CELEBRATIONS to honour Singapore’s nurses kicked into full gear yesterday, ahead of Nurses Day today.

Public health group SingHealth’s polyclinics, hospitals and specialist centres held a mini-carnival for its 6,000 nurses, who make up a quarter of the 24,000 nurses here.

They took part in a 10-minute mass exercise routine and also feasted on local delicacies.

Twelve outstanding nurses were given awards for good performance and another 11 were given scholarships to further their nursing education.

The other public health group, the National Healthcare Group (NHG), gave mugs and cookies to its 4,000 nurses. It also held a photo competition for its nurses, with entries depicting what they did in their spare time to relax.

At the NHG-run Institute of Mental Health (IMH), doctors serenaded nurses with songs, and Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan and its management staff helped to dish out nasi briyani and kebabs to them for lunch.

The institute also handed out 15 awards to recognise outstanding work by its nurses.

One recipient was infection control senior nurse clinician Grace Lam, 55. She won the Nightingale Award for being a good mentor to other nurses, and for helping to design a special bottle containing an alcohol-based hand rub.

All the institute’s nurses now carry this bottle everywhere, clipped to their uniforms, so they can use the hand rub frequently.

Private health group Parkway gave its 1,200 nurses a $50 Dairy Farm shopping voucher each.