After years of being the main caregiver for her elderly parents, Jovy found herself naturally drawn to healthcare and eventually made nursing her career at the age of 17.

“I wanted to do more for the elderly and advocate for their care and welfare,” she says. Fast forward 17 years later, Jovy is now in charge of a 32-bedded ward for patients who require sub-acute, geriatric care at St. Andrew’s Community Hospital. She treats every patient like her own parents and never hesitates to go the extra mile for them.

While caring for a patient who was suffering from a heart condition, oedema and malnutrition, Jovy took the initiative to personally prepare half-boiled eggs for her every morning. “Egg white is nutritious and was easier for her to swallow. After a week, her appetite improved and the swelling around her arms and legs subsided. She also regained her energy and was fit enough to resume physiotherapy,” she says with a smile.

In addition to bedside care, Jovy actively participates in quality improvement projects. One of the projects she embarked on was to reduce falls in the ward. As falls are often the biggest impairment to elderly independence, she worked with a team of nurses and colleagues from the Healthcare Performance Office to brainstorm ideas and implemented safety measures to prevent fall incidents.

Jovy is currently leading another project on “Prevention of Blockage of Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter Line”, which aims to reduce blockage and decrease incidence of reinsertion as it is costly and causes patients discomfort. She makes sure that the nurses adhere to guidelines and protocols to improve their competency during IV drug administration.

Outside of work, Jovy volunteers at the Senior Citizen Centre in Simei. She organises outings, befriends and shares health information with the elderly residents who visit the Centre.