A New Nursing Classification in Saudi Arabia

The Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS) has released a new classification for the nursing profession. This classification is an update from the previous rank which was about nursing practice area. 

Since 2018, when the healthcare platform was created called "Mumaris Plus", many healthcare professions were classified through the system. 

Previously, we cannot easily recognize those professions because when we submit our documents for exam, we have to follow the steps by filling and collecting the paper and waiting for the process after one month. 

The Saudi vision of 2030 changed all areas in Saudi Arabia, including the quality of healthcare professionals. In 2018, The Ministry of Health launched a new system that classified all healthcare such as physicians, dentists, nurses, midwifes, laboratory technicians, etc. 

Before 2018, we have to submit by manual but today we can easily create our professional accounts through Mumaris plus portal for registration and health license renewal.

The portal has evolved time by time with many improvements to ensure that all healthcare professionals are eligible to practice their knowledge in healthcare settings. 

However, the system minimizes issues related to fake documents and fraud. Thus, the implementation of the policy provides the health centers with better health services. 

The explanation on the previous portal from 2018 to 2023, nursing ranks were classified into three categories: health care assistant, nurse technician and nurse specialist. Those categories had different criteria for professional practice, even though in reality they have similar. 

Furthermore, healthcare assistant category is for candidates who completed a school of nursing or nursing training that similar to senior high school, while nursing technician rank for those with a diploma in nursing. Additionally, nurse specialist for those completed bachelor's degree with nursing experience in a healthcare setting.

The decision about the ranks are based on Saudi Commission verification. In reality, each country has different threats of obtaining the classification rank, especially for Indonesian nurses. In my experience as a nurse in the Kingdom, I have observed various threats among Southeast Asian countries, including nurses from the Philippine and Malaysia.