Omanization : situational analysis of the challenges facing the nursing profession

Abstract

Background: Human resource development has become a major socio-economic concern in Oman since the inception of the "Omanization" policy in 1988 as a capacity building drive to prepare the indigenous manpower. The main goal of the Omanization policy was to replace expatriate workforce with similar qualified locals to develop a sustainable workforce and achieve self-reliance. Aim: The aim of this study was to explore the challenges the nursing profession in Oman is facing as a result of the Omanization policy and the extent to which the nurses are adequately prepared to meet these challenges once the expatriate workforce is phased out. Method: Clarke's situational analysis approach to the grounded theory methodology was employed through interviews and analysis of circumstantial human and non-human elements. Four theoretical frameworks guided this study: Bourdieu's concepts of capital and habitus/field, Dawkin's evolution logarithm, Benner's theory from novice to expert, and Jorgenson's and Hyland's continuous improvement model of change. Five groups were interviewed consisting of the Ministry of Health officials, representatives from the public, and nurses leaders, nurse graduates, and students of the MoH Nursing Institutes. Transcribed data were analysed using thematic situational analysis. Results: The results of this research highlighted the challenges in building up sustainable nursing workforce under the current strategies. The low image of nursing in the society has made it difficult to attract suitable candidates to pursue nursing as a career. The participants provided a prospective view to achieve Omanization of the nursing workforce through introduction of attractive schemes including upgrading the nursing education at the degree level, continuous professional development, and introduction of flexible working conditions to accommodate the work-life balance. Discussion: Different viewpoints and voices from the participant groups highlighted the expectations and the challenges the Omani nurses faced in the development of the nursing profession and its contribution in the overall national development. Rapid Omanization process and its adverse effect on the ability of the local young nursing workforce, mostly of who are females required a phased replacement model which was developed for this thesis. Diverse views about nursing held in an Arabic society with its tenuous culture and Arab-Islamic traditions form the core of this study interpretation. Conclusion: This study highlighted the pressure that the local nurses felt as a result of Omanization policy. Nurses were certainly caught between the pressing demands of the society for quality care, lack of recognition to the nurses' contribution, and the speed upon which the experienced expatriate workforce was phasing out that left behind a marked experience gap.