NITRO has
6 Focus Areas:
- Clinical Practice
- Clinical Informatics / Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Nursing Management / Leadership
- Education
- Innovation / Value-based Care
- Programme Evaluation
Some past projects relevant to these 6 areas that our team embarked on are linked below.
Clinical Practice
Aim: To break new ground on nursing care delivered to patients and their loved ones
Relevant projects & manuscripts:
Informatics / Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Aim: To generate insights using data science with expert nursing knowledge to provide informed guidance for policy and care.
Relevant projects & manuscripts:
Nursing Management / Leadership
Aim: To unlock new knowledge in management sciences to meet the needs of an evolving nursing profession and a multi-generational workforce.
Relevant projects & manuscripts:
Education
Aim: To critically examine and develop new pedagogies and tools to better equip and meet the needs of learners affected by nurses.
Relevant projects & manuscripts:
Innovation / Value-based Care
Aim: To examine the feasibility, acceptability and effectiveness of new tools and care transformations before their scale-up into general clinical practice.
Relevant projects:
Programme Evaluation
Aim: To provide a holistic, global evaluation of nurse-led initiatives; to examine their effectiveness and impact on staff, patient, caregiver and community outcomes.
Relevant projects:
The Incubator
Here at NITRO, we allow nurses to pursue curiosity to improve clinical practice. Through this, we hope to build up the next generation of Nurse Scientists.
Meet Run Qi and Yi Ling, two of our Hybrid Nurse Clinician-Scientists, who split their time between caring for patients in the wards and conducting research to address critical gaps in nursing care.
The Accelerator: Ground Engagement
We aim to amplify NITRO’s visibility as a leading platform for nurses seeking to engage in research, evidence-based practice and inquiry, providing them with valuable resources and support to enhance their work.
We currently do so through several fronts:
1. Curious Cat initiative
Our Hybrid Nurse Clinician-Scientists have partnered with us to launch the Curious Cat, a multi-pronged initiative that aims to spark curiosity and promote a culture of inquiry among TTSH nurses.
Curious Cat activities include:
-
Curious Cat Consultations: a platform that provides nurses assistance and support with their research/EBP projects
-
‘Have You Ever Thought’: a series of posters that reinforce the importance of evidence-based nursing practices
-
Curious Cat Digest: a series of posters with best evidence regarding a practice
2. NITRO Newsletter Series
Together with some of our Hybrid Nurse Clinician-Scientists, we developed an ongoing newsletter series titled “The NITRO Tale”, that aims to equip all nurses with bite-sized research tips & knowledge regarding evidence-based practices.
The Connector
We use a hub-and-spoke approach to connect nurses, clinicians, research and technology partners with one another. That way, we can better develop solutions to meet tomorrow’s issues together.
In 2022, NITRO welcomed Nurse Researchers from the University of Oulu, Finland. There was a productive sharing of the approaches and strategies used to improve nursing science, enhancing patient capacity for self-care and nursing skillsets to manage an ageing population.
Hosting a group of Nurse Researchers from the University of Oulu, Finland
In 2023, as part of the Ministry of Health (MOH)'s Health Manpower Development Plan (HMDP) - Visiting Experts, NITRO hosted Prof. Tracey Bucknall from Alfred Health and Deakin University, Australia. She held a series of lectures and workshops for nurses from various institutions, sharing her expertise on implementation science and knowledge translation.
NITRO team with Prof. Tracey Bucknall & guest speakers, 2023
Closed Room Dialogue & Workshop Group Discussion with Prof. Tracey Bucknall, 2023
We look forward to more connections and collaborations with partners around the world to bring forward Better Health.
The Explorer-Scientists
Putting all these elements together, we aim to build up generations of nurse scientists who are passionate and driven about discovering new insights to help improve nursing care.
At NITRO, we aim to ensure that all our knowledge generated through research is brought back to the bedside to improve care for our staff, patients and the wider community.
Some success stories of translation are as shared below:
“Red No More” – Development of an incontinence-associated dermatitis care bundle
Incontinence-associated dermatitis is a complex health problem prevalent in healthcare and long-term care solutions. It can cause excruciating pain and itching to afflicted patients, and undue distress to their family members and caregivers.
Partnering with wound nurse clinician experts, NITRO found that the addition of skin cleanser agents to the standard skin care of incontinent patients led to a 50% increased likelihood of skin healing within 7 days (Glass et al. 2021).
