The Nursing Council of Kenya is the accreditation authority responsible for approving programmes of study for the nursing and midwifery professions. This article mentions 15 Accredited Private Nursing Schools in Kenya that you should know
The council maintains standards of nursing education in Kenya, ensuring that the approved nursing colleges in Kenya adhere to quality training and provide the necessary education for aspiring nurses and midwives.
Private Nursing Schools in Kenya
Accredited Private Nursing Schools in Kenya offer a wide range of programmes, including degree, basic, and post-basic diploma levels for various branches of nursing practice. These programmes are designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in nursing.
If you’re looking for the best accredited private nursing schools in Kenya where you can enroll to start or upgrade your nursing career, this article is for you.
The criteria for selecting these schools were simple; the school must be a health-focused private institution that is not part of a larger university or a mission-based school.
1. Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital School of Nursing
Colonel Ewart Grogan donated money in 1947 to create Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital in honor of his cherished wife Gertrude Edith. It’s among Eastern and Central Africa’s oldest pediatric institutions.
Its nursing school therefore is mostly designed to train high-quality pediatricians. Although small as an institution, Gertrude’s School of Nursing is highly sought after by prospective nurses in Kenya and beyond. It’s located in Muthaiga along Muthaiga Road, Nairobi.
Courses offered at the Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital School of Nursing include:
- Higher National Diploma in Paediatric Nursing
- Higher National Diploma in Paediatric Critical Care Nursing
- Diploma in Kenya Registered Community Health Nursing
- Diploma in Perioperative Theatre Technology
- Diploma in Psychosocial Counselling: Paediatric and Adolescent Option
2. AMREF International University
AMREF Health Africa founded AMREF International University in 2010 with the goal of closing the healthcare gap by creating highly qualified nurses. The university is situated along Langata Road, next from Wilson Airport. It has several internationally recognized lecturers, a large alumni network, excellent learning and research facilities, and much more that could help you develop the best nursing abilities.
AMREF International University offers a wide variety of courses from certificates to diplomas, to degrees. Generally, most of these courses fall under:
- Healthcare administration and management
- Nursing
- Physiotherapy
- Community health and social work
3. Cicely McDonell College of Health Sciences
Established in 1956 as an endeavor by the Kenya Hospital Association, the Cicely McDonell College of Health Sciences is a preeminent nursing institution in Kenya, however one of the priciest, with annual fees ranging from 200K to 300K. The Nairobi Hospital’s subsidiary nursing school is situated on Argwings Khodhek Road in Nairobi, inside the hospital’s grounds. It adopts blended teaching to serve all students including those who can’t physically attend class.
Courses offered in Cicely McDonell College of Health Sciences include:
- Kenya Registered Nursing
- Kenya Registered Oncology Nursing
- Kenya Registered Neonatal Nursing
- Kenya Registered Critical Care Nursing
- Kenya Registered Perioperative Nursing
- Kenya Registered Trauma and Emergency Nursing
4. Goshen Medical & Technical College
In 2010, Goshen Medical and Technical College opened as a computer training facility. Since then, it has expanded to include courses in community health and nursing in addition to IT. Its goal is to deliver top-notch instruction by combining knowledge and abilities. It’s located in Thiks along Garissa Road and is one of the most affordable private nursing schools, with fees ranging from Ksh 20,000 and Ksh 50,000 per trimester.
Nursing certificate and diploma courses offered at the Goshen Medical and Technical College include:
- Kenya Registered Community Health Nurse & IT
- Operating Theatre Technology & IT
- Orthopedic and Trauma Medicine
- Clinical Counseling Psychology & IT
- Community Health and Nutrition & IT
- Community Health and HIV Management & IT
- Health Records & IT
- Laboratory Science Technology & IT
5. Catherine McAuley Nursing School
The Mater Hospital’s Catherine McAuley Nursing School is one of its subsidiaries. It was established in 1972 as a program for training midwives, and in 2004 it began accepting students to become Kenya Registered Nurses. The Nursing Council of Kenya and TVET have approved the institution, which is situated along Namanga Road in Nairobi. It is well-equipped to provide nursing students with training through its multifaceted learning experiences, which include classroom instruction, clinicals and practice, and self-directed learning.
Courses offered at the Catherine McAuley Nursing School include:
- Diploma in Kenya Registered Nursing
- Higher Diploma in Perioperative Nursing
- Higher Diploma in Critical Care Nursing
- Higher Diploma in Kenya Registered Nephrology Nursing
- Higher Diploma in Kenya Registered Midwifery
6. Imperial College of Medical and Health Sciences
Accredited by TVET to provide health and medical training at the artisan, certificate, and diploma levels, the Imperial College of Medical and Health Sciences is a top nursing school. Located in Thika, 600 meters from the Thika Level 5 hospital, ICMHS is committed to nurturing healthcare practitioners who excel at various levels within the medical field. It’s made up of 6 departments and offers a wide range of nursing-related courses.
Certificate and diploma courses offered at the Imperial College of Medical and Health Sciences include:
- Diploma in Nursing
- Diploma in Clinical Medicine and Surgery
- Community health assistant
- Health support services
- Community health and development
- Science laboratory technology
- Medical engineering
- Health records and information technology
7. Nairobi Women’s Hospital College
Established in 2008 by the aforementioned facility, the Nairobi Women’s Hospital College was granted approval by TVET and the Nursing Council of Kenya in 2011 to provide nursing education. Since its founding, more than 500 students have graduated and gone on to work in many Kenyan and foreign medical facilities. The college, located along Kikuyu Road in Dagoreti South focuses on delivering transformative healthcare education focusing on individual achievement and fostering continuous intellectual growth.
