qualified nurse too!”
Winning an MOHH scholarship helped. But as Lin stresses, “to be eligible, you have to have a minimum 3.5 GPA in your Diploma studies. So work hard, my dear juniors!”
Issac adds, “if you do fall short with your GPA, don’t despair – submit your application nonetheless, as there are other aspects, such as your personality and passion for the profession, to be considered as well.”
Great expectations
Getting into your field of study is one step to reaching your career goals; another is when you truly start to practice what you’ve learnt.
“When I first wore my uniform, I thought to myself that I was now officially a registered nurse. It was both exciting and frightening at the same time,” Lin recounts.
Issac felt the same. “The moment I donned my hospital scrubs that first day of work, I thought to myself, ‘This is the real responsibility that I have to take on,’” he asserts.
Issac (centre, sixth from left) in training. If you love to be challenged, nursing is a profession you won’t regret choosing, he says.
“It was daunting, but I decided to look forward to the challenges ahead. I can proudly say that I do not regret my decision to join the nursing profession.”
Both have already encountered challenging as well as fulfilling cases at the start of their careers.
“There was this young patient with a brain injury, which left him paralysed and speech-impaired. The only way he could communicate with us was with his left hand, with hand signals,” Lin narrates.
“On his third month, when he became medically stable, we helped him out of his bed into a special chair and added pillows so he could sit upright. It was the first time since his illness that he sat up out of his bed. We also gave him a haircut. He gave us a thumbs-up — he was content. At that moment, his father came into the room, saw his son on the chair and smiled widely at him – then thanked all of us for our hard work.”
It was something Lin will never forget. “When I looked over at my colleagues, we all had that same mutual sense of achievement and contentment. One of them uttered with gratification, ‘So this is what it feels like to be a nurse’.”
Patients can have as much of an impact on nurses’ lives too.
“During one of my attachments as a student nurse, this gentleman was under the care of my friend and I during his hospital stay. We got along so well that after he was discharged, he actually invited us to visit his home,” Issac marvels.
“This unique experience tells me that some patients may appreciate the care you rendered more than you can imagine. Such appreciation from patients is what will keep me going in this journey.”
Strengthening your resolve
As Issac and Lin go further in their training, they find that nursing is also about effective communication and collaboration.
“The challenge is to be the communicator or middle person between different healthcare teams. It is our joint responsibility to be the patients’ advocate, and to make the right decisions for them,” Lin reveals.
“Sometimes the decisions made by other healthcare teams clash with my idea of ‘doing good for the patient’. So in order to overcome this internal conflict, I listen to the team’s point of view, collaborate and roll out a common agreement on the patient’s care plan.”
There are certain instances when it’s not necessarily the healthcare team one should focus on.
“My most challenging task so far is to control my emotions while providing the best care for patients. Some are stubborn, and will not heed your advice and the treatment plan laid out by the team – no matter how much you coax and encourage them,” Issac observes.
“Sometimes they even vent their frustrations on you using hurtful words and gestures. Despite this, we have to stay true to our professional code and ethics, stay calm and continue to promote the best interests of the patient.”
Information gathering
A couple since 2014, Issac and Lin naturally attract family and friends’ interest in their relationship, as well as in their common profession.
At one of their fave hangouts, Company of Cats. Issac and Lin both love animals.
As Lin shares, “when someone asks me, ‘Why nursing?’ I always tell them it is an interesting and fulfilling profession. It is interesting because I love reading up on biology and disease pathology; fulfilling because it is the only profession in the healthcare industry where I can care and advocate for the real and vulnerable side of people, both physically and emotionally.”
Issac encourages anyone who is considering nursing, “to do some research on the general healthcare industry and the professions available. Compare a physiotherapist, occupational therapist and nurse to determine which one best fits your aspirations.”
“For myself,” he adds, “I was always involved in volunteer work since my polytechnic days, and this passion to make a difference in the lives of others greatly influenced my decision to enrol in nursing.”
Lin actually approached nurses to get a clearer picture. “I spoke to a few people in this industry. I also found work experiences that’s similar to nursing.”
Like Issac, Lin decided to do volunteer work. “I volunteered in some nursing homes where I did meal distributions and participated in their daily activities. This allowed me to understand who I will be working for, and gave me a good introduction on what I should prepare myself for.”
It takes two
The life of a nurse both has its good days, and its only-average days, but Issac and Lin have learnt to go with the flow.
“Shift work has its pros and cons. It can be tiring as it compromises on sleep, especially on night shifts, and there can be six days of work in a week. But there are benefits,” Lin promises.
“First, there will never be Monday blues or TGIFs. Second, time passes by really fast when there are shifts. And then there will always be cheap food and deals, empty shopping malls and uncongested MRT trains during off-peak times,” she discloses.
You just have to coordinate with friends in advance when you’d like to meet them for events and dinners. And they do understand.
“I am thankful for Issac. When I do rant about work, we both understand the lingo and feelings we go through. And as we are in different disciplines at different hospitals, we can consult and learn from each other,” Lin explains.
Issac agrees. “It certainly helps that Lin is a nurse as well. We understand the constant pressure and stress we face daily. We are the best listening ear and advocate for one another when work gets tough or overwhelming,” he remarks.
“There are days when we really miss each other. But with a positive attitude, faith and help from modern technology like video calls, we manage to overcome this barrier – and the bond we share is much stronger.”
Fun in between
Like any young couple, Issac and Lin like to go out, be active and try new things.
“I like to jog, as it helps me to relax and reflect when I am running. It probably helps me to become a better health advocate to my patients,” Lin says.
“I will also run to the dog park in my area to watch the dogs play. This is therapeutic as it releases tension from stressful shifts.”
Issac likes to be active as well. “I do like rollerblading, as it allows me to calm down and do some self-reflection on my work performance over the past week. It also allows me to identify areas to improve on and how to better manage care for patients.”
Another mood booster? A good meal and a bit of retail therapy.
“Issac loves to eat and shop, hence I am always on food hunting missions and flea markets with him on our days off. That helps us to get our minds off work, and I believe it gives us room to recover and recharge.”
They also allow themselves the occasional nice glass of wine or beer when the work is done. “For the small successes,” Issac shares with a grin. Lin echoes this. “We make a toast with friends and family to celebrate the end of a tiring week.”
