Ms. Cecilia CHAN
Director of Nursing, Centro Hospitalar Conde de São Januário, Macao SAR, China

Ms. Chan is currently Director of Nursing of Centro Hospitalar Conde de São Januário, Macau (CHCSJ).  She attained her MSc. degree in Nursing from Sun Yat-Sen University, China in 2013, and Professional Certificate in Health System Leadership from the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2019.  Before that she obtained a Bachelor degree in Professional Nursing from the joint programme of Kiang Wu Nursing College and Peking Union Medical College in 2001, following to her qualification in Child Health and Paediatrics Specialty from the Macau Polytechnic Institute in 1998.  Cecilia also serves as Chairman of the Nursing Council of CHCSJ, Vice President of the Nursing Branch of the Cross-Strait Medical and Health Exchange Association, Vice President of Geriatrics Society of Macau  and Representative of the Nursing Profession in the Medical Professional Committee in Macau.

Abstract

Development and Transformation of Advanced Practice Nursing in Macao SAR, China

Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) development is often seen as a dynamic and continuous improvement process pursuing best practices in highly sophisticated nursing services.  The process is reasonably driven by social-economic factors peculiar to its country or territory.  Presently in Macau, the issue of aging population and the territory’s vulnerability to threats of infectious diseases are interacting with the APN development efforts.  On the other hand, health care system stakeholders’ expectation of the nursing outcome of APN through development of their roles and service has become more pronounced than before.

As regards training and education, an under-graduate student would typically take around 10 years to develop himself or herself to be a recognized APN, or commonly referred to as Specialist Nurse (SN) in Macau.  To ensure the trained professionals eventually meet the needs of the territory in the distant future is a challenge to the health care system.  In this regard, the Macau Government plays a leading role through active intervention in higher education, and in setting standards for SN professionals.  By doing so, it ensures the resultant advanced practice nursing service would meet the needs of the territory in the long run.

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