Nursing The Wound: The Story Behind Singapore\u2019s Nurse Shortage<\/b><\/p>\n
<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.17.4″ custom_margin=”-194px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ min_height=”84px” custom_margin=”-80px|auto||auto|false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”-145px|auto|-100px|auto|false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.4″ text_font=”Montserrat|300|||||||” text_text_color=”#000000″ transform_scale_tablet=”” transform_scale_phone=”” transform_scale_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate=”0px|-22px” transform_translate_tablet=”” transform_translate_phone=”” transform_translate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate_linked=”off” transform_rotate_tablet=”” transform_rotate_phone=”” transform_rotate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_skew_tablet=”” transform_skew_phone=”” transform_skew_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_origin_tablet=”” transform_origin_phone=”” transform_origin_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_styles_last_edited=”on|desktop” min_height=”112.8px” custom_margin=”5px||-48px||false|false” custom_padding=”31px||0px||false|false” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_styles_tablet=”” transform_styles_phone=”” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”About Us” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ min_height=”1396px” custom_margin=”-136px||-433px|||” custom_padding=”107px||44px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_5,3_5,1_5″ custom_padding_last_edited=”off|desktop” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ custom_margin=”-55px||||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”-35px||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_padding=”2px|0|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”|0px||0px||true” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ text_font=”Montreal Medium||||||||” text_line_height=”1.5em” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”Raleway|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”50px” header_2_line_height=”1.4em” header_5_font=”Montserrat||||||||” header_5_text_color=”#b3b3b3″ header_5_font_size=”14px” header_5_line_height=”0.5em” header_6_font=”Raleway|700||on|||||” header_6_font_size=”16px” header_6_letter_spacing=”5px” header_6_line_height=”1.8em” max_width=”659px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”0px|79px|104px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”-40px|79px|0px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”|0px||||” hover_enabled=”0″ text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”15px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_font_size_tablet=”35px” header_2_font_size_phone=”25px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]
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BY
Khalish Niyaz<\/b><\/p>\n
Deputy Editor<\/b><\/p>\n
Hype Issue #75<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Join Khalish Niyaz as he explores the nursing world in Singapore.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ text_font=”Montreal Medium||||||||” text_text_color=”#000000″ transform_scale_tablet=”” transform_scale_phone=”” transform_scale_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate=”0px|-22px” transform_translate_tablet=”” transform_translate_phone=”” transform_translate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate_linked=”off” transform_rotate_tablet=”” transform_rotate_phone=”” transform_rotate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_skew_tablet=”” transform_skew_phone=”” transform_skew_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_origin_tablet=”” transform_origin_phone=”” transform_origin_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_styles_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_margin=”31px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_styles_tablet=”” transform_styles_phone=”” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″] Singapore\u2019s healthcare system is well known for its efficiency and reliability. Despite this stellar reputation, the industry has long struggled with a persistent shortage of nurses, with the World Health Organisation estimating a <\/span>worldwide shortage of 4.5 million nurses by 2030<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n As the Singaporean population ages and the demand for medical care surges, there is an increasing need for nurses. While the Singaporean Government goes down the route of monetary incentives and hiring nurses from neighbouring countries, there is still a huge shortage of manpower in the healthcare industry.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”http:\/\/hypesingapore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot-2025-11-07-at-4.59.44\u202fPM.png” alt=”Pet Sitter” title_text=”Screenshot 2025-11-07 at 4.59.44\u202fPM” force_fullwidth=”on” src_last_edited=”off|desktop” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”220.2px” hover_enabled=”0″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” src__hover_enabled=”off|desktop” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ text_font=”Montreal Medium||||||||” text_text_color=”#000000″ transform_scale_tablet=”” transform_scale_phone=”” transform_scale_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate=”0px|-22px” transform_translate_tablet=”” transform_translate_phone=”” transform_translate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate_linked=”off” transform_rotate_tablet=”” transform_rotate_phone=”” transform_rotate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_skew_tablet=”” transform_skew_phone=”” transform_skew_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_origin_tablet=”” transform_origin_phone=”” transform_origin_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_styles_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_margin=”31px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_styles_tablet=”” transform_styles_phone=”” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″] <\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Health Minister Ong Ye Kung poses for a photo with National University Health System staff on Feb 20, 2024. (Photo credit: Facebook, Ong Ye Kung)<\/span><\/i><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Montreal Medium||||||||” text_text_color=”#000000″ text_font_size=”16px” custom_padding=”||0px|||” hover_enabled=”0″ inline_fonts=”Montreal Medium” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″] The Scope of the Shortage<\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n To be clear, the situation could be worse. