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SINGAPORE – More people are looking to change careers and become nurses through a mid-career career conversion program.
The number of applicants for the Workforce Singapore (WSG) Registered Nurse (Diploma) Professional Conversion Program (PCP) has increased three times for the upcoming October intake, compared to April this year.
In contrast, the number of late-feed requests for the show has been “generally stable,” said WSG director of the health, social and business services division, Ms Safrah Eusoof.
One of the reasons for the growing interest in nursing among mid-career people could be due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which created more awareness and appreciation of nursing as a career, Ms Eusoof said.
Another reason could be the publicity efforts between WSG and the Ministry of Health (MOH) to feature successful mid-career people who have made the transition to nursing, he added.
The program was originally introduced in 2003 as the Strategic Workforce Conversion Program, and was later renamed PCP for Registered Nurses (Diploma) in 2008.
The program’s equivalent title launched in 2018.
In 2014, the current PCP for registered nurses replaced the previous registered nurse placement and training program, which was introduced in 2006.
Since 2003, more than 1,350 mid-career Singaporeans and permanent residents have participated in all three programs, including 70 who signed up this year, WSG said.
One of them is Mr. Nigel Leong, who at 48 is finally pursuing his first passion, nearly three decades after his parents dissuaded him from pursuing a nursing degree.
This year, the former regional quality manager of a multinational company resigned and accepted a significant pay cut to join WSG’s Professional Conversion Program (PCP) for registered nurses (title) in April.
She turned down lucrative job offers from other companies, including one that would allow her to relocate to Switzerland, and decided to switch to nursing to contribute to society.
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How to apply
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Applications for the Registered Nurse (Diploma) Professional Conversion Program close on October 30, 2020 at 11:59 pm Apply here
Applications for the Enrolled Nurse Professional Conversion Program close October 7, 2020 at 11:59 pm Apply here
Leong, who is single, is expected to graduate from the Alice Lee Center for Nursing Studies at the National University of Singapore in 2022 as a staff nurse working for SingHealth Community Hospitals (SCH).
He is one of 18 participants in the SCH-sponsored RN PCP. From this group, six nurses have started working in the three community hospitals managed by SCH: Bright Vision Hospital, Sengkang Community Hospital and Outram Community Hospital.
Leong said his passion for health care began when he was a combat medic while serving in his national service.
“It prompted me to want to get a nursing degree in Sydney, but unfortunately my parents were against it because of the stigma associated with nursing. In the 1990s, it was considered a humble job,” she said.
“My father asked me why he should spend so much money for me to study in Sydney and ‘clean people’s butts,'” he added with a smile.
Not wanting to go against her parents’ wishes, she graduated from food science and was in the industry for 23 years until she made the career change.
Ms Stephanie Yeap, SCH director of nursing, said the work experience of mid-career people like Mr Leong provides them with a “different perspective and perspective on caregiving,” with skill sets that can complement your clinical skills.
She added that mid-career nurses also tend to have a stronger passion and drive for nursing.
“These mid-career nurses are at the stage of life where they understand themselves best and know what kind of career is best for them,” said Ms Yeap.
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