Emirati nurses say their job needs higher status to attract more UAE nationals, as some complained they are seen as 'helpers' rather than medical professionals.
Citizens who work in Abu Dhabi government hospitals urged more young people to embrace the field, at a summit for nurses on Tuesday.
Using their training and language skills to support patients of all backgrounds is rewarding they said - but hard work, as medics around the world can attest to.
Rabab Abdallah, chair of the organising committee of the UAE's first International Nursing Excellence Conference, run by the government hospital operator Seha, said better recognition is needed.
“This is a transient workforce that will eventually leave but as Emiratis this is our home,” said Mrs Abdallah.
“Emirati nurses don’t need translators and can understand the needs of their Emirati patients both medically and emotionally. We understand the language and the culture,” she said.
The event this week is examining the future of nursing, including how it can be made more attractive to Emiratis.
At present, about 200 of the 8,000 nurses at Seha hospitals are Emiratis. Many of the rest are Asian, such as Filipino and Indian, among other nationalities.
Emirati nurses don't need translators and can understand the needs of their Emirati patients both medically and emotionally
Ms Abdallah said her colleagues have asked for advanced training and more opportunities.
“This is why we are asking for support and programs to help develop our skills and are asking for training and accreditation for specialised Emirati nurses,” she said.
Seha told The National it is planning to roll out advanced training next year in critical care and other specialities.
The starting salary of an Emirati nurse at Seha hospitals is about Dh30,000 per month. That compares to about Dh18,000 for an expatriate nurse.
But not enough young Emiratis are graduating from Fatima College of Health Sciences and entering nursing. Many with science qualifications can find better paying jobs, nurses said.
Houria Al Naqbi, who works at Mafraq Hospital on the outskirts of the city, has been a nurse for more than twelve years and has a master's degree. She hopes to be further trained and choose a specialisation.
"Nurses are still seen as doctors' assistants or helpers - and that is not who we are," she said.
"Many people still think that we can't take any decisions on our own. That is wrong. Specialties will help us elevate our profession and gain more respect."
She commutes from Sharjah and rents accommodation in Abu Dhabi, because salaries are higher, about Dh38,000 for her position.
Suhair Helal said the job has its challenges, particularly night shifts, which can put new recruits off.
“Many of the nurses have families and young children so it is difficult for them to do a twelve hour night shift,” Ms Helal said.
“They would prefer doing a straight day shift.”
Sakeena Al Hashmi, who also works at Mafraq, said many of her peers have used their qualifications to take non-nursing medical jobs, and are often focused on gaining a certain 'position' rather than the day to day work.
“Many of my friends and colleagues outside Seha are now managers and heads of clinics," she said.
She accepted nursing is a tough profession.
“At my age, I am still doing night shifts and making beds like I was doing when I first started.”
Samah Mahmoud, deputy chief of nursing and midwifery at Seha, said that Emiratisation remains a top priority and should be helped the implementation of the new specialisation scheme next year.
“We are now starting the programme in certain critical care specialties such as paediatrics, emergency and operating room and affiliating with national and international institutions to start this," she said.
As for salaries and housing allowances, she said that their salary scale “compared to others” is in “good shape.”
“The majority of nationals have their own houses and if not then have then they have the supplement to support them,” she said.
She agreed that the profession does need be elevated - "the problem why we could not attract more Emiratis is because of the image" - but said nurses are better equipped than in the past.
"They now practise like practitioners and in front of the public look like physicians too", she said.
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Creator: Lauren LeFranc
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8pm, Thursday
Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
German plea
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the German parliament that. Russia had erected a new wall across Europe.
"It's not a Berlin Wall -- it is a Wall in central Europe between freedom and bondage and this Wall is growing bigger with every bomb" dropped on Ukraine, Zelenskyy told MPs.
Mr Zelenskyy was applauded by MPs in the Bundestag as he addressed Chancellor Olaf Scholz directly.
"Dear Mr Scholz, tear down this Wall," he said, evoking US President Ronald Reagan's 1987 appeal to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate.
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
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T20 World Cup Qualifier A, Muscat
Friday, February 18: 10am - Oman v Nepal, Canada v Philippines; 2pm - Ireland v UAE, Germany v Bahrain
Saturday, February 19: 10am - Oman v Canada, Nepal v Philippines; 2pm - UAE v Germany, Ireland v Bahrain
Monday, February 21: 10am - Ireland v Germany, UAE v Bahrain; 2pm - Nepal v Canada, Oman v Philippines
Tuesday, February 22: 2pm – semi-finals
Thursday, February 24: 2pm – final
UAE squad: Ahmed Raza (captain), Muhammad Waseem, Chirag Suri, Vriitya Aravind, Rohan Mustafa, Kashif Daud, Zahoor Khan, Alishan Sharafu, Raja Akifullah, Karthik Meiyappan, Junaid Siddique, Basil Hameed, Zafar Farid, Mohammed Boota, Mohammed Usman, Rahul Bhatia
All matches to be streamed live on icc.tv
'Downton Abbey: A New Era'
Director: Simon Curtis
Cast: Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Maggie Smith, Michelle Dockery, Laura Carmichael, Jim Carter and Phyllis Logan
Rating: 4/5
CREW
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The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
The biog
Name: Dhabia Khalifa AlQubaisi
Age: 23
How she spends spare time: Playing with cats at the clinic and feeding them
Inspiration: My father. He’s a hard working man who has been through a lot to provide us with everything we need
Favourite book: Attitude, emotions and the psychology of cats by Dr Nicholes Dodman
Favourit film: 101 Dalmatians - it remind me of my childhood and began my love of dogs
Word of advice: By being patient, good things will come and by staying positive you’ll have the will to continue to love what you're doing
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
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