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More pursuing nursing and medical degrees at Singapore universities

SINGAPORE — The Government's drive to attract more professionals to the healthcare sector appears to be paying off, as enrolment numbers have gone up in nursing and medical degree courses at universities here.

Ms Goh Beng Sim (left) and her daughter Trina Lim will be pursuing nursing degrees at the same time at the NUS Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies. Ms Goh is on a two-year programme and Ms Lim will undergo a three-year programme.

Ms Goh Beng Sim (left) and her daughter Trina Lim will be pursuing nursing degrees at the same time at the NUS Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies. Ms Goh is on a two-year programme and Ms Lim will undergo a three-year programme.

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SINGAPORE — The Government's drive to attract more professionals to the healthcare sector appears to be paying off, as enrolment numbers have gone up in nursing and medical degree courses at universities here.

This year, 313 students joined the Bachelor of Science (Nursing) programme at the Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies in the National University of Singapore (NUS), an increase of 33 per cent from the previous year and more than double its intake of 155 students in 2016.

Of those who enrolled this year, 34 are mid-career professionals who will undergo the two-year Bachelor of Science (Nursing) programme, which is being offered for the first time. It is more intensive than the three-year programme that fresh A-Level and polytechnic graduates typically undergo. The only difference is that students on the two-year programme will not have to do a module on communication.

For those aspiring to be doctors, 297 were accepted into NUS' Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine this year. This is marginally smaller than the 300 seen in 2017 and 2016.

While Nanyang Technological University's Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine did not give its latest enrolment figures, its intake of medical students has been climbing steadily in recent years. Last year's numbers stood at 120, up from 108 in 2016 and 90 in 2015.

The school received its first batch of medical students in 2013.

In its projection until 2020, the Government estimated last year that about 9,000 more healthcare workers are needed in the sector, with about half of these openings being for professionals, managers, executives and technicians in roles such as nurses, therapists and operations managers. It is also investing S$24 million to get more mid-career Singaporeans to switch to the healthcare sector — in particular, there would be greater funding for those wanting to be nurses.

NUS said that the strong demand for a nursing degree was partly due to those seeking a second career.

Among the 34 mid-career students enrolled this year is former Ministry of Defence officer Goh Beng Sim, 49, who will be pursuing her course at the same time as her daughter Trina Lim, 20, who is on the three-year programme.

Ms Lim recently completed her nursing diploma, and mother and daughter plan to share study tips and practise their skills together.

Ms Goh earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at NUS more than 20 years ago and has a job as a staff nurse at Ren Ci Hospital lined up when she graduates.

She said she chose nursing as a way of giving back to society and older members of the population. "Hearing about Trina's experiences during her clinical attachments and watching her pursue her ambition to be a registered nurse inspired me and affirmed my decision," she said.

Professor Emily Ang, head of NUS' Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies — also known as NUS Nursing — said that there is greater public awareness of the nursing profession as a challenging and fulfilling career.

"Today, nurses are increasingly recognised as professional members of the healthcare team who lead patient care in hospitals," she said. "Nurses also enjoy greater career advancement and more upgrading opportunities, and are empowered to be at the forefront of driving care transformation."

NUS Nursing graduates start their careers as a staff nurse and can advance on the management, clinical or education tracks, Prof Ang said.

The authorities' measures in recent years to draw more Singaporeans into nursing include higher pay and more education and career development opportunities.

The Ministry of Health reported that there were more than 35,000 nurses here in active practice last year.

The monthly median gross starting salary of registered nurses with degree qualifications is generally S$3,400, while that for diploma holders is S$2,400. The monthly median gross starting salary for enrolled nurses — which are positions open to Institute of Technical Education graduates — is about S$1,750.

The Straits Times reported in January that an estimated 2,000 students took up nursing last year, one-third more than the 1,500 who took up nursing courses in 2012. Singaporeans reportedly form more than 70 per cent of the cohort each year and the rest are largely Malaysians.

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