The Perfect Sister

Assistant director of Nursing, Nursing Administration, Advanced Practice Nurse, Khoo Teck Puat – National University Children’s Medical Institute, National University Hospital

COMFORTING, EARNEST, AND REASSURING

Imagine being diagnosed with a new and unknown virus when you’re all alone in a foreign country, miles away from your family and loved ones. All you know is that the infection can be fatal. That was the scary situation that many migrant workers here found themselves in.

For those who were sent to the community care facility (CCF) at Tuas South, they were relieved to have found a soothing, reassuring voice who told them that they were in good hands and well on the road to recovery.

“It’s good that you are here. It means that your symptoms are mild, or that you’re recovering. Take this time to rest,” the voice said.

That voice belongs to Sister Katherine.

Always ready to help

In April, at the height of Covid-19 infections in Singapore, the chief nurse at NUH (National University Hospital) asked Katherine Leong if she was willing to step up and do Covid-19 response work. The 49-year-old assistant director of Nursing, Nursing Administration, had no idea what she was signing up for at that time. She had just one question: “How can I help?”

That’s Katherine, or Sister Kat (as she’s known among nursing staff due to her seniority) in a nutshell – always the first in line to contribute to a cause for the greater good.