HE Minister of Health, Dr. Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz AL Rabeeah, met on Wednesday in his office- Ministry's Divan, The Saudi Nursing Directors from different areas and provinces in the Kingdom in the presence of Deputy Minister Assistant, Dr. Ageel AL Gamdi, General Manager of Nursing, Dr. Moneera AL Esaimy.
"I am happy to meet you today. As we all know, nursing is considered a noble profession and essential for primary health care. Personally, I am always keen on such profession" HE said during the meeting.
"There is no doubt that health care services cannot be upgraded without a strong foundation such as nursing staff, followed by technical staff. If you are a doctor, then you are more important than Medicine profession itself, because you represent the basic of health care.
Nursing has a long history full of achievements. We are happy to witness this grow in nursing national staff and we ask Allah that such grow covers the Kingdom's urgent health needs".
Stressing on the Ministry of Health support for nursing, HE added "Praise be to Allah that nursing educational level is growing rapidly throughout the Kingdom and as part of the Ministry's dedication to upgrade nursing field, the Ministry is establishing nursing colleges and programs higher than bachelor degree level".
Moreover, Dr. Al Rabeeah stressed that patients are number one concern since the Ministry slogan is "Patient First".
"Patients are the Ministry and other health sectors key to success. Therefore, the patient must be our number one priority and must be considered as a family member. How to deal with the patient is the road to success as well as reaching health services beneficiaries' satisfaction. Wherefore, the Ministry is keen on providing high quality health services".
HE also stressed that Nursing Directors should treat their subordinates equally: "since we are all human and differs from one to another but in the end we must act professionally and be fare".
"We have a sufficient number of nursing trainees and scholarship students.
We are proud of them and ready to give them the opportunity to make their dream to be a reality for their ambition and aspiration.
You as nursing Directors must help them and benefit from them since our policy is to pursuit development as the key to success" HE said. He also added: "we must pursuit development and continuous training and follow up international updates. The Ministry is keen on providing training courses.
I am expecting from you continuous success and interdependence with the Ministry and among you"
On the other hand, Directors of Nursing Departments from across the Kingdom held a meeting on Wednesday morning with the Deputy Minster Assistant of Curative Medicine, Dr. Ageel AL Gamdi, and General Manager of Nursing, Dr. Moneera AL Esaimy. The meeting viewed nursing development and training programs and nursing faced obstacles.
Dr. Ageel pointed out the importance of nursing training to upgrade job performance since nurses evaluation in the first year must apply to international standards of evaluation and achieve acceptable scores.
Also they must be certain of their qualification after giving them the opportunity to raise their scientific and professional skills.
He also stressed on the need of being direct and frank in work, applies rules and regulations and avoids personal issues. Furthermore, Dr. Ageel asked nursing directors to check Nursing Compounds appropriateness which reflect on nurses' job performance.
The General director of Nursing, Dr. Moneera AL Esaimy, clarified that this meeting is considered an annual meeting to study related and important issues, and aims to inactivate Nursing Forum recommendations, discuss Nursing directors views and meet Ministry's officials to benefit from their experiences.