collageAre you an international student? Are you interested in learning more about nursing schools in hong kong? Do you get overwhelmed by the amount of conflicting information you see online? If so, you need not search further because you will find the answer to that question in the article below.
To get more information on nursing schools in hong kong. You can also find up-to-date, related articles on Collegelearners.
Nursing is a licensed professional occupation in Hong Kong. The profession is regulated by the Nursing Council of Hong Kong, a statutory body. Nurses in Hong Kong are divided into registered nurses and enrolled nurses, with the former requiring more extensive professional training.
There are a total of 59,082 nurses in Hong Kong as of 2019, with the majority of registered nurses working for the Hospital Authority. Nursing education is provided by universities, post-secondary colleges, and hospital-based nursing schools.
Best Nursing Schools in Hong Kong
1. The University of Hong Kong – School of Nursing
- Nursing Program Link
- Degrees offered: Undergraduate, Master’s, Ph.D.
The School of Nursing, which is part of the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong that was founded in 1995 is one of the best schools for nursing in Hong Kong and has since grown to become a major part of nurse education, training, and research. The university has international partners all over the world who assist its students in learning about different practices and collaborating with other institutions for research purposes.
The university serves not only undergraduate students, but also practicing nurses who want to advance, update, or upgrade their skills. There are also certificate programs and training available, as well as Masters and Doctoral degrees in nursing and philosophy. Its five-year bachelor of the nursing program includes community and hospital exposure under the supervision of its professors.
Local students pay an average of US$5,400 per year in tuition, while international students pay an average of US$21,930 per year. The annual fee for a Master’s and Doctoral degree in nursing is US$15,386 and US$11,800, respectively.
2. Hong Kong Polytechnic University – School of Nursing
- Nursing Program Link
- Degrees offered: Undergraduate, Master’s, Ph.D.
Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s School of Nursing was the first tertiary institution to offer a nursing program in 1990, and it has been involved in nursing education for decades. It was the first nursing school in the country to offer a Master’s in nursing to non-nursing graduates in 2008. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University is a leading nursing university in Hong Kong that continues to provide high-quality nursing education, with two undergraduate and nine postgraduate programs now available.
Through exchange programs, educational trips, and collaborative research studies, the school of nursing is affiliated with numerous institutions, hospitals, and other health-related agencies around the world, providing students with an internationalized experience. Approximately 200 students are sent to these partner institutions as exchange students or for clinical placement.Search Programs for International Students
3. The Chinese University of Hong Kong – Nethersole School of Nursing
- Nursing Program Link
- Degrees offered: Undergraduate, Master’s, Ph.D.
The Nethersole School of Nursing, which is part of the Chinese University of Hong Kong’s faculty of medicine, was founded in 1991 and is ranked first for its nursing program in Hong Kong and Asia for nursing education, as well as 22nd in the world by QS World University Rankings in 2021. The Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Charity Foundation supports it, pledging to provide high-quality education that prepares students to adapt to ageing and rapidly changing world.
In 1893, the Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital, which was also the country’s first hospital-based nursing school, established the school of nursing. In 2002, the school of nursing was renamed the Nethersole School of Nursing thanks to the support of the hospital foundation. Clinical learning and simulation centers and laboratories are available to students in order to stimulate learning and provide practical experience prior to their clinical placements. It also has a number of hospital and community partnerships across the country for clinical placement and immersion.
The average annual tuition for undergraduate programs is US$5,400 for domestic students and US$18,600 for international students. The rate for postgraduate studies is per credit, with a Master’s degree costing US$603 per credit and a Doctoral degree costing US$924 per credit.
4. Hong Kong Metropolitan University – School of Nursing and Health Studies
- Nursing Program Link
- Degrees offered: Undergraduate, Master’s
The Hong Kong Metropolitan University, formerly known as the Open University of Hong Kong, is a top institution for nursing in Hong Kong and a self-supporting institution that now offers full-time and part-time programs in addition to distance learning, for which it was originally known. The university was founded by the government in 1989 to provide affordable education to all.
