The NURSING-Positive Recruitment Arabic Model (NURS-P.R.A.M.): A mixed methods study.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Healthcare Workforce Development
• Socio-cultural Influences in Healthcare Careers

Background:

• Healthcare systems in the Arab region heavily rely on expatriate nurses.
• Attracting local talent to nursing requires improving the profession's public image within Arabic cultural contexts.
• A PhD study in Bahrain addresses these critical nursing workforce challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify key factors influencing high school students' decisions to pursue nursing.
• To develop and propose strategic interventions for promoting nursing as a viable career in the Arab region.
• To address cultural nuances impacting nursing recruitment in Arabic societies.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods approach combining quantitative and qualitative data collection.
• Utilized questionnaires, interviews, focus groups, and written narratives from students, parents, and educators (2012-2015).
• Employed SPSS for quantitative analysis and established frameworks (Colaizzi, Krueger) for qualitative data interpretation.

Main Results:

• Public perception of nursing in Arab cultures is significantly shaped by cultural factors.
• Enhancing the social value and perception of the nursing profession is crucial for increasing local enrollment and retention.
• The NURSING-Positive Recruitment Arabic Model offers a culturally tailored framework for nursing recruitment.

Conclusions:

• While sharing common themes with international nursing recruitment literature, the Arab region presents unique challenges.
• Developing effective nursing recruitment strategies necessitates addressing region-specific socio-cultural issues.
• Culturally sensitive interventions are vital for building a sustainable local nursing workforce in Arabic countries.