In this issue, we shine the spotlight on Kimberly, a Staff Nurse who has been caring for our seniors with unwavering commitment for the past four years. Through his journey, we gain a glimpse into the passion, resilience, and heart that drive our nursing team in making a meaningful difference in the lives of our residents.
Evergreen: Hi Kim! What was your first day of work like?
Kim: I joined Bright Hill Evergreen Home (BHEH) on 16 March 2022 during the pandemic. It was quite daunting at first because everything was new — the environment, colleagues, residents, and their family members. However, the experience also challenged me to step out of my comfort zone and provided many opportunities for me to learn, grow, and improve both professionally and personally.
Evergreen: That’s positive! Do you think residents remember you? Or do they ask who you are all the time?
Kim: I would say yes. When I give medications, I sometimes ask residents if they remember me. Residents who are mentally alert or have less severe cognitive impairment are generally able to recognise me and other staff.
Evergreen: That’s nice to know! Have you ever met any residents that you would never forget?
Kim: One resident who was recently discharged left a lasting impression on me. We share the same birthday, and he was always cheerful and easy to talk to. Whenever he had any problems, he would come to me for help.
He would always call me “Mr Kim” and thank me whenever I gave him his medication. Those simple words meant a lot to me and reminded me why I enjoy caring for residents here. 
Evergreen: We are sure your care and kindness helped him feel less alone. Looking back on your years at BHEH, what has been your biggest takeaway?
Kim: After working at BHEH for four years, my biggest takeaway is that life is not always easy. Growing old in a nursing home can be scary and lonely, especially when residents no longer have much control over where they live or how they spend their final years.
This has taught me to value life more and to treat every resident with compassion, dignity, and respect.
Evergreen: Thank you for sharing that perspective. We can certainly understand how life can be filled with challenges and uncertainties. On the professional front, what have been some of the biggest challenges you have faced in your nursing career, and how do you overcome them?
Kim: One of the biggest challenges in nursing is staying patient and compassionate even when you are tired, or when residents are upset and family members have high expectations.
As an Overseas Filipino Worker, another challenge I face is being away from my family. I miss them a lot, but this also motivates me to keep going because I know my work helps support them.
Over the years, I have built strong friendships with my colleagues, and they have become like a second family to me. Being surrounded by such a supportive team makes being away from home a little easier, and BHEH now feels like a second home!
Whenever I face difficulties, I remind myself to find joy and purpose in what I do. I also turn to my faith for strength. I pray to God for wisdom and guidance, and He gives me peace during challenging times. My faith keeps me grounded and helps me stay positive.
Evergreen: Amazing! Besides your daily job scope, what do you do at work?
Kim: Besides my daily nursing duties, BHEH has given me many opportunities to learn and grow. I was honoured to be one of the recipients of the Community Care Excellence Awards (CCEA) 2025 — Silver Award (Individual Category) and my ward was also the winner of BHEH’s first TikTok Award last year.
We also have opportunities to learn from one another through presentations and knowledge-sharing sessions. Sometimes, we even showcase our cooking and share our dishes with colleagues. 🙂
Beyond work, I have built many meaningful friendships here. I have celebrated birthdays, year-end gatherings, and even travelled overseas to Batam with my colleagues. 🙂
Evergreen: Such precious memories!
Kim: Indeed! Also, outside of work, I enjoy spending quality time with my wife over coffee, keeping active through regular workouts, and unwinding with a good Netflix series. I also enjoy listening to Christian sermons, which help me grow in my faith and provide me with guidance, peace, and encouragement in my daily life.
Evergreen: Thank you for sharing that with us. It’s inspiring to see how you find strength and joy both inside and outside of work, whether through family, friendships, or faith. <3
