Faculty of Health SciencesIntroduction
This is a tailored programme for holders of the nursing diploma. The training of nurses in Kenya has concentrated on the cadre of enrolled nurses and registered nurses. With the increasing development of the society, a higher level of training for nurses has become necessary to meet the challenging demand for high quality nursing care. The health sector reforms that are currently being introduced in Kenya require highly qualified nurses for their effective and successful implementation. It is therefore crucial for nurses to be endowed with the necessary knowledge, skills and attitudes to be able to give quality service.
Justification
It has become a policy that the diploma in nursing will be the basic qualification for the nursing cadre. Currently there are about 36,000 Enrolled Nurses (certificate holders) and about 10,000 Registered nurses (Diploma holders) who would wish to advance professionally. There are about 700 nursing degree holders, the majority of whom have had a preservice training. This cadre of staff is in great demand at the level of administration and management. At the moment only one institution offers this conversion programme in Kenya. The Faculty of Health Sciences, Egerton University, is therefore well placed to tap on this vast potential and contribute positively by offering a quality degree conversion programme for the nursing profession. Indeed the Nursing Council of Kenya, which is charged with the responsibility of regulation, education, registration and practice of nurses through an Act of parliament, has been in the forefront in encouraging the Faculty to start the programme.
Objectives
At the end of the programme, the graduate should be able to:-
- Demonstrate understanding of emerging concepts, principles and theories related to health care and management.
- Demonstrate skills of critical enquiry and evaluation and apply these to health care.
- Demonstrate skills in research in order to promote evidence based nursing practice.
- Demonstrate the knowledge, skills, attitudes and techniques relevant to curative, promotive, preventive and rehabilitative care in relation to the individual, family and entire community.
- Demonstrate acquired competence in nursing curriculum design, development and implementation.
- Demonstrate acquired knowledge, skills and attitudes required to broaden management abilities.
Admission Regulation
Must satisfy the minimum requirements as set out by Egerton University.
Must be practicing nurses registered with the Nursing Council of Kenya or other institutions recognized by the Nursing Council.
Should be holders of the following.
- Diploma in nursing: KRN/KRM or KRCHN.
Equivalent qualifications assessed by the Faculty and approved by the senate.
Duration of Study
This programme is expected to be completed in a minimum of 2½ years (5 semesters) or a maximum of 5 years (10 semesters)
One (1) lecture/clinical hour per week is equivalent to (1) credit factor.
Two (2) practical hours per week are equivalent to one (1) credit factor
Examination Rules and Regulations
All the University rules and regulations shall apply for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing
The examinations in this programme will be conducted in a combination of any of the following modes, depending on the year of study and in accordance with the examination schedule.
(i) Written examination
(ii) Viva voce (oral examination)
(iii) Practical examination
(iv) Clinical examination
In addition, the following rules and regulations shall apply:
(a) The end of semester examination shall include;
(i) A theory paper comprising 70% and continuous assessment tests 30% except for clinical work where 60% and 40% respectively will apply.
(ii) A clinical examination marked out of 100% with viva voce comprising 10%. Any candidate who fails the clinical examination will have failed to satisfy the examiners in the overall discipline examination even if the final mark is 50% or higher.
(b) The pass mark shall be 50% except for University core courses whose pass mark will depend on the faculty under which these courses fall.
(c) The end of Y II SEM I exam marks will be determined by continuous assessment tests only.
(d) There will be a final qualifying examination, which shall comprise the following core areas:
(i) Nursing Education
(ii) Nursing Admin. and management
(iii) Medico- surgical Nursing
(iv) Psychiatric Nursing
(v) Community Health Nursing
(e) The total marks scored for each course shall be translated into letter grades as follows:
75% and above - A (Distinction)
65 ? 74% - B (Credit)
50 ? 64% - C (Pass)
Less than50% - D (Fail)
(d) The degree in this programme will not be classified.
Programme Design and Structure
All the courses have been categorized into five board areas.
1- Basic Sciences
2- Pathological Sciences
3- Clinical based
4- Community based
5- Skills based
Interpretation of the codes:
NURS - Nursing
1st digit - indicates year of study in the degree programme
2nd digit - indicates the broad category of the course
3rd digit - indicates the sequence of the course in the category.
