Registered nurses in Kenya are trained medical professionals who are qualified to provide care for patients who are ill or wounded. To qualify to become a nurse in Kenya, you must take a nursing course in a recognized institution.
In Kenya, you can choose from four different intensive nursing programs. They include;
- Certificate in nursing
- Diploma in nursing
- Higher diploma in nursing
- Degree in nursing
Certificate in Nursing
The Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) has campuses all around the country where students can get a certificate in nursing. A cumulative KCSE grade of C- or above in a corresponding set of other subjects is necessary. (Subjects that are used to determine combination include English, Kiswahili, Biological sciences, Mathematics, Chemistry and Physical sciences).
Diploma in Nursing
For those interested in nursing, KMTC provides a diploma program with a Kmean grade of C. A combination of relevant subjects is also considered. A diploma in nursing will take you three and half years to complete compared to the two and half years required for a certificate.
Higher Diploma in nursing
You need either a Diploma in Nursing or a Diploma in Community Health Nursing to continue your nursing education at KMTC and get your higher Diploma. The University of Nairobi and other public universities have the similar admissions requirements.
HND holders got a boost after KMTC earned a certificate of registration and accreditation following a successful evaluation and subsequent endorsement as a Qualification Awarding Institution (QAI) (QAI).
The Diploma has been recognized as being the same level of education as a Bachelor’s Degree by the Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA).
Degree in Nursing
If you have done a diploma in nursing, you can upgrade it into a BSc Nursing. The following are some of the requirements at Mt. Kenya University, for example, to upgrade:
- A nursing diploma from an accredited institution
- The KCSE cutoff for a passing grade is Division 3, or a C plain
- A current and valid registration with the Nursing Council of Kenya.
- Two years’ work experience after graduation as a registered nurse
The following requirements must be met in order to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the University of Nairobi, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), or any other public university in Kenya:
Candidates for admission must acquire the necessary minimum grades in K.C.S.E. in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics and English or Kiswahili, or the following:
Biological Sciences, Physical Science, Mathematics, English or Kiswahili and one subject from group two of K.C.S.E.
Alternatively, outstanding candidates with diplomas from approved nursing schools may be admitted. These
potential applicants must: graduate with credits or distinctions from such colleges.
Include a letter from the college’s principal stating that the applicant excelled in the diploma program and has a solid enough grasp of the fundamentals of science to succeed in a degree program.
If you are presently working, your employer must provide a statement in support of your application.
Expected salaries of Nurses in Kenya
Group G nurses in Kenya are the lowest paid. There are 18 different pay scales for public servants. Job groups are ranked from most junior (A) to most senior (T). Newly qualified nurses fall under pay range G (from Ksh23,369 to Ksh29,826).
The starting wage for nurses in job group K is Ksh40,000, while those in job group R make between Ksh109,089 and Ksh144,928.
Besides occupational categories, nurses’ salaries vary by both their place of employment and their level of education.
Intensive care unit nurses have a basic salary of Ksh129,000. A diploma-educated nurse might expect a salary of more over Ksh70,000 per year. The average salary for a nurse at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) is Ksh68,000.
A nurse’s salary is supplemented by the following allowances:
House allowances of Ksh. 3,500-Ksh. 15,000, Extraneous expenses Ksh. 15,000-Ksh. 35,000 depending on the job group,
Commuter allowance Ksh.4,000-14,000, uniform allowance Ksh.10,000 per year, and health risk allowance Ksh.3,850-Ksh.5,000.
Your allowance will be based on your job category, hospital level, where you work, and your degree of education.
Nurses who work for the government have their pay and allowances reviewed by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC).
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