Bridging the theory practice gap: a review of Graduate Nurse Program (GNP) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Abstract

One of the prime concerns of government is the investment in people and resources for the education and health care of its nation. The United Arab Emirates has invested in improving Arab nurse education to reflect the latest emerging standards in international nurse education as part of this ongoing investment: a need to bridge the theory practice divide was identified. The Dubai Health Authority (DHA), which is the main government healthcare provider in Dubai, granted full scholarship for Arab nationals to enrol in the first baccalaureate nursing degree program offered by a local university in the country. Since its conception, 56 students have graduated from the program, of which eight graduates have resigned or did not join the nursing workforce. Current new graduates expressed lack of confidence and not feeling work ready to join the workforce; in addition, the nurses in service also voiced the opinion that the new Arab nursing graduates were inadequately prepared for service provision at the time of graduation. A graduate nurse program to bridge the gap between theory and practice and to ease the transition of new graduate nurses into the nursing workforce was developed by the DHA. This paper offers a positional discussion on the development of this program in Dubai, its findings, action planning and works in progress to resolve identified issues.