The writer Maya Angelou once said, “As a nurse, we have the opportunity to heal the heart, mind, soul and body of our patients, their families and ourselves. They may not remember your name but they will never forget the way you made them feel.”

Nurses are the essence of healthcare, the shining path to recovery, a source of solace. The same can be said about the nurses in the frontline of the war against the coronavirus pandemic in the UAE. They have been brave enough to put themselves in the line of fire; some have been casualties, some managed to overcome the hurdles.

More than 230,000 healthcare workers are reported to have contracted the virus across several countries and more than 600 nurses have now died from it.

 International Nurses Day, which is observed on 12th May every year, gives us a chance to pay tribute to the selfless services and sacrifices made by the unsung heroes in the first line of defence. Abdul Rahman Bin Mohammad Bin Nasser Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention, has said the remarkable achievements made by nursing cadres will forever be remembered by the UAE leadership and people.

The UAE has pulled out all stops to make working conditions for nurses as comfortable as possible. The establishment of the National Strategy for Nursing and Midwifery 2025 has been a turning point in strengthening the capabilities of the health system.

The UAE, it can be said, is counting on its national health cadres to steer the country towards new heights of excellence.

Amid the COVID-19 battle, the UAE has given high priority to the health and safety of its medical cadres by providing them with the necessary training and requirements of the occupational protection in accordance with the best international practices.

MoHAP  has joined the world campaign “Nursing Now”. MoHAP provides scholarships for Emiratis who have a high school diploma from both genders to complete their studies in nursing specialisations in a number of the universities, to increase citizen nursing cadres qualified to contribute to providing distinguished healthcare to the community.Nursing is a strategic profession and a true support for the homeland in health crises.

The UAE has scored very well where nursing is concerned. The Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA), the UAE’s largest healthcare network, has won two prestigious nursing awards: the Nursing Informatics Unit of the Year 2020-2021 award, announced at the GCC eHealth Workforce Development Conference, and the Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI) Award for Outstanding Nursing Quality, presented to SEHA’s Ghayathi Hospital.

Nursing Informatics is part of SEHA’s nursing services and was established to focus on the future use of technology within nursing practice and its benefits for patients.

Nurses are the foundation of our network. Representing the largest portion of our workforce, they play a crucial role in elevating the patient experience. Beyond their multifaceted and continuously evolving role, it is the care and compassion of nurses which often leaves a lasting impression on our patients. We are incredibly proud that our nurses’ commitment to excellent patient care is being recognised through these awards; they are a testament to our world-class nursing team’s hard work, devotion, and dedication.

The Emirates Health Services (EHS) has launched the “We Care” app, an innovative digital platform that aims to improve the quality of life of nursing staff.

There is a connect between the nurse and patient which cannot be described, for it is the feelgood factor that dominates in such a relationship.