USAID and the Jordanian Nursing Council present results of Nurses Public Awareness Campaign in closing ceremony

The nation-wide campaign aimed to increase the understanding of the opportunities available within the nursing profession.

The campaign, launched in April of this year, is the result of several months of partnership between the USAID Jordan Economic Development Program (SABEQ) and JNC.

The campaign built on previous efforts by JNC to raise awareness of the nobility of the nursing profession.

The awareness campaign's messages and activities, targeting school girls aged 13, 14, and 15 years, demonstrated that this profession is in fact a career option with many levels of advancement.

These messages were conveyed to the students through seven Campaign Ambassadors, who are active nurses at various levels in their career.

The campaign included several interactive programs including a shadow day experience entitled "For A Day, Who Will I Be?", where 75 students from 11 schools from Amman, Irbid and Karak were hosted at seven hospitals in Amman. The activity allowed the students to experience, first hand, the various decisions, challenges and tasks that face nurses on a daily basis.

Speaking about her experience of this day, Shahed Bayaydeh, a 15 year old student from the governorate of Karak stated:

"After spending a whole day at the CCU and experiencing the crucial role that nurses play in easing the pain and saving human lives, I am now more determined to enroll in this noble profession."

Another activity, known as "What and Why" was launched in the governorate of Ma'an and centered on an interactive play that provided in-depth information about the nursing profession.

The Campaign Ambassadors also took part in the interactive theatre by presenting their own experiences.

"The program helped me to better understand the nature and advantages of the nursing profession. I originally was hesitant to enroll in a nursing program, but now I am seriously considering this choice,"

noted Samar Jarar, a 15 year old student from Ma'an governorate who attend one of the performances.

The interactive theatre was performed in public schools in Amman, Ma'an, and Mafraq to more than 800 students.


A unique aspect of the campaign was its seven ambassadors.

Among them is Lana Dweik, an ER nurse at the Jordan University Hospital who highlighted to students the existing opportunities readily available in the profession, stated:

"There is a shortage of female nurses in the workforce; these days new graduates are hired a few days after graduation. The nursing profession offers a diverse range of specializations, flexible working hours and higher pay."

On the other hand, another campaign ambassador Ikhlas Hamad, an OR nurse at the King Hussein Cancer Center spoke to some of the societal challenges she faced by stating:

"My family originally objected to the idea of being a nurse, until I joined the Royal Medical Services. My family has since become proud of my profession after they reaped the benefits of this noble profession."

In his remarks, USAID Mission Director Jay Knott emphasized the importance of supporting women and their role in the growth of the economy by stating:

"Within the framework of the various activities USAID carries out with its partners, an essential element is demonstrating the importance of the role of women in every sector of the economy; the medical services sector and nursing profession is no exception."

The message emphasized by the Secretary General of JNC, Ms. Da'ad Shokeh, focused on assessing the impact of this initiative before implementing similar activities to ensure additional positive results.

The young girls were not the only target audience in this campaign, which was designed to also address the families of the girls, the base of the young girls' support system.

By addressing the families, the campaign sought to enhance the positive belief in the profession, and demonstrate the profession's status in the society.

"This goal will not be achieved overnight. It is a process that will take considerable time and effort from all the stakeholders."

stated Carol Swan, Deputy Chief of Party, for the USAID Jordan Economic Development Program (SABEQ).

The Jordan Nursing Council is a governmental organization with an independent financial and administrative status.

It was established in 2002 by Royal decree and is headed by HRH Princess Muna Al Hussein.

The mission of the JNC is to promote the health status of the community through a sound regulatory system that assures quality services and safe practice, with the aim of protecting the pupil and the profession and making a difference while strengthening the nursing services in the country.