Below is a poster summarizing some of the team’s findings:
Based on these findings, NITRO developed an evidence-based incontinence- associated dermatitis bundle, one of the first in an acute hospital in Singapore. Within a year from the clinical trial, this bundle is now considered part of standard care across Tan Tock Seng Hospital, reducing the risk of our patients suffering from such pain and discomfort.
“I See, I Learn, I Do” – Establishing video-accelerated caregiver skills training for nasogastric tube feeding
Long-term nasogastric tube feeding is a common enteral feeding solution for patients who are unable to swallow adequately in Singapore, requiring caregivers to become competent in the skills of nasogastric tube feeding and overall tube management before the patient can be discharged back home.
Working together with the Nursing Education Department in TTSH, NITRO established a training primer protocol, with caregivers having to watch a video that summarizes the process and rationale of nasogastric tube feeding before approaching the bedside for practical training and competency assessment.
Through this, caregivers reported a 40% increase in the median number of correct steps, and a 30% reduction in the 75th percentile of number of training sessions to become competent in nasogastric tube feeding. This reflects how the programme has contributed towards caregivers becoming competent faster and performing better during their hands-on practice, potentially saving an additional day in hospital for training, which costs nearly SGD 2,000 per patient (Kwok et al. 2023).
Based on these findings, the video primer protocol now constitutes a standard part of the caregiver training syllabus for caregivers learning nasogastric tube feeding for the very first time.
2025
- National Medical Research Council (NMRC) Research Training Fellowship - George Glass
- NHG Health-Lee Kong Chian Medicine Clinician-Scientist Fellowship - George Glass
2024
- President's Award for Nurses - Dr Chan Ee Yuee
- Singapore Nursing Award (Bronze), Singapore Health & Biomedical Congress (SHBC)
2023
- Singapore Nursing Award (Gold), Singapore Health & Biomedical Congress (SHBC)
- SHBC Best Poster Award (Nursing), Singapore Health & Biomedical Congress (SHBC)
2022
- Singapore Nursing Award (Gold), Singapore Health & Biomedical Congress (SHBC)
- Singapore Nursing Award (Silver), Singapore Health & Biomedical Congress (SHBC)
SHBC 2022 Singapore Nursing Award (Gold)
2021
- Best Poster Award (Nursing Research) (Gold), Singapore Health & Biomedical Congress (SHBC)
- Best Poster Award (Nursing Research) (Silver), Singapore Health & Biomedical Congress (SHBC)
2020
- Impactful Collaboration Award, Tan Tock Seng Hospital Research Award
2019
- Nominee for National Outstanding Clinician Scientist Award, National Medical Excellence Award
- Nursing Research Medal, National University of Singapore
- Singapore Nursing Award (Gold), Singapore Health & Biomedical Congress (SHBC)
- Best Poster Award (Nursing Research) (Gold), Singapore Health & Biomedical Congress (SHBC)
2018
- Singapore Nursing Award (Gold), Singapore Health & Biomedical Congress (SHBC)
- Health Professions Education Research Investigator Award (Gold), Singapore
- Health & Biomedical Congress (SHBC)
- Health Professions Education Research Investigator Award (Bronze), Singapore Health & Biomedical Congress (SHBC)
- Nursing Research Medal, National University of Singapore
Our work has received coverage in local media:
- November 2025, GovInsider
Read the article: Singapore’s nursing-led innovation movement to better advocate for caregivers
- September 2025, The Straits Times
Read the article: TTSH introduces new portal to help guide caregivers | The Straits Times
- September 2025, LIANHE ZAOBAO
Read the article: 陈笃生医院为看护者推新手机应用功能 更好照顾病患 | 联合早报 (zaobao.com.sg)
- September 2025, Channel 8 News
![]()
Watch the Full Video: 陈笃生医院为看护者推新手机应用功能 更好照顾病患 | 联合早报 (zaobao.com.sg
- September 2025, Mediacorp 8world
Read the article: 陈笃生医院推出关怀看护者计划2.0 提升护理服务减轻负担 - 8worl
- September 2025, Shin Min Daily News
![]()
Read the article:
- September 2025, Ageless Online
- July 2024, LIANHE ZAOBAO
Read the article: 五白衣天使获颁总统护士奖 本地护理界最高荣誉 | 联合早报 (zaobao.com.sg)
- July 2024, MOH News Highlights
