2nd Saudi Health Nursing Conference supports ‘Saudization’ initiative

RIYADH- Highlighting the need for Saudi Nationals to adopt nursing as a career choice, the Saudi Health Exhibition & Conference 2014, the largest international healthcare event in Saudi Arabia, will host the second Saudi Health Nursing Conference with a focus on ‘Bridging the Gap from Rhetoric to Reality.’

In line with organizers’ philosophy of ‘Exhibition with Education,’ the conference will offer 30-hours CME accreditation and will run from 19 – 21 May, 2014 at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Dr. Mohammed Bin Hamza Khoshaim, Deputy Minister of Health (MoH) for Planning and Development, Ministry of Health, will be among the key speakers at the Saudi Health Nursing Conference to discuss the MoH’s strategic approach for developing the nursing field within the Kingdom. The conference is being organized with an aim to present nursing as a novel profession in Saudi Arabia.

Aside from raising awareness on employment opportunities for local youth in the field, the conference will focus on achieving excellence in delivery of compassionate patient and family-centred care. It will engage in debate with local workforce about the shaping of nursing profession in future, highlight the MoH’s directions and agenda, underscore leading innovative technology solutions and trends, embrace networking opportunities with global experts and focus on the significance of the field development.

Jane Wilshaw, Executive Director – Nursing Services, King Fahad Medical City and the Chairperson of the 2^nd Saudi Health Nursing Conference, says: “Building upon the interest and demand of the profession, the Saudi Health Nursing Conference has achieved exponential growth. During its second edition, the emphasis will be to encourage national youth to adopt this profession and overcome societal concerns. It will also enable the fulfilling of the national goals of ‘Saudization’ in nursing sector.”

“In King Fahad Medical City (KFMC), we have embarked upon a ‘Saudization’ program to motivate more nationals to join our nursing team. Under the program, we send qualified undergraduates abroad so that they can obtain an International Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing. Moreover, Saudi nurses with diplomas are being encouraged to join International Bridging Programs or to study in one of the Kingdom’s universities. While KFMC is aware that expatriate expertise is vital to successfully run nursing faculty within the hospital, our strategy is to have a workforce which comprises 30 per cent of Saudi Nationals by 2020,” concludes Wilshaw.