Medical Professionals Version - National Cancer Centre Singapore

PAGE A6
People
SALUBRIS
July / August 2009
10 YEAR DEVOTION WINS
SISTER CHIEW CHENG FONG
RECOGNITION
“Surprised, but an honour” were her first words when
Sister Chiew Cheng Fong learnt that she was among this
year’s National Day Awards recipients.
The National Day Awards are a means of recognising
various forms of merit and service to Singapore.
For her 30-year-long devotion to nursing, Cheng Fong
has been conferred the Efficiency Medal.
Instituted in 1969, the Efficiency
Medal may be awarded to any of the
following persons for exceptional
efficiency or exceptional devotion to
duty or for work of special significance:
• any public officer;
• any officer employed by any statutory
authority (other than a Town Council);
• any person in the service of any
organisation, association or body
rendering services in the field of
education; or
• any person employed in any company
which is wholly-owned by the
Government and which is carrying
on business mainly as an agent or
instrumentality of the Government.
With her years in nursing, Cheng Fong
has tended to countless patients and
touched the hearts of many. She believes
that a crucial ability of a nurse is
interpersonal interaction with patients.
Creating bonds and forming
relationships with patients enables
her to understand their feelings better
and hence help them soothe their
sufferings through effective ways apart
from medical attention. A model nurse
extends a helping hand or listening ear
to all patients whenever possible.
When asked what challenges nurses
face in today’s society, she said,
“Patients’ expectations are different
now compared to the past. They are
now smarter and more knowledgeable
thanks to the extensive amount of
information available.”
Her advice to patients however is:
“They need to sieve through it as
well as speak to their healthcare
professionals for clarification.”
Yet for someone who has
displayed such enthusiasm
towards an arduous career path,
her reason for taking up nursing
was unexpectedly casual.
“After finishing my ‘A’ Levels, the first job
that I saw in the papers was a nursing
one. Hence, I just applied for it,” came
her straightforward reply. No motivations,
no inspirational stories. Despite the
feeble attachment, she has never looked
back since that day and is now the senior
nurse clinician of the operating theatre /
endoscopy suite at NCCS.
Cheng Fong has been with NCCS since
1999 when the centre first opened its
doors. Recounting the early days, she
cited the establishment of the Ambulatory
Treatment Unit (ATU) as one of her most
memorable experiences.
As the person who commissioned the
ATU and the Operating Theatre (OT), she
had been under intense pressure, but the
outcome was worth all her trouble. “It was
a real challenge. Getting to know people,
equipments and liaising with vendors.”
Come November, she is due to receive her
medal. But nevertheless, she will not let the
recognition swell her ego and will continue
to dutifully offer her services to her patients.
By Joshua Tan