Global shortage of nurses, a matter of concern

“Nurses if properly trained are very adept in handling situations of great stress and demand, and failing to recognize their potential is a serious misgiving in part of the healthcare authorities “One of the most important issues that are present is the reduction of the overall nursing staff around the world.”
These are some of the important issues discussed during the two day Conference and Workshops on Nursing and Global Health, held at Gulf Medical College Ajman on 23rd and 24th May 2008.

Over 350 nurses from all over UAE attended the conference. Mr. Thumbay Moideen, Founder President of Gulf Medical College inaugurated the conference and honored invited faculty. Mrs. Suad Ghazaleh, Director of Nursing, Ajman Medical District, chaired the scientific sessions. Delivering a special talk on Modernizing Nursing Careers, Ian Peate, Associate Head of School of Nursing University of Hertfordshire, UK said ‘The nursing profession is one of the major contributors in the healthcare system and the lack of recognition is leading to many complications in the quality provision of care.’ In addition to the decreasing allocations of funds and increasing costs of healthcare, are making tremendous impact on the profession of nursing. The provision of health care and health care services globally is going through a period of profound change. Change is needed if nurses are to provide a health service that is safe and effective as well as responding to the dynamic challenges that keep the trust and support of the public, Ian mentioned. Evaluation, Development of Competencies, Education for all Nurses, Initial orientation were some of the other key issues discussed by Mrs. Mariam Suroor Director of Nursing, Ministry of Health Sharjah. “People want to give good care and it bothers all of us when we can’t do it. You are pulled in 10 directions, and you can’t give quality care to your patients. It really bothers me” ‘Such conferences help us understand many aspects of nursing and interacting with international faculty and seniors from local institutions greatly benefited us’…said an RN who attended the conference. The migration of nurses to seek better life, education, running away from violence & war in their country were some of the main reasons for nurses to look for employment opportunities in other countries. Recognition and appreciation are very important to retain nurses. Make them accountable, make them responsible and then witness the rise in professional standards, said Zaharah Osman, Corporate Nursing Manager, KPG Healthcare Malaysia. Psychiatric Nursing is an interpersonal process that promotes and maintains behavior that contributes to integrated functioning. It is a specialized area of nursing practice employing theories of human behavior as its science and purposeful use of self as it art, said Dr. Vijaya Kumaradas, Dean Faculty of Nursing RAK University. Other topics covered were Current Issues in Nursing Management, Accountability and Clinical decision Making -An Overview, Barriers to Evidence Based Nursing, Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace, Transcultural Nursing, Staff Recruitment and Retention, Reporting of events / occurrences: The Reality in Nursing, and Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing. UAE Faculty included Mrs. Mariam Suroor, Director of Nursing, Ministry of Health – UAE, Ms. Diane Presley – Regional Director of Nursing, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Abu Dhabi, Ms. Linda Haskins – Director of Nursing, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Abu Dhabi, Ms. Nancy Hashim – Director of Nursing, American Hospital Dubai, Ms. Sandra Pieters – Performance Improvement Director – American Hospital Dubai and Dr. Vijaya Kumaradas – Dean College of Nursing – RAKMHSU. Workshops on Emergency Medical Care, Maternal Child Nursing, Perinatal Care, Geriatric Nursing and Psychiatric Nursing were held on the 24th of May 2008. They workshops will be conducted by International Faculty and leading experts from various MoH Districts and leading hospitals in UAE.