To highlight the role of nursing and midwifery in the world, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced recently that this year is the “Nurses & Midwife” year. It is estimated that an additional 9 million nurses and midwives are needed if the world is to achieve universal health coverage by 2030.
The Nursing profession has developed in the Sultanate over the first years of the renaissance era. The number of nurses reached around 20000, including 15217 nurses are working currently in the health institutions of the Ministry of Health with 64% Omanization.
The health sector has developed in parallel with the government direction in providing the primary, secondary, and territory healthcare services for all citizens and residents focusing on scientific learning and research in the health field. In 1979 the Ministry of Health has established the Nursing Department. In 1982 the first Omani woman was appointed as the Nursing Director. Furthermore, a number of Omani nurses gained scholarships in various specializations in the UK and the USA.
In addition, the Health Science Institute has been inaugurated in 1982containing different specializations such as nursing science, laboratories, X-ray and physiotherapy. This was followed by inaugurating a number of nursing institutes in Salalah, Nizwa, Sohar, Ibri, Sur and other governorates.
All these developments have been crowned in 2001 by inaugurating the Specialized Nursing Institute including specializations like midwifery, adult critical care, emergency and infection control. In 2016, the level of study has been upgraded into a bachelor degree in all health institutes of the Ministry of Health by announcing the Oman Health Science College. In addition, the Oman Specialized Nursing Institute has been also upgraded to become the Higher Institute for Health Specializations. Currently, more than 780 nurses are being trained in these colleges.
More than 10% who have obtained the bachelor degree, while 5% who have the master degree in various specializations including advanced nursing practices, as well as more than 30 PHD graduates. It is worth mentioning that 30 seats are providing for master and PHD nursing study in the international universities.
Over the last decade, the nursing and midwifery sector has been developed, where in 2014, the Department of Nursing Affairs has been upgraded to General Directorate including three departments for profession organization, human resources and professional practice.
The Directorate is working on upgrading the nursing profession in all professional and ethical aspects, developing and following the nursing policies, regulations, strategies and plans in order to meet the health services requirements.
