Explore the Establishment of Nursing Academy in Hong Kong
A paper presented by Dr. Susie Lum
Honorary Advisor of the Hong Kong Society for Nursing Education
Senior Executive Manager (Nursing) of the Hospital Authority, Hong Kong
at the 16th Annual General Meeting of the Hong Kong Society for Nursing Education
on 15 March 2002
(Reported by Professor Sally Chan, Chairman, Hong Kong Society for Nursing Education)
Introduction
Dr. Susie Lum was being invited as a speaker at the 16th AGM to talk about her vision on the establishment of Nursing Academy in Hong Kong. The following is a summary of her speech.
Models of Academy of Nursing
Dr. Lum commenced her speech introducing models of nursing academy from other countries. In the United States of America, the American Nurses Association has two structures which Hong Kong nurses could consider: the American Academy of Nursing and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (see Figure 1).
American Academy of Nursing (AAN)
AAN was a division of the American Nurses Association (ANA). It established itself as a corporate legal entity in 2001, and has remained closely affiliated with the ANA. The mission and purpose of the AAN are as follows:
Mission
The Academy is constituted to potentiate the contributions of nursing leaders in transforming the health care system to optimize public well-being. This leadership is grounded in a global perspective, enriched by diversity, and actualized through partnerships with other health care and consumer groups.
Purpose
The purpose of the Academy shall be to provide visionary leadership to the nursing profession and the public in shaping future health care policy and practice that optimizes the well-being of the American people through synthesis of scientific and philosophical knowledge as the basis for effective health care policy and practice.
The criteria for fellowship are:
Other Models of Academy
The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
ANCC is a subsidiary of American Nurses Association. Its function includes:
The Australian and New Zealand Academy of Nursing
In the Asia region, the Australian and New Zealand Academy of Nursing is an incorporated body in the State of South Australia. Its members meet twice a year.
The aims of the Academy are:
The Hong Kong Academy of Social Work
Recently, there was a proposal to establish a statutory body entitled "The Hong Kong Academy of Social Work" by Social Workers Registration Board. The Social Workers Registration Board is responsible for registration of social workers and disciplinary control under the Social Workers Registration Ordinance. The Board is working on the proposal to amend the Ordinance to make continuous professional education (CPE) as a pre-requisite for renewal of registration. The Board proposed to set up a statutory body to implement the proposed mandatory CPE scheme for social workers.
Proposed Functions and Structure of the Academy of Social Work
Pros and Cons of Setting Up a Nursing Academy
There are different points of view. For those who supported the establishment of an academy of nursing, they regarded that it would:
For those who opposed to this idea, they regarded that there were more important things for nurses to worry about. The members admitted into the academy would be considered as elites. Nurses who are not elected in fellowship would be excluded. It would also lead to competition of nurses, increase conflict and division. The academy may be highly political and self-serving.
Dr. Leah Curtin gave the following recommendation to the establishment of a nursing academy:
Issues Related to the Establishment of Academy of Nursing in Hong Kong
Dr. Lum discussed the following issues:
Dr. Lum concluded her discussion by the following quotes:
Whatever forecast comes to pass, a multitude of opportunities await the creative visionaries of nursing....We are all creating future by what we do. Let's not miss the opportunities to create the best future for nursing that we can (Bezond & Sullivan, 1999).