Nursing in Oman
16 May 2011
A nursing programme delivered by the School of Nursing and Midwifery Studies in Oman has seen all of its students successfully graduate. Dr Dianne Watkins, Deputy Head of the School describes the graduation Ceremony in Oman that she and other members of staff attended.
“The School of Nursing and Midwifery Studies entered into a collaborative agreement with the Oman Specialised Nursing Institute (OSNI), at the Ministry of Health, Sultanate of Oman in 2008. In May 2009 the first cohort of 27 students registered with Cardiff University to undertake a ‘top up’ BSc (Hons) in Nursing Studies delivered in OSNI by staff from the School.
“The collaboration has been a huge success, highly acclaimed by Professor Paul Dummer, the moderator appointed by Cardiff University to oversee the quality of the programme. The fruits of this successful venture were realised when 100 percent of the students graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Nursing Studies in July 2010. Some students attended our ceremony in Cardiff; however Oman held their own graduation ceremony in February 2011 to celebrate this prestigious achievement.
“His Excellency, the Minister of Health, other Ministers, Senior personnel in Nursing for Oman and senior academic staff from Cardiff University, were welcomed into the ceremony to music played by bagpipes, which is a tradition in Oman. All Omanis were in traditional dress and Cardiff University staff in academic robes which made the whole event very special indeed.
“The ceremony was hosted by two female Omani student nurses in wonderful colourful traditional dress and a reading from the Quoran was presented. Two students who had graduated from the BSc provided a personal account of what they had learnt from the programme and how it had influenced their personal development and professional practice. This was highly acclaimed by the audience and dignitaries. One of these students received a commendation from the Director General of Education and Training for her excellent speech on what she had learnt from the BSc and her role as a nurse in promoting and caring for the health and well being of Omani people.
“Professor Sheila Hunt gave a speech on nursing as a caring profession, life long learning and the role of education in improving the delivery of evidence based nursing care to patients. She commended Dr Dianne Watkins for her commitment and enthusiasm in developing the collaboration and for her dedication in continuing to ensure the degree was of the highest quality. Degree awards were presented by His Excellency the Minister of Health for Oman. Mentors from OSNI were thanked for their support of students and were given a present by the Minister for Health. A video prepared by the students which portrayed School lecturers teaching and supporting students in Oman was shown to the audience. This provided a moving and insightful glimpse into how the BSc is taught in Oman and the engagement of lecturers and students in the learning process.
“The event was followed by a dinner held in the open air with wonderful Omani food, and fruit drinks.
“The successful achievement of a BSc (Hons) in Nursing Studies by Omani nurses marks a historic point in the School of Nursing and Midwifery Studies move towards collaborative working with other countries. It was a momentous and special occasion attended by the Dean and Head of School Professor Sheila Hunt; Deputy Head, Dr Dianne Watkins; Cardiff University Moderator Professor Paul Dummer; Programme Manager Meryl Jones; and Lorraine Joomun, a lecturer from Cardiff. Dignitaries from the Ministry of Health including the Minister for Health and the ex Minister for Health; the Director of Nursing and Midwifery Affairs for Oman, the Oman Director General of Education and Training; Dean of the Oman Specialised Nursing Institute attended, along with the Programme Director for the BSc, mentors to students and of course graduates and their families.”
