President's Award for Nurses 2006

01 Aug 2006

President S R Nathan will be presenting the President's Award for Nurses at the Istana on 1 August 2006.  This is the seventh year the President is conferring this prestigious Award to our profession's best nurses. 

The President's Award for Nurses recognises exemplary nurses for their outstanding work performance, and their significant contribution to the profession and the community over a sustained period of time.  They are the role models who motivate and inspire their peers and younger nurses through their passion and commitment to the profession.   They will each receive a trophy, a certificate and $6,000 to attend conferences for professional and personal enrichment.

The 3 award recipients are Ms Gwee Mui Boon, Ms Pauline Tan Cheng Jee and Ms Tan Siok Bee.

Ms Gwee Mui Boon, Course Manager, Institute of Technical Education, School of Applied and Health Sciences

Mui Boon is a selfless and dedicated Nurse Educator who is a teacher, mentor and confidante to many nursing students and peers.

She contributes tirelessly to nursing education, serving as a valuable member of the Singapore Nursing Board and other education, academic advisory and accreditation committees. She has provided invaluable contributions towards the Master of Nursing and Bachelor of Nursing programmes offered by the National University of Singapore. 

Under her consultative and able leadership, the Nursing Department and the course at the ITE College East has grown steadily in size and reputation.  To the management team, staff and students, Mui Boon embodies personal integrity and professional ethics. She diligently upholds the standards of education despite demands of an increasing student population. 

As a supporter of evidence-based nursing, Mui Boon has initiated several research projects in ITE College East. She was instrumental in setting up the clinical simulation laboratory which uses high fidelity manikins to teach clinical skills to nursing students.

At the grassroots level, besides being a long-serving member of the Residents Committee, she advocates and facilitates her staff and students' participation in community services locally and in the region.  

Ms Pauline Tan Cheng Jee, Director of Nursing, Institute of Mental Health/ Woodbridge Hospital

Pauline is a dynamic and visionary nursing leader who contributes in a wide spectrum of care settings. A strong believer in the value of clinical nursing, she is instrumental in developing Advanced Practice Nursing in the Institute of Mental Heath (IMH) to promote nursing excellence and clinical expertise. She leads by example and provides tremendous support to her staff.

In IMH, Pauline has brought several innovative changes to nursing practices and introduced many new initiatives. The accolades she has helped to win include a special citation of best practice for her Nursing Division during the accreditation by Joint Commission International.

She also contributes actively to the nursing profession through her participation as a member of the Singapore Nursing Board and advisory committees for educational institutions. Pauline is an advocate of continuous learning research and evidenced-based practice. She facilitated the introduction of e-learning in IMH, participated and headed research on nursing outcomes and quality improvement projects.

She participates in community outreach programmes and contributes as a Nurse Consultant during overseas mission trips. At the IMH, she fronted the "Yellow Ribbon" scheme that provides ex-offenders with gainful employment in the healthcare industry. 

Ms Tan Siok Bee, Senior Nurse Clinician, Singapore General Hospital

Siok Bee is a well-respected clinical nurse leader in the neuroscience multidisciplinary team. Highly commended for her astute clinical decision-making abilities, she is responsible for the development of guidelines for the nursing management and rehabilitation of patients with stroke.  

A capable leader, she is actively involved in numerous projects and committee work. She spearheaded the development of the SingHealth Nurses Pharmacology Handbook.  She also set up the caregivers training programme for patients in Singapore General Hospital.

Siok Bee is an inspiration to other nurses. She constantly strives to develop herself professionally and personally. In addition to the numerous nursing and non-nursing awards she has received, Siok Bee is the first nurse to be awarded the Wee Kim Wee Medal for her outstanding performance in the NUS Master of Nursing progamme. 

Siok Bee participates actively in nursing research. She has conducted several projects to improve patient care. She has published articles in nursing journals and presented papers at conferences.

An avid volunteer, she serves as the Vice President and trainer of volunteers for the Singapore National Stroke Association and has set up a support group for the caregivers of neurological patients.