Press Releases
NUS' New Nursing Degree Takes in First Batch of Students
2 March 2006
This article has been migrated from an earlier version of the site and may display formatting inconsistencies.
02 Mar 2006
The National University of Singapore's (NUS) Bachelor of Science (Nursing) programme will enrol its pioneer batch of 50 students in the new academic year starting August 2006. The course is offered by the Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies (ALCNS) at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, NUS. The three-year course is the first full-time undergraduate degree programme in nursing offered by a local tertiary institution. Outstanding students would be offered the opportunity to proceed to the Honours year leading to Bachelor of Science (Nursing) (Honours).
The NUS Bachelor of Science (Nursing) degree is a major step for a career in professional nursing. It is a programme that meets international standards and prepares nurses for a broader role in the delivery of a vast array of health care services. Application for the course is open to Singaporeans and Singapore Permanent Residents as well as qualified foreign students. The first batch of nurses with the NUS Bachelor of Science (Nursing) degree is expected to graduate in 2009.
With their higher qualifications, these nurse graduates can take on expanded responsibilities and a larger professional role in clinical, administration, research and education. They will be a boost to the nursing profession with medical treatment becoming more complex and technical. Being better trained and educated will mean a more fulfilling career in nursing. The local nursing degree course is one of the many initiatives that will transform the nursing profession, besides job-redesign and improved career opportunities.
In March 2005, the Lee Foundation donated S$10 million to NUS as seed funding for the formation of the ALCNS to help address the growing demand for graduate nurses in Singapore and the region. The BSc (Nursing) programme offered by ALCNS focuses on developing competent nurses who will be able to question, interpret, apply, analyse, synthesise and evaluate knowledge to make independent and interdependent decisions. Graduates will also be trained to be effective coordinators of resources, communicators and act as advocates for their patients. In addition, they will be trained to conduct research and implement evidence-based nursing practice. Details of the BSc (Nursing) programme can be found in Annex 1 below.
On the significance of the local nursing degree course, Dean of Medicine, Professor John Wong said, "The commencement of the new undergraduate nursing degree programme marks a new chapter of health care education in Singapore. NUS is delighted to bring multidisciplinary healthcare education to a new level - doctors, dental surgeons, pharmacists and nurses now start their careers as one student body. Nursing students at NUS will have the opportunity to interact freely with other health science professionals. Our intention is to train competent health care professionals who can function independently as well as interdependently with other health care professionals, to meet a greater demand for high quality health care services."
NUS has recruited a professor of international standing with a strong clinical, research and nursing education background to head the new ALCNS. The new head will lead a talented and regionally credible team of lecturers, clinicians and researchers to establish ALCNS as a regional leader in nursing education.
With medical treatment getting more complex and hospitals seeing more cases of patients with multiple chronic conditions such as heart diseases, diabetes and kidney failure, it is imperative for Singapore nurses to be better trained. The new NUS nursing degree will train graduates to function effectively and independently in a 'high-tech' multi-disciplinary hospital environment, as well as take on preventative and educational roles in the community. These graduates are expected to take on leadership and supervisory responsibilities in hospitals and conduct the latest in nursing research as evidenced-based practitioners.
Ministry of Health's Chief Nursing Officer, Ms Ang Beng Choo adds, "The role of nurses has changed. In an increasingly technological clinical environment, there is a tremendous demand for highly skilled nurses both locally and internationally. Today, only a fifth of our nurses are degree holders. It is therefore timely that NUS starts an undergraduate degree in nursing. This will provide an affordable avenue for 'A' level students who are interested to pursue a rewarding career in nursing where previously they had to pursue their studies overseas."
Upon completion of the course, graduates can register with the Singapore Nursing Board to practice as Registered Nurses in hospitals, community health and long term care facilities. Graduates will be able to work in a variety of clinical areas ranging from 'high tech' areas of critical care, accident and emergency and medical/surgical units in hospitals, to the community where they undertake educational and preventive responsibilities in providing counselling to patients who require cardiac rehabilitation, diabetes education and continence management. They will also be able to provide intermediate psychosocial interventions for people with depression, alcohol and gambling problems.
Graduates will also be able pursue careers in clinical care, management, education and research. Opportunities for postgraduate education in these areas are available both locally and overseas.
More information about the BSc (Nursing) programme is available at the NUS website and view the FAQs on the BSc (Nursing) programme.
About National University of Singapore (NUS)
Established since 1905, the National University of Singapore (NUS) is acknowledged as one of the finest universities in the world. NUS is a fully comprehensive university offering a broad-based curriculum underscored by multi-disciplinary courses and cross-faculty enrichment.
NUS has 13 faculties, with an enrolment of more than 22,000 undergraduate and 8,000 graduate students. It actively promotes innovation and entrepreneurship, and enjoys a close teaching-research nexus with 13 national-level, 11 university-level and 70 faculty-based research institutes and centres. The University is strongly committed to advancing knowledge and fostering innovation, educating students and nurturing talent in the service of country and society.
For more information on NUS, please visit www.nus.edu.sg
About Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine
The Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine was the first academic body in Singapore's history dedicated to tertiary education. Established in 1905, it has the honour of being the foundation of what has now evolved into the National University of Singapore. The School is a strong component in the University's Mission to advance knowledge and foster innovation, educate students and nurture talent in service of Singapore and society.
The School is proud of its role in producing the future leaders in healthcare delivery, discovery, and public service, as well as to play a pivotal role in Singapore's Life Science's Initiative and Singapore Medicine.
For more information on the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, please visit http://www.med.nus.edu.sg
About Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies
The Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies was founded in March 2005 by Dr Lee Seng Gee in honour of his mother. Dr Lee Seng Gee is the son of the late philanthropist, Dr Lee Kong Chian who founded the Lee Foundation. The Centre was set up to boost the quality of nursing and nurture talent within the local healthcare continuum.
For more information on the Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, please visit http://medicine.nus.edu.sg/nursing/
Annex 1
NUS Bachelor of Science (Nursing) Programme
The BSc (Nursing) programme follows the NUS modular system. The course includes the following subjects:
* Nursing Sciences
* Anatomy and Physiology
* Pathophysiology
* Pharmacology
* Microbiology
* Immunology
* Psychology
* Sociology
* Critical Thinking and Analysis
* Healthcare Law and Ethics
* Healthcare Management and Education
* Research and Statistics
* Evidence Based Practice
* Clinical Skills
* Clinical attachment in local hospitals/institutions
Electives
Students will have the opportunity to take a choice of electives. Year 3 students have an option of pursuing their electives in overseas institutions.
Honours Programme
Honours students are expected to complete a research project and modules such as Advanced Research Methodology & Statistics, Evidence Based Practice and Management.
Admission Criteria
Applicants need to present the Singapore-Cambridge GCE 'A' Level certificate; or a diploma from a polytechnic in Singapore; or equivalent international qualifications. Applicants should have a pass in any two of the following subjects at 'A' level: biology, chemistry, computing, physics, physical science, and either mathematics or further mathematics.
All short-listed candidates will be asked to attend an interview, which will be held between April and May each year. The selection of students for the BSc (Nursing) programme will be determined by factors over and above the candidates' academic record.
For more details on the admission criteria for BSc (Nursing), please visit - http://medicine.nus.edu.sg/nursing/admission.shtml.