In 2001, the first face-to-face associate degree programs were launched, followed by the first face-to-face bachelor’s degree program in 2003. In 2015, the government provided subsidies to some of the university’s full-time programs to help fill manpower shortages in various industries. In the year 2020, the name was formally changed to Hong Kong Metropolitan University.
Its nursing program, which began as two undergraduate programs in 2005 and has grown to include four programs, a postgraduate program, and seven sub-degree programs, is the most popular among its students. Tuition is charged on an annual flat-fee basis, with students paying per credit for any units taken beyond that. The university website has more information on fees.Find Open Programs for International Students
5. Tung Wah College – School of Nursing
- Nursing Program Link
- Degrees offered: Undergraduate
Tung Wah College is among the best universities for nursing in Hong Kong that was established in 2010 by the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals. Its nursing school offers a bachelor’s degree in nursing, as well as certificates, diplomas, and advanced diplomas. The college is affiliated with institutions and agencies around the world to provide a broad range of experience to its students through collaborative work, exchange programs, and clinical placements. The SSSDP (Study Subsidy Scheme for Designated Profession/Sector) is used to cover US$9,878 of the total US$28,604 tuition for the bachelor’s in nursing program.
Regulation
Nursing practice in Hong Kong is regulated by the Nursing Council of Hong Kong (Chinese: 香港護士管理局), a statutory body established via the Nurses Registration Ordinance The registration of nurses are regulated since 1931.
Membership of the Council consists of its Director, a registered nurse in public service nominated by the Director of Health and appointed by the Chief Executive of Hong Kong, six registered nurses appointed by the Chief Executive, six registered or enrolled nurses elected for a term, two persons selected by the CE from people nominated by tertiary institutions providing nursing programmes, one member nominated by the Hospital Authority and appointed by the CE, one mental health nurse appointed by the CE, and three lay members appointed by the CE
Nurses in Hong Kong are classified into registered nurses (RN; Chinese: 註冊護士) and enrolled nurses (EN; Chinese: 登記護士)RNs may handle patients independently, whereas ENs must work under the supervision of RNs. RNs have a higher academic and professional attainment and must train for a longer period of time; correspondingly, they also have higher salaries and may be promoted to higher positions such as Nursing Officer (Chinese: 護士長). In contrast, ENs do not have a clear path for promotion; in order for ENs to be promoted to higher positions, they must take further studies such as conversion or top-up courses. Psychiatric nurses have a higher starting salary then nurses serving general patients.
Education
All nursing programmes in Hong Kong have to approved by the Nursing Council of Hong Kong. Registered nurses must undergo at least 3 years of training, either via theoretical and practical training at a nursing school based in hospitals, or via a pre-registration nursing programme at a university or college; whereas, enrolled nurses must take a programme of at least 2 years in duration. Among programmes that lead to qualification as RNs, the Higher Diploma in Nursing programme offered by the Hospital Authority is 3 years in duration, while bachelor’s degrees offered by universities and post-secondary colleges are 5 years in duration.
The following is a list of institutions offering nursing programmes as of 2020:
Universities
- University of Hong Kong
- Chinese University of Hong Kong
- Hong Kong Polytechnic University
- Open University of Hong Kong
Approved post-secondary colleges
- Tung Wah College
- Caritas Institute of Higher Education
- School of Continuing Education, Hong Kong Baptist University
Nursing schools
Public hospitals
- Caritas Medical Centre
- Queen Elizabeth Hospital
- Tuen Mun Hospital
- Grantham Hospital
Private hospitals
- Hong Kong Baptist Hospital
- Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital
- St. Teresa’s Hospital (Hong Kong)
- Union Hospital (Hong Kong)
Representation
The Association of Hong Kong Nursing Staff (Chinese: 香港護士協會) is one of the largest medical unions in Hong Kong. The AHKNS was founded in 1977 and adopted its present name in 2007. According to its statistics, the AHKNS is the largest nursing union in Hong Kong, representing more than 60% of the city’s nurses.
Nurses working for the Hospital Authority are additionally represented by the Hospital Authority Employees Alliance (Chinese: 醫管局員工陣線), a union registered in December 2019. According to the HAEA, the union had nearly 20,000 members as of February 2020, including nurses, doctors and supporting staff, representing around a quarter of all staff employed by the HA.
