Are you interested in becoming a registered nurse in Abu Dhabi? The United Arab Emirates, home to people of diverse nationalities, is a terrific destination to sample a wide range of cuisines, festivals, faiths, and traditions, as well as learn new languages. The tax-free income is one of the most appealing advantages of working as a nurse in the Middle East. 

Likewise, included in the advantages of working in Abu Dhabi as a registered nurse are free housing, travel allowance, medical coverage, and bonus programs at the end of contracts to the base wage. Here are some things to consider if you want to work as a nurse in Abu Dhabi.

Essential Requirements

If you want to work in Abu Dhabi, you must meet the requirements:

1. To work as an RN in Abu Dhabi, you must have completed at least a Bachelor's degree in nursing or a three-and-a-half-year Diploma in Nursing and Midwifery program. Of course, CHED accreditation is required for your college.
2. Following graduation, you must have at least two years of paid clinical experience. Your experience must be relevant; for example, if you are applying as an RN, you cannot put forward your experience as a midwife. Your internship isn't considered an experience. Another prerequisite is that you have a Professional Regulation Commission license (PRC).
3. A Good Standing Certificate (GSC) from your previous company is acceptable, but it is preferable if you can obtain one from PRC. The GSC should indicate that you are not being investigated for malpractice and that you have never been convicted of medical malpractice in any legal matter during your time as a registered nurse.

General Documents To Prepare

Here are the documents you need to prepare:

• photograph, passport size with a white background,
• a current passport,
• your school records like your certificate, transcript
• Certificates of employment
• Good Standing Certificate
• a valid PRC license

Pass The HAAD Exam

To work in this part of the globe, registered nurses must pass the HAAD exam and be licensed by the regulatory authority. HAAD also helps to define the healthcare regulatory framework, establishes and enforces regulations, and monitors compliance. 

The Health Authority of Abu Dhabi (HAAD) has recently revised the HAAD application for licensure by requiring nurses to go through credential verification via Dataflow first, followed by exam administration via Pearson Vue Professional Testing online.

Based on the most recent Professional Qualification Requirements, these are the amended qualifications for Registered Nurses:

• Bachelor's degree in nursing or an equivalent NLT three (3) year study period in "Nursing" from an authorized institution, or:
• Nurses with an associate's degree and proof of passing the national exam (e.g. USA: NCLEX-RN).
• A valid national driver's license.
• Basic Life Support certification is valid.
• ACLS and PALS are relevant to the specialty.
• NLT 2 years post-qualification clinical experience in an appropriate context

Once your qualifications have been evaluated and accepted, you can schedule your exam. The tests are administered by Pearson Vue and can be scheduled online. They have locations in Cebu and Makati where you can take the test. You will know if you passed or failed the exam right away. You have can have up to three attempts to nail it. Once you’ve passed, pay the license fees and they will then courier your license to you.

HAAD Exam Validity

If you still meet the qualification standards, the exam is valid for another five years. If you do not yet have an employer, you must do so before the validity of your visa ends. Otherwise, you'd have to take another seat. In terms of the number of attempts, you get three chances to pass the exams.

Nurses and other health professionals are usually hired on a contract basis for one or two years, with the possibility of renewal on a case-by-case basis. Contracts are normally written on a single status' basis, which means that if you want to travel with a spouse or dependents, you'll have to make your lodging arrangements. For more senior positions, exceptions may be made.