MWS Nurse Koh Ker Sin receives Nurses’ Merit Award
At 88 and living with heart disease, Ong Ah Kim had one final wish: to spend her last days on a cruise. Cruising held special meaning for the mother of three, whose late husband had longed to go on one but never had the opportunity. For Ah Kim, these trips became a way of honouring his memory.
“She said that she loved cruising so much that if she were to pass away while on a cruise one day, she would be happy,” recalled Koh Ker Sin, Assistant Nurse Manager with MWS Home Care & Home Hospice, who had journeyed with Ah Kim for nearly two years.
To fulfil Ah Kim’s final wish, Ker Sin prepared the necessary medical documents and medications, and equipped her caregivers to recognise deterioration and administer medication safely. On Ah Kim’s final cruise, days before her passing, Ker Sin remained by her side, ensuring her comfort and dignity throughout the journey.
“As a palliative care nurse, I have always felt that our work is less about finding a cure and more about making sure our patients are comfortable, heard, and treated with dignity,” said Ker Sin. “There are many moments in palliative care that may not be visible to others – sitting quietly with a patient, holding a hand, listening to a family member’s worries, or simply being present when there are no more words to say. These moments may seem small, but they can mean a lot to a patient and their loved ones.”
For her outstanding service, along with clinical leadership and contributions to community and palliative care, Ker Sin received the Nurses’ Merit Award 2026. Presented by the Ministry of Health, the award recognises nurses who have displayed exceptional performance, participated in professional development, and contributed to raising the nursing profession.
Ker Sin’s work extends beyond direct patient care. She mentors junior nurses and plays an active role in service improvement initiatives, including F.E.E.L (Fundamentals and Essentials of End-of-Life Caregiver Education), which aims to improve caregivers’ knowledge and understanding of home hospice patients approaching the end of life.
“The award has affirmed my belief that being a nurse is not just about our clinical skills, but also about the human connection we build with our patients,” said Ker Sin. “Sometimes, our role is to advocate for their wishes; sometimes, it is to relieve their discomfort; and sometimes, it is simply to sit beside them and let them know they are not alone.”
