Nursing Education Leaders Experiences of Emirati Nursing Student Recruitment and Retention

Background: Nursing started in the United Arab Emirates with the arrival of expatriate nurses in the latter part of the nineteen century, but fifty years on though, nursing education in the country is still in its infancy, and currently only 3% of the local population are taking up the profession as a career choice in the country. Objective: The purpose of this paper is to explore the experience of nursing education leaders in dealing with this issue. Design: Unstructured interviews were conducted with select nursing leaders in the country to explore their experiences. Findings: Nursing leaders from different spheres of the profession had different experiences and responsibilities, and tackled the problem from different perspectives. Conclusion: The paper has several implications for nursing education and policy in the United Arab Emirates and the region.