DOH Exam

DOH nursing exam preparation, built around what the paper actually tests

The DOH nursing assessment covers the same clinical science as other Gulf licensing exams but leans harder on evidence-based standards, documentation and Abu Dhabi health policy. Preparation should pair clinical revision with policy literacy.

Exam at a glance

Delivery: Computer-based (Prometric)
Questions: 150 single-best-answer MCQs
Duration: 3 hours
Result: Pass / fail on the day
Portal: DOH Tamm / licensing portal
Extras: Dataflow primary source verification before booking

Department of Health – Abu Dhabi regulates nursing practice in Abu Dhabi. Licence to practise as a registered nurse in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain.

High-yield domains for the DOH exam

These are the areas that produce the most marks — and the most repeated mistakes — in the DOH paper.

~30% of the paper

Medical-surgical nursing

Sepsis recognition and the first-hour bundle: cultures before antibiotics, fluid resuscitation targets
Post-operative complications timeline — atelectasis, DVT, wound dehiscence, ileus
Stroke care: time-of-onset documentation, swallow screen before anything oral
Fluid and electrolyte correction rates, including safe sodium correction

~14%

Quality, documentation & DOH standards

Incident and near-miss reporting culture — report the event, never the person
Correct chart correction: single line, initial, date; never obliterate an entry
SBAR handover structure for escalation questions
Patient rights, interpreter use and culturally appropriate care in Abu Dhabi

~15%

Pharmacology & safe administration

Independent double checks for insulin, heparin, opioids and paediatric doses
Look-alike / sound-alike medication traps and tall-man lettering
Anticoagulation monitoring: INR, aPTT, anti-Xa and reversal agents
IV compatibility and central line care bundles

~12%

Maternal, newborn & women's health

Gestational diabetes screening and insulin adjustment in pregnancy
Magnesium sulphate protocol and calcium gluconate as the antidote
Breastfeeding support, newborn screening and safe sleep advice
Postpartum sepsis and haemorrhage escalation

~11%

Paediatric & community nursing

UAE national immunisation schedule reasoning
Child safeguarding and mandatory reporting duties
Chronic paediatric conditions: asthma action plans, sickle cell crisis care
Home health and follow-up teaching priorities

~18%

Infection control, ethics & law

Hand hygiene moments, PPE donning and doffing order
Multi-drug resistant organism cohorting rules
Consent for minors and incapacitated adults
Scope of practice for RN versus assistant nurse under DOH regulation

Everything in the DOH track

Self Study Plan Q&A Bank Crash Course Plans & Pricing

Ready to start your DOH preparation?

Every plan is a single payment with lifetime access. Switch exam track at any time — the licence rules change, the nursing science does not.

See DOH plans