At the Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies (NUS Nursing), National University of Singapore Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine Commencement held on 14 July 2024, alumna Advanced Practice Nurse Faith Hwang delivered a speech to fresh graduates, encouraging them to embrace a rewarding Nursing career. The following is a transcript of her inspiring speech.
A very good morning to esteemed faculty members, proud families, distinguished guests, and most importantly, the stars for today, Nursing graduates from our Bachelor of Science (Nursing) programme. Today marks a significant milestone in your journey—a culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and perseverance. It is my great joy and honour to be sharing this special day with you—to celebrate the commencement of your next chapter.
It seems like yesterday that I was sitting in one of the seats, eagerly awaiting the next chapter of my journey, wondering what working life, or “adulting” had in store for me. Fast-forward many years later, sometime not too long ago, I was in one of the seats in the section where our Master of Nursing graduates are seated, knowing exactly what I was getting into.
What is the difference you’ll ask—other than the very slight difference in our graduation gowns and our years of working experience? I personally do not see a huge difference; I see a motivated group of nurses, entering or going back to the workforce, ready to create an impact in patients’ lives.
Gratitude
Before we delve into the future, let us first take a moment to reflect on the past. The countless hours spent studying, the sleepless nights, the sacrifices made, and the challenges overcome. I just want to commend all of you for your hard work. But I also want to let you in on a little secret, especially our Nursing degree graduates—this may just be a temporary break from studying, so do not let your engines idle for too long.
Let us also acknowledge the unwavering support of our families, friends, mentors, and the faculty who guided you along this arduous yet rewarding journey. Their belief in you has led you to this momentous occasion, and for that, we owe them our deepest gratitude. Thank you for entrusting your loved ones to the noble profession of Nursing, for believing in their dreams, and for standing behind them as they embark on this challenging yet incredibly rewarding journey. Your support and encouragement have played a vital role in shaping the compassionate nurses they have become, and for that, we applaud you.
To our Nursing graduates, what lies ahead is a blank page, and you are the author. I thought long and hard, about what to share with you today—what are the things that you do not already know more than I do. There is not much.
I thought I would share 3 lessons that my own Nursing journey has taught me. Each day in this profession brings new lessons—lessons not only in terms of the new skills you acquire, but more importantly, life skills that shape your values, and life.
Embracing Individuality
First and foremost, embrace your individuality—embrace who you are, fully and unapologetically. By now, you would have realised that Nursing is not a one-size-fits-all profession; it thrives on the diversity of its practitioners. Whether you are an introvert or an extrovert, a natural-born leader or a quiet observer, your individuality is your greatest asset.
Do not feel pressured to conform, just to fit in. Remember, it is your authenticity that will set you apart and make you a truly exceptional nurse. One common pitfall I have observed among new nurses is the disappointment of not passing probation in their first job. While this is not something anyone wants to go through, it is important to recognise that this setback is not indicative of a lack of skills or passion for Nursing.
Instead, it could mean that the environment or specialty was not the right fit. Nursing offers a vast array of opportunities, and finding your right niche often takes time and exploration. So, especially to our newly graduating nurses, do not give up! Good things take time.
Learning to Love and Finding Meaning in Service
The second thing I have learnt is, learning to love and finding meaning in service. I do not mean that you have to love every single person you meet, as I know from experience that this is almost impossible. Nor am I asking you to love your job after your first day, first month or even your first year in Nursing, for that would be unrealistic. But find meaning in service, and love the work.
In Nursing, love is not merely an emotion, but a verb—an action rooted in compassion, empathy, and selflessness. Nursing goes beyond administering medications or performing procedures. It is about making a meaningful difference in someone’s life during their most vulnerable moments. Every day, I encounter, and you too will encounter, individuals from different walks of life, each with their own stories, struggles, and triumphs. Whether it is comforting a frightened patient, celebrating a recovery milestone, or simply being there in moments of pain, Nursing has taught me to see beyond the illness to the person underneath. It has taught me not to be judgmental, and to love and respect the inherent dignity of every human being, regardless of the lives they led before their illness. I often like to ask if we are treating the man with the disease, or the disease in the man? This is one question that I will leave you to ponder over and answer.
Most importantly, learn to love yourself. As nurses, we often find ourselves caught in the whirlwind of caring for others, and forgetting the importance of caring for ourselves. For example, not going for meal breaks, or toilet breaks. In truth, work never truly ends, and no one is indispensable. While our dedication to our patients is admirable, it is essential to recognise our limitations and the importance of setting boundaries to avoid burnout. Taking breaks, delegating tasks when possible, and prioritising self-care are not selfish acts but wise decisions that ultimately benefit both ourselves and those we care for. Do not be afraid to slow down, as only when we slow down, do we find moments to pause, reflect, recharge, and reset.