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of nurses in Singapore has been growing modestly. As of 2024, there are <\/span>50,300 practising nurses<\/span><\/a>, translating to 8.3 nurses per 1,000 patients. This is comparable to Hong Kong or South Korea, but it lags behind countries like the United States of America, with a ratio of <\/span>12.71 per 1000 patients<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n However, as Singapore\u2019s ageing population continues to increase, with an estimated <\/span>one in four<\/span><\/a> Singaporeans being aged 65 and above by 2030, this modest growth in nursing strength won\u2019t suffice. Minister of Health <\/span>Ong Ye Kung addressed this issue in a Parliamentary hearing in 2022, stating that the nursing workforce should be raised to \u201c82,000 by 2030\u201d, which will help to keep up with the ageing population<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Montreal Medium||||||||” text_text_color=”#000000″ text_font_size=”16px” custom_padding=”0px||2px|||” hover_enabled=”0″ inline_fonts=”Montreal Medium” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″] Life on the Frontlines<\/b><\/p>\n For Nadiah Khairullah, 40, who has spent two decades as a nurse at Changi General Hospital, changes in the profession have been profound.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMidway through my 20 years of service, I could see the nurse-to-patient ratio getting worse and worse,\u201d she recalled. \u201cLast time, it would be one nurse to three or four patients, enabling us to build rapport with our patients. But nowadays, we can have double or triple that value, preventing us from talking to our patients and understanding them better.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n She also addressed the growing sentiment of being undervalued by Singaporeans. \u201cPeople don’t appreciate the hard work we accomplish on a day-to-day basis. They only see the end result,\u201d she reflected. \u201cThey don’t recognise our efforts.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span>A 2019 research study by the Singapore Institute of Management indicated that many Singaporeans<\/span> perceive nursing as \u2018dirty work’ and of low status.<\/span><\/a> Although this is slowly changing, many nurses, such as Mdm Nadiah, still feel the dismissive gaze of the public. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n Why Singapore\u2019s Attrition Rate Is So High<\/b><\/p>\n Multiple reasons contribute to the high attrition rate of nurses. In addition to the increasing nurse-to-patient ratio, Mdm Nadiah stated that the younger generation is less resilient when it comes to dealing with the increasing demands from higher management, patients, and patients\u2019 relatives.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThey are less patient and do not have the same passion as the older nurses,\u201d she laments. Sadly, this leads to many young nurses having a less-than-ideal work-life balance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Mdm Nadiah stated that many young nurses are also being promoted quickly by their higher-ups. This quick progression comes with greater responsibility and a stricter workload. \u201cThey (higher management) tend to be less supportive, stricter, and less understanding,\u201d Mdm Nadiah said. This leads to many feeling demoralised despite progressing quickly and earning higher incomes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Mdm Nadiah also shares how many of the younger nurses are willing to explore other job opportunities and will \u201cleave once they have a new and better job elsewhere\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This has created a vicious cycle of increasing demand for nurses without a proper support structure in place for said nurses. This leads to many <\/span>nurses leaving for \u201cgreener pastures somewhere else.\u201d<\/span> This shortage of nurses is not only a staffing issue, it also directly affects the well-being of patients. A lower nurse-to-patient ratio has been proven to deliver better outcomes. <\/span>This includes higher patient satisfaction, a decrease in mortality rate, and shorter stays<\/span><\/a>, showing that there is a great need for nurses. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/b><\/p>\n Government Measures to Retain Nurses<\/b><\/p>\n Despite the many challenges, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has rolled out several initiatives to combat the lack of manpower.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Singapore has accelerated the recruitment of nurses by increasing nursing school intake by <\/span>30% over the past decade<\/span><\/a>, with <\/span>one in 20 Singaporean students studying nursing<\/span><\/a>. This will help increase the number of local nurses in the coming years.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In addition, Singapore is also hiring foreign nurses from countries like China, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Myanmar. In 2022, <\/span>25% of nurses were foreigners<\/span><\/a>, with the majority coming from Malaysia, the Philippines, and Myanmar. This increase in manpower will continue to help the health care industry achieve its goal of 82,000 nurses by 2030. <\/span>Published on<\/h5>\n
Nov 7<\/h5>\n
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<\/span>This also contributes to the lack of passion in nurses. Mdm Nadiah admits that her passion for nursing has dropped despite it \u201cpreviously always being my topmost priority,\u201d and she now stays mainly for financial stability.<\/span><\/p>\n
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<\/span>Increasing manpower is not the only initiative of the MOH; it is also offering monetary retention schemes to prevent nurses from leaving the industry.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n