The creation of the Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies and the professionalization of nursing in Singapore

Abstract

This thesis is a study of the professionalization of nursing in Singapore. In order to remain globally competitive, Singapore has to transit to a knowledge based economy (KBE) and develop the service industry. In reference to this, developing healthcare services and enabling Singapore to become the regional medical hub are key objectives to developing the service industry. The recent provision of the local nursing degree programme at the Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies (ALCNS) is used as an empirical example to discuss the state?s role in developing the healthcare services in terms of shaping the professionalization of nursing. This thesis argues that despite the state?s said rhetoric, state support has been insufficient to enable nursing to professionalize adequately. The professionalization of nursing in Singapore can be concluded to be: (1) not a smooth sailing experience, (2) still an ongoing process, (3) not a single process with a given end-state, and (4) dictated primarily by the state.