Teaching and Learning
Nurturing and Empowering the Next Generation of Nursing Professionals in Aged Care
Dr Maggie Chan Mee-kie | Senior Lecturer
With an ageing population, Hong Kong faces challenges and opportunities in developing a higher standard of gerontological and palliative nursing care. The School of Nursing at HKU offers the Master of Gerontological and Palliative Nursing Track, which is a comprehensive course dedicated to equipping students with the necessary knowledge and practices for advanced practice nursing roles in gerontological and palliative care.
Our aim is to empower and nurture the next generation. Taking care of older adults involves a comprehensive understanding of the physical, psychological, and social aspects of ageing. Our Track course equips students with the expertise required to navigate the complexities of healthcare and provide patient-centred care.
Recently, I invited current students and a graduate to provide their feedback on this course.
‘The reason I study this track,’ Lee Ming-chi said, ‘is because most of my patients are older adults, I would like to tailor my knowledge and practice to providing comprehensive care to my patients. This master course provides me with the specialised knowledge and skills to effectively address their unique needs and provide compassionate, holistic care.’ Choi Yuk-kwan commented, ‘I want to gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of ageing, especially the palliative and end-of-life care.’
The track course not only offers classroom lectures, but also recognises the importance of experiential learning in developing advanced practice, which we pursue through workshops, simulation exercises, and site visits to various healthcare settings. These innovative teaching strategies help students consolidate knowledge and reflect on how to prepare for diverse career challenges.
An interactive and engaging learning community is also important to students’ development. To promote this, we have introduced a new teaching approach, the co-lecture approach, where students can work alongside teachers to deliver a mini-lecture. Students are encouraged to learn various perspectives and participate actively and think critically. We strongly believe that this learning approach is highly engaging for students and will help them to learn and develop their competence in managing the complexities of gerontological and palliative nursing practice – as our students have affirmed.
‘The Master of Gerontological and Palliative Nursing Track has exceeded my expectations,’ Wang Lizhen said. ‘It really raised my awareness of implementing evidence-based advanced practice in geriatric nursing to help address the needs of the elderly and promote quality of care for an ageing population. The clinical experts shared valuable insights about managing complex patient illnesses and emphasised the importance of developing a therapeutic relationship with older adults and their families. I was impressed with the co-lecture approach, too, which enriched my learning experience, broadened my understanding of gerontological and palliative nursing, and helped me develop my critical thinking and how to promote healthy ageing.’
Nurturing and developing advanced practice professionals in gerontological and palliative nursing is crucial for providing specialised care to our older adult patients with complex healthcare needs. We can empower the next generation to deliver comprehensive, patient-centred care by fostering expertise, innovation, and continuous learning. This ensures our patients and their families receive high-quality support and care, while promoting comfort and dignity throughout their journey. We welcome students to join us in becoming an advanced practice gerontological and palliative nurse and making a difference in care for the elderly.
Students interviewed: