Dubai: With a current staff strength of 4,874 nurses of 28 nationalities across its five hospitals and 15 health centres, the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has shown a year-on-year growth in the recruitment of nurses, said a top health official marking the World Nurses and Midwife Day.
DHA felicitated nurses who have completed 25 years on the occasion on Thursday and bestowed awards on those who have achieved excellence.
Fouad Chehab, Director of nursing at Dubai Hospital and chairperson of the Directors of Nursing Forum at the DHA, said: “With the growth of the health sector and the completion of newer projects, the DHA has seen a year-on-year growth in the recruitment of nurses at the DHA. Over the last few years, 500 to 800 nurses are appointed every year. The DHA recognises the value of nurses in the health sector. In many ways, they are the backbone of the health sector and therefore we have very clear recruitment strategies as well as defined career-growth pathways for nurses.”
Chehab said, “The Dubai Health Authority organises at least two overseas recruitment trips each year and once recruited, the nurses have several options to pursue further training programmes to seek specialisations as well as defined career paths. In 2015, the DHA promoted 1,000 nurses and provided fast-track growth path to exceptional nursing staff. This is one of the reasons our turnover rate is much lower than international standards — ours is five to six per cent while the international rate is 10 to 18 per cent.”
Chehab also highlighted that the DHA provides several programmes to promote recruitment and retention of Emirati nurses. In the UAE, the number of Emirati nurses is steadily increasing due to the various training colleges available locally and thanks to the active role played by various health authorities across the UAE to promote and develop this field.
“At the DHA, we have fast-track career path options for Emirati nurses. They are also given scholarship to pursue higher studies in nursing. Previously, they needed to go abroad but now several colleges are available within the country itself,” said Chehab.
Last year, 300 nurses from the DHA attended an eight-day management programme with 40 Continual Medical Education (CME) credit hours.
