Amman: Modern global trends no longer view nursing merely as a healthcare profession but rather as a strategic investment in human capital and a driver of national economic growth, a senior official said on Sunday.
According to Jordan News Agency, Rowaida Al-Maaitah, Advisor to Her Royal Highness Princess Muna Al Hussein for Health and Social Development, highlighted nursing as a cornerstone of health and national security, contributing directly to community stability and sustainability during the Jordanian Deans of Nursing Faculties Forum. The forum, organized by the Jordanian Nursing Council, convened nursing deans and representatives from academic and health institutions to address nursing education, global professional trends, and the sector's role in sustainable development.
Al-Maaitah referenced the International Council of Nurses' 2026 International Nurses Day report, titled "Our Nurses. Our Future. The economic power of care," which presents an advanced global vision that redefines the value of nursing. The report views nursing not as an operational cost but as a high-return investment in individuals, productivity, and economic growth.
"Healthcare workers constitute one of the most critical components of national human capital," Al-Maaitah stated, emphasizing that nurses, as the largest professional group in the global health workforce, are the primary drivers of this development. She stressed the importance of placing nursing at the core of health workforce investments.
Al-Maaitah added that investing in nursing education, professional development, leadership, and the work environment is crucial for the future of socio-economic development. Healthier communities, she noted, are more productive and less susceptible to economic losses linked to diseases and complications.
The global report identifies seven strategic pillars of empowered nurses: the power of trust, professionalism, numbers, practice, care, proximity to communities, and peace. Al-Maaitah explained that these elements transform nursing into a strategic force to improve health outcomes, promote equity, and build resilient societies.
She particularly stressed the "power of peace," highlighting the critical role of nurses in emergency response, disasters, humanitarian crises, and maintaining health services for vulnerable populations, positioning nursing as an essential partner in national and global health security.
Al-Maaitah noted that the definition of modern national security now includes health and humanitarian dimensions, making nursing investments crucial for national readiness and societal stability.
She commended the Jordanian Nursing Council's efforts in spearheading the national dialogue to align nursing education with global trends and health system requirements, pointing out that the deans' forum serves as a vital platform to unify visions between academic and professional institutions.
Al-Maaitah concluded by honoring the decades-long vision established by Princess Muna, which she said foresaw current global trends by recognizing that building a robust, empowered nursing profession is a direct investment in community health.
Under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II, Jordan continues to be a regional model in supporting the healthcare sector and developing the nursing profession, rooted in the belief that human capital is the nation's most valuable asset, Al-Maaitah stated.