Faces of PhD Nurses: Dr Cherry Tan, Senior Registered Nurse, SingHealth Polyclinics

Dr Cherry Tan, who embarked on her nursing career only in her forties, makes up for lost time by continually enhancing her nursing practice.

For many, finishing one’s PhD counts as a major milestone in life. For PhD graduand Dr Cherry Tan, this life event was even more significant: her research project won first prize for Poster Presentation last year at a regional family medicine symposium, the 6th Asia Pacific Primary Care Research Conference 2017.

Dr Tan’s PhD project focused on developing a new self-care management programme for older adults with type 2 diabetes.

She said her doctorate degree, which was conferred in August last year, provided the golden opportunity for her to conduct research in a problem area she had long wanted to address.

“I remember seeing many patients at the surgical wards who had their legs amputated due to diabetes. They went through enormous physical and emotional pain, and I wanted to find a way to help this group of patients,” said Dr Tan, 59, an experienced nurse of 11 years.

Thus, her research sought to develop and evaluate an intervention focused on minimising the risks of diabetes-related complications, the most viable strategy to help this group of patients.

The study was conducted over four phases in five years. These consisted a literature review to evaluate the effectiveness of existing interventions; a qualitative study to understand the self-care issues faced by older Singaporeans with type 2 diabetes; developing the intervention; and finally, testing its effect on self-efficacy, diabetes self-care activities levels, blood glucose level and quality of life.

Her dissertation, which was funded by a research grant, was published in two international journals. She has also presented her work in conferences locally and overseas.

Dr Tan with the poster that won her the first prize at a regional symposium’s poster competition last year.

Dr Tan, the first PhD nurse at SingHealth Polyclinics, has started working on new research studies initiated by its Research Department, which focus on patients and conditions prevalent in the polyclinics. She also juggles clinical work at Punggol Polyclinic, in areas such as emergency care and health counselling.

“Winning the poster competition gave me added motivation to continue with nursing research in the same mindset that saw me through my PhD studies – with courage and perseverance,” she said.

“As the first nurse with formal research training, there is also scope to train my colleagues and help them find value in research to complement their own practice,” added Dr Tan.

Army prepared her for Nursing

Dr Tan is one of 23 candidates who have received a PhD in Nursing from NUS since the programme began in 2012. But she nearly did not get to fulfil her childhood dream of becoming a nurse. Despite being accepted into nursing school after her ‘A’ levels, her mother objected to it and she signed up with the Singapore Armed Forces as her brothers had enlisted for National Service and she wanted to join them in defending the country.

During her 25-year career with the SAF, she assumed diverse roles in human resource, combat training, national education and policy, rising to the ranks of Major. These roles, she said, helped her to build the resilience needed to overcome the obstacles to becoming a good nurse.

In 2004, at 46, she made a career switch to nursing. She embarked on full-time nursing degree studies at Australia’s La Trobe University a year later to increase her knowledge and skills in community health and preventive care and learn from the Australian experience.

In 2012, realising that that she needed to do research to improve care and complement her clinical work, she set off on her PhD journey while still working full-time.

Dr Tan, the first PhD nurse at SingHealth Polyclinics, has started working on new research studies initiated by its Research Department.

“Clinical skills is the core of nursing and these need constant upgrading to improve care and meet the different needs and expectations of our patients,” she said. The changing profile of patients and disease conditions, the ageing population with its different needs, and the rising expectations of younger, more savvy patients, make nursing a dynamic profession that requires constant keeping up, she added.

She is a strong proponent of higher education in enhancing nurses’ knowledge and skills as well as increasing their self-efficacy to deliver good care and bring comfort to patients.

The challenges of part-time study

Dr Tan said that holding a full-time job was the most challenging part of her part-time PhD study. She credited her family for their support, as well as her management, who granted leave to accommodate her study schedule and permission to conduct her study in the polyclinic.

She also thanked her supervisor, Associate Professor Wang Wenru, for her guidance and support.

“Cherry was a very passionate, disciplined and motivated student. She has the commitment, ambition and perseverance to press on in her pursuit of her PhD and I am sure these qualities will help her fulfil her dreams and career goals in nursing,” said Dr Wang.