Any other way to be a registered nurse?

13 Apr 2005, The Straits Times

Question

Name of the Person: Siti Zarinah (Ms) 

Any other way to be a registered nurse?

I AM from the pioneer batch of nursing students from the Institute of Technical Education and have been working as an enrolled nurse at Singapore General Hospital for three years. I have been applying to do a nursing diploma course at Nanyang Polytechnic for three consecutive years and have been rejected each time. I have even appealed with a recommendation letter from my ward's senior nurse manager, to no avail. Other than retaking my O levels and applying for the diploma course, is there any other way to qualify as a registered nurse? I was told that selections are done on a case-by-case basis, but why are many students from my batch who have applied for the same course rejected? Do we have to quit working to further our studies in Australia or Britain, so as to qualify as a registered nurse? If that is the case, we may not want to return to Singapore to work as attachments are based in other countries. The Government encourages us to upgrade and continue our education regardless of age, and I would like to know how to do so in my case.

Reply

Reply from MOH 

Nursing Diploma is the way to become a Registered Nurse 

Ms Zarinah has expressed a desire for professional upgrading in "Any other way to be a Registered Nurse?" (ST, 13 Apr). A Nursing Diploma is needed for one to be qualified as a Registered Nurse. Currently, Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) offers a Nursing Diploma course. Ngee Ann Polytechnic will also be offering a Nursing Diploma course from May 2005. Admission to the course is based on merit. As a holder of the National Institute of Technical Education Certificate (NITEC) in Nursing, Ms Zarinah can apply for the Nursing Diploma course through the Direct Admissions Exercise based on NITEC results and recommendations from supervisors at work. She need not retake her "O" levels if her NITEC results are acceptable. In the past six years, more than 200 enrolled nurses from various healthcare institutions have taken up the Diploma in Nursing Course at NYP, and many have successfully completed the course, and become Registered Nurses.