SINGAPORE – One student was hit by an agitated and confused patient with dementia.
Another student tearfully bade goodbye to an elderly patient he had grown close to, after the man transferred out of his ward when his condition worsened.
These were the defining moments for two teenagers – Aderes Liv Fadzlin and Sharma Shah Vel Subagar – from NorthLight School during a 10-week stint at Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) Integrated Care Hub (ICH), which provides care primarily for seniors.
The attachment is part of the school’s Industry Experiential Programme (IEP), a module they take in their final year.
It is one of five modules they must complete over their last two years to attain the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) Skills Certificate in Community Care Support.
NorthLight School, which is located an eight-minute drive from TTSH, specialises in vocational training. Students pick one of four ITE Skills Certificates in Community Care Support, Hospitality Services, Facility Services or Retail Services.
“I already knew my future dream job was to be a nurse,” she said, adding that while growing up, she had watched National Geographic documentaries on healthcare and the TV series Grey’s Anatomy (2005 to present).
Each day, she arrived at the ward half an hour before her 8am shift, making it a point to greet each of the 30 patients. Even after her shift officially ended at 5pm, she would stay behind if the ward was busy.
When she was hit by the patient, she calmly informed the nurses before stepping away to collect herself. Her parents were also informed.
“I just walked away from the particular place where it happened. I also used the stop-and-breathe technique,” she said.
She learnt this from weekly workshops at charity Brahm Centre on mindfulness and emotional regulation.
Every Friday during the stint, the students ended work at noon to attend these four-hour sessions designed to build the resilience needed to care for patients professionally.
Since 2024, a total of 14 students have completed the programme with TTSH over three intakes.
Students care for patients recovering from surgery or undergoing rehabilitation after conditions such as strokes. They help patients with everyday tasks known as activities of daily living, including brushing teeth, feeding, changing diapers, replacing bed linen, and transferring patients between beds and wheelchairs.
Although they are not allowed to perform procedures such as wound dressing or bathing patients, they assist nurses by anticipating the patients’ needs and supporting them during treatments.
Maria Lourdes Salta Celis, 51, a nurse manager at TTSH, said the students were a “big helping hand”, allowing them to focus on clinical duties like preparing medication and more complicated tasks.
“After they learn the skills, there’s no need to tell them what to do or say, they are very proactive,” she added.
She recalled how students would instinctively prepare equipment for patients identified as being at risk of falls.
Beyond helping with physical care, the students also forged close bonds with patients during communal meals, craft sessions and exercise activities.
“We ended up spending a lot of time together,” said Sharma, 17, about a patient who treated him like a grandson.
从协助病人进食、翻身、洗澡到更换尿布等，学生有机会在医院实习，为未来投身护理工作打下基础，也为我国医疗行业培养生力军。
陈笃生医院、百仁中心（Brahm Centre）和北烁学校星期二（6月30日）宣布这个已经展开三年的合作计划成果。最新一届学生在今年5月完成实习。
三年共培养14名北烁学生接触护理工作
计划在2024年启动，三年共培养14名北烁学生接触护理工作，让他们有机会在陈笃生医院综合医疗护理中心实习长达10周。表现优异的学生在完成学业后，有机会获医院聘请为全职或兼职员工，例如医疗助理。
北烁学校社区关怀服务部门主任陈丽群说：“我们在协助学生寻找实习机会时，起初一些机构对学生的能力没有太大信心，有刻板印象。感激这次合作能够克服偏见，让社区护理领域的机构看到我们的学生同样可以服务社会，能够胜任医护人员的工作。”
陈丽群指出，实习经历也激发学生兴趣，未来向往医疗护理领域发展，并培养软技能，包括同理心、主动性、解决问题的能力，以及合作精神。
陈笃生医院综合医疗护理中心，为中风、失智症和脊髓损伤等患者提供复健和照护服务。中心护理部主任王邡茈指出，中心的患者已经度过危险期，病房提供临床照护，也安排互动活动，协助病人康复和重返社会，而学生会在护士监督下跟病人互动。
学生刚开始时依赖指示，但经过培训后，已懂得主动观察环境，知道哪里需要协助，不再只是等待别人分配工作。
王邡茈说：“我们希望提供一个安全和具有强大支持的实习环境，让学生把课堂学到的知识转化为实践，为学生建设一条从义工服务到职业发展的通道。”
学生在护士的专业指导下照护病人，陈笃生医院临床护士陈琳受访说，实习激发年轻人加入医疗行业，让学生发现护理可能是一条值得追求的职业道路，也减轻护士的工作负担，减少病人需要服务时的等待时间。
参与计划的北烁学校学生佘文欣（16岁）告诉《联合早报》，实习让她学会如何在高压和节奏快的环境下保持冷静，并学到调节情绪的方法，例如一种名为“STOP. B”的技巧，也就是先停下来（Stop）、深呼吸（Breathe），再思考自己应该做什么，以及该如何去做。
“实习期间，我遇到几次突发情况，当时都运用了相同方法来调节情绪，让自己保持冷静。”
The article reports on a three-year collaboration between Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Brahm Centre, and NorthLight School, where students are given the chance to intern in a hospital setting and gain exposure to healthcare work. The latest group of students completed their internship in May 2026.
Through the programme, students learn basic patient-care support in a supervised environment, helping them build confidence and explore possible careers in healthcare. Since the programme began in 2024, 14 NorthLight students have participated, with internships lasting up to 10 weeks at Tan Tock Seng Hospital’s Integrated Care Hub. Strong-performing students may later be considered for full-time or part-time roles, such as healthcare assistants.
A NorthLight School representative said the partnership helped overcome stereotypes about the students’ abilities and showed that they can contribute meaningfully in community care and healthcare settings. The internship also helped students develop soft skills such as empathy, initiative, problem-solving, and teamwork.
The article also notes that Tan Tock Seng Hospital’s Integrated Care Hub supports patients recovering from conditions such as stroke, dementia, and spinal injuries. Students interact with patients under nurses’ supervision, in a safe and supportive learning environment.
One 16-year-old student, Yu Wenxin, shared that the internship taught her how to stay calm in a fast-paced and high-pressure environment. She also learnt a self-regulation technique called “STOP. B” — to stop, breathe, then think about what to do next.