Monday, August 8, 2022

Desperately seeking nurses: What can be done to retain them?

Source Website: https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/desperately-seeking-nurses-whats-the-right-prescription-to-heal-the-global-nursing-shortage
By Salma Khalik, Senior Health Correspondent, The Straits Times, 06 August 2022 at 05:00 am SGT


 Who will nurse you?
PHOTO: Who will nurse you? S'pore's nursing crunch could remain for coming years. Attrition rates of both foreign and local hires in Singapore have been rising.
ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN
Picture posted by Salma Khalik, Senior Health Correspondent, The Straits Times, 06 August 2022 at 05:00 am SGT
https://static1.straitstimes.com.sg/s3fs-public/articles/2022/08/05/yu_sknurse0805a.jpg?VersionId=zrROVGLkE8hocGs4uqMWUpZAaHhnqI37
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/desperately-seeking-nurses-whats-the-right-prescription-to-heal-the-global-nursing-shortage


The pandemic has taken a toll on nurses. Across nations, nurses are quitting in large numbers. In Singapore, they are resigning in record numbers, causing a severe shortage at the hospitals.

The Straits Times looks at why they quit and where some of them have gone to.
Who will nurse you? S'pore's nursing crunch could remain for coming years

Nurses in Singapore are seeing their pay go up as efforts are made to retain them in the face of a continued global shortage.


Across nations, nurses are quitting in large numbers. In Singapore, they are resigning in record numbers, causing a severe shortage at the hospitals.
PHOTO: Across nations, nurses are quitting in large numbers. In Singapore, they are resigning in record numbers, causing a severe shortage at the hospitals.
Picture posted by The Straits Times on  06 August 2022 at 8:30 am SGT
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiUV9bCbj0_K6bK22hJYBPIu3qLGguHdIUfBYQXVaKMp-tRlhGCdtSAygLChmNBxGwNtrlhvWKDfg-CjCZx36yVQV_8vv_BGytGZigKKRx0E_vlX_dd5N8jA2tLnMQ8Pq6pVcfgNZ4RBpF6DZHQoOQHdC_KWdfNPISa0pqYbO4njl63nFMgAR70ycf/s3366/yu_sgnurses_file.png
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/morning-briefing-top-stories-from-the-straits-times-on-aug-6-2022


Attrition (reduction) rates of both foreign and local hires have been rising. Some 14.8 per cent of the foreign nursing cohort left last year - more than double the figure in 2020 - many to countries that offer better remuneration.

Singapore is highly dependent on foreign nurses - more than half the new nurses who entered the profession in 2020 were non-Singaporean.


Nurses leaving for a better lifestyle and work environment.
PHOTO: Nurses leaving for a better lifestyle and work environment.
Ms Gerai Vito worked at a hospital in Singapore for six years before she and her husband decided to relocate to Leeds, in Britain.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF GERAI VITO
Picture posted by Jonathan Pearlman, The Straits Times on 06 August 2022 at 05:00 am SGT
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/desperately-seeking-nurses-whats-the-right-prescription-to-heal-the-global-nursing-shortage


Earlier this year, Ms Gerai Vito decided to give up her position as a nurse at a hospital in Singapore and move to Leeds in Britain, even though the take-home pay would be lower.

It was not a difficult decision, said Ms Vito, 34, who had worked for six years in Singapore. Her salary in Leeds is about the same as in Singapore - about ＄8,000 a month - but Britain's tax rate is higher.

Still, there were no regrets.

Ms Vito, who is from the Philippines, said that as a foreign nurse in Singapore, she had already reached a career ceiling. She was a senior staff nurse, and could not expect to be promoted unless she applied to become a permanent resident or citizen, which she found daunting.

"I couldn't be promoted as a manager or as a clinical educator. That was it for me," she said.


More than 25,000 nurses in public healthcare clusters to get special payment package from Dec 1.
PHOTO: More than 25,000 nurses in public healthcare clusters to get special payment package from Dec 1. The Nurse Special Payment package will be calculated based on the base salary as at Dec 1 this year.
ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
Picture posted by Cheryl Tan, The Straits Times on 01 August 2022 at 06:50 am SGT
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https://static1.straitstimes.com.sg/s3fs-public/styles/large30x20/public/articles/2022/07/31/dw-nurses-package-220731.jpg
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/more-than-25000-nurses-serving-in-public-health-care-clusters-to-receive-between-17-and-21-months-of-base-salary


More than 25,000 nurses serving in the public healthcare clusters will receive a special payment package of between 1.7 and 2.1 months of their base salary, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Sunday (July 31).

Nurses serving in the public healthcare clusters - National Healthcare Group, National University Health System and SingHealth - will be eligible for the package as their retention payment.

The package will also be extended to another 2,600 nurses working in publicly funded community care organisations.

"As we celebrate Nurses' Day on Aug 1, it is timely to show our deep appreciation to our nurses who continue to work tirelessly to support the entire healthcare system," said MOH.

Called the Nurse Special Payment (NSP) package, it will be calculated based on the base salary as at Dec 1 this year.

This comprises the regular NSP of half a month, which will be paid out in December, and the enhanced NSP of between 1.2 and 1.6 months, which will be split equally into two tranches to be paid out in March and September 2023, to nurses who remain in continuous service with their employing organisation.

MOH, in a statement on Sunday, said it is committed to building up a local core of nursing workforce to meet future needs by improving the attractiveness of the nursing profession, and growing the local nursing training pipelines for both fresh graduates and mid-career entrants.