Workforce
As of 2019, there were 44,601 RNs and 14,481 ENs in Hong Kong, for a total of 59,082 nurses. The attrition rate for nurses was 6.1% in 2018, with 95% of those resigning being lowest-level nurses.
According to the 2010 Health Manpower Survey conducted by the Department of Health, among RNs who indicated their gender, 10.2% were male while 89.8% were female. The median age of RNs was 46.0. 64.6% of RNs were working for the Hospital Authority, while others worked in the private sector, the Government, and academic and government-subsidised sectors
Nursing schools in HK
This programme aims to provide students with the essential knowledge, skills, and clinical experience for enrollment with the Nursing Council of Hong Kong as Enrolled Nurses (General).
| Awards: | Enrolled Nurses (General) |
| Higher Diploma in Nursing (Enrolled Nurses-General) |
Duration: 2 years
Teaching medium: English
Special Features:
- A well-established and popular programme that prepares students for a higher diploma in nursing and enrolled nurse qualification.
- During a 2-year educational training period, study blocks alternate with clinical practicums to promote application of theoretical knowledge to real-life practice under expert supervision in a prestigious, world-class clinical environment.
- Experienced and specially trained clinical mentors and instructors provide individual guidance and support to enable students become a caring and competent nurse.
- Excellent facilities and resources to enhance student learning including:
- an impressive, spacious, and superb learning environment;
- well-equipped Nursing Skills Laboratories with the latest models of human patient simulation;
- free access to electronic academic resources;
- free i-Pad for each student; and
- seamless, personalised academic and psychological support.
How to become a nurse in hong kong
Enrolled Nurses (EN) and Registered Nurses (RN) share similar scope of practice, but do you know who is best suited to care for your loved one? Read on to get a better understanding of the available types of nursing services before taking the next step in hiring a professional caregiver.
You are not alone in being confused about the difference between an EN and an RN. The healthcare field can be a maze of confusing jargon and acronyms, complicating choices of service users and professionals alike. Navigating your way around these abbreviations can help you hire the right caregiver for your loved ones.
There are many different levels of nursing credentials. Both RNs and ENs are professionally certified healthcare personnel and valued members of the healthcare force. As of 2018, Hong Kong has over 56,000 registered and enrolled nurses, serving patients across every care setting. While their duties are fairly similar, the main difference lies in their qualification, education and experience.
Professional Nurse Roles:
Qualifications
- ENs: Completion of a basic general nursing program of not less than two years duration and should have registered with the Nursing Council of Hong Kong. A EN must also complete a minimum of 1600 hours of clinical practice.
- RNs: Completion of a 5-year bachelor’s nursing programme provided by local tertiary education institutions.
Duties
ENs and RNs share similar job scope. While ENs possess the basic nursing competence and professional attributes, they tend to work alongside RNs, practicing general nursing under their direction and supervision.
- Support and assist the patient with the activities of daily living (e.g., bathing, dressing), and provide for psycho-socio-spiritual needs of the patient
- Provide basic nursing care (e.g., tube insertion or removal, IV drip and vaccination, wound dressing, blood drawing, and suctioning)
*Certified dialysis nurses can also provide dialysis services
- Assess patients’ health status by observing, measuring, and recording his/her vital statistics
- Help maintain a safe environment and provide for the safety and comfort needs of the client
- Formulate care plans; participate and support ongoing quality improvement programs
- Assist in exploring resources for promoting continuity of care
Price Comparison Between an EN and an RN
In Hong Kong, ENs are usually priced between $199-$216 (per hour), whereas a RNs is generally priced between $225-$246 (per hour). Pricing varies depending on the operator.
How to choose between the two?
Since most of the ENs graduate from a registered training organisation within the vocational education training (VET) sector, their training is more practical than theoretical. On the contrary, training for RN qualifications is designed based on a theoretical and philosophical framework. RNs are equipped with adequate theoretical knowledge and wide clinical exposure to take an all-encompassing view of the situation surrounding their patients.
If you are looking for someone who can perform a more comprehensive patient assessment, you could use the help of a RN. If your loved ones need help with their basic needs of living or professional nursing care, ENs would be an affordable alternative.
collage