Three nurses get President's Award

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http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC120724-0000144/Three-nurses-get-Presidents-Award

Three nurses have been recognised for their significant contributions to their profession.

They received the President's Award for Nurses from President Tony Tan Keng Yam at Istana on Tuesday evening.

The award is the national accolade for the nursing profession.

The three recipients are:

- Advanced Practice Nurse Lian Siew Bee, assistant director of nursing at Singapore General Hospital

- Ms Teresa Ng Ruey Pyng, senior nurse clinician, KK breast department at KK Women's & Children's Hospital

- Ms Poh Chee Lien, senior nurse educator, nursing training department at the Institute of Mental Health.

Each of them received a trophy, a certificate and S$6,000, which can be used to attend conferences and training programmes.

Caring for cancer patients is a common denominator for two of the award recipients.

Ms Ng, a 47-year-old oncology-trained nurse, actively raises awareness on breast cancer in Singapore and organises activities for her patients.

A nurse for 20 years, she also established KK's Alpine Blossoms Breast Cancer Support Group, where patients can interact and connect with one another through activities and events, contributing to their holistic recovery.

Ms Ng also provides counselling for her patients and their families and makes sure that they are supported throughout their illness, on a day-to-day basis.

The other nurse working with cancer patients is Ms Lian.

The 42-year-old is an Advisor to the Oncology Support group and an adjunct lecturer at the National University of Singapore (NUS).

Ms Lian has also helped to establish a Palliative Care Unit in Hanoi and was invited to share her oncology expertise in China.

Ms Lian also develops training courses for nurses at the Singapore General Hospital.

The third award recipient, Ms Poh, also guides nurses.

The 36-year-old nurse from the Institute of Mental Health is armed with 17 years of experience.

In 2010, she set up the Centre for Mental Health Education, the first of its kind in Singapore.

She is also an active contributor to mental health nursing through her local and international publications and presentations.

Ms Poh also helped set up the Joanna Briggs Institute-IMH Centre for Evidence-based Practices in Mental Health Care to conduct research and evidence-based studies.