Nursing education in the United Arab Emirates

This paper reviews the development of the nursing manpower situation in the United Arab Emirates, with particular emphasis on the trends and currents that have had an impact on the national school of nursing in Abu Dhabi, in the last decade. Special attention is placed on the design of the nursing curriculum. This is based on a framework of core concepts derived from a philosophy relating to man, health and nursing. A competency-based model, designed for three levels of nursing personnel, each with well defined responsibilities, is presented along with an educational and professional career ladder for nurses in the United Arab Emirates. A phased implementation of the proposed system of nursing education is undertaken, with the first phase nearing completion. Preparations are well underway to initiate the second phase of nursing education, that has been successfully implemented earlier in the state of Bahrain.