The Little Things
I am rounding off my last point, with 2 short stories.
The first story is about Aunty M. Aunty M was not a patient. She was the wife of our elderly patient who had end stage heart failure and required a balloon pump to support his heart. He was in the ICU for close to 2 weeks before he passed on, and Aunty M would visit him every day. I happened to care for Aunty M’s husband on most of the days he was in the ICU, and had the opportunity to talk to her daily because I had to update her on her husband’s condition.
Each time I finished an update, it would be Aunty M’s turn to give me an update. An update on what the couple’s life was like when they were younger and more abled—how they first met when he was a sailor and she was helping at a pushcart food stall where he frequented when he disembarked; how their wedding was a simple affair; their excitement as first time parents; and their weekly ‘yum-cha’ sessions at Chinatown after their retirement.
In the first 3 to 4 days, it was interesting. But after a while, I realised that her stories were repeating. I even wondered to myself if Aunty M had forgotten that she has gone through these stories before. Nonetheless, I tuned in, as if I was hearing them for the first time, every time. And the day came when Aunty M’s husband finally succumbed to his illness. Aunty M was sad, but she was prepared.
As she was leaving the hospital with her children, she passed me a note. And on it, it wrote, “Thank you for listening. Thank you for your company. Thank you for keeping me sane.” It suddenly dawned on me that she did not forget the countless times she shared her stories with me. On the contrary, these moments were crystal clear in her memory. She just wanted to reminisce them, hoping to bring some of their memories to life as she looked at her lifeless husband. And that was what kept her going in the hospital—day after day.
The second story—happened during my APN internship days. I was doing my surgical posting and had the privilege of meeting Uncle T. Uncle T was an elderly gentleman with very good premorbid function. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and underwent surgery to remove the cancerous tumour.
It was a successful operation, albeit with a long recovery and rehabilitation journey. He was in the hospital for many weeks—from the time of diagnosis, to operation, to recovery. And he was growing impatient, telling the medical team that he wanted to get discharged every day post-operatively, as he had been away from home for too long and had things to settle. He got grumpier by the day, and was unwilling to participate in physiotherapy. Even his family could not talk him out of discharge.
And so, Uncle T was discharged about a week post-op, against medical advice. This was after ensuring that there were adequate plans for his pain control, wound care and nursing care at home. He was also given return advice. When we followed up with a post-discharge call a few days later, we received news from Uncle T’s daughter that he had passed on. Uncle T had taken his own life.
We were all taken aback. Did we miss any signs of depression? Could we have prevented a suicide? I guess all these questions can only be thought of in retrospect. But we are not here today to pinpoint what was right or wrong, or the numerous ‘what ifs’ that could have or should have happened. More importantly, ponder on what could be done differently. Oftentimes, we think patients get better after they undergo the surgery, after they take their medications, and after they receive their necessary treatment from the hospital. But are they really healed?
This brings me to my last, and most important point, that I hope that I can plant in your hearts. The little things we do matter—your listening ear, your comforting touch, that extra 5 minutes that you give to be present with them, for them.
Nursing has a lot of routines. Our routines run on clockwork, ranging from hourly parameters to 2-hourly, 4-hourly, and 8-hourly tasks. As a result, we become conditioned to perform these routines, and moving in auto-pilot mode. We sometimes forgot, especially with time, that we are doing these same routines to different people across days in the year. Each routine is potentially a fresh encounter for a person waiting to receive some love and comfort on the hospital bed. That person could be waiting for us to do our routines—just to have someone walk up to their bed, fill the silence in the air, reassure them of their unknowns. You are never a routine to the person you are attending to.
Instead, you are—comfort, reassurance, and love. Let us remember that we do not have to do great things to achieve big results. It is the little things, that speak the loudest—the small moments of joy, love and connection we experience each day that give our work meaning and purpose.
The beauty in Nursing is that no one day is the same. Nursing often demands quick thinking and adaptability, and you often find yourself speaking a few languages or dialects each day. So, learn to embrace uncertainty with courage, even when the path ahead seems unclear.
Have trust in your training, and your ability to think critically and act decisively. Trust yourself. Always remember the reason you chose to embark on this journey. In the face of long hours, self-doubt, and challenging circumstances, let your passion and purpose reignite your resolve.
When you leave this hall today, know that you are about to impact many lives. I am excited to celebrate this journey with you, and I cannot be prouder to welcome you into our Nursing profession—traversing this Nursing journey together.
Once again, congratulations to our Nursing graduates of Class 2024. May your Nursing journey be filled with purpose, fulfilment, and endless opportunities to make a difference in the lives of others.
