Health ministry in drive to recruit more ICU nurses on Dh9,000 monthly salary

Contract-based job is open to people already in the country

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES. 25 JANUARY 2021. The Ministry of Health and Prevention has launched a recruitment drive to hire more nurses for the Intensive Care Units in government hospitals in Sharjah, Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah. Nurse Jewel Arnie Lyn Tangullig Is an outpatient nurse checking documentation prior to assessment of vital signs for a patient that will check in for an appointment in the out patient clinic. She came from the Phillipines and has been working as a nurse for almost 1.5 years in Dubai. (Photo: Antonie Robertson/The National) Journalist: Georgia Tolley. Section: National.

The Ministry of Health and Prevention launched a recruitment drive to hire more nurses for intensive care units in government hospitals in Sharjah, Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah.

The job details specify that the position is offered on a temporary contract with a monthly salary of Dh9,000.

Candidates must have a valid registered nurse licence in their home country and at least two years’ experience working in ICU.

The position is open only to nurses living in the UAE, although those with a tourist visa or residence visa can also apply.

Helena Stevens, senior director of nursing at Zulekha Hospital. Antonie Robertson / The National

“The Ministry of Health and Prevention is looking for ICU nurses to work in Dubai, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah,” the advertisement read.

“Applicable to all nurses inside the UAE with valid residence or tourist/visit visa.

“All interested candidates must send their CV mentioning their preferred location to [e-mail].”

Zulekha Hospital in Dubai is also hiring ICU nurses.

"As part of our ongoing commitment to supporting the UAE and the public in fighting Covid-19, we have opened additional ICU beds," Helena Stevens, senior director of nursing, told The National.

“To give an idea of how many nurses are needed, each additional ICU bed requires a minimum of three nurses to provide round-the-clock care.

“It is difficult to give an exact number of the planned additional ICU staff but so far we have added eight nurses with a plan to increase further as soon as possible.

"The Covid positive numbers are 100 per cent more than during the first wave therefore the number of severe cases has of course proportionally increased.

"To manage this effectively every hospital must work together to support the UAE in fighting this disease.”

Last week, Dubai hospitals were told to cancel all non-essential surgery for a month after a surge in Covid-19 cases across the country.

The same decision was made last March to protect at-risk patients and free up equipment such as ventilators for Covid-19 patients.

On Tuesday, the UAE recorded 3,601 cases – the country's highest daily infection tally to date.

Healthcare workers at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Abu Dhabi. In May of 2021, the emergency ward was dedicated to treating Covid-19 patients. Reem Mohammed / The National