“It was very successful, with Nada Al-Amri, nursing director at King Fahd University Hospital, as guest speaker, and some 400 Filipino nurses from 30 hospitals and clinics in the Eastern Province participating,” Mary Jane Tupas, PNA-ERSA president, told Arab News. The theme of the general assembly was “Filipino nurses' commitment in health promotion, professional development and community service.”

Tupas, a Bagong Bayani awardee, said that during the general assembly, a membership drive was also held. The number of PNA-ERSA members has increased from 100 before the assembly to 200 at present.

Talking on the occasion, Al-Amri said, “I am very happy to be with Filipino nurses who have good work attitude and know how to get along with fellow nurses as I work with them. I am very happy in being a nurse who plays a big role in our patients' lives and to see them become whole once again.”

Al-Amri said the nursing department's philosophy is based on relation-based care. “We value building caring relationships with our patients... We believe that teamwork encourages nurses to work harder for the welfare of patients and their families,” she said, adding that she was privileged to work with multinational nurses.

She said nursing is a profession that needs commitment.

“The commitment to save lives and serve mankind are the traits heroes and nurses share in common. We may not have the power to create fire, power to fly or be invisible like our superheroes but nurses are equipped with skills, knowledge and good attitude. These are more than enough to for them to fulfill their role,” Al-Amri said.

She also discussed professional development among nurses, adding that it was one way of tapping hidden potential. “The concept behind professional development is the idea that you have untapped potential, and to not settle with what you have if you want more out of life,” she said.

She also said professional development is a continuous process of refining character and qualities, learning and absorbing new ideas to become effective nurses. Illustrating what she meant, she said: “I started my profession like you as young nursing graduates. Over time, I gained more knowledge and experience as a result of professional development. I worked for a master's degree and eventually I was given the opportunity to become director of nursing at King Fahd University Hospital.”

She encouraged the Filipino nurses to “look at things positively.”

“If you think you can be better, then you can be. If you start looking at things in a positive light, you will be able to put more energy and effort into everything you do because you know that you are working to achieve a certain goal,” she said, adding, “We nurses are the heroes of the new generation.”

Tupas said the general assembly also served as a launching pad for the convention to be held in July in compliance with a regulation of the Philippine Nurses Association in Manila (PNA) that organizations affiliated with it should hold two conventions in a year.

She said for the convention, her group will invite Manila-based PNA President Noel Cadete, Philippine Regulation Commission (PRC) board of nursing chair Carmencita Abaquin and Dr. Vicki Belo of the Belo Medical Group as guests.

Arlene Navarro, PNA-ERSA vice president for internal affairs, added that during the convention all Filipino nurses in the Kingdom as well as Philippine Embassy officials will be invited to attend.

“It will be a two-day affair. On the first day, we will choose the nurse deserving the 'Florence Nightingale Award'. Every hospital in the Eastern Province will be asked to nominate a candidate. Candidates will also be welcome from Riyadh and Jeddah,” he said.

On the second day, there will be seminars and conferences as part of continuing education of the nurses. Among the guests during the general assembly was Labor Attache Adam A. Musa of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in the Eastern Region (POLO-ERO).