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MDIS launches first nursing school in private education sector

Nursing students Sahrulniza Abdul Ghani (middle) and Lim Ai Min (right) in the midst of a hands-on practice session at the official opening of MDIS’ Nursing Practicum Lab on 21 May, 2018. (PHOTO: Wong Casandra/Yahoo News Singapore)
Nursing students Sahrulniza Abdul Ghani (middle) and Lim Ai Min (right) in the midst of a hands-on practice session at the official opening of MDIS’ Nursing Practicum Lab on 21 May, 2018. (PHOTO: Wong Casandra/Yahoo News Singapore)

The first dedicated nursing school in Singapore’s private education sector was launched on Monday (21 May) amid rising demand for healthcare workers.

Targeted at working nurses, the School of Nursing at the Management Development Institute of Singapore (MDIS) offers a two-year bachelor degree programme in Science Nursing accredited by the Singapore Nursing Board and awarded by UK’s Edinburgh Napier University (ENU). A masters programme will also be launched next year.

Located at MDIS Campus in Stirling Road, the school has 212 students currently and aims to increase the intake to 2,000 students by 2025.

With two intakes per year, the school has just enrolled its third batch for the degree programme this month. The programme is fully conducted by about a dozen members of the ENU faculty on a rotational basis.

While other private schools offer nursing courses, they do not have a school focused on nursing.

“With an ageing population and rising incidences of chronic diseases, healthcare needs will increase in demand and complexity,” said Dr Eric Kuan, president of the MDIS, in his welcome speech on Monday.

“As the demand for skilled nurses in the healthcare industry continues to soar, more hospitals require nurses to hold a bachelor’s degree, even for entry-level positions,” he added.

According to the government, Singapore’s healthcare sector will need to add about 30,000 workers until 2020. By then, there will be at least 610,000 people above the age of 65.

MDIS also unveiled its Nursing Practicum Lab in conjunction with the school’s launch. The self-funded nursing lab, developed at an initial investment of $300,000, will further support “the learning and practicum needs of the nurses”, said Dr Kuan.

The lab will feature speciality nursing and hospital-grade medical equipment, including four advanced mannequins for students to practice in realistic clinical scenarios.

Over the next year, the school will increase the number of dedicated classrooms and lecture theatres as well as provide a wide range of nursing equipment and specialised hospital tools.

Dr Kelvin Wong, Head of the MDIS School of Nursing, noted that the degree programme offered by the school will make it easier for nurses with entry-level qualifications to pursue different and advanced career specialisations.

Lim Ai Min, 26, who holds a diploma in nursing, cited the flexibility of the programme’s schedule and school’s accessible location as the main reasons for her to choose MDIS over other nursing education options in Singapore.

The Malaysian works at Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital and is set to graduate from the programme in May 2020.

“I currently work at the ICU department, and in that area, I needed more clinical knowledge. So I would like to enhance my knowledge to carry out care for patients,” she added. “If possible, I will want to further my studies (after the degree) as well as work.”

Sharulniza Abdul Ghani, a 26-year-old Malaysian, found out about the course through a fellow nurse and former classmate.

The diploma holder previously worked at the Singapore General Hospital’s renal department as a dialysis nurse and is now at Fresenius Medical Care.

“(I want to improve) my knowledge on how to educate…patients and families on improving their health style and lifestyle,” said Sharulniza, who graduates in January 2020. “Because I specialise in dialysis, I see (first-hand) how costly it is for patients to have the treatment.”

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