Advancing Nursing in Saudi Arabia: A Case Study

By Zeina Khouri-Stevens

I was pleased when my colleague Karen Haller approached me to tag-team on a pair of posts about how Johns Hopkins Medicine International is evolving and empowering the nursing profession at its global affiliations. We decided to use Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare (JHAH) as a successful case study on how we are leveraging nurses’ clinical training and expanding their roles—and recognition—around the world.

It’s true that many countries—including Saudi Arabia—haven’t always embraced the role nurses can play to meet the complex needs of both patients and entire health systems. But collaborations between global health leaders can help change hearts and minds to elevate the nursing profession in really profound ways.

I have seen this firsthand. From the earliest days of our collaboration, JHAH and Johns Hopkins have been sharing clinical best practices and bolstering education not only to augment nursing services and build capacity at JHAH, but also to advance the profession throughout Saudi Arabia.

Together, we have spearheaded efforts to create an environment that keeps JHAH’s 1,100 nurses at the forefront of hands-on patient care, while also giving them ample opportunities to learn and progress in their careers.

I invite you to read this feature story that highlights how Johns Hopkins is providing clinical training, leadership development and research opportunities that will allow JHAH as an organization—and all of us as nurses—to have a bright future.

Zeina Khouri-Stevens is the chief nursing officer at Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare. Prior to that, she worked for Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center as the director of nursing for inpatient surgery and neurosciences, and as an adjunct faculty member at the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing.