Beyond the Bedside
Nursing today goes beyond bedside care in the hospital ward. Four nurses share how their careers in informatics, research, education and community care expand notions of healthcare, and reflect the evolving face of the profession.
PeiFen Poh, Nurse Clinician (Nurse Researcher, Children’s Intensive Care), KK Women's and Children's Hospital
My journey into nursing coincided with the SARS outbreak in the early 2000s. The media spotlight on healthcare frontliners inspired many, including me, to consider nursing. After completing my diploma at Nanyang Polytechnic, I was posted to the Children's Intensive Care Unit (CICU) at KK Women's and Children's Hospital, where I've been since, caring for critically ill children and their families.
Working in the CICU as a young graduate was humbling. With little life experience, I found myself guiding grieving parents much older than I was through their most vulnerable moments. It pushed me to mature quickly and taught me that nursing wasn't just a duty, but a privilege to journey alongside families during critical times.
As a nurse clinician, I provide bedside care and manage the nursing team. I also serve as an ECMO Nurse Specialist. ECMO, or Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation, is a life support therapy that temporarily takes over the function of the heart and lungs. KKH is the only paediatric centre in the region with a nurse-driven ECMO programme.
Alongside clinical work, I've grown increasingly involved in research. Being close to patients, you tend to notice unmet care needs, and this was what prompted my passion in research and my current pursuit of a PhD. One of my proudest moments was when a paper I co-authored with a team of international collaborators won the Best Oral Presentation at the European Academy of Paediatrics Society. It was a systematic review of the impact of ethnicity on parental health outcomes and experiences after childhood critical illness. We realised that there was a disparity in the representation of ethnic minorities and highlighted a lack of ethnic diversity in this field of literature.
The nursing profession has evolved significantly, driven by increasingly complex patient needs and advanced medical technologies. With advanced medical technologies, there‚re more survivors of critical illnesses, which also means more complex needs upon discharge. Research can help us design services to meet these needs, with the goal of enhancing patient care.
Transitioning from bedside care to research takes intention. You might have only two hours after shift handover, but if you‚re clear about your goals, pursuing that research interest will make that transition easier. It also helped to have good mentors and the support of management and supervisors. I was always an average student; I would have never imagined myself as a PhD candidate. But, in SingHealth, there are many opportunities in nursing for higher education.
To the many young people who wonder if they have the empathy to become a nurse, I want to assure you, empathy and compassion often arise in the face of adversity. You could make a real difference in someone's life. If you're looking for purpose and impact, this might be where you begin.
Chin Wan Ong , Senior Nurse Manager (Nursing Informatics), Sengkang General Hospital
While many picture nurses primarily at patients‚ bedsides, modern nursing has evolved significantly. My journey reflects this transformation.
My nursing career began in a renal ward, caring for high-dependency and dialysis patients, before moving to emergency care, where I worked across observation, cardiac and trauma units. Each role deepened my understanding of critical patient care.
In 2013, I had the opportunity to take on an expanded scope in informatics when the Ministry of Health launched the electronic medical record (EMR) implementation at Ng Teng Fong General Hospital. Working with the medical informatics team to implement EMR allowed me to see both the potential and impact of technology in the healthcare system. My clinical practice background proved invaluable in designing a system that enhanced nursing work, care coordination, and patient safety, making a significant difference to care delivery.
In 2016, I was fortunate to contribute my knowledge to setting up and integrating clinical workflows into IT systems in Sengkang General Hospital. It was extremely satisfying to observe how nursing practices, supported by the right technological design and platforms, could transform healthcare delivery and enhance patient care and safety. This experience led me to deepen my knowledge in this field by completing my Master of Science in Health Informatics in 2022.
Since entering the field of Nursing Informatics, my focus has been bridging the gap between frontline clinical practice with technology. This involves translating real nursing needs into practical tools and solutions, listening to user feedback, providing real-time support through healthcare applications, and identifying ways to refine care processes.
Today, as co-chair of the SingHealth Nursing Informatics Council, I help scale up best practices to improve nursing care, such as using artificial intelligence and telehealth solutions that streamline documentation, diagnostics and decision-making. This relieves nurses from the burden of administrative tasks, allowing more time for connecting with patients, leading to stronger relationships.
The decision to onboard a Next Generation Electronic Medical Record (NGEMR) through Epic would be a significant milestone, which will fundamentally transform how we approach healthcare delivery across clusters. With national-level integration, workflows and documentation processes will be more than just digital record keeping — they will create a vast database to improve care efficiency, effectiveness and efficacy towards a more resilient healthcare system.
As we navigate the challenges of an ageing population and increasingly complex care needs, nursing informatics and advanced technologies are becoming essential tools. By automating routine tasks, we empower nurses to focus on what matters most: Meaningful patient interactions and complex care decisions. At its core, nursing informatics isn‚t about replacing bedside care; it‚s about enhancing it, enabling safer, more efficient, and more compassionate patient care.
Joanne Anthony, Senior Nurse Educator, Singapore General Hospital
I always wanted to work in theatre and the arts, but my family disapproved.