"To ensure that we continue to attract and retain staff and maintain market competitiveness, the base salaries of nurses in the public healthcare sector were enhanced by between 5 per cent and 14 per cent," it added.


MOH, in a statement on Sunday, said it is committed to building up a local core of nursing workforce to meet future needs by improving the attractiveness of the nursing profession, and growing the local nursing training pipelines for both fresh graduates and mid-career entrants.
PHOTO: MOH, in a statement on Sunday, said it is committed to building up a local core of nursing workforce to meet future needs by improving the attractiveness of the nursing profession, and growing the local nursing training pipelines for both fresh graduates and mid-career entrants.
ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN
Picture posted by Amelia Teng, Education Correspondent on 06 August 2022 at 05:00 am SGT - Mother and daughter pursuing nursing diploma in polytechnic together. Ms Cheryl-Ann Tan and her mother Evelyn Ong are taking the same nursing diploma course at Ngee Ann Polytechnic
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/desperately-seeking-nurses-whats-the-right-prescription-to-heal-the-global-nursing-shortage

The first phase of this increase was in July 2021 and the second phase was in July 2022.

Nurses were also given a Covid-19 Healthcare Award in 2021 - which was open to staff of publicly funded healthcare organisations involved in the fight against the pandemic, with each person receiving up to ＄4,000.

MOH said the base salaries for entry-level registered nurses were between ＄3,300 and ＄5,200 a month, depending on their qualifications and adding in allowances and bonuses as at 2020.

The Agency for Integrated Care will follow up with the publicly funded community care organisations on the funding details for their sector.

Health Minister Ong Ye Kung last Friday (July 29) said nurses deserve a retention payment in order to keep them in the profession, especially amid the heavy workload in the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.


Health Minister Ong Ye Kung last Friday (July 29) said nurses deserve a retention payment in order to keep them in the profession, especially amid the heavy workload in the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
PHOTO: Health Minister Ong Ye Kung last Friday (July 29) said nurses deserve a retention payment in order to keep them in the profession, especially amid the heavy workload in the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
Picture posted by 王康威 Wáng kāng wēi, Zaobao on 01 November 2021 at 01:51 pm
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https://static.zaobao.com/s3fs-public/images/202111/20211101/img6965.jpg?VersionId=e2C4zVqLQeCmzZwl6De0uGZGB243vddW
https://www.zaobao.com.sg/realtime/singapore/story20211101-1209104


About 1,500 nurses quit their jobs in the first half of 2021 compared with 2,000 annually before the pandemic.

Foreign nurses, who now make up about a third of the nursing workforce, were hit especially hard by border closures caused by Covid-19.

In March, MOH said the attrition rate for foreign nurses in 2021 was 14.8 per cent, compared with 7.4 per cent for local nurses.

Ms K. Thanaletchimi, president of the Healthcare Services Employees’ Union, said the union welcomes the MOH announcement and is in support of the retention strategy.


Ms K. Thanaletchimi, president of the Healthcare Services Employees’ Union, said the union welcomes the MOH announcement and is in support of the retention strategy.
PHOTO: Ms K. Thanaletchimi, president of the Healthcare Services Employees’ Union, said the union welcomes the MOH announcement and is in support of the retention strategy.
Picture posted by Arista Lim, mustsharenews on 07 February 2020 at 5:43 pm
https://mustsharenews.com/moh-dorscon-orange/


However, while such rewards and recognition are appreciated, Singapore should also be bold enough to make a “radical change” to the base salaries of nurses, particularly of staff nurses and enrolled nurses, as there is still room for improvement despite a salary revision both last year and this year, she said.

She added that the nurses should also be given competitive salaries that are comparable to other developed countries.


Singapore should also be bold enough to make a “radical change” to the base salaries of nurses, particularly of staff nurses and enrolled nurses, as there is still room for improvement despite a salary
PHOTO: Singapore should also be bold enough to make a “radical change” to the base salaries of nurses, particularly of staff nurses and enrolled nurses, as there is still room for improvement despite a salary revision both last year and this year, Ms K. Thanaletchimi said. She added that the nurses should also be given competitive salaries that are comparable to other developed countries.
Picture posted by Angel University on 04 June 2021
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The welfare and well-being of nurses can also be further reviewed, such as through more extensive flexible work arrangement and ensuring they have a strong ancillary support - which refers to ways of easing their patient management workload.

Mr Ong last Friday said more must be done to support nurses, including streamlining unnecessary administrative work, introducing technology and improving IT systems.


Mr Ong last Friday said more must be done to support nurses, including streamlining unnecessary administrative work, introducing technology and improving IT systems.
PHOTO: The pandemic has taken a toll on nurses. Across nations, nurses are quitting in large numbers. In Singapore, they are resigning in record numbers, causing a severe shortage at the hospitals.
Picture posted by by Chris Dean - Kate Beckinsale (Nurse), Pearl harbor movie
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https://www.pinterest.com/pin/779193173007300983/


Singapore is highly dependent on foreign nurses - more than half the new nurses who entered the profession in 2020 were non-Singaporean.
PHOTO: The welfare and well-being of nurses can also be further reviewed, such as through more extensive flexible work arrangement and ensuring they have a strong ancillary support - which refers to ways of easing their patient management workload.
Picture posted by Milek Chaber
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https://www.pinterest.com/pin/425871708513274844/
[1] Salma Khalik, Senior Health Correspondent, Desperately seeking nurses: What can be done to retain them?, posted on 06 August 2022 at 05:00 am SGT, https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/desperately-seeking-nurses-whats-the-right-prescription-to-heal-the-global-nursing-shortage


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