Overview
Chronic noncommunicable diseases including KD are causing significant morbidity and mortality in developing countries, Kenya included. This public health problem has affected quality of life of those affected and has also increased the financial burden of Kenyans. The Rapid Response Teams for this problem are found mainly in the referral hospitals. As such the services are inaccessible to majority of the needy Kenyans. With the devolved health care governance, equipping health care facilities with competent health personnel is critical. At present these institutions lack the human capacity to manage and run the state of the art technology facilities and services. This programme is therefore aimed at bringing the capacity gaps by training nurses to enable them offer collaborative management to clients suffering from renal disorders.
Structure
The Diploma in Renal Nursing programme shall run for a minimum period of two (2) semesters and a maximum of four (4) semesters of 18 weeks each.
5.2 A course unit shall be defined as a total of thirty contact hours of lectures, tutorials and practicals.
5.3 Candidates shall be required to take all prescribed courses, practicum and project offered during the training programme.
5.4 Candidates shall be required to take all prescribed courses per semester.
6.0 MODE OF DELIVERY
6.1 The course shall have full-time lectures.
6.2 The course shall include course work.
6.3 The course shall have practicum and project.
PHILOSOPHY
The Department of Nursing Sciences, University of Nairobi, ascribes to the university philosophy and core objectives of training, research, and community service. The Department’s programs integrate the university-wide belief that education, research, and service are the foundation for professional nursing practice. Professional nursing recognizes and addresses the healthcare needs of individuals, families, and communities through higher and specialized training founded on ethical principles. The nursing practice is operationalized through diagnosis, intervention, and outcome evaluation and the establishment of inter and intra-disciplinary collaborations aimed at promoting the health of individuals, families, communities, and populations.
This curriculum is based on the belief that communities are enriched by the diversity of human experiences. The program shall admit and train a diverse student body, and shall engage a diverse faculty base to enhance educational experiences. We hold the belief that learning is a continuous process. The postgraduate programs shall encourage self-directed learning for life-long professional development, acquisition of new knowledge, and use of new technologies to maintain the required skills for professional Nursing practice. The curriculum is founded on the belief and commitment to the development of nursing as an academic discipline through scholarly activities that advance the science of nursing. In our commitment to the science of nursing, we acknowledge the reciprocal relationships between practice, theory, and research in knowledge development.
As a critical facet of the health care system, Nursing programs shall contribute to training and capacity building for professional development and solutions to public health challenges in Kenya and globally.
OBJECTIVES
1. To prepare nurse clinicians, educators, administrators and researchers capable of providing leadership in different fields of nursing.
2. To provide the learner with a basis for developing scientific knowledge, skills and techniques which facilitate in-depth understanding of both current and emerging issues related to nursing practice and health care delivery system in general.
3. implement mentorship programs to develop students with moral values and a sense of responsibility for better citizenship.
Admission Requirements
The common regulations for Diploma programmes in the University of Nairobi and the School of Nursing shall apply.
3.2 Diploma in Nursing (KRN/M, KRCHN). The candidate must be registrable by a professional body of Nursing.
OR
3.3 Holders of Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from the University of Nairobi or an equivalent qualification approved by Senate. The applicants should be registrable by a professional body of Nursing
AND
3.4 Must have a minimum of Two years of Nursing practice experience
AND
3.5 At least C plain at KCSE or equivalent
3.6 Equivalent qualifications from the four East Africa Community Countries including Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda shall be considered
4.0 CREDIT TRANSFER AND EXEMPTIONS
4.1 A candidate may be allowed to transfer credits from institutions recognised by Senate up to a maximum of one third of the taught units subject to the following conditions:
- Send a formal application to the Chairman, department of Nursing Sciences, , and seeking transfer of credit, with justification of the request and attach certificates, syllabus and transcript which would support such a request.
- Apply for transfer of credit, which shall be processed only after payment of the prescribed fees.
- Applicants will only be allowed to transfer credits for courses, which are equivalent and/or at the same level with what is offered at the University of Nairobi.
- No credit transfers or exemptions shall be granted for clinical courses.
Careers
With the devolved healthcare governance, equipping healthcare facilities with competent health personnel is critical. At present these institutions lack the human capacity to manage and run the state-of-the-art technology facilities and services in renal care. This programme is therefore aimed at bridging the capacity gaps by training nurses to enable them to offer collaborative management to clients suffering from renal disorders.
CAREER PROSPECT
Dialysis is a task performed by nurses who work in nephrology, the specialty related to the kidneys and urinary tract. Dialysis nurses may perform dialysis in either a hospital or a dialysis center, but those who provide the service in hospitals are typically still employed by a dialysis center due to the specialized nature of the care. Acute care can encompass general medical-surgical care in the hospital or critical care.
As registered nurses, nephrology nurses begin their career with a decision about basic nursing education, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Their options are an associate's degree, a nursing diploma from a hospital-based school of nursing, or a bachelor’s degree. All of these meet the criteria for the NCLEX-RN national nursing exam. If she plans on becoming certified in nephrology nursing, however, the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, or BSN, is the best choice, as she cannot sit for the exam unless she has a BSN.
