PRESIDENT’S AWARD FOR NURSES 2025

Three nurses were conferred the President’s Award for Nurses this year. They received their award from President Tharman Shanmugaratnam at an award ceremony and reception this evening. This brings the total number of recipients since the inception of the award in 2000, to 101.

2.               The highest accolade in Singapore’s nursing profession, the President’s Award for Nurses recognises nurses who have shown sustained outstanding performance and contributions to patient care delivery, education, research and administration.

3.               This year’s award recipients are:

·       Ms Cindy Chua Hsu Fung

Assistant Director of Nursing, National University Hospital

·       Ms Wee Li-Phing Clarice

Assistant Director of Nursing, Ng Teng Fong General Hospital 

 ·       Ms Yap Hui Xian Yvonne

Deputy Director of Nursing, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital

 4.               Each awardee received a trophy, a certificate signed by President Tharman and a $10,000 cash prize that can be used for their professional and personal development. More information on the award recipients is in the Annex.

 5.               The national award is open to nurses and midwives from healthcare institutions in the public, private and community care sectors, as well as educational institutions. The nominees were nominated by their institutions, the public or peers, and interviewed by a panel chaired by Dr Tan Wu Meng, then-Chairperson of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Health.

Annex

Ms Cindy Chua Hsu Fung

Assistant Director of Nursing

National University Hospital

A visionary leader in critical care nursing, Cindy has dedicated 26 years to transforming healthcare delivery and elevating nursing standards at the National University Hospital (NUH). As an Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) specialising in intensive care, she has consistently demonstrated exceptional clinical acumen while pioneering innovative solutions that enhance patient care and nursing efficiency. 

In her role as Chair of the Professional Practice Council since 2020, Cindy has been instrumental in revolutionising nursing practices across the institution. Her leadership in the SMART Pump Committee ensured seamless integration of new bidirectional infusion pumps, achieving complete adoption in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) and reducing medication errors by 60%. This initiative exemplifies her ability to drive technological advancement while maintaining focus on patient safety and nursing efficiency.

 Cindy's innovative spirit extends beyond traditional nursing boundaries. In 2025, she championed the implementation of MediVoice, an in-house developed ambient speech-to-text transcription system, demonstrating her commitment to reducing documentation burden and maximising nurses' time at the bedside. Her forward-thinking approach to healthcare technology has established her as a driving force in nursing innovation.

 As a key driver in Respiratory Care Nursing at NUH, Cindy has trained 60 specialised nurses, creating a robust framework for respiratory care delivery. Her expertise in ventilator management and critical patient transport has elevated the standard of care in high-tech environments while maintaining a compassionate approach. Her leadership extends to the national level, where she serves as co-chair of the APN Internship Committee, strengthening workplace-based assessments through the review of Entrustable Professional Activities.

 Cindy's impact on nursing education and mentorship is particularly noteworthy. Her implementation of case-based learning for ICU nurses has fostered critical thinking and decision-making abilities among staff. By empowering Nurse Clinicians to lead these sessions, she ensures programme sustainability while nurturing the next generation of nursing leaders. Her mentorship has guided numerous nurses through the challenging transition to ICU nursing, with at least five progressing to APNs and ten advancing to Nurse Clinician positions.

 Her clinical innovations have led to significant improvements in patient care outcomes. She spearheaded an evidence-based quality improvement initiative that reduced fever burden in neurosurgical patients through targeted temperature management, decreasing the time from first hyperthermia to normothermia by 2.4 hours. This intervention has been crucial in minimising neurological injury and improving patient outcomes. Additionally, Cindy started the nurse-led central venous catheter removal initiative, which aims to improve patient outcomes, potentially shorten ICU stays, and minimise adverse events.

 Her innovative approach to patient safety is exemplified through her successful implementation of comprehensive swallowing assessments and gravity feeding protocols. This nurse-led initiative has significantly improved feeding efficiency and reduced aspiration pneumonia risks for patients. The implementation of gravity feeding bags alone has saved nurses 30 to 45 minutes per feed while enhancing patient safety. The success of this programme led to its hospital-wide adoption and has become a benchmark for similar initiatives across other healthcare institutions.

