In today’s fast-paced healthcare environment, effective collaboration is essential. Suruthi brings this to life through her daily work. As a Senior Staff Nurse at National University Hospital (NUH), she strongly believes in the power of teamwork to deliver the best possible outcomes.

“My peers and I constantly encourage and support each other as we work towards the common goal of patient satisfaction and providing quality patient care,” she said.

What Suruthi enjoys most about her role is the ability to make a tangible difference in her patients’ lives. One particularly meaningful experience stays with her to this day.

“The most rewarding aspect of my work is the ability to provide comfort and support to the patients during their challenging times. When I was a ward nurse, I nursed a patient who was very ill, completely bedbound and in tremendous pain. She had little to no hope that she would be able to stand again and cried every day,” she recounted. “However, with the continuous support of the multidisciplinary care team, she eventually recovered and was able to return to her daily routine and return to work. Seeing her working with joy is particularly fulfilling for me as she is a fellow colleague at NUH.”

A Path Paved with Purpose

Suruthi’s decision to pursue a career in healthcare came from a deep-rooted desire to help others. Her journey began at a young age, when she joined the St John Ambulance Brigade CCA during her secondary school days and was exposed to first aid and emergency services.

“Through this, I gained knowledge and experiences that inspired me to become a nurse,” Suruthi recounted.

While pursuing her diploma at Nanyang Polytechnic, Suruthi learned about scholarship opportunities when MOHH representatives visited her school. She seized the opportunity to apply for the Healthcare Merit Award and was successfully awarded the scholarship, enabling her to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the Singapore Institute of Technology. The programme further honed her critical thinking abilities and fostered an innovative mindset—skills that have significantly enhanced her leadership capabilities at work. Reflecting on the scholarship, Suruthi shared, “The award has been a significant catalyst for my personal and professional growth, consistently elevating my self-confidence and inspiring me to refine my nursing competencies.”

Supporting Patients Through Their OPAT Journey

In her current role, Suruthi focuses on supporting Outpatient Parenteral Antibiotic Therapy (OPAT), a specialised treatment where patients receive intravenous antibiotics via a Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC).

Her day in the OPAT clinic begins with preparing the space and reviewing patient reports, followed by administering treatment to her scheduled patients. “I also manage patients who come for their PICC line maintenance and dressings. On the days when my patients have consultations with doctors, I will help with performing their routine blood tests and follow-up care according to the treatment plans,” she elaborated.

One of the unique challenges in OPAT is that many patients are required to carry a 24-hour infusor and visit the clinic daily. Initially, some patients found this treatment plan inconvenient and were reluctant to comply. However, with additional training and understanding of their concerns, Suruthi was able to share alternative treatment plans and build trust, ensuring they adhered to their care plans.

A particularly rewarding moment comes when Suruthi’s patients successfully complete their treatment. On their final day of treatment, she has the privilege of removing their PICC lines—a significant milestone in their recovery journey. As part of their training, nurses like Suruthi are well-equipped to handle PICC line removal safely and efficiently, ensuring a smooth process for patients.

“Our patients get surprised when they see us removing the PICC lines without any complications. They often thank us for the smooth and pain-free process,” she said with a smile.

A Commitment to Growth

Not one to rest on her laurels, Suruthi aspires to continue expanding her nursing capabilities. She adopts a can-do proactive approach to learning and strives to stay ahead of the curve in her field.

In her role at the OPAT clinic, she focuses on enhancing her proficiency in PICC line management and intravenous antibiotic therapy—areas of nursing which not all nurses are specialised in. She is also dedicated to developing her expertise in evaluating the suitability of home or clinic-based antibiotic administration for patients with the appropriate intravenous access.

In addition to her OPAT role, Suruthi has taken on extra responsibilities at the Outpatient Infusion Centre (OPIC), broadening her clinical capabilities.

“I learned to perform allergy testing procedures such as Skin Prick tests, Intradermal tests, Oral / Intravenous provocation tests and patch tests using allergens, suspected food and products on patients,” she shared.

Her role at the OPIC has also broadened her knowledge of infusion therapy, particularly the various drugs used to treat conditions like autoimmune diseases, inflammatory bowel diseases, and osteoporosis.

“All these skills and knowledge have played a major role in enhancing my professional growth and allowed me to gain experiences across the different specialties!” she enthused.

NUH is committed to offering ample opportunities for career development and Suruthi has made the most of these offerings. One such opportunity was the Service Culture Programme, which enhanced her service competencies in building rapport with patients and achieving positive outcomes.

“As part of my Graduate Nurse Residency Programme at NUH, I also took part in the Silent Night Project 2.0, where a group of nurses came together to study what affects patients’ sleep quality during the night in the ward,” she highlighted. “Based on the findings, we were able to propose some noise reduction strategies to improve patients’ sleep quality.”

For those considering a career in nursing, Suruthi has some valuable advice: “Build a strong foundation in your nursing skills and knowledge while developing coping strategies to manage the challenges that may arise in the profession.”