Once the RN is licensed, she must apply for her first nursing position and gain some experience. Nephrology nursing includes many components of critical care nursing; a nurse who wants to specialize in this field should have several years of nursing experience, including critical care experience, before she applies to a dialysis center. If she has a BSN degree, 30 hours of continuing education in nephrology within three years of submitting her application, and at least 3,000 hours oF nephrology exercise, she can sit for the certified nephrology nurse exam.
The nephrology nurse who performs dialysis in an acute care setting performs the same tasks as she would in a dialysis center, beginning with a patient assessment and plan of care. She will connect the patient to the dialysis machine, provide patient teaching, administer medications and manage the dialysis process. One difference between dialysis center care and acute care is that some patients can be taught how to manage their dialysis if they are using peritoneal dialysis. Peritoneal dialysis does not require a machine. Acute care patients, however, are often too ill to learn how to perform this process.
Nephrology nurses who want to advance in their careers have the option to go into management or to become advanced practice nurses who specialize in nephrology and dialysis, according to a fall 2005 article in “Minority Nurse.” Some nephrology nurses become researchers in the field, or specialize in nursing education on the topic of nephrology. Others start their own businesses and offer dialysis in the home or hospital. An advanced degree and certification can be helpful in these endeavors, according to “Minority Nurse.”
ATTACHMENT OPPORTUNITIES
1. HEALTH CARE INSTITUTIONS
2. TERTIARY TEACHING INSTITUTIONS E.G KMTC, NURSING SCHOOLS E.T.C
3. PRIVATE CLINICS
4. MEDIA
5. INSURANCE COMPANIES
6. RESEARCH INSTITUTE.
Fees and Funding
FIRST YEAR Item Description Sub-Total Ksh 1 Registration 2,000/= 2 Student ID card 500/= 3 Medical Emergency 5,000/= 4 Caution Money (refundable) 5,000/= 5 Computer Lab. 5,000/= 6 Examination 5,000/= 7 Library 2,000/= 8 Activity 2,000/= 9 Nursing skills lab/ Field work Facilitation. 5,500/= 10 Tuition fees 142,000/= 11 Practicum 1 course @ Ksh 20,000. 20,000/= YEAR 1 TOTAL Ksh 194,000
Exam Regulations
8.1 Examinations
8.1.1 Common regulations for Diploma programmes in the University of Nairobi and the School shall apply.
8.1.2 Candidates will be required to attend at least two thirds of the prescribed course contact hours before being allowed to sit for any examination.
8.1.3 Continuous Assessments shall comprise assignments; end of term papers, written tests, seminar presentations and such other tests as may be given during the course
8.1.4 The final examination shall account for 70% of the final marks in each taught unit, while continuous assessment tests shall account for 30% of the marks.
8.1.5 The project shall be graded out of 100%.
8.1.6 Clinical examination shall be administered upon completion of practicum and shall be graded out of 100%.
8.1.7 The pass mark in each course shall be 50%
8.1.8 A candidate who fails 50% or more of the examinations shall on the recommendation of the board of examiners and approval of the Senate be discontinued from the course.
8.1.9 A candidate who fails more than two but less than 50% of the examinations shall on the recommendation of the Board of Examiners and approval of Senate be required to repeat the failed subjects and examination(s), provided that the candidate shall pay the prescribed fee for the respective courses(s).
8.1.10 A candidate who fails in one or two courses shall, on the recommendation of the Board of Examiners and approval of Senate be permitted to sit for supplementary examination(s) provided the candidate pays the prescribed fees.
8.1.11 A candidate who fails in any course shall on the recommendation of Board of Examiners and approval of Senate, be allowed to take supplementary examination(s) in the failed course(s) for a maximum of two times.
8.1.12 A pass obtained after a supplementary examination(s) shall be recorded as 50%.
8.1.13 A candidate who fails in the second supplementary examination(s) or a re-submission of project shall, on the recommendation of the Faculty Board of Examiners and approval of Senate, be discontinued from the programme.
8.1.14 A candidate who repeats any course(s) in any level and fails to attain a pass standard in examination(s) of the repeated course(s), or fails a supplementary examination shall on the recommendation of the Board of Examiners and approval by Senate be allowed to repeat up to a total of two times following which the candidate shall be discontinued.
8.1.15 A candidate who fails to sit for examination on Medical or any other reasonable grounds will, on production of evidence, be allowed to sit for a special examination.
8.1.16 A candidate who fails to satisfy the requirements for any part of the clinical practice will be required to repeat that part of the clinical practice.
8.1.19 A candidate who passes all prescribed examinations shall, on the recommendation of the Board of Examiners and approval of Senate, be awarded the Diploma in Renal Nursing.
8.1.20 The Diploma in in Renal Nursing is not classified.
8.1.21 The performance in each course in the East African Kidney Institute will be indicated as follows:
I
75% - 100%: (A) -
Distinction
Ii
65% - 74%: (B) -
Credit
Iii
50% - 64%: (C) -
Pass
Iv
49% and below:(D)
Fail