Read the article: President's Award for Nurses 2024
- February 2023, BrightSparks E-Magazine
Read the article: MOHH Scholarship - Creating Impact Through Nursing Research | BrightSparks February 2023 e-Magazine
- 19 Dec 2022, Facebook mention by Minister Masagos Zulkifli
- 27 Feb 2022, Channel NewsAsia
Read the Article: Commentary: Caregiver collapse is real and hospitals can smoothen thetransition home
- 4 Jul 2019, Channel NewsAsia
Watch the Full Video: TTSH's pilot programme to introduce framework for bettercaregiving management
- 4 Jul 2019, The Straits Times
Read the Article: More help for caregivers to cope emotionally with roll-out of new TTSH programme
2025 TTSH Nursing Publications
Name(s) & Ward/Dept of Authors from TTSH Nursing
| Publication
|
Lian Xia (Specialty Nursing), Anita Lin Ying (Specialty Nursing), Eunice Goh (Specialty Nursing), Christina Goh (Specialty Nursing), Quek Hwee Chen (Specialty Nursing), Isaac Tan (5C), Lim Helen (3A)
| Telehealth insulin titration in adults with diabetes: a randomized controlled trial comparing bluetooth-enabled versus traditional glucometers
|
Lim Kelly (Specialty Nursing)
| Ten things I wish I knew as a new peritoneal dialysis nurse
|
Chen Li (Nursing Service), Kuek Shao Yang (Specialty Nursing)
| Predictive performance and temporal dynamics of national early warning score 2 (NEWS2) in detecting clinical deterioration in general ward: A large-scale validation study in Singapore
|
Lian Xia (Specialty Nursing)
| An Asian monogenic diabetes registry: prevalence, long-term renal trajectory and development of a diagnostic algorithm for selection of candidates for genetic testing
|
Lin Yongxing Patrick (Nursing Service), Chan Ee Yuee (Nursing Service)
| Guiding novice nurses through resuscitations in the intensive care units: A qualitative descriptive study
|
Neo Yi Ling (6B), Glass George Frederick Jr (Nursing Service), Cheong Run Qi (Nursing Service), Chan Ee Yuee (Nursing Service)
| Electronic Medical Records Transition |
Neo Yu Wei (Nursing Service), Chan Ee Yuee (Nursing Service)
| Lived Experiences and Coping Strategies of Unpaid Informal Caregivers of Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Singapore: A Qualitative Systematic Review Protocol
|
Neo Yu Wei (Nursing Service), Chan Ee Yuee (Nursing Service)
| Developing a Multicomponent Intervention for Family Caregivers of Older Adults in Singapore: A Delphi Study
|
Siew An Ling (Nursing Service), Chan Ee Yuee (Nursing Service)
| Mastering the Art of Caregiving: Instructional Approaches to Teaching Healthcare-Related Procedural Skills to Informal Caregivers-An Integrative Review
|
Cheong Run Qi (Nursing Service), Glass George Frederick Jr (Nursing Service), Goh Cheng Cheng Karine (Specialty Nursing), Chan Ee Yuee (Nursing Service)
| Effect of an Online Educational Program on Nurses' Knowledge of Incontinence‐Associated Dermatitis
|
Lim Xin Min (6D), Glass George Frederick Jr (Nursing Service), Chan Ee Yuee (Nursing Service)
| Caregiver-involved reminiscence for persons with dementia: a scoping review protocol
|
2025 Conference Presentations
Name & Ward/Dept
| Title of Presentation
| Name of Conference
|
Sun Tao (Specialty Nursing)
| Safe Change of Tracheostomy Tubes by 2 Trained Nurses Together For Adult Patients at Their own Homes
| SingHealth Nursing Conference 2025
|
Ang Sue Fern (Specialty Nursing)
| Risk-based versus Universal Admission Screening for Carbapenemase-producing Organisms
| 9th International Congress of Infection Control Association Singapore
|
Lim Kelly (Specialty Nursing)
| Impact on Peritoneal Dialysis Uptake Through Implementation Of Patient Sharing Session With Chronic Kidney Disease 5 Patients - A Single Centre Restrospective Review
| 62nd European Renal Association Congress
|
Ooi Chien Zhao Eunice (3A), Koh Chee Seng Eric (3A), Afina Binte Mohd Saniff (3A)
| A Nurse-Led Initiative: Exploring Nurses’ Willingness and Barriers to Adopt Pupillometers in the Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for Future Practice
| ESICM Lives 2025: 38th Annual Congress
|
Chin Wei Jien (3A), Ang Herng Shinn Alvin (3A), Almaraj Saranyadevi (3A)
| A Nurse-Led Initiative: Exploring Nurses’ Willingness and Barriers to Adopt Pupillometers in the Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for Future Practice
