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The demand for professional and qualified nurses in the Middle East OR GCC is growing day by day. There is an increasing population growth at the rate of 6% per annum. With the rapid advancements in medical technology and expansion of medical facilities, the hospitals have increased from 7 to 26 during the past 3 decades with the latest annual increase by 5.25%. The nurse population ratio in Dubai is 3.5 : 1000, which is low compared to international standards in which USA has 7.9 : 1000 and UK has 9.2 : 1000.
There is a shortage of 20000 nurses as on today, reported by the Director of Federal Department of nursing and the Federal Health minister. All these represent the great demand for nurses in UAE today.
In UAE, there are only two universities namely Sharjah university and RAK MHSU which offer Basic Bsc Nursing and RN BSN Bridge programs which are insufficient to meet the existing demand of nurses.
RAKMHSU is collaborating with health care providers in determining the educational needs of nurses, thus reflecting national and local workforce trends and priorities. The two programs will impart knowledge and skills to budding nurses on how to incorporate historical, social, legal and ethical aspects of health care in professional nursing.
RAKMHSU also announced that it is laying extra emphasis on facilitating the nursing students to acquire not just knowledge but also skills through latest medical technology & skills laboratory. The University strongly believes that technological advances are driving today's medical field and that RAKMHSU is the starting point for teaching the latest medical technology to student nurses.
Dean Dr. Vijaya from RAK College of Nursing added:
"The purpose of University-based undergraduate Nursing Education is to prepare professional nurses whose practice is informed by theory and research. Ultimately, nursing education requires a commitment to community service, scholarly inquiry, interdisciplinary and life-long learning. At RAKMSHU, our mission is to provide nursing education with a broad theoretical base and diverse clinical experience that will ultimately contribute to excellence and leadership in professional practice of nursing."
The B.Sc Nursing program promotes the development of nursing as a caring, patient-centred, scientifically-based profession with an emphasis on problem-based, small group, and self-directed learning. The curriculum has been planned in such a way so that the study of nursing, psychological and social sciences and humanities are interrelated and span the entire program.
In the first and second semester, the amount of practical/clinical nursing experience is relatively small; the major portion is in the general education, behavioural and natural sciences. The nursing component increases progressively through third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth semesters.
RAKMHSU has been established by the Ras Al Khaimah Human Development Foundation (RAK-HDF) under the visionary leadership of His Highness Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince & Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah and Chancellor of the University. RAK-HDF is a joint venture of Ras Al Khaimah Government, Al Ghurair Investments and ETA Ascon Group.
The college is equipped with state-of-the art equipment to give nursing students' experience from practicing basic assessment skills to managing patients with complex critical care needs utilizing simulation experiences. In addition to nursing programs, RAKMHSU also offers medical, dental and pharmacy programs in its constituent colleges.
Posted by Rima Ali Al Mashni
