Being a Leader in Chinese Nursing Education

Chinese educators discuss the evolution of an international cooperation program at Wuhan HOPE School of Nursing, Wuhan, China.  They reflect on the adoption of a concept-based curriculum being taught in English and a Chinese dialect, integration of nursing simulation as a teaching strategy, the development of a nursing simulation lab, the opening of a comprehensive rehabilitation center at the School of Nursing and the changing role of Chinese nurse educators in this program.  They review the personal and professional growth that has occurred as young faculty members, influenced by Western thinking, have moved into leadership positions by virtue of interest, motivation and expectations of nursing administrators.  They discuss their concerns about the differing perspectives of traditionally trained mature nurse educators and those who have received enhanced educational opportunities and interacted with nurse educators from other countries.  They discuss the differences in the backgrounds of nurse leaders in health care practice and those in education settings.  They review the current Chinese perspective of the nursing profession and the changing health care culture.  They discuss their concerns about the need for nurses to assume larger roles in the community, enhanced independent practice, and health education. The economic reality of low nursing salaries, the changing dynamic of financing the Chinese health care system and the lack of understanding of Chinese people about nursing’s role are challenges in educating future nurse leaders. 
Two Chinese educators share their personal perspectives in fulfilling full-time nurse educator positons and balancing the Chinese cultural expectations of advancing their education within the context of the role of a Chinese woman as a wife and mother.   There is also the looming concern of expectation of the role of the health care provider in meeting the demands of Chinese patients and the threat of violence and intimidation. Balancing the practice of traditional Chinese medicine with new advances in health care and technology has resulted in public distrust of an unregulated pharmaceutical industry which raises the tension between providers and patients.  The need for Chinese people to assume greater financial responsibility for their health care has also resulted in the widespread assumption that direct care providers, specifically physicians and nurses, are reaping financial benefits by providing specific treatments and practices.  The result is a lack of continuity in the provision of care.