So we, as a team, find ways to help patients calm their nerves. What patients like is us interacting with them like normal people do. So we ask about their day, and take their mind off their ordeal.

Our work never goes unrecognised. One patient even cooked us a feast so big we could feed an entire department. Another patient gifted us a potted plant. That one potted plant led to more lush green gifts from other patients. These gifts grew into a small ‘garden’. And that blossomed into a community of patients who help us nurture the plants.

What keeps me going in this profession? It’s the never-ending quest for knowledge. In radiation therapy, we are never starved of new things to learn. There are new concepts to grasp, new technologies to adopt.

We want to enrich ourselves for our patients. There are misconceptions and myths about the world of radiotherapy to address. There are mindsets to change. This job gives me the power to do that, and more.

Some call me the Food Police, or the Weight-loss Doctor. (Pro tip: you don’t have to binge on salad to stay healthy.) That said, I’m more than just an advocate for healthy eating. I champion the all- round recovery of each patient. I collaborate with all many experts in their fields to provide more holistic care for my patients.

That means I work with doctors, speech therapists, psychologists, social workers, and even financial counsellors!

As a dietitian, I have the power to impact lives. With food, no less! And yes, you can still have your rice and carbs. Even I indulge in the occasional ice cream.

Today, I care for clients at a centre for persons living with dementia. Of course, there’s more to nursing than just caring for others. My role is to manage teams to respond to emergencies effectively. More than that, my team and myself are focused on empowering our clients. We ensure they stay engaged through activities like Tai Chi sessions, karaoke singing and piano sessions.

Being a nurse also means being ready to lend an ear. My clients often confide in me on issues that they cannot share with their own families.

Everything boils down to the power of passion. Even in times of limited resources, it allows us to deliver a higher quality of care. You just need that little bit of passion, and you can ignite large flames of change! #CareToGoBeyond

I had a patient of a larger build recovering from a spinal surgery once. Her condition was not optimistic as she was a high fall risk. However, she is considered pretty young, so we just had to try to help her get back on her feet. We had brought in new technology consisting of a safety harness and I thought that it was the perfect opportunity to utilise this new machine to help her! When we tried it, she was very surprised that she could stand on her own. Step by step, we encouraged her.

On the last day of her recuperation, she walked out on her own with her family. What was most heartwarming was that her young son accompanied her on her follow-up check-ups. There, he revealed that seeing his mother recover and able to enjoy the things she used to do inspired him to pursue a physiotherapist career himself!

Sometimes it isn’t just about how fast the recovery is, but what the patient wants. Some want to cycle again, some want only to be able to carry their grandchild again. It is about helping them achieve these goals that brings a heartfelt purpose to the job.

Is it a thankless job? Far from it! A resident and his mother once wrote me a letter of gratitude. A little gesture from them spoke volumes about the work I do. I feel appreciated. I am touching lives.

Life in aged care is livelier than you’d think. Where else can I get to combine my love for music and my love for helping others?

It doesn’t take a lot to make a difference. The little, simple acts of kindness never go unnoticed. And every one has the power to contribute.