Empowering Bahraini Nurses through Political Competence: A Strategic Framework for Leadership and Policy Influence

The nursing profession in Bahrain faces systemic challenges that limit its potential to influence healthcare policy and leadership. Despite constituting 59.3% of female healthcare workers and numbering 9,914 professionals, Bahraini nurses remain underrepresented in decision-making bodies, with only three nurses serving in Supreme Council of Health committees and no political representation since 2014. This proposal employed a convergent parallel mixed-methods design, combining a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis of policy documents with semi-structured interviews of 12 key stakeholders. The research will lead to the development of a multi-dimensional Strategic Framework for Nursing Political Competence, which integrates a comprehensive analysis of the barriers to nursing leadership in Bahrain and proposes a multi- dimensional framework to cultivate political competence. Through a mixed-methods approach combining SWOT analysis and policy review, we identify key challenges including outdated regulations, educational gaps in leadership training, and structural barriers to political participation. The proposed solution integrates curriculum reform, policy advocacy, and leadership development, aligned with Bahrain Vision 2030's goals of healthcare modernization and gender equity. Implementation strategies include mandatory leadership training in nursing education, establishment of nursing policy task forces, and mentorship programs connecting emerging leaders with policymakers. The paper concludes with measurable outcomes and specific recommendations for policymakers, educators, and healthcare administrators to transform nursing from a caregiving profession to a policy-shaping force. This research contributes to global nursing leadership literature while addressing Bahrain's unique healthcare context.