DEGREE PROGRAMMES FOR NURSING IN LOCAL UNIVERSITIES

Dr Toh See Kiat asked the Minister for Health since upgrading the Certificate in Nursing to a polytechnic diploma has improved the image of the nursing profession and consequently the intake of nurses, whether there are any plans to introduce degree programmes for nursing in the local universities.

Dr Aline Wong (for the Minister for Health): At present, there is no full-time local degree programme for nursing. But there is a 2-year, part-time Bachelor of Nursing degree programme offered by the Singapore Institute of Management (SIM) which was introduced in September 1994.

Nurses who have acquired the Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) Diploma in Nursing can proceed to the degree programme either locally at the SIM or at the University of Sydney itself. Nurses can apply for sponsorship from their employer, be it the Ministry of Health, the restructured hospitals or private hospitals, to enrol in this programme. We will continue to sponsor nurses who show the ability and aptitude for greater responsibility to participate in the programme.

The degree programme at SIM has managed to take in, on average, about 140 students per year in the last three years. The first year's intake has already completed their programme. This programme will provide us with a steady supply of graduate nurses to meet our requirements in the immediate future. We will monitor the demand for the degree programme by the healthcare institutions and by the nurses. This will help us gauge whether there is a need for a full-time local degree programme.

My Ministry is also aware that there are good `A' level students who wish to take up nursing as a career. For these young people, PSC offers scholarships tenable in the UK and Australia. Thus far, 28 nursing scholars have returned and are working in MOH and the restructured hospitals. Another four PSC scholars are still pursuing their degree. A small number of World Health Organisation scholarships are also available.

Mr Choo Wee Khiang (Jalan Besar): I would like to ask the Senior Minister of State how readily available are these sponsorships for Singaporeans who are interested to pursue a nursing degree in Sydney. Does she have any statistics?

Dr Aline Wong: The degree course for nursing at Sydney is not normally open to sponsorship, unless private institutions or restructured hospitals want to sponsor the students this way. This is because the course is already available locally at SIM. But I think he is talking more about PSC scholarships. These are offered only to people who qualify for them. Students can apply but the PSC will select.

Dr Toh See Kiat (Aljunied): Sir, basically, I raise this question because we have been debating about the need to upgrade the image of nurses and because of the fact that nurses are treated more like drudges in Singapore. This is unfortunate because it is a high calling, and we need to upgrade this dignity.

Mr Speaker: Order. Dr Toh, can you ask your question?

Dr Toh See Kiat: Yes. Sir, I would like to urge the Ministry to perhaps consider whether there is this need to push the PSC programme so that we will have more scholars who are nurses and nursing can become a dignified profession again.

Dr Aline Wong: PSC scholarships are for people who do very well academically and want to take up nursing as a career. The number of scholarships also depends on how many are willing to take them up. But in general, Dr Toh's concern, I believe, is about raising the professional status and prestige of the nurses. There are other ways. For nurses to take up degree training, we have to consider whether they have the ability as well as the readiness to take up greater responsibility in the post. So the nursing degree is not really for everyone.