History of nursing education in RAK
The beginning of the journey (1950-1970)
Nursing education started when UAE Florence nightingale ( Salma Alsharhan ) Pease be upon to her been recognized by a doctor in the pharmacy where she is working and taught her first aid to take care of the patient after that nurse, Ruth taught her midwifery and she used that to treat the patient in remote areas and mountains.
In the year the 1990s…………..
In 1997 higher college of technology RAK started her program in Nursing. This program was for five years one year found that the students taught English & science subject that prepared them to enter the program, after that 4 years of nursing program. The program is for local students only. But because of less admission to the program and the idea of nursing is not good at that moment the program closed in 2001 with 7 graduates with a higher diploma in nursing science.
In the year the 2000s…………..
Ministry of Health worked to open an institute of nursing in RAK near saif hospital. So they started to repair it to have students. it’s started in 2001 with 3 years program and the students will get a diploma in nursing science. Local nurses got the benefit like incentives monthly that helped them to continue their education. the first batch had a huge number of locals but after that, the number decreased and the building is not suitable for continuing education in 2015 last batch graduated, and after that, the institute closed.
In 2007/ 2008 the first candle lighting of the nursing college of RAK Medical and Health Science University for the first batch of BSN programs started. The program is four years bachelor’s degree. After that in 2008/2009 RN, BSN program started with 2 years program. The students who’s having a diploma in nursing can continue to get a bachelor’s degree in nursing. In the year 2011 also started the master’s program. The specialty was adult health, community health, psychiatric mental health, and pediatric health in nursing. The program is for 2 years. Further, the students who graduated from the 3rd secondary literature program can enroll in the nursing program by entering the conversion program that was started in 2013 and contain English and chemistry, and biology. Dr. Vijaya komurdas dean of RAK CON instructed that the nursing journey will continue and all programs in nursing were accredited, so the students who graduated from the RAK MHSU nursing department can enroll in the hospitals and can provide care to the patient’s inaccurate manner and help in developing the country. And looking forward to opening Ph.D. programs at the university.
In the end, the nursing journey will continue and we will work to build up our country and raise health in many fields.