Expatriate nurses took strong exception recently to a survey conducted by my employer, the College of Nursing at King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, which found that 95 percent of patients and relatives interviewed expressed confidence in Saudi nurses’ performance.

The poll asked 302 individuals about Saudi nursing skills in nursing basics, patient care, clinical skills, communication skills and decision-making. Eight percent of the respondents said they were satisfied with Saudi nurses’ basic nursing knowledge, with 89.4 percent said they were competent in presenting information. More than 95 percent said their communication skills were good.

Most expatriate nurses were incredulous over the positive portrayal of Saudi nurses, complaining bluntly that female Saudis were preoccupied with their cell phones and ignored patients, while male nurses take excessive breaks outside the confines of the hospital. Saudi patients even refused the care of Saudi nurses.

I don’t doubt for a moment that many of the concerns of expat nurses are valid, although laziness and lack of commitment to the job can be found among professionals belonging to other fields or nationalities. Generalizations are not helpful.

Make no mistake; I appreciate what expat nurses are doing for us in Saudi Arabia. Without expat nurses our hospitals won’t be running with the same capacity they are doing now.

But by the end of the day, Saudi nurses are the future of this country. Expats will eventually finish their third term and go home to leave significant vacancies in the field.

I wish our beloved guests reacted differently to the idea of the emerging new generation of Saudi nurses. Based on my experience at the nursing college, I foresee a bright future for Saudi nursing. The new generation of nurses are disciplined, dedicated and value their job and their patients. Above all, they have got the language skills, which is a crucial element when it comes to communication in the field of health care.

A look at the program at College of Nursing at King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences will show the readers what the future is holding for this country.

The program is not any less than the best international nursing programs. Students are taught their courses only in English. The best local and international teachers in the field teach these students. They are trained using the latest simulation laboratory in a very sophisticated environment. And they get the chance to practice in our hospital under the supervision of qualified veteran nurses.

The feedbacks we get from those hospitals where our students go for clinical training is encouraging and sometimes exceed our expectations.

Once a doctor told us, “Your students don’t stop surprising us that sometimes they are mistaken for medicine students. They literally know everything.” My message to our beloved expat nurses is that we appreciate what you have been doing for this country and we owe you a lot but please remember that training and taking those young nurses under your wing is an honorable mission that we expect you to do as respectful professionals.

My husband, who sometimes can get carried away with his criticism of the Saudi work ethic, told me on a recent visit to a private hospital that he was impressed with the professionalism and dedication of Saudi nurses when they dealt with a hysterical patient.

Please don’t clip their wings and shake their confidence by prejudging them. Remember the angels who you are and act accordingly.

To the Saudi nurses, always remember that nursing is about practice and teamwork. Learn from your expat colleagues and get the best of their experience. Being a Saudi doesn’t make you a better nurse or practitioner. Nationality is not part of the learning process, especially when it comes to dealing with your superiors.

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