A new centre that will boost the learning experience of nursing students at Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) was launched by Senior Minister of State for Health and Manpower Amy Khor on Wednesday morning.

It is a joint initiative by the polytechnic and Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), a non-profit organisation specialising in healthcare information and management systems.

The new NYP-HIMSS Centre of Excellence will integrate classroom learning with the healthcare setting in hospitals and polyclinics.

The centre will see its first batch of students in January, and they will enjoy hands-on training with systems such as electronic medical record systems and wireless vital signs monitoring.

"The technologies that are available in this centre will place our students in an environment that is similar to many hospitals in Singapore," said Ms Wong Luan Wah, director of nursing at the School of Health Sciences at NYP.

"This way, we are able to train them to be capable in operating these systems and be prepared to offer competent and professional care to patients once they enter the healthcare setting."