MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Abstract

“A Nurse will always give us hope/An Angel with a stethoscope”

                                                                                                                ... Terri Guillemets

The need for nurses nowadays is to be highly trained, well-educated with the ability to be critical thinkers. These requirements enable them to make complex clinical decisions that 50 years ago would almost definitely have been made by doctors. As the healthcare population is evolving, the scope of practice for nurses and midwives must be changed. This required a change in education and training to make certain that nurses and midwives can take on new and complex roles.

In the present scenario the internet is destroying the paternalism that used to be at the heart of healthcare. Patients are now authorized to take control of their own care and voice their health desires and this is changing the patient-provider dynamic in a very positive manner. In the same time the internet creates enormous opportunities for nurses to help patients to self-manage long-term conditions and creates new avenues for peer support.

But the internet empowers patients as it can also confuse them in many circumstances. In this context researchers have established that care from well-educated nurses leads to better patient outcomes. The more educationally able the workforce can become the better it is for patients and communities. As result nowadays nurse are trained at the undergraduate level. The level of knowledge, the ability to reflect and challenge as well as appreciate the need for our practice to be evidence-based has become priority. One of the major challenges faced by nurses these days is the shortage of structured continuing professional development. Not only is it hard for nurses to make sure that they are up to date in their practice, there is also lack of clear, clinical career path supported by relevant education and development. 

Thus, to fulfil this targeted aim, The Malaysian Journal of Nursing takes the opportunity to recover optimal health and quality of life. It is there to champion the value of independent professional practice of nursing. This issue promotes the excellence in nursing and health care through original research and relevant discussion on latest issues. We are looking forward for your active support and working closely to bring success.