KUCHING: After nearly four decades (36-year-career) of dedicated service, nursing officer Lucy Voon Siaw Lin reflects on her journey at Normah Medical Specialist Centre (NMSC), where she grew from a young nurse aide into a respected nursing officer.
Voon, who joined Normah in 1989, at the age of 25, just a year after the hospital’s opening, devoted her entire professional life serving patients with heart and humility.
Reflecting on her journey, she said there were too many memorable moments to name, but she was truly grateful for her time at NMSC.
“The hospital gave me countless opportunities to grow.
“I started off from the lowest level of nursing as a nurse and slowly I grew up to the course of nursing sisters and the hospital has given me great support in achieving my goals,” she said.
“So, my nursing instructors, during that time, have emphasised on nursing’s motto, at that time it was, We Care and he stressed that, C stands for Compassionate, and A is Attentive, R is Respect, and E is Empathy,” she said.
She said when met with reporters after the Annual Nurses Day Assembly 2025 at the Auditorium, Level 4, Normah Clinic, NMSC here on Tuesday (May 13).
However, she admitted that understanding the true meaning of empathy took time and experience.
One defining moment came early in her career while caring for patient with heavy bleeding and Voon who ended up overwhelmed had to step away but was struck by the patient’s saddened expression when she returned.
“At that moment, I realised I should have put myself in her position.
“I did not truly understand her suffering. That experience taught me the importance of empathy and being compassionate towards patients,” Voon said.
She also acknowledged that dealing with patients and occasionally challenging doctors is part of the nursing profession.
“The customer relationship training provided by NMSC has equipped me with essential skills to manage such situations effectively.
“It’s always in my mind that I must use those skills that I have learned in improving myself and deliver my care to the patients in that way,” she said.
As she looks forward to her retirement this October, Voon shared her future plans with a smile.
“Actually, my dream was to work in the financial world, but life took a different path. Nursing became my calling, and I never let go of it.
“After retirement, I plan to enjoy life, perhaps travel, and see what comes next,” she said.
When asked about her advice to younger and future generation of nurses in carrying out their duties, Voon emphasised the importance of soft skills in nursing.
“Nurses are trained in theory and technical skills, but the most important thing, I still think that the soft skills of caring patients, where you have to have compassion and caring, empathy towards the patient,” she said.
