NUS and ITE launch new intra-professional nursing training programme to elevate teamwork and communication for enhanced patient care

Marking a first for Singapore's nursing education, the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) are introducing a joint training programme that brings nursing students from both institutions together to learn, train and collaborate before they enter the workforce.

At the heart of this programme is VERSE (Virtual Escape Room Simulation-based Education), developed by the Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies at NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (NUS Nursing) and NUS Information Technology (NUS IT), in partnership with ITE. VERSE leverages immersive virtual simulation to strengthen teamwork and communication between Enrolled Nurse (EN) students from ITE and Registered Nurse (RN) students from NUS. While these professionals work closely together in hospitals, they are typically trained separately during their studies. The VERSE programme will be progressively integrated into the nursing curricula of both institutions from 2027, benefiting approximately 700 students annually.

Developed with support from the Ministry of Education’s Tertiary Education Research Fund, the VERSE initiative advances Singapore's strategic efforts to foster greater collaboration across educational institutions. It aims to create a more integrated training ecosystem, where institutions complement one another's strengths in preparing future healthcare professionals. For more information on VERSE, please see Annexe A.

The VERSE programme was showcased at the launch of the Classroom Automated Virtual Environment at NUS (CAVE@NUS), a new virtual and immersive collaborative learning space. This innovative environment facilitates realistic healthcare simulations, making high-quality experiential learning accessible at scale for large student cohorts. The launch event was officiated by Guest-of-Honour, Dr Janil Puthucheary, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment. For more information on CAVE@NUS, please see Annexe B.

Professor Liaw Sok Ying, Head of NUS Nursing and Principal Investigator of VERSE, said, “What makes VERSE unique is not just the technology, but the relationships it builds. By bringing students from different educational pathways together, we help them understand each other's roles, communicate more effectively, and develop the trust needed to function as a cohesive nursing team. As one of the first initiatives of intra-professional education locally and globally, VERSE represents an important step towards a more integrated approach to nursing education and workforce preparation.”

"In healthcare, effective communication can make a real difference to patient outcomes. VERSE gives our students a safe environment to practise coordinating care and making decisions together with peers from another institution, while building confidence in teamwork and communication. We are pleased to harness technology in a meaningful way to enhance learning and better prepare students for practice. We hope that when they enter the workforce, they will be better prepared to work collaboratively and deliver the best possible care for their patients," said Dr Lionel Lau, Director, School of Health Sciences, ITE.

During the pilot and randomised controlled trials, students responded positively to VERSE, particularly valuing how the realistic scenarios and relatable team dynamics mirrored actual nursing practice.

Tan Choon Kiat Bradley, Year 3 NUS Nursing student, commented, "What stood out about VERSE was that the virtual patient could respond to us. We had to listen, assess the situation, and react in real time. It also helped me appreciate the role of Enrolled Nurses in ways I hadn't experienced before. Working together to decide how best to care for the patient felt much closer to actual clinical practice. It also helped me understand that effective patient care depends on good communication across the entire nursing team."

Harini D/O Selvarajan, Year 3 ITE Higher Nitec in Nursing student, shared, “Being able to speak to one another through the headset made the simulation feel much closer to a real hospital setting. It felt as though I was working alongside a Registered Nurse in an actual hospital. The simulation helped me understand how Enrolled Nurses and Registered Nurses can better support each other in patient care. It also gave me more confidence to speak up and contribute as part of the team.”