Quality health care is critical in the management and prevention of disease conditions and the promotion of health. Nurses play a pivotal role in the management (curative), preventive and promotive sectors of the health care system. For a sustainable and effective healthcare system, there is a need to train highly skilled personnel to provide leadership in clinical, research, management, and teaching Nursing sub-sectors.
The Department of Nursing Sciences (DONS), University of Nairobi has been training Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) students since 1992 with over 500 graduates to date. Recently, more public and private universities have graduated a substantial number of BScN holders. Additionally, the East African Community integration has also offered an opportunity for institutions of higher learning to widen their catchment area, and the DONS wishes to respond to this need. The growing numbers of BScN graduates locally and regionally call for expanded opportunities for training at the postgraduate level and specialization. In addition, technological advances in nursing, medicine, and emerging health challenges require highly trained Nurses. Anchoring these advances in the curriculum will guarantee quality graduates who could match global standards.
The curriculum in place was first implemented in 2005 and in response to the regulatory bodies' and stakeholders' inputs, this review is necessary. This curriculum is premised on the national development agenda for highly skilled manpower, and the vision 2030 social pillar. The curriculum review has taken cognizant of the existing courses and aligned them with the current Commission for University Education (CUE) requirements while introducing new courses. The newly introduced courses include Health Informatics and Communication Sciences, Palliative care Nursing, Trauma and Emergency Nursing, and Oral Health/ Dental Nursing.
