Transforming Nursing Education for Nurse Prescribing: A SWOT Analysis of Gynecological Specialist Nurses in the Greater Bay Area.

OBJECTIVE

The 2023 Shenzhen legislation permitting specialist nurses to prescribe represents a milestone in Chinese nursing practice. This positions the Greater Bay Area (GBA)-a major economic and healthcare hub in southern China comprising 11 cities including Hong Kong, Macao, and Guangzhou-as a pioneer in healthcare innovation. Yet policy advancement has outpaced educational infrastructure, particularly for gynecological specialist nurses managing chronic conditions in integrative settings. This study evaluates the strategic context for implementing prescribing education and proposes actionable recommendations.

METHODS

A comprehensive SWOT analysis, supplemented by the TOWS matrix, was conducted using literature review (from 2019 through early 2025), policy analysis of GBA and national documents, international comparisons (UK, US, Australia), and practice-based insights from a perimenopausal nursing clinic.

RESULTS

Key findings identified internal strengths-enhanced professional autonomy and improved care continuity-and weaknesses, including gaps in pharmacology education, diagnostic training, and TCM integration skills. External opportunities stem from supportive GBA policies and regional expertise exchange, while threats include cultural resistance, regulatory fragmentation, and the TCM-Western paradigm divide.

CONCLUSION

Preparing GBA gynecological specialist nurses for prescribing requires educational transformation at individual, institutional, and policy levels. Integrating TCM competencies contributes uniquely to global advanced nursing practice and offers a strategic blueprint for regions integrating traditional and modern healthcare systems.