KWNC: a Leading Institution for Nursing Professionals

The shortage of nurses is a global challenge including Macao. Kiang Wu Nursing College of Macau (KWNC), founded in 1923, is therefore taking a big responsibility in nurturing more quality professionals in the field.

Alice Tsang Sau Mui, Executive Officer of Education Department and Associate Professor of KWNC, said, “There are nurse shortages worldwide and Macao is no exception. As the first local nursing institution, we embrace nursing education as our mission as well as social responsibility. We believe in the quality of our College and programmes. Since 1997, we have asked prestigious pundits from all over the world to assess our programmes, and they have consistently been highly acclaimed.

In 2015, we even invited the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) to conduct institutional quality audit (IQA). QAA issued confidence ratings and good practice certificates to recognize the high academic standards, extensive learning support for students, employment rates and the continuing education of graduates. While KWNC is widely recognised for its academic level and syllabus on par with international standards, there are different requirements for nurse registration across the world. What makes us stand out is our clinical placement of more than 1,600 hours, matching the minimum requirement which makes our graduates met the application criteria to sit for licensing examination for a registered nurse in Hong Kong. Our graduates are, therefore, capable of working outside Macao as their qualifications can meet the professional requirements for registration in many places.”

Wai I Ng, Programme Leader (BSN) and Assistant Professor, added, “We have been looking further in recent years to enrol students from outside Macao and attract people who wish to have a career shift. Those working in elderly care, healthcare, health education, health services and other similar industries tend to feel the need for continuing education, which helps increase their professional recognition as well as competitiveness. These kinds of applicants, provided they have relevant experience, will gain extra points for selection. We hope more young people will pursue a nursing career given the increased social status and salaries enjoyed by local nurses nowadays.”

In line with the Macao Government’s medical policy of ‘prioritise prevention and perfect medical treatment’, we design the programmes with a focus on preventive education and continued care. For instance, we work with a number of primary and secondary schools as part of our internship programmes. Students provide various kinds of health talks, activities and checks for children and youngsters with teachers’ assistance. This not only benefits our students, but helps reduce the risk of spreading diseases and enhance the general health literacy. Our tutors continue to offer first aid training to Macao’s public security forces, personnel in gaming industry and the general public, so that frontline employees are well equipped with emergency skills. As for community continued care, we keep pace with the Government’s elderly policies and meet social needs by adding several elderly care programmes, such as Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced Nursing Programme (Gerontological Nursing) for in-service nurses, Certificate Programme in Applied Gerontology and Certified Dementia Care Planner Course for workers of elderly care centres, Fundamental Health Care Training Programme for frontline staff of elderly care centres, and Training Course for In-home Elderly Caregivers for the public.”

“KWNC is building a new campus with the support of the Macao Government,” Tsang noted. “It will be located nearby the Reservatório Seac Pai Van of Cotai Strip where the Government plans to establish an Islands District Medical Complex within the next few years. The new campus comprises a 19-storey tower with plenty of teaching facilities, libraries, and research and laboratory facilities. In addition, there are spaces designed for clinical learning and standardised mock examinations to cater to future needs of Health Professionals’ Registration System as well as qualification assessment. Residential halls will also be in place so as to attract more students from overseas.

What is worth noting is that the campus is situated within the medical complex in proximity to a planned general hospital and rehabilitation hospital. KWNC is set to create another milestone by expanding its foundation for clinical learning, with more room for development, advancement and talent nurturing.”

ref:http://www.educationpost.com.hk