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"The pandemic served as a stark reminder of the critical importance of a resilient nursing workforce, exposing potential risks of staff strain and burnout. In response, we have focused on strengthening its recruitment processes to alleviate the manpower crunch and support our existing nursing staff," Clara Wee, CHRO, shares.
As nurses form the backbone of healthcare delivery, National University Hospital (Singapore) has developed a comprehensive strategy to attract, develop, and retain top nursing talent.
This approach led the HR team to clinch the gold award for 'Excellence in Talent Acquisition' at the HR Excellence Awards 2024, Singapore.
Fresh off the win, Clara Wee, Chief Human Resource Officer, National University Hospital (Singapore), tells HRO how her team addressed the significant challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, including high staff turnover and a global nursing shortage to secure the future of nursing care, to enable the hospital to maintain exceptional patient care standards and cultivate a pipeline of qualified nurses.
Q. What was the motivation that sparked your passion & business case for pursuing your outstanding people strategy?
The National University Hospital (NUH) has developed a winning people strategy aimed at building and sustaining a robust nursing workforce. It is designed to address ongoing healthcare needs while preparing for unforeseen crises, particularly in light of the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Given that nurses constitute 45% of our workforce, their recruitment and retention have naturally emerged as top priorities in our strategic plan.
Central to the strategy is the cultivation of an 'Incredible Care' culture for both our patients and staff, a vision championed by our chief executive officer (CEO), Professor Aymeric Lim. This ethos has been exemplified by the unwavering dedication of our nursing staff, whose commitment has not gone unnoticed. Inspired by their tireless efforts, the human resources (HR) Department has pledged to elevate its support for these essential healthcare professionals, recognising nurses as the cornerstone of our healthcare system.
The pandemic served as a stark reminder of the critical importance of a resilient nursing workforce, exposing potential risks of staff strain and burnout. In response, we have focused on strengthening its recruitment processes to alleviate the manpower crunch and support our existing nursing staff. This strategy is designed to ensure we can continue to provide exceptional care in all circumstances and build a pipeline of nurses for the future.
Q. Looking back, can you share a challenge that you overcame in your journey of HR excellence? How did you triumph?
During the COVID-19 pandemic, NUH faced significant challenges, including high attrition rates and a global nursing shortage. Guided by the unwavering leadership of our CEO and chief nurse (CN), we responded with proactive recruitment and retention strategies, successfully attracting local fresh graduates and foreign-trained nurses, alleviating our manpower constraints.
However, this influx of new staff presented its own challenges. These new nurses required extensive training and guidance to adapt to our complex healthcare environment. Experienced nurses, who remained with us during that period, played a vital role in mentoring and supporting their new colleagues, ensuring a smooth transition, and maintaining high care standards.
Additionally, we overcame these obstacles through strong middle management support and clear communication of strategic rationales among HR, senior management, and middle management. Our multi-faceted approach, encompassing enhanced recruitment, engagement, transformation, and retention efforts, not only resolved pressing staffing issues but also strengthened our capacity to provide high-quality care. Hence, we developed a resilient and motivated nursing team capable of meeting current and future healthcare demands while delivering 'Incredible Care' to our patients.
Q. Beyond the recognition, what impact do you hope your feature in the HR Excellence Awards would have on the HR community and manpower landscape?
Our recent recognition with the HR Excellence in Talent Acquisition Award marks a significant milestone in our HR evolution. This accolade underscores the transformation of our HR function from a traditional top-down approach to a proactive, agile business partner. The shift has fostered greater trust and collaboration between HR and the Nursing departments, enabling more effective solutions to complex challenges.
We have developed a multi-faceted, flexible approach to HR management, prioritising responsiveness to line managers’ requests. During the pandemic, our HR team demonstrated remarkable adaptability, swiftly implementing diverse strategies to adjust to rapidly changing circumstances. This agility allowed for quick, tailored solutions, enhancing organisational efficiency and employee satisfaction.
Through this feature in the HR Excellence Awards, we aim to inspire other HR professionals, to explore similarly agile and responsive approaches. By sharing our experiences, we seek to contribute to the advancement of HR strategies across industries, promoting adaptability in addressing evolving workplace challenges. Ultimately, we view this recognition as an opportunity to influence positive changes in the HR community and broader manpower landscape. We hope our story of nimble, responsive HR practices will spark innovative thinking and lead to more resilient and effective HR practices across various sectors, solidifying our position as a leader in HR excellence and talent acquisition.
Q. Could you share some advice you would give to others aspiring to follow in your footsteps?
Successful nursing recruitment hinges on a multi-faceted approach that engages existing staff while attracting new talent. A key recommendation is leveraging word-of-mouth through current employees, transforming them into powerful ambassadors for our hospital by understanding and addressing their needs. This strategy taps into institutional pride, making our existing nurses unofficial yet effective recruiters.
Building on this foundation, a proactive recruitment approach is crucial for success, encompassing diverse recruitment channels and early engagement with potential candidates through student outreach programmes. Enhancing employer branding and utilising social media for recruitment can significantly boost visibility and appeal to prospective nurses.
Offering competitive compensation packages is crucial for attracting top talents, while prioritising employee engagement and providing clear career development pathways help retain nurses and foster a positive workplace culture.
The guiding principle "Ignite Passion, Inspire Excellence" encapsulates this holistic approach, emphasising the importance of nurturing passion within the nursing profession and inspiring them to strive for excellence in patient care. This philosophy not only attracts new nurses but also reinvigorates existing staff, creating a cycle of enthusiasm and dedication.
In today's globalised healthcare environment, balancing local and international recruitment efforts ensures a diverse workforce. As the healthcare landscape evolves, it's vital to continually adapt strategies based on changing needs and feedback, ensuring a dynamic and effective approach to nursing recruitment and retention.
Q. Let's talk inspiration! Who has been a driving force behind your success?
Our Nursing HR team has been honoured with the prestigious 'Excellence in Talent Acquisition' award, a testament to our outstanding efforts in recruitment and retention. This accolade underscores our progressive approach to attract nursing talent in the competitive healthcare sector and our commitment to building a resilient, compassionate workforce dedicated to exceptional patient care.
Our team's success is attributed to the strategic vision and exemplary leadership of the CEO, CN, and chief human resource officer, who foster a positive culture characterised by a "can-do" attitude and a "don't-blame" mentality. This environment of trust encourages the team members to view challenges as opportunities for growth and to proactively seek solutions. Our HR team's cohesive and dynamic spirit, coupled with flexible and adaptable approach to talent acquisition, proved particularly valuable during the pandemic. Our achievements set a new benchmark for HR practices across industries.
Our Nursing HR team's work not only inspires excellence but also drives lasting, positive change in the healthcare sector, reinforcing our position as leaders in HR management. All these efforts are ultimately in pursuit of delivering 'Incredible Care' to our patients and staff.
Read more interviews on why organisations have won trophies for their HR practices – head over to our Winning Secrets section!
Photo: Provided
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