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Incentives to attract nationals to nursing profession

DUBAI — Citing shortage of nurses as a challenge for the country, the UAE health officials have stressed the need for creating awareness about the noble profession to attract nationals and expanding educational infrastructure for the purpose.

According to officials, the profession remains a taboo and is frowned upon by many UAE nationals. As a result, only 15 nationals are said to be currently working as nurses in the Ministry of Health’s hospitals in the country.

Health officials also maintain that shortage of nurses is a global problem and poses challenge to every country. 'Nurses are the main professional component of the frontline staff in most health systems, and their contribution is recognised as essential in meeting the developmental goals and delivering safe and effective health care,' they say.

President of Emirates Nursing Association, Obaid Ismail, says that there are only a handful of UAE nationals working as nurses in the MoH hospitals.

"The majority (around 25-30) are employed in the military field, especially in the Zayed Military Hospital since the salary structure is better there than in the MoH hospitals," he explains.

Currently, a UAE national nurse is paid around Dh6,000-7,000, while an expatriate nurse gets Dh 4,000-5,000.

The majority of the nurse workforce (around 65 per cent) in the country is from India and the Philippines, while the rest belongs to Canada, Australia and South Africa.

Besides the low salary structure, UAE families consider the profession as 'lowly'.

"Most families compare nurses to maids which is because of their lack of knowledge about the profession," says Ismail.

Dr Vijaya Kumardhas, Dean, Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) College of Nursing, RAK Medical and Health Sciences University, says, "Shortage of nursing professionals is not just an organisational challenge or a topic for economic analysis; it has a major negative impact on the healthcare system of the country. If we can't deal with this shortage locally, regionally, nationally or globally, it is likely to lead to major failure to maintain or improve healthcare."

According to her, to solve the problem, every country should prepare its own cadre of national nurses through promotion of Nursing Education.

"No country can depend on expatriate nurses alone. They only provide a temporary solution to the problem," she maintains.

Obaid Ismail adds that for effective awareness about the profession, MoH need to focus at the primary level by educating children.

"Children should be taught that it is a noble profession, and this can only be achieved via a major awareness campaign," says Ismail.

Another part of the problem is that qualified and professional nurses consider the UAE a transit point and leave the country for better opportunities coming their way.

"Nurses leaving for the Western countries is a common complaint today. Have we analysed comprehensively why this is happening? Apart from the low salary, there are other reasons as well such as professional status of nurses, lack of job satisfaction, limited career opportunities, limited educational opportunities and so on. Every individual in society desires status as well as job satisfaction to work to their fullest capabilities for their organisation," analyses Dr Vijaya.

"It is both ways. Sometimes we face humiliation and, at times, we are placed on a high pedestal," says a nurse, recounting her experience.

"But in the end, we don't get due appreciation for our service to the humanity," she adds.

Nurses in the West can practise as Nurse Consultants, Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Educators, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Research Nurse which definitely fetches them better remuneration, status in the society and more importantly, job satisfaction, adds Dr Vijaya.

However, nursing education is just making a start in the UAE. With only three nursing schools in the country in the RAK, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi, there is a need for many more.

"The nursing programme at the RAK College of Nursing, which is under the auspices of RAK Medical and Health Sciences University, has received initial accreditation from the Commission for Academic Accreditation under the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research," informs Dr Vijaya.

"The nursing curriculum is unique, reflecting the needs of our changing healthcare system and balancing theory with clinical practice," she adds,

"As nursing needs develop in the UAE, shortage of nursing professionals in hospitals, the community and in clinics has to be effectively addressed."

"Strategies need to be developed to motivate national students to join the undergraduate nursing programmes which already exist in the country and help already existing nurses with lower qualifications to attend the bridging nursing programmes," she adds.