Nurturing nurses

Launched in 2024, the Integrated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) - Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programme, offered by the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT), was developed in collaboration with SingHealth to nurture highly trained specialist nurses and the next generation of nurses and leaders. The SIT Programme Leader, Associate Professor Elaine Siow (pictured,?bottom left), who is a nurse by training, shares more.

What drew you to nursing and nursing education?

I was drawn to nursing as I am passionate about caring for others. As a nurse, I am privileged to be given the opportunity to make a positive impact on others, and help them overcome difficulties during their vulnerable moments. I came to understand that the care provided to patients and families can directly influence their recovery.

This gave me a sense of purpose in my job as it is rewarding to be part of their recovery journey, and this is what motivates me to want to stay in this profession.

I was attracted by the diverse and broad-based topics covered in the nursing curriculum, from STEM-based topics to the humanities in subjects like psychology and sociology. During my training as a nurse, I developed a curiosity about various topics in nursing. My lecturers and professors also played a crucial role in my development. Their guidance and mentoring have been integral in shaping my journey as an educator. They are inspiring role models whom I hope to emulate in my nursing career.

Nursing offers a diverse range of career pathways, such as clinical nursing, education, research, leadership, and many others. I see nursing as a profession that allows me to adapt as my interests evolve, from being a clinical nurse to an educator and researcher.

I am pursuing a career in academia because I enjoy interacting with students and hope to inspire the generation of future nurses to provide effective patient care. Academia also enables me to be actively involved in research to contribute to the nursing profession by uncovering new discoveries and generating knowledge that can improve how we care for patients and families.

How does the BSN-MSN curriculum integrate academic learning and clinical residency?

The new integrated programme pathway will enable students to receive two degrees within a shorter period, compared to the current traditional pathway. The Term-In Term-Out approach enables students to engage in authentic learning and apply the skills learned in clinical practice. The MSN portion adopts a work-study framework that enables nurses to gain a deeper understanding of a specific discipline and develop advanced skills.

This programme offers four specialty areas: medical surgical nursing, high acuity care nursing, peri-operative nursing, and community care nursing. This diverse selection enables nurses to select an area of interest based on the needs of the healthcare institution.

Tell us more about your role as a programme leader.

The collaboration with SingHealth was valuable in allowing me to bridge the gap between academics and clinical colleagues during the BSN-MSN programme development.

Previously, I spearheaded the development of the SIT-UoG BSc in Nursing (Hons) curriculum by collaborating closely with both SIT and UoG nursing faculty. Through my leadership, we actively sought input from various nursing leaders and clinicians during the curriculum development process. This valuable experience has given me a better understanding of how to lead curriculum design and the amount of effort needed to create a new programme. These skill sets were useful in helping me plan and develop the new integrated BSN-MSN programme.

My current teaching role in the university keeps me up-to-date with advancements in teaching and learning. My teaching experience also helps inform the structure and content of the curriculum, in terms of the pedagogy approaches, assessment methods, and relevance of theoretical and clinical content. I aim to create meaningful experiences for the students and ensure that the programme aligns with learning objectives.

Find out more about the BSN-MSN programme at for.sg/sit-bsn-msn.

This article was first published in Singapore Health Special Nursing Issue 2024.