Patricia Davidson, Dean of the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, and Zeina Khouri-Stevens, RN, PhD, Chief Nursing Officer of Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare, were honored to witness the historic launch of the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS) Professional Practice Councils, February 12, 2017. Under this progressive concept, distinct councils will be formed for Nursing, Medicine, Dental and Pharmacy.
In a move to elevate the profession of nursing, His Excellency, Professor Ayman Abdo, Secretary-General of the SCFHS and Dr. Khouri-Stevens, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to cover a pilot training program at Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare for in-kingdom nursing students to develop both academic and competency-based skill sets.
Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare is an engaged and committed member of the Saudi Arabian healthcare sector. The advancement of health professions is core to our vision, and we share the SCFHS belief that the health of the nation is promoted and protected by the progression of nursing,” says Dr. Khouri-Stevens. “We are proud to provide support to the central purpose of the SCFHS, ‘To protect and promote health in Saudi Arabia through competent healthcare practitioners and based on the highest standards and best practices’.” Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare has honored Saudi Aramco’s legacy of active corporate social responsibility, the nursing program will complement the organization’s robust educational outreach agenda and its medical residency program.
Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare’s contributions to the SCFHS mandate to elevate the professional practice of nursing were formally acknowledged at the event through the presentation of its Doctorate of Nursing Practice program. This program—envisioned by Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare and the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing—is the first of its kind to be offered in Saudi Arabia. The program enhances nurses’ clinical skills, develops their leadership skills and solidifies their role as an essential component in delivering quality healthcare.
“This global collaboration is an important part of our mission as a school to equip nurses across the world to lead health care innovation,” says Davidson. “Through our work together, there are tremendous opportunities to forge pathways for nurses to continue in leadership, ease health care work shortages, and broaden the profession’s influence in improving the quality of health local and globally.”
##
About the Doctorate of Nursing Practice program
The program— envisioned by Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare and the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing—is the first of its kind to be offered in Saudi Arabia. The program enhances nurses’ clinical skills, develops their leadership skills and solidifies their role as an essential component to delivering quality healthcare.
To earn a doctorate in nursing practice—the highest clinical degree possible in the profession—students must complete two years of academic, clinical, management and leadership studies, culminating in an independent research project.
While most coursework is done in Kingdom, the students come to Johns Hopkins’ campus for two weeks during the program for required academic and clinical training. In Baltimore, the students learn through classes taught by experts from across Johns Hopkins institutions, as well as through shadow days during which they can see best practices being implemented in real time.
About Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare
Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare Company (JHAH) is the result of a joint venture between Saudi Aramco, a world leader in energy, and Johns Hopkins Medicine, one of the world’s leading academic health systems. This health care organization is designed to drive and enhance the wellbeing of the community in an environment of growth and learning, by providing innovative, integrated and patient-centered care to Saudi Aramco’s employees and health care beneficiaries. For more information, visit www.JHAH.com
About Johns Hopkins School of Nursing
Located in Baltimore, the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing is a globally recognized leader in nursing education, research, and practice and ranks #1 nationally among graduate schools of nursing and #2 for DNP programs, according to U.S. News & World Report. In addition, the school is ranked by QS World University as the # 2 nursing school in the world and is named the “Most Innovative Nursing Graduate Program in the U.S” by Best Master of Science in Nursing Degrees. The school is among the top nursing schools for Federal Research Grants and National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding. For more information, visit www.nursing.jhu.edu.
Media Inquiries
Danielle Kress
410-955-2840