HEAD OF NURSING SCHOOL

Reports to: The principal.

Location: Nairobi.

MAIN PURPOSE OF THE JOB - (JOB SUMMARY)

The Head of Nursing School will provide academic, clinical, and administrative leadership to the nursing faculty. The job holder is responsible for the day-to-day implementation of nursing curricula, ensuring exceptional clinical training standards, managing nursing faculty, and enforcing strict compliance with the Nursing Council of Kenya (NCK) and TVETA regulations.

Main responsibilities.

1. Curriculum delivery.

   • Oversee the daily preparation and execution of lesson plans, schemes of work, and timetables by the nursing faculty.
   • Coordinate the implementation and evaluation of all nursing training programs to ensure proper syllabus coverage.
   • Collaborate with the principal or his/her delegate to regularly review and upgrade training methodologies to align with modern Nursing Education Trends.
   • Ensure student indexing, internal grading, and continuous assessment tests (CATs) are executed flawlessly and within the stipulated time.

2. Clinical training & coordination.

   • Supervise the operations of the skills lab, ensuring it remains fully equipped, functional, and organized to meet NCK simulation standards.
   • Coordinate with the principal or his/her delegate to execute established MOUs with clinical partners (hospitals) and map out student rotation schedules.
   • Directly monitor clinical instructors and lecturers to ensure students receive high-quality, hands-on training and mentorship during lessons and in hospital placements.

3. Faculty leadership & performance management.

   • Supervise and evaluate the performance of nursing tutors and clinical instructors.
   • Conduct regular departmental meetings to address academic performance, student welfare, and resource needs of the institution.
   • Identify training gaps within the faculty and recommend targeted continuous professional development (CPD) programs to the principal.
   • Working with the HR Manager to ensure optimal workload allocation.

4. Regulatory compliance & quality assurance.

   • Ensure strict adherence to (NCK) teacher-to-student ratios, clinical logbook upkeep, and indexing deadlines.
   • Act as the lead point of contact person for the department during internal or external audits and inspections.
   • Prepare the nursing department and its students for national NCK examinations.

5. Student administration & discipline.

   • Enforce institutional rules and the code of conduct required of the nursing students.
   • Investigate student disciplinary issues within the department and escalate critical cases to the school disciplinary committee, chaired by the School Principal.
   • Provide academic counseling and support programs to struggling students.

6. Reporting & administrative support.

   • Provide comprehensive weekly/monthly academic and clinical progress reports to the school principal or his/her delegate.
   • Assist the principal in drafting departmental budget forecasts, resource allocations, and procurement lists for lab equipment and library books.

Key deliverables for this position.

1. Syllabus coverage: ensuring all nursing classes and practical hours are fully completed within designated timelines.
2. Flawless student indexing: tracking and completing NCK student registration and indexing within the strict regulatory windows.
3. Exam pass rates: ensure the attainment of the target pass rates in the National Nursing Council of Kenya licensing examinations.
4. Compliance: maintaining 100% compliance in all NCK logbooks, student records, and skills lab inventories for instant regulatory inspections.
5. Flawlessly perform any other duties as assigned by the School Principal.

Work experience, academic & professional qualifications.

1. Post-graduate training in medical education.
2. Bachelor of Science in Nursing from an accredited university.
3. At least 5 years of experience in nursing education, with at least 2 years in a senior management position or a comparable role.
4. A valid practice license from the Nursing Council of Kenya (NCK).
5. Chapter Six compliance: must fulfill the requirements of Chapter Six of the Constitution of Kenya (clearance from KRA, EACC, HELB, DCI/Good conduct and CRB)- this will be required after a candidate is successful.

Essential skills.

1. Deep understanding of the Health Act and the TVET Act of Kenya.
2. Deep knowledge of the NCK curriculum structures.
3. Skills in lesson planning & OSCEs.
4. Meticulous & result-oriented.
5. Good communication skills.