The Health Statistics (2005) reported that there were 1,134 registered nurses in Macao.  The ratio of nurses to residents is 1: 440 as Macao SAR has a population of 500,000 in late 2006.  This ratio is far below the average figure in the USA, which is 1:110.

Focusing on this below average ratio, a preliminary study will be carried out to explore the phenomenon of limited nursing resource and the associated impacts with the nursing administrators, managers, leaders and frontline nurses of, hospitals, health care centers and nursing associations.  Initially, these subjects will be interviewed individually.  Their responses will be transcribed verbatim to facilitate analysis and theme identification.  The findings will subsequently be used to develop a questionnaire which will be distributed to all nurses in Macao. 
This study allows the investigators to explore deeply the issues evolved from nursing shortage.  It is anticipated that the findings will reflect the experience of nurses who work in an environment that is typical of under-staffing and true meaning of nurse resident ratio.  Certainly, the healthcare policy makers of the Macao SAR government will benefit from this study particularly when they try to make informed decision on health care policy.