Nurturing the Future of Nursing Care Together

Dr Li Fuyin has always been drawn to helping others and making a difference in people's lives.

“My nursing journey has been inspired by these words from my grandfather – Supporting others in times of need is life's greatest gift,” she says.

Through her 23-year career as an Advanced Practice Nurse specialising in geriatric care, the Senior Nurse Clinician has done exactly that. Providing comprehensive, patient-centred care to older adults, Fuyin works closely with fellow healthcare colleagues to care for patients, their families and caregivers, helping to improve health, enhance quality of life, and support seniors in living and ageing well.

“Nurses today play an integral role in care coordination, patient education, and advocacy. Over the years, the shift towards holistic care, focusing on physical, emotional, and social needs, has enhanced patient outcomes, and empowered nurses to take on more leadership roles and contribute to healthcare policy development,” she shares.

The mentorship has certainly helped Eng Kok Wee grow as a clinician, researcher and educator at CGH.

“My research HOD had suggested Fuyin as a mentor, and I found that I really wanted to do what she does, in areas like quality improvement, advanced practice nursing, as well as research. I felt that Fuyin would be someone I can look forward to talking with and aspire towards,” shares Kok Wee.

Believing that research and education could improve the quality of nursing care for patients, the Senior Staff Nurse from Ward 44 had applied for a PhD and was conducting a research study. However, when his initial results were not encouraging, doubts about his research ability began to weigh heavily on him.

“I was worried that I would be seen as a weak candidate because I did not have many publications,” recalls Kok Wee.

Fuyin emphasised time management and shared the challenges she faced juggling the commitments of family, her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and her role as an APN and nursing leader. They also discussed ways to bolster his research portfolio and effective collaboration strategies with the other departments.

“I wanted to create a safe and encouraging environment where my mentees feel comfortable sharing their concerns, asking questions, and exploring their interests," shares Fuyin.

One example involved patient care – middle-aged patients with stroke could have severe mobility limitations and transferring them from place to place could pose significant fall risks. Placing them in a diaper would be especially helpful during the period immediately after the onset of stroke symptoms where they cannot safely be moved to the toilet. However, Kok Wee shared with Fuyin that families may be hesitant to accept this.

“Recognising that this patient's situation required individualised care, Fuyin’s advice was to set up everything and attempt the patient transfer in front of the family, so they could observe and understand the severe mobility limitations and its safety considerations for the patient,” explains Kok Wee. “The approach turned challenging conversations into collaborative ones, which really helped.”

After just a few sessions, Kok Wee felt a renewed sense of confidence – not only in his PhD journey, which commenced this August, but in his daily nursing practice.

As for Fuyin, learning and growing together with Kok Wee is its own reward.

Kok Wee has inspired me with his curiosity, work ethic, and passion for nursing research, and it has been incredibly fulfilling. Our mentorship has been mutually beneficial, and I appreciate the opportunity to learn from his perspectives.”

“At the same time, I hope that through mentoring, I have contributed to the development of compassionate, competent, and innovative nurses who will shape the future of healthcare.”

Read more about Fuyin's nursing journey and how she advances geriatric care at CGH here.