DOHA: Highlighting the importance of the nursing profession and the role nurses and midwives play in increasing positive patient health outcomes, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), this week celebrating the GCC Nursing Day with a range of activities across its network of hospitals and clinics.
The GCC Nursing Day, also known as the Gulf Nursing Day, commemorates the establishment of the first nursing facility in the Arabian Peninsula by a woman named Rufaida Al Aslamiya.
Popularly known as the founder of modern nursing in the Middle East, Rufaida devoted her life to developing and improving nursing care and is said to have founded the first nursing school in the Islamic world.
“Nurses and midwives are on the frontline of administering and evaluating a patient’s condition. They play a very important role as advocates for patient health, safety and dignity. They are involved in every step along the patient’s hospital journey, leading the way in assessing patient response to treatment, evaluating symptoms, coordinating care, administering medications, and providing health counseling and education. As they spend the most amount of time with patients, they comprehensively tend to all patients and provide invaluable emotional support,” said Professor Ann Marie Cannaby, Chief Nursing Officer, HMC.
With approximately 8,500 men and women working as nurses at its hospitals and clinics, nurses form the largest group of staff at HMC. Functioning in roles that range from frontline positions in the Emergency Department to senior administrative and policy positions, the GCC Nursing Day celebrations underscore the central role nurses play in delivering healthcare in Qatar.
Dr Badriya Al Lenjawi, Assistant Executive Director of Nursing Professional Development commented: “GCC Nursing Day provides an opportunity for us to inspire our nurses and midwives and to highlight this noble profession. Our nurses and midwives have constant interaction with our patients and their families. They contribute significantly to the overall patient experience and we are very proud of their consistent efforts and contributions to ensure our patients receive the best possible care during their time at our hospitals and clinics.”
The Peninsula
