The 2025 Joint Summer Camp for Nursing Students of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao University Alliance Concludes Successfully

July 8–17, 2025, the School of Nursing at Sun Yat-sen University, in collaboration with Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, successfully hosted the “2025 Joint Summer Camp for Nursing Students of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao University Alliance.” Thirty-three nursing students from 16 alliance institutions across Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao participated in a 10-day, 8-stop immersive itinerary. Throughout the camp, they embodied the message delivered by Dean Zhang Jun'e at the opening ceremony — “Nurture passion with professionalism, foster growth through exchange” — into their daily activities and carrying this spirit into their future interactions.

Day 1 | July 8: The Journey Begins · Making Connections

The Summer Camp officially commenced at 2:00 PM on July 8 at the School of Nursing, Sun Yat-sen University. Following the opening ceremony, volunteers guided participants through visits to the Medical Specimen Museum and the Nursing Skills Training Center. An "Human Organ Assembly Competition" served as a fun icebreaker, helping students quickly bond. The day concluded with a group photo in front of the bronze statue of Dr. Sun Yat-sen at the university's south gate.

Day 2 | July 9: A Walk Through History and Frontiers of Knowledge

The day’s theme, “Walking through campus history as through modern Chinese history,” saw participants follow a curated route featuring landmarks including the Ma Wenhui Hall Biological Museum, Swasey Hall, Heishiwu Residence, the former residence of Chen Yinke, and the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Bronze Statue, while also hearing the bell rings at Xiting Pavilion. During an exclusive session at the University History Museum and Sun Yat-sen University Museum, Professor Bai Yang delivered a lecture titled "Advances in Artificial Intelligence for Cancer Nursing Research."

Day 3 | July 10: Deep Dive into Oncology Nursing Practice

The day featured a compact yet enriching practicum at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center. Deputy Director Xin Mingzhu and Senior Head Nurse Fan Yuying delivered specialized lectures on "High-Quality Development of Nursing Discipline" and "Research Innovation Teams and Patent Translation," respectively. Following the lectures, participants split into two groups for immersive rotations across specialized units, including the Bone Marrow Transplant Ward, Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema Therapy Room, Colorectal Surgery Department, Thoracic Surgery Department, and Radiotherapy Center, where they observed actual PICC maintenance procedures in action. The day also featured experiential sessions: in the art therapy room, participants explored self-awareness through drawing, while a Traditional Chinese Medicine workshop offered hands-on exposure to therapeutic practices.

Day 4–Day 6 | July 11–13: Theoretical Study and Community Health Practice

Together with faculty members and student Party members from the School of Nursing at Sun Yat-sen University, participants attended a special training session on "Forging a Strong Sense of Community for the Chinese Nation" at the Maoming Municipal Party School. In the afternoon, the group visited Xiantai Cultural Park in Gaozhou for an on-site learning experience, where they gained a deeper understanding of the historical contributions of Lady Xian, a renowned female hero of Lingnan. That evening, Researcher Guo Liuxian from the Maoming Municipal Party School delivered a lecture titled "Carrying Forward the Spirit of Lady Xian and Strengthening the Sense of Community for the Chinese Nation."

Turning Maoming Cultural Square into a hands-on practice venue, participants divided into six teams—First aid, Health assessment, Women’s health, Atrial fibrillation screening, Oral health, and Gastrointestinal health—to conduct a community health services activity at Maoming Cultural Square. After the outreach activity, the group visited the China Lychee Expo Museum and the Thousand-Year Tribute Orchard, immersing themselves in the cultural and historical significance of lychee cultivation. Under the guidance of Lecturer Liang Yisheng from the Maoming Municipal Party School, the students also visited Baiqiao Service Zone, observing the integration of traditional agriculture with modern service industries. On the return journey, the summer night came alive with the sounds of songs such as “Rice Fragrance,” “Red Sun,” and “Boundless Seas and Skies.”

Day 7 | July 14: Hands-On Experience with Traditional Chinese Medicine Culture

Participants visited the co-organizer, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, where they explored the essence of Traditional Chinese Medicine at the Guangdong Chinese Medicine Museum, guided by volunteer docents. Following the museum tour, they engaged in practical sessions in the training laboratories, where they gained hands-on experience with specialized TCM techniques such as auricular acupressure with seeds, guasha, moxibustion, and Tui na (including the "Opening Heaven's Gate" technique). Under the supervision of instructors, who demonstrated and corrected their techniques in real time, the participants gained substantial practical experience in TCM practices.

Day 8 | July 15: Clinical Practicum at Affiliated Hospital

Sun Yat-sen University First Affiliated Hospital arranged four clinical observation routes for the participants: Outpatient Departments (Traditional Chinese Medicine, Intravenous Therapy, Wound and Ostomy Care, Rehabilitation, ENT), Internal Medicine (Diabetes Center, Peritoneal Dialysis Center, Hemodialysis Center), General Surgery (Gastrointestinal Surgery II), and Pediatrics (Pediatrics II). Participants spent the entire day immersed in their assigned departments, familiarizing themselves with the clinical environment and exposure to advanced medical technologies. At the end of the practicum, representatives from each group shared their observations and reflections with great enthusiasm.

Day 9 | July 16: Blending Historical Immersion with Professional Inspiration

The day's itinerary balanced historical enrichment with professional insights. At a special session in the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, Associate Professor Xia Wei from the School of Nursing delivered a lecture titled "A Journey of Boundary-Breaking and Integration in Nursing: Precision Intervention and Management for Adolescent Health Based on Multidisciplinary Approaches," sparking engaging discussions among the participants. The group then visited the Whampoa Military Academy sites on Changzhou Island, where they reflected on its rich historical legacy at landmarks such as the ceremonial ground, steel seal, and the school motto stone.

Day 10 | July 17: Closing Ceremony

The closing ceremony was held in the East Lecture Hall on the second floor of the School of Nursing. Four student representatives delivered 3-minute PowerPoint presentations sharing their moments of "stepping out of their comfort zones" during the camp. Professor Chen Changling, Party Secretary of the School, and Associate Professor Xia Wei, Vice Dean, presented completion certificates to all participants and joined them for a group photo. With the phrase “Allied by a common purpose, connected by a lifelong bond,” the summer camp officially drew to a close. Armed with certificates, memories, knowledge, and friendships, the participants embarked on their next journeys.