Proportion of Advanced Practice Nurses in Workforce and Plans for Their Development

Mr Fadli Fawzi asked the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health (a) what is the current number and percentage of Advanced Practice Nurses in the workforce; (b) what targets have been set for their development over the next 10 years; and (c) whether new clinical specialties and roles are being considered for Advanced Practice Nurse certification.

Mr Ong Ye Kung: Advance Practice Nurses (APNs) are at the apex of the clinical nursing track, having post-graduate training, empowered to make certain clinical decisions and work collaboratively with doctors and other healthcare professionals to provide complex nursing care.

As of 31 December 2025, there were 419 APNs in active practice, which works out to 1% of the nursing workforce in Singapore. The Ministry of Health aims to train 700 APNs by 2030.

With the transformation of the healthcare system to shift more care to the community and non-hospital settings, APNs can lead or play a major role in the delivery of a broad spectrum of care in diverse settings, including acute and community hospitals, mental health services, primary care, community health posts, home care and in nursing homes.