To celebrate 5•12 International Nurses Day, on 3 May 2013 Kiang Wu Nursing College of Macau (KWNC) held a number of academic activities in which nursing experts, seniors, peers, College teachers and students were invited to explore the professional uniqueness of nursing and its direction of development.

On the afternoon of 3 May, hosted by Professor Zhu Mingxia, the Distinguished Lecture “Future Direction of Nursing Development: From a View of Re-identifying Professional Uniqueness” was delivered by Professor Yu-Mei Yu Chao, Honorary Professor of KWNC and Chairperson of Taiwan Nursing Accreditation Council. At the beginning of the lecture, Professor Yu draws audience’s attention by reminding them the fact that all people are living with both the ever-changing and unchanged elements. Nowadays many things in the world such as the environment, social development, information technology, medical technology and spectrum of disease all keep on changing. Nevertheless, the process of birth, age, sickness and death, the basic needs in life and the desire of receiving love and care have never changed. Nursing personnel are thus encouraged to pursue the spirit and professionalism of life-long learning so as to be better prepared to deal with this era of changes and preserve the values of nursing. Professor Yu illustrates the nature of nursing from various aspects, and shares her research findings on how nursing personnel and patients perceive “high-quality nursing care” differently. Professor Yu encourages teachers, students and peers to make continuous efforts in their path of professional development, enhance their competence of clinical nursing and identify their professional uniqueness in this ever-changing society.

Following the lecture, in the evening, a seminar on specialist nursing was held to initiate an in-depth discussion on the development of specialist nursing in Macao. The seminar was hosted by Assistant Professor U Wai Ang, attended by Professor Yu and nursing representatives from academia and various nursing and community associations.

In the seminar, representative of the community points out that the compensation and benefits of community nurses are still behind those of hospitals, causing a severe shortage of human resources in community nurses. Although some associations are able to offer home nursing services, owing to the limitation of skills, only some basic nursing care such as wound dressing and dressing renewal can be offered. In view of this, it is hoped that the Government could pay more attention to community nursing, strengthen communications and exchanges with community associations, provide more financial support and offer intensive trainings to carers working in the community. Some seminar attendees also raise that there is a lack of smooth service transition between hospitals and the community, and urge the Government to formulate relevant policies and optimize the medical and nursing system.

Concerning the sustainable development, although specialist nursing has developed for quite some time and the number of specialist nurses accounts for a certain proportion of the total number of nurses in Macao, not many specialist nurses actually take part in specialist nursing services. As a result, seminar attendees suggest the Government setting guidelines on the recruitment of specialist nurses and standardize their professional qualifications. In addition, some attendees consider Macao’s unique regional advantage, close cultural connection with the Motherland and the inexistence of medical college a great opportunity of launching scientific researches and innovation for specialist nursing. Should the three aspects – teaching, community services and researches be well incorporated, the development of specialist nursing can be promoted.

In her closing remark, Professor Yu expresses that difficulties are inevitable in the course of specialist nursing development, therefore all sectors of Macao should be united to set up new directions to meet this challenge. We should distinguish the job responsibilities of hospital nursing and community nursing, collect and analyze the relevant health data and identify the core needs of society. By doing so, we will be able to recognize our priorities and strengthen the trainings accordingly, and hence elevate the quality of specialist nursing.

In that evening, the entire seminar was held under an enthusiastic atmosphere. Guests attended the seminar included representatives of our College – Van Iat Kio, Xing Zhihong, Leong Sok Man, Zeng Wen, Lau Gar Bo, Hu Xiaoxia, Chung Siu Fung, Wong Choi Peng and Ng Wai I; representatives of Kiang Wu Hospital – Fok Wai Lan, Wong Cheng Wa, Ung Vai Ha, Lei Lai Keng and Mou Sio Nei; representatives of Hospital Centre S. Januario – Choi Mio Iong, Fan Wong Iao Ha and Lou Sin Man; representatives of Macao Polytechnic Institute – Yin Lei and Liu Ming; representative of Meng Fai Nursing Home of Macao Lam Iok Chu; representative of General Union of Neighbourhood Associations of Macao Lau Wing Sze; representatives of Nurses Association of Macau – Tin Kit Peng and Lei Sut Peng; representatives of Macau Nursing Staff Association – Lo Sio Keng and Lam Soc Keng; representatives of Macao Sino-Portuguese Nurses Association – Linda Tran and Lam Oi Ching; representative of Association of Specialized Nurses of Macau Yu Bun. Moreover, KWNC’s alumni and graduates of postgraduate diploma programme including Lo Siu Ha, Leong Iok Wa, Estela Ma, Leong Lap Tong, Ng In I, Cheong Pak Leng, Wong Chi Wa, Tong Cheng Si and Lei Tong Mui also attended the seminar and were actively involved in the discussions.