Emirates Health Services Celebrates International Nurses Day 2025 with 16 Innovative Projects

Emirates Health Services (EHS) hosted a special event to mark International Nurses Day 2025, held this year under the theme “Our Nurses. Our Future. Caring for Nurses Strengthens the Economy”. The celebration saw broad participation from nursing staff across EHS facilities, alongside healthcare leaders, and featured a professional competition showcasing 16 pioneering projects as part of the “Nursing Race for Excellence” event, aimed to foster innovative practices and promote a culture of continuous improvement in the nursing sector.

His Excellency Dr. Essam Al Zarooni, Acting Executive Director of the Medical Services Sector at EHS, emphasized the pivotal role of nursing professionals in building a more resilient and sustainable healthcare system. He noted that the “Nursing Race for Excellence” event reinforces an environment supportive of creativity, empowering nurses to actively contribute to enhancing patient experiences, elevating service quality, and driving on-the-ground change. “Today’s projects reflect the professional maturity and forward-looking vision of our nursing teams, embodying EHS’s commitment to empowering them as leaders of innovation and development in healthcare,” he added.

Dr. Sumaya Al Blooshi, Director of Nursing Department at EHS, highlighted how this year’s submissions demonstrate the success of the EHS’s professional development programs for nursing staff and its adoption of methodologies based on best practices in the field. “The projects showcased diversity and integration, addressing critical issues such as patient education, safety, and experience improvement, alongside clinical efficiency, risk prevention in emergency care environments, and empowering patients to actively participate in treatment plans. These initiatives leveraged evidence-based tools and smart monitoring, underscoring the nursing staff’s professional growth and ability to deliver practical solutions rooted in daily practice,” she stated.

Following presentations and evaluations, a specialized committee announced the top three winning projects based on innovation, impact, and alignment with EHS priorities. First place was awarded to Al Amal Psychiatric Hospital’s “Safe, Compassionate Ward: A Restraint-reduction journey” project, which focuses on improving patient experience by replacing traditional restraints with collaborative calming techniques.

Second place went to Al Kuwait Hospital Dubai’s preventive “FALL T.I.P.S.” initiative, designed to reduce fall risks in internal medicine wards through personalized interventions and innovative assessment tools, achieving zero falls in the last three quarters of 2024.

Third place recognized Kalba Hospital Emergency Department’s “Fast-Track System” for low-acuity cases, which streamlined triage processes, allocated resources to critical cases, and significantly reduced wait times, enhancing patient flow and satisfaction.

All projects presented at the “Nursing Race of Excellence” demonstrated forward-thinking solutions to clinical challenges, including innovations in patient communication, care efficiency, and procedural enhancements. These initiatives reflect the high capabilities of EHS nursing staff and their dedication to excellence.

Through this event, EHS reiterated its commitment to empowering nurses as key drivers of healthcare improvement, aligning with the UAE National Strategy for Nursing/Midwifery: 2022–2026. The organization aims to solidify the UAE’s position as a global model for nursing excellence and professional innovation.