Local nursing community raises concern over changes to hospital job placements

SINGAPORE: The local nursing community has published an open letter seeking clarity on job placements for nurses, raising concerns that securing positions in restructured hospitals is no longer as straightforward as it once was. In a post shared on The Unconventional Nurse Instagram page on 2 August, the community wrote that the letter was “not about placing blame but about asking questions, seeking clarity, and starting a conversation that needs to happen”. Traditionally, securing a job in a restructured hospital was considered almost automatic for qualified nursing graduates, shared the IG page, which is managed by healthcare case manager Muhammad Yurihan Johari. However, recent accounts from nurses suggest that even passionate and competent graduates are now facing difficulties finding hospital positions. With new facilities such as the upcoming Tengah and Eastern General Hospitals yet to open, the community is questioning what interim plans are in place for job seekers. According to preliminary polls conducted by The Unconventional Nurse on Instagram and Telegram, more than 80 per cent of 147 respondents said they were struggling to find a position within the restructured sector. While the community acknowledged that the sample size was limited, they said the trend was “hard to ignore” and pointed to a need for more open communication from healthcare leaders.

A Call for Dialogue, Not Blame

“This is not about finger-pointing,” the community wrote. “If there’s a bottleneck or nationwide hiring freeze, shouldn’t we be talking about it?” The letter, addressed to nursing leaders, hospital administrators, and healthcare policymakers, urged transparency if there are changes to workforce planning or temporary hiring slowdowns. Over the past several weeks, the group said it has observed growing concern within the nursing community, particularly among fresh graduates and early-career nurses. Increasingly, there are reports of qualified and passionate individuals facing unexpected difficulty in securing nursing positions in restructured hospitals. “This is unusual,” the letter stated. “Historically, hospital placements have been a relatively straightforward process for local nurses who meet the necessary criteria. For many, working in a hospital was not just a goal but almost a given. Today, that assurance appears to be slipping away.”

Appeal for Transparency

The community stressed that its appeal was made “with humility, not accusation”, recognising that workforce planning involves complex factors such as budgets and long-term infrastructure needs. However, it cautioned that “silence in the face of uncertainty only deepens frustration and erodes morale”. “Open communication can ease the growing anxiety among young nurses who are eager to serve but unsure where they stand,” the letter added. The letter concluded with a call for collaboration and transparency, asking whether there are upcoming changes nurses should be aware of, or guidance for graduates awaiting employment opportunities. “We believe in the strength of the profession,” the letter said. “Most of all, we believe in the nurses who are ready to serve but are left waiting.”

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A post shared by Yurihan Johari (@the.unconventional.nurse)

Under the post, several netizens commented that they too had experienced similar difficulties securing nursing positions, with one noting that there are many job ads but not much response. The issue has also surfaced on Reddit. In a post on r/SGExams dated 14 August, one user who claimed to be a recent local nursing degree graduate said it had been difficult to land a job. “Been applying for jobs since March. Public hospitals say they need nurses. Job postings everywhere. But interviews? Almost none. Offers? Zero,” the user wrote.

Fresh nursing grads in SG can’t get jobs… so what “shortage” are we talking about? 🤔 byu/Stunning-Bandicoot87 inSGExams

Nursing Workforce Statistics

According to the Singapore Nursing Board’s Annual Report 2024, a total of 50,389 nurses and registered midwives were on the Register and Roll as of 31 December 2024 — an 8.7 per cent increase from the previous year’s 46,344. Of these, 42,131 were Registered Nurses (RNs), 8,210 were Enrolled Nurses (ENs), and 48 were Registered Midwives (RMWs). In 2024, a total of 6,032 new nurses and midwives were registered or enrolled. This comprised 1,213 Singaporean or PR Registered Nurses and 3,191 non-resident Registered Nurses, along with 278 Singaporean or PR Enrolled Nurses and 1,350 non-resident Enrolled Nurses.