42

H ead’s Message Honouring our Teachers, Students and Alumni Prof Chia-Chin Lin Professor and Head Ever since I arrived at The University of Hong Kong (HKU) School of Nursing, I have been struck by the passionate commitment of our teachers to fostering, encouraging, supporting and developing our students. Even though we are now a huge School with over 1,500 students, I have noticed how our staff members’ approach to all of our students is so personalised and distinctive. They work hard to present the high fliers with greater challenges and to individualise learning supports when students may be struggling with mastering a particular skill or clinical scenario in the laboratory. I have spent time talking to lecturers who support students on their clinical practice placements and have been totally impressed with their depth of knowledge and understanding about how students learn in the practice environment. Nursing education at HKU is all about ensuring the integration between theory and practice. After all, Nursing is a practice discipline, and we cherish our track record in making sure our students integrate the theory they have learned into informed practice at each level of their programme. This focus ensures students truly absorb the significance of theory informed practice and results in the excellence of our graduates in professional practice. We are extremely proud of our alumni, many of whom have gone on to take up major leadership positions in advanced practice, management, policy development, teaching and research. Some have travelled overseas to further their studies and advance their knowledge. Others have travelled to undertake humanitarian work in third-world countries. Wherever they are, our alumni exemplify the values and mission of their alma mater in their life and work and through their skills and knowledge contribute substantially, either directly or indirectly, to improving the health care of communities. Many of those working in Hong Kong play a huge role, not only in health care, but also within the profession organisations, fostering and progressing the further development of nursing. They also serve as fantastic role models for our students, both in the clinical context and at the School where they support student learning in a number of ways and contribute to the endeavours of the School with passion and impact. I am so proud of all of our HKU nursing family: staff, students and alumni. Our staff spearhead developments through research and scholarship, teaching and practice, through supporting students’ personal and professional development and through engagement with the wider community. Our students are being prepared to be ethical, knowledgeable and flexible practitioners who will confidently take their place in a rapidly changing healthcare system. Our alumni are trailblazers, engaging at the cutting edge of their practice, drawing upon all their personal and professional resources to be the truly impressive splendid practitioners they are. N urseLetter Nov 2018 ISSUE 42