NUS Launches S'pore's First Nursing Practice Doctorate

To prepare nurses for leadership roles in tackling the complex healthcare challenges of a fast-ageing nation, the National University of Singapore (NUS) has launched Singapore's first doctorate in nursing practice.

- Joyce Teo

The Doctor of Nursing Practice is a two-year, part-time programme that empowers nurses to lead system-wide improvements, influence health policy and enhance care delivery while continuing their clinical work, said Mr Ong Ye Kung, Minister for Health and Coordinating Minister for Social Policies, at the launch of the programme on Aug 1.

It comes as healthcare needs evolve, and it is crucial to attract and retain nurses for the growing demands in Singapore amid a global nursing shortage.

"The requirements of nurses are still changing and (they are) changing even more rapidly because we have an ageing population, which is giving rise to a different patient mix," said Mr Ong.

"Patients get older, they increasingly require less episodic care, but more coordinated and consolidated care to better manage multiple and complex conditions."

NUS also introduced three new master's programmes designed for working nurses to enhance their expertise in community health, critical care and infection control.