Manama, Bahrain, 7th February 2008: Sixty nine nursing students, who have joined the School of Nursing and Midwifery at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland - Medical University of Bahrain (RCSI-MUB) have formally been honoured to wear the white uniform in a ceremony held at the BDF officers club.

The "White Uniform Ceremony" was attended, by the Chairman of Academic Committee, Prof. Brendan Kavanagh, Lt. Col Badriya Salman of the Royal Medical Services at the BDF Hospital, Professor Seamus Cowman, Head of Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery in RCSI-Dublin, Ms. Rola Al Saffar, President of Bahrain Nursing Society, amongst other dignitaries from the BDF, Ministry of Health, Labor Fund, Bahrain Nursing Society, College of Health Science, Cardiac Center, Ministry of social Development and Nursing Licenses & Registration office.

President of RCSI-MUB, Prof Brendan Kavanagh, delivered the welcome note on the occasion and spoke of the noble role nursing & midwifery graduates play in the society. A speech delivered by Lt. Col Badriya Salman of the Royal Medical Services followed the welcome note

An interesting presentation was delivered afterwards by Professor Seamus Cowman, Head of Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery in RCSI-Dublin titled nurses & nursing: a powerful force for change in healthcare services.

Speaking on the occasion, the Director of the School of Nursing and Midwifery and associate professor, Batool Al-Mohandis who said that the White Uniform ceremony is the beginning for a lifetime of giving and that this event is a unique occasion which sends out a clear message to student nurses when they first wear their white uniform and have a sense of what it truly feels like to be part of the nursing profession. "The purity of the white colour was chosen centuries ago to symbolise nursing as a sacred and noble profession" she added. 

Graduates of this programme have the potential to become nursing leaders, to participate in developing hospital and community nursing as well as nursing administration and teaching. "They will be able to apply the research process to the study of nursing problems and will be in a position to carry out the steadily increasing set of responsibilities that will arise as a result of the expanding health service needs." Al Mohandis added

A representative from the nursing students, Ms. Sharifa Nabil also presented a speech titled "It's a Big Day Tomorrow", which was followed by a recitation of the nursing student's pledge by the inaugural class. Students' parents and a number of dignitaries also attended the event.

-Ends-

Editor's note:
The Medical University of Bahrain (MUB), a constituent of the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland (RSCI), has signed a Public Relations agreement with FP7 Bahrain to handle its communications plan and activities.  RCSI-MUB, officially opened in Bahrain in October 2004 in the Seef District, provides healthcare education and training to world standards in Bahrain, drawing students from Bahrain, India, Italy, Kuwait, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, United States of America and Yemen.   In March 2006, the foundation stone for the new RCSI-MUB campus in Muharraq has been jointly laid by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa and the Deputy Prime Minister of Ireland, Mary Harney. The University's new BD 10-plus million campus will occupy an area of 90,000sqm and will be built in phases starting with the central administration and medical teaching building and student accommodation which should be fully operational by mid 2008. In September 2006 the school of Nursing has opened its doors for students where it is considered the first non governmental nursing school in Bahrain that gives a bachelor's degree and other schools in the fields of pharmacy, physiotherapy and dentistry will be added to the campus at a later phase Website: http://www.rcsi-mub.com

For more information, please contact
Hussain Rasool,
Promoseven Weber Shandwick PR, Bahrain, 
+973 17500777;
Fax 17918566
mob: +973 39806366
Hussain.rasool@promoseven.com

© Press Release 2008