Surviving a Covid Wave from the Other Side of the World
When the first Covid‑19 surge slammed into the United States in March, a Singaporean engineer‑turned‑nurse, Chen Xuhua, found herself smack‑dab in the eye of the storm. At 43, she had already spent 14 years as a nurse and had never quite seen anything like this.
It’s a Wild Ride
- Mask‑marauding mobs – Colleagues were pilfering personal protective equipment from the hospital while shortages hit emergency mode.
- Locked‑down lifesavers – The filled N95 supply was secured in an unexpected vault, effectively turning the hospital into a Scarface-esque protection hub.
- “They told us we could only use one mask a week,” Xuhua recalls. “The situation was that bad, and we had no clue how Covid was really spreading.”
Hands-On Heroics
Xuhua did what any good nurse would do: she reached out to the community and pleaded for mask donations. What followed was a spontaneous North‑American hug of sorts—people sent PPE straight to the hospital’s cold‑air‑lock corners—since no other place seemed more urgent.
After securing the donations, Xuhua rolled up her sleeves, organized the shipments, and personally ensured the masks made their way to the frontline workers who were fighting on a weekly basis without their usual gear.
Why This Matters
Stories like Xuhua’s remind us that when the world turns upside down, the most resilient and improvisational individuals pull together, turning scarcity into solidarity. And proving that a nurse—no matter how far you’re from home—can save the day one mask at a time.
Exposure to virus
Inside Xuhua’s Near‑Miss Covid Chronicles
“One time, I got a call from my manager that we were exposed to a patient who was negative but then tested positive.”
The Daily Dose of Close Shaves
- Right after the call, Xuhua slotted on a surgical mask at home—she didn’t bother with a fancy quarantine.
- Every other evening, the “normalcy” flag was set to shadow mode until a Covid test cleared the slate.
- And when an ex‑colleague’s quarantine turned up the front door, they all said, “Ouch, but no one’s knocked out.”
Fears, Family, and a Side of Humor
“My mother tried to pull the plug on me after I mentioned that I might catch a case.” An attempt to tear my career open, indeed.
Instead of bugging the gossip column at home, Xuhua rolled with the punches:
- “I’m gluing on the PPE, gloves (sometimes double), mask and face shield like a fortress of couture.”
- Right after finishing work, she cascades into the shower with the same theatrical flair—no hugs for any creature. Even the cat gets a “no contact” sign.
- The house is turned into a micro‑cleaning lab, featuring five HEPA filters that whisper “captured particles, here—no exit.”
Safeguarding the Singaporey Genesis
“I keep Singapore’s family in the dark—big universe without a greyhound.” The objective: keep them from hopping into the same dramatic arc we’re living.
Getting the Covid-19 vaccination
Xuhua’s First Pfizer Shot: A Quick Recovery and a Strong Recommendation
Last month, Xuhua was among the pioneering folks in the U.S. to get her first dose of the Pfizer‑COVID‑19 vaccine. She says it’s made her feel a lot more secure while caring for patients.
What Happened After the Shot?
- Sore Arm: The only hiccup was a soreness that lasted about 24 hours.
- Nighttime Nuisance: It even roused her a couple of times during the night, but she slept through the rest without any medication.
- Second Dose: She went on to receive the booster with no side effects—smooth sailing!
Team Feedback
Her colleagues largely mirrored her experience:
- General Consensus: Everyone felt fine after their shots.
- Minor Exception: One teammate had a two‑hour headache.
Why Xuhua Is a Vaccine Advocate
She strongly urges healthcare workers, seniors, and anyone without severe allergies to jump on board with the vaccines. “Getting COVID causes far more damage than what the vaccine does,” she says, echoing a fellow colleague’s sentiment.
Coping with home-based learning in US
Balancing Act: One Day, 16 Hours, and a Pandemic Classroom
Meet Xuhua, the jack‑of‑all‑trades who spends a single day each week nursing patients while juggling three kids trapped at home in the COVID lockdown.
Work vs. Homework
- Hospital Hero: One day a week, she’s on the ward, fighting the 16‑hour shift thing.
