12 May is designated to be International Nurses Day to commemorate the founder of nursing science and nursing education, Ms. Florence Nightingale, who h e ld sublime dedication and devote d her whole life to the nursing profession. The International Council of Nurses (ICN) set the theme of this year's International Nurses Day as “Closing the Gap: From Evidence to Action”. Modern nursing services attach great importance to employ ing the latest and the most effective evidence. ICN reminds nursing peers that they must constantly obtain support from evidence when offering nursing services. ICN also emphasizes that during the daily nursing tasks, all decisions should be made in the light of concrete evidence. Nurses play a key role in the cross-disciplinary teams within the medical system. One of their significant tasks is to produce and share health care knowledge with patients and peers who can then be benefited. The evidence-based nursing endows nurses with the condition and capability to consistently review their work, introduce and verify the innovative and effective ways that improve their nursing services.

To celebrate the International Nurses Day, Kiang Wu Nursing College of Macau (KWNC) organized the event “Theme Talk cum Cap Conferment and Pinning Ceremony” on 4 May 2012. Teaching staff, students and alumni of KWNC and invited guests all came to participate in the event. Invited guests included Director of Tertiary Education Services Office Sou Chio Fai, Acting Chief Supervisor of Nurses of Health Bureau Choi Mio Iong, Kiang Wu Hospital (KWH) Director Wang Tinghuai, Assistant to KWH Director and Chief of the Nursing Department Fok Wai Lan, Director of the School of Health Sciences of Macao Polytechnic Institute Liu Ming, Vice-Chairman of Board of Directors of KWNC Ung Hon Chao and Vong Kok Seng, Board Member Chan Kam Meng and Paul Tse, etc. The Cap Conferment Ceremony aimed at encouraging those who were going to attend whole-year practice in the following academic year to inherit the ir seniors' excellent tradition and strengthen their sense of responsibility and mission to serve patients based on their professional knowledge and with their caring hearts. Nursing seniors invited to be guests of the Cap Conferment Ceremony included Head of the School of Nursing of Hong Kong Polytechnic University Pang Mei Che, Supervisor of Nurses of Hospital Centre S. Januario Fan Wong Iao Ha, Deputy Chief of the Nursing Department of KWH Ng Ngai and President of the Nurses Association of Macau Lei Sut Peng. A total of 47 students of the 3 rd Year of Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Programme receiv ed a nursing cap each from the ir seniors. In the Pinning Ceremony, Vice-Chairman of Board of Directors of KWNC Ung Hon Chao, Lecturer Lei Wai In, alumna Lo Sio Lei and KWH nurse Lei Wun Tim conferred the College pins on 46 students of the 4 th Year of BSN Programme, wishing them to apply the knowledge learned from their four-year studies and carry the spirit of the College to their real nursing work after graduation.

KWNC President Van Iat Kio indicates in her speech that the College has established the New Student Excellence Scholarship starting from the previous academic year to attract more excellent students to enroll in the nursing studies. In the new academic year, the number of applicants has increased significantly, giving signs that young people have foreseen the bright prospects of nursing profession in Macao, and thus, they have fortified their wishes to enter the nursing industry. President Van also expresses that since the College was established 90 years ago, it has been attaching great importance to nurtur ing students' virtue and talents. By presenting the teachers as role models and arranging a series of teaching activities according to the characteristics of young people and the requirement of nursing profession, the College hopes to enhance the communication and exchanges with students, strengthen their sense of belonging to the College, increase their acknowledgement of their professional identity and encourage them to contribute to the health of Macao residents. Taking the opportunity of May Fourth Youth Day, President Van encourages young people and students to inherit the spirit of patriotism, advancement, democracy and science, form a discreet scholar ly attitude, shape a modest, prudent and respectful character, and develop a working manner of seeking truth from facts and pursuing brilliance from excellence.

In the event, Professor Pang Mei Che quotes the story of Mencius. She prompts students to carefully recognize the needs of patients when serving them. Nursing tasks seem to be trivial but they actually mean a lot to the patients. Professor Pang also encourages students to stick to their firm passion towards nursing. Only by reflecting consistently and accumulating experience in the course of real practice, can we perform our nursing tasks well.