Just months before my O Levels, an unexpected moment changed my path — a sudden recollection of watching a nurse adjusting my grandfather‚s intravenous infusion in the hospital. In that moment, I saw a life of purpose, where every day could be committed to doing good. That was how my 16-year-old self decided to go into nursing at Nanyang Polytechnic, the only institution offering the course then.
My career began in the general ward for two years, followed by intermediate care for another two years. After completing my Advanced Diploma in Nursing, I moved to a surgical ward. During my orientation at Singapore General Hospital (SGH), I met a clinical instructor who made a lasting impression. She openly shared her early challenges of fear and anxiety, yet demonstrated such natural confidence in her work. Her honesty helped me realise that my own struggles were part of the growth process, and I began to see the possibility of following a similar path. I wanted to engage with others with the same level of confidence, and imagined myself performing the same role one day.
When the opportunity came, I underwent training to become a clinical instructor. Two years later, I transitioned fully into nursing education as the hospital wanted to expand the pool of clinical instructors.
As a nurse educator, I identify the need for training based on learning gaps, conduct and review training programmes, and perform clinical supervision in the ward. My portfolio focuses on supporting students through their education journey, from their first steps to their final year. I plan and liaise with academic institutions on clinical attachments for undergraduates to postgraduate nursing students. In my role at the SingHealth Academy College of Clinical Nursing, I also lead outreach efforts to build the future nursing workforce, such as engaging schools to promote nursing as a career. We organise learning journeys and offer two-week internships for school leavers and students to obtain immersive experience in the hospitals and gain insight into what nurses do.
The nursing profession has become more dynamic since I started, with diverse career paths and specialisations available. The training and support students receive are also more structured. Even though my role is primarily in education, I continue to engage in clinical practice to effectively support students in translating theoretical knowledge into practical application.
Looking back, what helped me through the early challenges was not rushing, but allowing myself to grow into the profession. I always tell my students to take their time, gain at least two to three years of clinical experience, then explore their specialisation. Nursing requires passion — without it, you can only go so far. But opportunities are always available for those with the heart and drive for continuous learning.
Beyond clinical skills, nursing teaches valuable life lessons that help you become a better person. Whether as a parent, friend or child, the skills we learn make a real difference in others‚ lives.
Siti Hajar Binte Ninhadi, Nurse Clinician (Community Nurse), Singapore General Hospital
Stroke claimed the life of my grandmother and several other family members, which shaped my career decision‚ towards nursing. Following my father's wishes, I became a registered nurse in 2005 and specialised in Neuroscience, driven by a desire to understand stroke and to make a difference in the lives of patients like my loved ones.
My journey began at Singapore General Hospital. I pursued an Advanced Diploma in Neuroscience and subsequently completed my Bachelor‚s Degree in Nursing at Curtin University, Singapore. Working as a Neuroscience nurse exposed me to complex cases including head traumas, cancers, post-surgical wounds, and brain death situations, which strengthened my resilience as a nurse.
In 2007, a life-changing motorcycle accident left me with multiple open fractures in my face, left arm, and both knees. My journey through seven operations and two years of recovery gave me a unique insight into a patient‚s struggle. This experience deepened my empathy as a nurse, and reinforced my commitment to empower patients to take charge of their recovery journey.
My transition to community nursing was an eye-opener and revealed the real challenges patients face at home. Many of them struggle to recall discharge instructions, and families often need additional support post-discharge. In this role, I work closely with patients and caregivers to teach them preventive care, and to reinforce treatment care plans in their home environment. The rapport built with patients at their homes allows me to better understand and address their health, psychological, emotional and social needs.
As a community nurse, we see patients with complex wounds and stoma care needs. I decided to pursue a Graduate Diploma in Wound, Ostomy and Continence Practice. Subsequently, I went on to complete my Master of Advanced Practice in Clinical Leadership.
Transitioning from an inpatient setting to community nursing presented unique challenges. Unlike hospital settings with readily available resources, community nurses must make critical decisions independently during home visits, leveraging on expertise from specialists and multidisciplinary team such as our Family Medicine & Continuing Care doctors. We are essentially the patient‚s call bell in the community. My inpatient experience proved invaluable, providing the foundation for the clinical judgement I use daily. This role further enhanced my confidence, health assessment, and clinical decision-making skills.
Throughout my career, I've been fortunate to have supportive family and mentors who played a crucial role in my professional growth. I'm especially grateful for their guidance over the past two decades, encouraging me to embrace change with optimism. My extended family of nurses, working across various hospitals and disciplines, has provided valuable opportunities for mutual learning and sharing of perspectives.
As the healthcare landscape shifts from hospital-centric to community-based care, nursing will continue to evolve. Though I initially envisioned a career solely in inpatient care, I've found deep fulfillment in community nursing. To new or aspiring nurses: Just go for it, pursue your‚ interests boldly, but remember to develop resilience. Today s nursing offers diverse career paths, from direct patient care to research, education and beyond. The opportunities for professional growth are endless!
This article was first published in Singapore Health Special Nursing Issue 2025.