| Asia Pacific Intensive Care Symposium (APICS) 2025
|
Chia Jue Xuan (11A)
| Beyond the incision - Navigating the pre-post operative journey
| NPEC Public Health Talk
|
Glass George Frederick Jr (Nursing Service)
| "I'm sorry, could you say that again?" Development and validation of a Gen-AI dementia chatbot for dementia commnication training
| NTU AI For Education Conference
|
Name & Ward/Dept
| Title of Presentation
|
Choo Chang How (Nursing Education & Development)
| AI-Powered Conversation Chatbot for Nurses: Enhancing Communication and Clinical Reasoning Skills in a Psychologically Safe Environment
|
Sun Tao (Specialty Nursing)
| Understanding home ventilatory patients' chosen place for thier final moments - A study of association and experience
|
Wendy Kwa Wan Ping (Specialty Nursing)
| The effect of stroke education on lifestyle modifications in stroke patients with hypertension
|
Su Meizhen Elsa (Specialty Nursing)
| Streamlining biologics therapy in rheumatology: A nurse led approach
|
Hu Yalan (Specialty Nursing)
| Mental Health, Disability and Quality of Life in Asian IBD Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study at a Tertiary Hospital in Singapore
|
Lydia Soon (Specialty Nursing)
| Educational mobile application as a too- Enabling caregivers at home!
|
Li Lihong (Specialty Nursing)
| Safe from Sepsis
|
Chia Gerk Sin (Specialty Nursing)
| Evaluating Validity of EPA based Assessments in APN Training: A correlational study with mini-cex ratings
|
Cheow Seow Lee (Specialty Nursing)
| Pericapsular Nerve Group (PENG) neurolysis vs non neurolysis for Pain Control in Conservatively Managed Hip Fracturs Patients: A Comparative Analysis
|
Lim Kelly (Specialty Nursing)
| Impact on Peritoneal Dialysis Uptake Through Implementation Of Patient Sharing Session With Chronic Kidney Disease 5 Patients - A Single Centre Restrospective Review
|
Yu Mingming (Specialty Nursing)
| Post-Emergency Department Asthma Care: Clinical Impact of Respiratory Nurse Specialist-led Interventions
|
Kum Jia Qi (Specialty Nursing)
| Risk Factors for Healthcare-Onset OXA48-like CPOs: The Role of Nasogastric Tube with Reusable Syringes In A Singapore Hospital
|
Seow Zixin (Operating Theatre)
| More Than Machines: Embedding Mindfulness to Complement Technology and Sustain Human-Centered Care in a Digital Era
|
Kelvin Tan (Renal Centre)
| Review of patients satisfaction and hospitalisation rate amongst prevalent PD Patients after implementation of remote peritoneal dialysis monitoring (sharesourec) in a single centre
|
Ho Jia Wei (Emergency Medicine)
| From Trolley to Tech: Reimagining Emergency Department (ED) Support with Robotics
|
Fan Aimin Emilia (5C)
| Beyond innovative technologies and job redesign to improve patient satisfaction
|
Vincent Aditya Tamin (6A/Nursing Service)
| Risk Factors for Post-Intensive Care Syndrome in Cardiac Arrest Survivors: A Preliminary Report
|
Neo Yi Ling (6B/Nursing Service)
| “More Tech, Better Care?”: Nurses’ perspectives on the usability of Next Generation Electronic Medical Record in a Singapore tertiary hospital
|
Neo Yi Ling (6B/Nursing Service)
| Stepping Up in Tech: Nurses’ perceptions of the Next Generation Electronic Medical Record after peer-led education
|
Lee Jun Zhang (6B)
| Redesigning care: exploring nurses perceptions of team based nursing model
|
Mok Kar Yen (8B)
| Efficacy of an Incentive Point Reward System in Promoting Early Hospital Discharges: A Pilot Study in Cardio-Respiratory Ward, Tan Tock Seng Hospital
|
Pereira Cheryl Crystal (8B), Joanne Lee Hui Min (8B)
| Understanding the impact of Artificial Intelligence on stress levels among nurses in acute care wards: A scoping review
|
Siti Aishah Samsudin (8D)
| Caregiver Online Workshops: Enhancing Knowledge And Support Through Virtual Engagement
|
Suemmaiyah Binte Nasir (9A)
| Comparing the Power of Time: Unveiling the Impact of 15-minutes vs. 30-minutes Intermittent Saline Flushing in the Acute Haemodialysis Unit
|
Melanie Wong Li Ling (11B)
| Building Readiness: Exploring Nurses' Experiences with the Opening of a Trauma Unit
|
Tan Sok Theng Joey (13A)
| Patient knowledge retention improved with a digital application for ward orientation.