- Mom’s Mission: Back home she turns into a DIY teacher, watching the kids tackle online lessons.
- Time Crunch: The pandemic kept the kids in a virtual classroom that never stops, making it tough to find extra hours for extra help.
What the Kids are Really Studying
She’s not shy about saying, “Middle‑schoolers in the US are barely getting a smidge of real education because parents are pretending to be mini‑professors at every click.” It’s a tough reality for parents trying to keep the learning wheels turning.
Singapore vs. the US: A Lesson in Safe Spaces
Xuhua praised Singapore’s COVID response, calling the schools “super safe zones.” “I wish the U.S. government and folks could learn a thing or two from that,” she said.
Why the Raves are Real
When she cracks a joke about her “gruelling” 16‑hour day, she means it. “It speeds up once you get into the flow. By the time I’m home it’s almost midnight—no more drama, just a quiet house. That’s the sweet spot!”
Closing Act
After a long day of medics, Xuhua’s nervous system switches off; she rattles off the jargon at the front desk and—no “politics” mania—she just unplugs, hugs a kid, and watches the kids’ post‑lesson relaxation. “When I get home, there’s no work politics, just us,” she shares.
It’s a daily mix of dedication, patience, and a pinch of humor—a real life lesson in balancing care for both kids and patients.
From engineer to nurse
From Engineer to Nurse: Xuhua’s Heart‑Pounding Career Switch
Xuhua’s story is a perfect blend of ambition, family drama, and bedside bravery. After snagging a government scholarship at Nanyang Technological University, she traded the “big‑tech” world for a nursing call she couldn’t ignore.
Why She Left the Engineer Life
- Three years post‑grad, she brutally broke her scholarship bond to chase her dream in the US.
- As a project engineer, the pay would do her while, so she asked: “How about nursing?” The answer? Fresh grads in nursing earned almost the same as engineers.
<li“She said, “I’m happier as a nurse.” She found the hospital shift felt more fulfilling than office cubicles.
Family Shockwaves
Typical Asian parents often equate engineering with prestige. “It felt like a step down,” Xuhua recalled, but she persisted. That “tough start” came with skepticism, a touch of dread, and a “no‑engineering” verdict.
Early Realities in the Ward
Her first clinical assignment? Cleaning a bed‑ridden patient. As an engineer with zero bedside experience, she stared at a patient bare‑faced, weak, and vulnerable. She expressed: “I was scared and absolutely clueless.” That vulnerability set the stage for her future compassion.
A Patient’s Calm Courage
One elderly client decided to stop his medication drip. He was calm, unafraid, and at peace with his impending death. He called every family member, said good‑byes, and mentioned he had no anger toward God.
“Seeing him face death with grace moved me. I cried; he didn’t—his bravery was remarkable.”
Key Takeaways
- Dreams fight the status quo—Xuhua did it with grit.
- Pay doesn’t always dictate purpose; fulfillment matters most.
- Family doubts can fade when passion triumphs.
- Realising your calling can be messy, but the rewards are priceless.
In the end, Xuhua found her rhythm in the bleak and warm world of nursing, proving that a career change can be as thrilling—and more rewarding—as an engineering breakthrough.
Coping with the stresses of Covid-19
Xuhua: The Zen Nurse Battling COVID
Meet Xuhua, a dedicated Buddhist nurse whose daily mantra keeps her calm amid the chaos.
What Keeps Her Heart & Mind at Peace?
- Before every shift, she chants prayers that calms her heart and clears her mind.
- She focuses on helping others—a mantra that lifts her spirits during tough times.
“Help Others, Feel Better”
Xuhua believes that even tiny acts of kindness can brighten your day. “It’s easy to get down when everything feels rough, but just doing something for someone—big or small—makes a huge difference,” she says.
Keeping the Positivity Train Moving
When the lockdown blues strike, she throws a little humor into the mix: “Stuck in a tiny space? I try to lift my own mood and stay positive, even while avoiding the virus-positive folks we hear about nowadays.”
No Quitting in Her Vocabulary
“Nursing isn’t just my job; it’s part of who I am,” Xuhua confides. “So I see this as something I can manage. It’s a profession I’m proud of—always proud.”
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