Five registered nurses from Singapore Health Services (SingHealth) are among the pioneer batch of 15 students to graduate with the Master of Nursing degree to be conferred by the National University of Singapore (NUS) on Thursday, July 8, 2004. SingHealth sent two nurses from Singapore General Hospital (SGH), one from Changi General Hospital (CGH) and two from the National Heart Centre (NHC) for this inaugural 18-month full-time programme in Advanced Practice Nursing by NUS.
As the top student of this year's Master of Nursing class, SGH's Nurse Clinician, Ms Tan Siok Bee, will be awarded the prestigious Wee Kim Wee Medal for her excellent academic performance. Named after Dr Wee Kim Wee, former President of Singapore, the Wee Kim Wee Medal has been made possible through proceeds donated by The Courage Fund.
SingHealth's Group Chief Executive Officer Professor Tan Ser Kiat, commended the nurses on their achievements. He said, "Our nurses are a constant source of inspiration to all of us at SingHealth. They represent the heart of our healthcare system and are integral in enabling us to provide quality health care services to our patients. Nurse Clinician Tan Siok Bee's achievement is a great encouragement to all of us. She is an example of the talent and potential that resides among our nurses. For her and all our nurses, the sky's the limit, and SingHealth is committed to supporting their professional development."
On a one-year internship, Nurse Clinician Tan Siok Bee has been attached to the Department of Neurology of SGH to assist the doctors in caring for and managing the patients since June 4. Said Dr Pavanni Ratnagopal, Head & Senior Consultant, Department of Neurology, SGH, "The department is happy to have Siok Bee in our team. We see her role as potentially bridging the gap between the nurses and doctors with information and patient care being matched and better integrated between both disciplines."
The Master of Nursing programme is designed to provide an academic and clinical foundation to prepare its students as Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs) in either Adult Health Care or Mental Health Care specialisations. With new knowledge, clinical skills and competencies, these nurses will further support their doctors in performing health and physical assessment, interpreting diagnostic tests, planning and managing patients' health status, research and using evidence-based knowledge to further improve clinical practice in their specialities. All SingHealth nurses who attended the programme were fully sponsored by their respective institutions.
SingHealth's nurses graduating from this inaugural batch of Programme include:-
- Ms Elaine Ng, Nurse Clinician, Changi General Hospital
Elaine has over 20 years of nursing experience. She obtained her Bachelor of Health Science degree in 1997 and has been with CGH ever since. Currently, she is attached to CGH's Accident and Emergency Department. For the Master of Nursing's Elective Module, Elaine spent 3 weeks attachment with affiliated hospitals of the University of Pennsylvania (Hospital of University of Pennsylvania, Presbyterian Hospital and Pennsylvania Hospital) (Apr-May 04).
- Ms Patsy Chiang, Nurse Clinician (Department of Cardiovascular Medicine), National Heart Centre
Patsy completed her Post Basic (Critical Care) Nursing Course in 1990 and her Bachelor of Health Science (Nursing) with Distinction in 2000. She was with the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine for 15 years before taking up the Master of Nursing programme.
- Ms Yap Yen Ping, Nurse Clinician (Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery), National Heart Centre
Yen Ping obtained her Advanced Diploma in Critical Care Nursing in 1990. She completed her Bachelor of Health Science (Nursing) with Distinction in 2000. Yen Ping has been with the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine and Cardiothoracic Surgery for more than 12 years. She was a Nurse Manager in Ward 56 when she embarked on her Master in Nursing programme.
- Ms Josephine Teo Foong Yee, Nurse Manager (Department of Emergency Medicine), SGH.
Josephine has been a registered senior nurse with SGH since 1977. She obtained her Bachelor of Health Science (Nursing) degree with Distinction in 1996. As a persuasive and informed communicator, Josephine was recognised for the Best Oral Free Paper Presentation at SGH's 8th Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) in 1996 and at the Society of Emergency Medicine Singapore's 4th ASM in 2003. Josephine is part of Singapore International Foundation's Singapore Overseas Volunteers Traumatology Specialist Team that helped to establish trauma services in Malang, Indonesia - a 7-year project (1997 - 2003). For the Master of Nursing's Electives Module, Josephine spent a 3 weeks attachment with affiliated hospitals of the University of Pennsylvania (Hospital of University of Pennsylvania, Presbyterian Hospital and Pennsylvania Hospital) (Apr-May 04). She has also begun her one-year internship with the Department of Emergency Medicine, SGH.
- Ms Tan Siok Bee, Nurse Clinician (Neuroscience), SGH
Siok Bee has been with SGH since 1982. She put herself through various nursing and professional courses to gain more knowledge to enhance her work skills and care for patients. Siok Bee was sent to the United States in 1997 for a 3-month training programme in neuroscience nursing under the Health Manpower Development Plan (HMDP). She has also coordinated several support groups to help and provide support for neuro-conditioned patients and their families. With a full sponsorship by SGH, Siok Bee graduated with distinction in her Bachelor of Health Science degree course in 1997. Her outstanding performance in the Master of Nursing course has earned her the " Wee Kim Wee Medal" from NUS. For the Master of Nursing's Electives Module, Siok Bee also spent 3 weeks attachment with several prestigious hospitals in New York City (e.g. Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, Beth Israel Hospital North) (Apr - May 04). She will also be attached to the Nursing Department for her Nurse Practitioner/Clinical Nursing practice.
Upon graduation, the five SingHealth nurses will be fulfilling their one-year internship in their respective specialties across the SingHealth cluster.
SingHealth
SingHealth is the largest provider of acute healthcare in Singapore, made up of 3 Hospitals, 5 National Specialist Centres and a network of 8 polyclinics. We are dedicated to providing quality healthcare that is affordable and accessible to our patients.
At SingHealth, we are guided by our shared values of Clinical Excellence, Commitment and Collaboration to provide Genuine Care to all our patients.
Members of the SingHealth group:
Hospitals
Changi General Hospital, KK Women's and Children's Hospital and Singapore General Hospital
National Specialist Centres
National Cancer Centre, National Dental Centre, National Heart Centre, National Neuroscience Institute, and Singapore National Eye Centre
SingHealth Polyclinics
Bedok, Bukit Merah, Geylang, Marine Parade, Outram, Pasir Ris, Queenstown and Tampines
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For more information, please contact:
Ms Joan Lew
Assistant Manager, Corporate Communications
SingHealth
DID: 6557 4914
joan.lew@singhealth.com.sg