Lead nurses call for own Council

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Senior nurses want a council to advice the federal government on professional development, education and workforce.

Nursing leaders have called for an autonomous Council of Nurses, to oversee nurse education, professional development, regulation and work force planning across the United Arab Emirates (UAE), MT can reveal.

Draft proposals being considered by the Ministry of Health (MoH) suggest that the council should be set up to advise the government on the provision of nursing and midwifery services, extended roles, education, and specialist training to better prepare the professions to meet future healthcare demands.

The calls came as it emerged re-shuffling at the MoH will see its existing department of nursing close by the end of the year.

Instead, a director of nursing will be installed at the recently established Emirates Health Association, which will oversee the northern emirates.

The move will complement existing director of nursing posts at Abu Dhabi and Dubai health authorities, but will leave no voice at the top, federal level, according to Fatima Al Rifai, chief nurse at the MoH.

A council would ensure nursing's voice would continue to be heard, she told MT.

"A council is needed to look at nurse education programmes, accredit and approve standards and curriculums.

"The Ministry of Higher Education gives the licensing and accreditation for changes and university courses, but what there needs is nurse involvement," she said.

Judith Brown, director of nursing at the Department of Health and Medical Services, added: "We believe the UAE needs a nursing and midwifery leadership group to act as an advisory to further the development of nurses and midwives."

Nurse leaders from the MoH, DoHMS and Health Authority-Abu Dhabi (HA-AD) have already worked closely to draw up five scopes of practice for nursing and midwifery.

They cover the qualifications, competencies and expected standards of practice required to work as a practical nurse, a registered nurse, a practical midwife, a registered midwife and a mental health nurse.

The guidelines apply for all facilities across the UAE.

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