Dr. Nicola Ryley, Chief Nursing Officer at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has highlighted that the over 8,800 nurses and midwives who work across the healthcare provider’s hospitals, clinics, and homecare service are among the most trusted members of the patient care team.
Speaking during an event held in recognition of International Nurses Day (IND) which is celebrated annually on 12 May, Dr. Ryley said nurses support their patients through some of the most significant moments in their lives, including birth, death, diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. She added that nurses and midwives are highly trained clinicians, with over 70% of HMC’s nurses and midwives being university graduates. Many of the nursing and midwifery leaders working across HMC also hold advanced qualifications, such as a Master of Science in Nursing degree.
“Without skilled and dedicated nurses, the delivery of safe, effective, and compassionate care at HMC would not be a reality. Nurses are the most visible and trusted members of our patient care team and International Nurses Day is a great opportunity for our multidisciplinary care teams to come together and celebrate the good work that we do,” said Dr. Ryley.
She added, “It has been truly wonderful to see so many of our staff celebrating the contributions made by nurses caring for patients across HMC’s network of hospitals. I am immensely proud of every one of the nurses and midwives who have come together to commemorate this important day, which recognizes both the history and the future of our profession.”
Dr. Ryley also spoke about the importance of developing and supporting Qatar’s future healthcare leaders. Nearly half of all the senior nursing and midwifery leadership positions at HMC are currently held by Qatari nationals and HMC’s leadership team is committed to helping more nationals develop the right skills and experience to take on leading roles in the organization.
In support of the ongoing efforts to both raise the standards of nursing and midwifery care at HMC and the public profile of nursing, the healthcare provider recently announced a partnership with the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH). The partnership saw the establishment of Nursing Now Qatar, a campaign that aims to improve healthcare globally by raising the profile and status of nurses worldwide and supporting nurses to lead, learn, and build a global movement. The Qatar chapter is the first in the region.
Ms. Mariam Al Mutawa, Executive Director of Nursing at Rumailah Hospital, said, “Nursing Now is an exciting and challenging campaign organized globally in collaboration with the World Health Organization and the International Council of Nurses. Nursing Now provides opportunities to raise the status and profile of nursing and is designed to empower nurses to have a greater influence in designing and developing healthcare and in addressing the health challenges of today and tomorrow.”
Dr. Ryley added that the Nursing Now campaign is one of the many approaches HMC has adopted to help profile the important role of nurses and midwives. She said the campaign reflects a global shift across the healthcare sector that is seeing nurses and midwives taking on more specialized roles.
HMC has had a longstanding commitment to developing the professional role of nurses and midwives and has established a Nursing and Midwifery Strategy, which is refreshed every three years. This Strategy provides the roadmap for the development of a world-class nursing and midwifery service at HMC. The next update is due later this year.
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