FINDING HER CALLING- IN MIDLIFE
More than ten years ago, Ms. Cheng made the decision to change her job.
Before moving to the Singapore General Hospital in 2008, she worked as a client service secretary where she assisted doctors in the conversation room. She spent years working as an finance secretary in different companies.
It, she discovered that she enjoyed interacting with people and felt happy whenever she could assist them.
How well-liked and trusted was another factor, too.
Because of the lengthy waiting time, some people get agitated while they wait for the doctor, so I did speak to them to help them relax, she said.
They sincerely thanked me. “
That’s when she started thinking about becoming a nurse and after her acquaintances said she would produce a good one, Ms Cheng, at 55 years of age, took the plunge.
She signed up for a two-year full-time nursing program at the Institute of Technical Education ( ITE ) in 2011.
I was so nervous because no one else was around when I was younger and under 20; I was already so old, she said. However, I enjoyed being with them because they were so energetic and upbeat, and being with them also made me feel younger. ”
While attending a clinic while her studies were taking place, she came across a situation that may influence her decision to work as a nurse.
A construction contractor in his 20s had fallen from a great height and arrived also unconscious. Despite the doctor’s best attempts, the gentleman died. And the picture of him lying on the bed, with one finger hanging listlessly, has stayed with Ms Cheng since.
For the first time in her opinion, a young person died.
It made me realize how crucial career is. “
ONTO THE FRONTLINE
After graduating in 2013, Ms Cheng joined Ng Teng Fong General Hospital’s emergency section.
Thrust into a fast-moving setting, her first few weeks were demanding and hectic.
“We would see road accident victims, who were coming in bleeding with lacerations ( on their body ),” she said. We would have to labor fast because there would be long lines of people waiting to be treated. “
” Just keep moving ” became her personal mantra, and it’s served her well.
Eventually, she was offered a position with Jurong Community Hospital, which is still her company today.
During the epidemic, Ms Cheng was transferred to the COVID-19 hospital, where she was tasked to take care of sick people.
She acknowledged that she was concerned about getting infected because she was now 64 years old at the time.
I also told my girl that she needs to take care of herself if anything happens to her.
“ But I never thought about saying no because I am a caregiver … this is my duty,” she added.
My child expressed concern for me, but she reciprocated and encouraged me. Actually, she is very supportive of me in every decision I make, even when I wanted to go and study ( nursing ). ”