Courses offered by the Nairobi Women’s Hospital College include artisan, certificate, and diploma in:
- Community Health Nurse
- Critical Care Nursing
- Peri-Operative Theatre Nursing and Technology
- Health Care Assitant
- Medical Social Work
- Community Health Assistant
- Health Records and IT
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support
- Basic Life Support (BLS)
- Counseling Psychology
Read Also: How To Become A Pediatrician
8. Joan School Of Nursing
Joan School of Nursing accepted its first admission in 2014 and has since produced professional nurses who have served Kenya and beyond. The college located at Masaba Hospital in Chulaimbo, Kisumu provides a supportive, creative, and professional environment for learning practical skills in nursing and empowering students to launch their careers in nursing. It currently offers one nursing course and has two intakes; in March and September.
Courses offered at Joan School Of Nursing include:
- Diploma in General Nursing
9. North Coast Medical Training College
Established in 2010, North Coast Medical Training College is a regionally recognized nursing school situated in the serene, lush surroundings of Mtwapa in Kilifi County. The school is well-known for its work-abroad program, which arranges partnerships with health institutions in the USA, Canada, and other first-world countries that have a shortage of nurses. The college offers a wide selection of nursing courses and provides the students with a stress-free environment for learning.
Some courses offered at the North Coast Medical Training College include:
- Medical Catering
- Community Health and Development
- Orthopaedic and Trauma Medicine
- Health Systems Support Management
- Biomedical Engineering
- Clinical Medicine and Surgery
- Kenya Registered Community Health
- Nursing
- Nutrition & Dietetics
10. Karen Hospital Medical Training College
September 2013 saw the opening of the Karen Hospital Medical Training College, with the affiliated hospital enrolling its first nine students. Since then, it has expanded to include hundreds of students enrolled at any given time, and it is renowned for turning out very skilled nurses who work in upscale public, private, and religious hospitals. Its mission is to train internationally competent healthcare professionals who offer quality nursing care. It’s located within the Karen Hospital compound along Langata Road, Nairobi.
Courses offered at the Karen Hospital Medical Training College include:
- Diploma in Kenya Registered Nursing
- Diploma in Peri-operative Theatre Technology
- Higher Diploma in Cardiology
- Higher Diploma in Cardiopulmonary Perfusion
11. Nyahururu Medical Training College
Nyahururu Medical Training College was founded in 2016 as a center for professional development of medical and health practitioners. Located in Ziwani Estate, along Nyahurur-Nyeru Road, NMTC is home to prospective nursing students from across the country. It’s accredited by the Nursing Council of Kenya and other professional bodies to offer a variety of health courses with a mission of teaching competent health practitioners.
Courses offered by the Nyahururu Medical Training College include certificates and diplomas in:
- Kenya Registered Community Health Nursing
- Kenya Clinical Medicine and Surgery
- Health Records and Information Technology
- Theatre Technology
- Counseling Psychology
- Nutrition and Dietetics
- Community Health and Development
- Health Care Assistant
- Social Work and Community Development
12. Thika School of Medicine and Health Sciences
Thika School of Medicine and Health Sciences is perhaps the largest private nursing school in the country having graduated over 20,000 students and hosting 3,000+ students at any given time. The college, which is located along Garissa Road in Thika has been around for more than a decade and has professional lecturers and staff members who offer personalized attention to students to help them chart their path into a successful medical and health science career.
Courses Offered at the Thika School of Medicine and Health Sciences include certificates and diplomas in:
- General Nursing
- Public Health
- Radiography
- Clinical Medicine & Surgery
- Laboratory Technology
Health Records & IT
Nutrition & Dietetics
Community Development & Social Work
Community Health & Development
Community Health & HIV/AIDS Management
13. Outspan Medical College
Situated on the outskirts of Nyeri Town, Outspan Medical College is a subsidiary of Outspan Hospital, which is regarded as one of the best private hospitals in the Mt. Kenya region. The college is well-known for producing competitive medical professionals who work in a variety of capacities both locally and internationally. Currently, over 1000 students call Outspan Medical College home. The college’s mission is to provide healthcare training through personalized learning founded on innovative and critical thinking.
Courses offered at Outspan Medical College include diplomas, certificates, and short courses in:
- Critical Care Nursing
- Health Records and Information Technology
- Medical laboratory Sciences
- Clinical Medicine and Surgery
- Nursing
- Pharmacy
- Psychology
- Nutrition
- Perioperative Theatre Technology
14. The Nairobi West Hospital College of Health Sciences
Situated inside the hospital’s premises on Gandhi Avenue in Nairobi, the Nairobi West Hospital College of Health Sciences is a division of the corresponding hospital. It provides a range of courses and lets students make use of the facilities and cutting-edge technology to gain experience, knowledge, and skills in nursing.
It has a slew of experienced instructors who prepare students for successful health careers.
Courses offered at The Nairobi West Hospital College include:
- Higher Diploma in Critical Care
- Diploma in Physiotherapy
- Diploma in perioperative Theatre Technology
- Certificate in peri-operative Theatre Technology
- Health Care Assistance (Caregiving)