THE FIRST MACAU-HONG KONG NURSING CONFERENCE

Advanced Nursing Practice in the 21st Century

The Hong Kong Society of Nursing Education has co-organised the First Macau-Hong Kong Nursing Conference with the "Sino-Portugual Nurses Association of Macau" on the 22nd November 2003 (Saturday) at the Auditorium, Hospital Centre S. Januario, Macau. More than 200 delegates from Hong Kong and Macau attended the Conference.

The theme of the Conference is "Advanced Nursing Practice in the 21st Century". This is the first time that the Hong Kong Society for Nursing Education hosted nursing conference of such a magnitude and importance. The Conference provided an excellent forum for nurses from different cultural backgrounds to explore perspectives that impact on nursing and to develop strategies for advancing nursing knowledge and practice. These are important activities in the promotion of high quality nursing care and in meeting the dynamic health needs of the community. In the Conference, the development of advanced nursing knowledge and practice in various clinical areas was examined and the direction for developing education, clinical practice and regulation of advanced nursing practice was discussed.

The conference commenced with an Opening Ceremony. Officiating guests included Mr. Koi Kuok Leng, Director, Department of Health, Government of Macau Special Administrative Region, The People's Republic of China; Ms Lo Heung Chu, Deputy Director, Coordination Department, Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao Special Administrative Region; and Ms Leong Iok Wa, Legislative Counsellor, Legislative Council of the Government of Macau Special Administrative Region.

The keynote speaker, Dr. Susie Lum set the theme of the conference by addressing the issues of the development of advanced nursing practice in the Hospital Authority and the strategic development and positioning of such practice in future health care delivery. Other speakers in the Conference included: Professor Violeta Lopez, Ms Lam Oi Ching Bernice Nogueira, Professor Frances Wong, Professor Sheila Twinn, Ms Camille Ho, Ms Eva Kan, Professor Chair Sek Ying, Ms Fátima Chan, Ms Jolene Mui and Mr. Stephen Tsang. Advanced nursing practice in acute and community care settings as well as in psychosocial nursing were discussed.

This Conference has set a milestone for the exchange of professional insight and experience between Macau and Hong Kong nurses as well as for the closer network between the two places. Apart from the Conference, visits to health care facilities as well as the Conference Dinner were organised to complement our discussion and debates. We are indeed very grateful to our colleagues of the "Sino-Portugual Nurses Association of Macau" for their hospitality.

This Conference has brought about many interesting and innovative ideas of advanced nursing practice. We looked forward to future collaboration with the "Sino-Portugual Nurses Association of Macau" in promoting nursing development in the region.