|
Nurul Zawani Binte Zainal Abidin (ICH 11G)
| Initiation of Protein Supplementation to Exercise Program in a Subacute Geriatric Ward
|
Sun Sijia (ICH 11G)
| Implementation of Behavioral Support Service for Managing Behaviors of Concern in a Community Hospital Setting
|
Tan Si Ying Kristabel (ICH 14G)
| Namaste Care for Terminal Delirium in Palliative Patients: A Scoping Review of Its Role as Adjunct Therapy
|
Lo Hui Ting (ICH 14G)
| Namste Care in Managing Terminal Symptoms in Acute Palliative Ward - A Feasiblity and Pilot Study
|
Evelynn Sim Sung Yi (Nursing Service)
| More than machines: Embedding Mindfulness to Complement Technology and Sustain Human- Centered Care in a Digital Era
|
Glass George Frederick Jr (Nursing Service)
| “How Can I Assist?”: Examining the Effect of an Artificial Intelligence Assistant on Nurses’ Abstract-writing
|
Siew An Ling (Nursing Service)
| Strengthening evidence-based practice adoption amongst nurses: evaluation of a com-b model based intervention
|
Shermyne Chia (Nursing Service)
| Digital Interventions for Carer: A Pilot Study of a Mobile Application to Reduce Caregiving Burden
|
Name & Ward/Dept
| Title of Presentation
|
Choo Chang How (Nursing Education & Development)
| Automation in Action: Advancing Workforce Readiness through Robotic Process Automation in Nursing Education
|
Wendy Kwa Wan Ping (Specialty Nursing)
| The effect of stroke education on lifestyle modifications in stroke patients with hypertension
|
Seow Zixin (Operating Theatre)
| Empowered Nurses, Elevated Care: A ground up initiative to enhance safety in the Operating Theatre.
|
Janice Chong Whye Ying (CSSD)
| Mystery packs: Upkeeping high alertness & standards for instrument sterility in Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH)
|
Ho Jia Wei (Emergency Medicine)
| The Extra Pair of Wheels: Robotics as Workforce Extenders in Emergency Department
|
Wong Hui Chi (Centre for Geriatric Medicine)
| E-CARES: Empowering Caregivers and Enhancing Geriatric Care Delivery through Innovative Self-Reporting Initiatives
|
Neo Yi Ling (6B/Nursing Service)
| Redesigning care: Exploring nurses’ perceptions of team-based nursing care model
|
Xu Wei (7A)
| Enhancing nursing staff awareness and improving knowledge with evidence-based strategies for managing poor oral intake in dementia patients through nursing-led education
|
Jacelyn Lee Jie Lin (7A)
| Enhancing nursing staff awareness and improving knowledge with evidence based strategies for managing poor oral intake in dementia patients through nursing led education
|
Chua Wen Hui (9C)
| Improving Oral Intake: A Fresh Approach for patients in Ward 9C
|
Yam Ying Hao (12C)
| Eliminating the Incidence of Upper Limb Phlebitis in Patients with IV Plugs
|
Cheryl Chan Jia Wen (13A)
| From Paiseh to Peace of Mind: Exploring the barriers and facilitators to early Dementia screening amongst Singapore's seniors
|
Glass George Frederick Jr (Nursing Service)
| “Is this what I want?” Validating a mobile health app for caregivers with its intended use base
|