 Cindy advocates for greater nursing autonomy and the development of innovative care models through a multi-skilled workforce. Her work in implementing AI-driven solutions and streamlining clinical workflows demonstrates her commitment to preparing the nursing profession for future challenges.

 Beyond her institutional responsibilities, Cindy actively participates in humanitarian efforts, serving in international medical missions to underprivileged communities. Her work with Healing of the Nations in Chiang Mai and various medical outreach missions in Batam demonstrates her dedication to bringing healthcare access to underserved communities.

 Through her clinical excellence, transformative leadership, and unwavering dedication to patient care, Cindy has created lasting impact on Singapore's healthcare landscape. As she continues to push boundaries and foster a culture of continuous improvement, Cindy is helping to shape a new standard for nursing excellence and inspiring the next generation of healthcare leaders.

Ms Wee Li-Phing Clarice

Assistant Director of Nursing

Ng Teng Fong General Hospital

A visionary leader in nursing excellence, Clarice has revolutionised critical care nursing through her pioneering work at Ng Teng Fong General Hospital (NTFGH). As Singapore's first Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) credentialed to perform complex procedures such as central and dialysis line insertions in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), she has set new benchmarks for clinical excellence that have inspired both doctors and nurses alike.

 Her transformative leadership is exemplified through Asia's first APN-led post-ICU multidisciplinary clinic, supporting approximately 300 patients since February 2023. This innovative approach has significantly improved patient outcomes by addressing the physical, cognitive, and psychological challenges faced by ICU survivors. She also spearheaded an ICU outreach system where senior ICU nurses monitor high-risk patients post-transfer, achieving a 20% decrease in ICU readmission rates.

 Clarice's nurse-driven protocols have empowered nurses in clinical decision-making, ensuring timely and appropriate care delivery. Her implementation of nurse-initiated reduction protocols for blood glucose and vital signs monitoring in stable patients has reduced nursing workload by 20% and 26% respectively, optimising resource allocation for complex cases while minimising unnecessary treatments.

 During the COVID-19 pandemic, Clarice demonstrated exceptional leadership in establishing and operationalising a 3,000-bed community care facility, working with multiple stakeholders to design facility layouts and implement operational workflows within three months. Her emergency department leadership during this challenging period resulted in a 42% increase in trained staff, 20% improvement in employee engagement scores, and 5% reduction in attrition rates.

 As a distinguished clinician, administrator, and researcher, Clarice has made significant contributions to nursing education and practice.

 As NTFGH's first APN, she developed the APN structure governing selection, training, practice and professionalism of APNs in the hospital. In her role, she oversees the Nursing Clinical Services of specialty nurses, APNs, and APN interns, ensuring high standards of care and capability development.

 Most recently, Clarice was appointed as the APN Head of the Cluster Committee for Advanced Practice Nurse Competence at the National University Health System (NUHS). In this role, she leads efforts to strengthen the APN internship programme across the cluster by working with institutional APN leads, developing guiding policies, and overseeing intern evaluations — a responsibility that underscores her key role in advancing APN training and standards in NUHS.

 Her research leadership has embedded evidence-based practice through establishing a nursing research workgroup and quarterly Nursing Research Forum. She supported groundbreaking research on tracheostomy care training, revolutionising nursing education by demonstrating the effectiveness of simulation-based training in improving nurses' knowledge, confidence, and psychomotor skills.

 Internationally, as a certified instructor for the Basic Assessment and Support in Intensive Care course, she has enhanced critical care training across Asia. Her expertise has led to invitations to share knowledge with Indonesian nurses and conduct instructor courses in New Zealand, cementing her position as a respected leader in global nursing education.

 Her dedication to community service reflects her commitment to healthcare equity and social responsibility. Through her involvement with various outreach initiatives, including support for migrant workers and underprivileged families, Clarice demonstrates that nursing excellence extends beyond hospital walls. Through the ASEAN Nursing Scholarship Program, she provides crucial support as a host family and mentor to international nursing scholars adapting to life in Singapore.

