Jobs for Bachelor of Science in Nursing Graduates

From BScN to registered nurse

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing is a four-year degree offered by public and private universities, combining classroom teaching with extensive clinical placements. It qualifies you to become a registered nurse with the Nursing Council of Kenya (NCK), the statutory body under the Nurses and Midwives Act that sets training standards, examines graduates, and registers and licenses nurses. You cannot practise as a nurse in Kenya without NCK registration and a current practising licence.

Licensing steps

After graduating you sit the NCK licensure examination and complete the internship the council requires before full registration. Once registered, you renew your practising licence periodically and meet continuing professional development requirements. Employers check your NCK status, so keep your registration number and licence details on your CV.

Where nurses work

• Public hospitals and health centres, where county governments recruit nurses through their public service boards
• Private, mission and faith-based hospitals, which advertise regularly
• NGOs and research programmes, especially in HIV, maternal and child health and community programmes
• Schools, companies, insurers and home-based care providers

Entry requirements

University places are allocated through KUCCPS. Nursing typically requires a KCSE mean grade of C+ with at least C+ in Biology, Chemistry, English or Kiswahili, and Mathematics or Physics, though cluster requirements can change year to year, so confirm on the KUCCPS portal.

Career path and specialisation

Nurses usually start as general nurses on wards and progress to senior nursing officer, nurse in-charge and nursing manager. Specialising, for example in critical care, theatre, midwifery, paediatrics, oncology or mental health, through higher diplomas or a master's degree, opens better-paid roles. Some nurses move into teaching, research, public health or health management.

Working abroad

Kenyan nurses are recruited by employers in the UK, the Gulf and elsewhere. Overseas registration requires separate exams and verification of your NCK status, and fake recruiters target nurses with promises of jobs abroad, so confirm any agency is genuine before paying anything. Our documents guide covers the paperwork employers ask for at home.