 Currently pursuing a Doctor of Nursing Practice at the University of Pennsylvania, Clarice envisions a nursing profession with greater shared governance, accountability, and professional autonomy. She advocates for a sustainable and resilient profession where nurses feel valued, supported, and empowered to provide optimal care. Through her unwavering dedication to excellence, innovative approach to patient care, and passionate advocacy for nursing advancement, Clarice continues to inspire the next generation of nurses while elevating the standards of patient care in Singapore's healthcare landscape.

Ms Yap Hui Xian Yvonne

Deputy Director of Nursing

Khoo Teck Puat Hospital

A visionary healthcare leader, Yvonne has redefined nursing practice at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH) through her bold, strategic, and deeply human approach to workforce innovation and patient care. Her initiatives have transformed critical areas in manpower planning, role redesign and professional development – creating systemic change that puts people at the heart of healthcare.

 Several of Yvonne’s initiatives have shaped nursing practice across the NHG Health cluster, further exemplifying her nursing leadership.  The roster reengineering initiative, which she first pioneered at KTPH, has become a key reference point for other institutions. Grounded in the principle of “listen, adapt and improve”, this initiative has removed inflexible legacy systems, including the four-day continuous PM-AM shifts, and through adjusting early morning start times, it has resulted in better work-life harmony of nurses across the cluster.

 As a core member of the NHG Health Nursing Manpower Review Workgroup and drawing on her frontline experience, Yvonne has provided invaluable inputs that helped design system-wide manpower policies and strategies, balancing operational planning, quality care, and nursing staff well-being for the cluster. Her foundational role in the NHG Health Generic Nursing Competency Framework Workgroup has redefined practice-aligned competencies that support structured career pathways and cross-institution mobility, and which are currently being advanced through the adoption of Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs).

 Yvonne's leadership in role redesign at KTPH was particularly evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, when she collaborated with Singapore Airlines, the Public Service Division, and KTPH to create the Care Ambassador role. The Care Ambassador role later evolved into the Patient Care Officer (PCO) programme, which increased nurses' clinical work time by 30% and reduced the number of nurses required in PCO-supported wards by 23%, while maintaining high-quality patient care and achieving sustainable manpower cost savings. This successful initiative paved the way for a comprehensive ancillary care redesign at KTPH, where the team enhanced competencies and career pathways for expanded care duties. The clearer role definitions and upskilling enabled nurses to focus more on clinical work, leading to a review of the scope of Enrolled and Registered Nurses to optimise workforce utilisation, competency development and job satisfaction.

 To foster professional growth and retention, Yvonne established the KTPH/Yishun Community Hospital (YCH) Nursing Work-sense Committee to drive meaning, engagement and retention across nursing roles. She introduced personal development conversations that transcend traditional performance reviews, helping nurses explore their strengths, aspirations and personal values. Through these efforts, she has cultivated stronger team bonds and a culture of purpose.

 Yvonne also champions ethics in practice, having created the KTPH/YCH Nursing Ethics Community of Practice, where nurses engage in regular case-based discussions and receive guidance on ethical escalation protocols. This initiative builds psychological safety and strengthens nurses’ confidence in ensuring patient care is delivered according to clinical standards and ethical principles.

 At the core of her leadership lies deep roots in service. Her active engagement in community activities from a young age instilled a fundamental belief that health is shaped not just by clinical care, but by social connection, trust, and belonging. This foundation continues to inform her leadership today, guiding her commitment to whole-person care, system collaboration, and patient engagement beyond hospital walls.

 Building on these principles, Yvonne remains a strong advocate for workforce redesign and learning culture. She continues to mentor, coach, and co-create nursing-led innovations across the system.

 A graduate of Harvard Business School's Managing Healthcare Delivery programme and currently pursuing an MBA from Manchester Global, Yvonne believes in marrying values with vision. She lives by the maxim "culture eats strategy for breakfast" and her leadership continues to prove that investing in people is the most powerful strategy of all.

 Looking ahead, Yvonne envisions a nursing profession that is autonomous, multi-skilled, and system-savvy – one that evolves through innovation while maintaining its essential human touch.