Health Sciences

Bachelor of Science in Nursing with Military Health

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing with Military Health is a specialised nursing programme that combines professional nursing education with military health training. Offered at the Defence College of Health Sciences (DCHS), a constituent college of the National Defence University-Kenya, the programme equips Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) medical personnel with skills to provide nursing care in both military and civilian healthcare settings.

The curriculum covers anatomy and physiology, microbiology, pharmacology, medical-surgical nursing, community health nursing, maternal and child health nursing, mental health nursing, paediatric nursing, military medicine, combat casualty care, field nursing, trauma and emergency nursing, disaster management, military healthcare administration, epidemiology, research methods, leadership and management in nursing, and military medical ethics. Students develop both clinical nursing skills and military medical competencies.

The programme is the first degree programme accredited at NDU-K since its charter award in 2021, marking a milestone in military medical education in Kenya. It was accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE) in March 2023 and responds to the need for highly trained nursing professionals within the KDF who can deliver healthcare in combat zones, military hospitals, peacekeeping missions and humanitarian operations.

The programme is delivered through lectures, clinical laboratory sessions, simulation-based training, clinical placements at military and civilian hospitals, field exercises and military medical drills. Students gain hands-on experience in patient care, trauma management, emergency response and field nursing through clinical rotations at the Defence Forces Memorial Hospital and other military medical facilities.

Graduates serve as nursing officers within the KDF, providing healthcare at military hospitals, field units, combat support operations and peacekeeping missions. They can also pursue postgraduate study in nursing specialisations, military medicine or public health. The programme is restricted to KDF personnel drawn from the Army, Air Force and Navy.

Prospective students must be serving KDF members selected for medical training. The programme requires strong academic ability, physical fitness, discipline and a commitment to serving in military healthcare environments.

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 364,000
Private, up to: Ksh 318,900
Job market: Moderate

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 6 months
Average class: 15 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Anatomy and Physiology
Medical-Surgical Nursing
Community Health Nursing
Maternal and Child Health Nursing
Mental Health Nursing
Combat Casualty Care and Field Nursing
Trauma and Emergency Nursing
Military Medicine and Healthcare Administration
Pharmacology
Disaster Management and Military Medical Ethics

Modules

10 in the programme

Anatomy and Physiology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers human body structure and function, including all organ systems, tissue types and physiological processes fundamental to nursing practice.
Microbiology and Pharmacology
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers medical microbiology, infectious diseases, antimicrobial therapy, pharmacology principles, drug classifications, administration and adverse effects.
Medical-Surgical Nursing
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers nursing care of patients with medical and surgical conditions, pre-operative and post-operative care, wound management and infection control.
Combat Casualty Care and Field Nursing
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers combat casualty management, triage, haemorrhage control, airway management in the field, evacuation protocols and nursing care in austere environments.
Maternal and Child Health Nursing
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers antenatal, intranatal and postnatal care, normal and complicated labour, newborn care, immunisation and child health nursing.
Trauma and Emergency Nursing
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers trauma assessment, emergency nursing interventions, disaster response, mass casualty management and critical care nursing principles.
Community Health and Mental Health Nursing
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers community health assessment, health promotion, disease prevention, mental health assessment, therapeutic communication and psychiatric nursing.
Military Healthcare Administration and Ethics
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers military medical administration, healthcare logistics, medical evacuation planning, military medical ethics, rules of engagement and international humanitarian law.
Leadership and Management in Military Nursing
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers nursing leadership, healthcare management, quality assurance, human resource management in military medical settings and strategic planning.
Research Project in Military Nursing
Year 4Semester 26 creditsCore
A research project on a military nursing or military health topic, assessed through a written dissertation and oral presentation.

Specialisations

Combat and Trauma Nursing
Focuses on combat casualty care, trauma management and emergency nursing in field and military hospital settings.
Military Healthcare Administration
Specialises in military medical facility management, healthcare logistics and medical evacuation coordination.
Community and Public Health Nursing
Focuses on community health, disease prevention and health promotion in military communities and civilian populations.
Critical Care Nursing
Specialises in critical care and intensive care nursing for managing critically ill or injured patients in military hospitals.

A day as a student

A typical day begins with morning lectures on anatomy, pharmacology or medical-surgical nursing, followed by clinical skills laboratory sessions using simulation mannequins for trauma and emergency care scenarios. Afternoon sessions may include clinical rotations at the Defence Forces Memorial Hospital, field nursing exercises, or military medical drill training. Students also participate in physical fitness training and military discipline activities as part of their dual professional development.

The trade offs

In its favour

The programme is fully government-funded, with no tuition fees for selected KDF personnel.
Graduates receive a commission as military officers, providing a structured career path with benefits including housing, medical cover and pension.
The programme combines professional nursing qualifications with military training, creating unique career opportunities in both military and civilian healthcare.

Against it

The programme is restricted to serving KDF members, with very small cohort sizes (13 students in the inaugural cohort).
Graduates are bonded to military service, with limited flexibility to move to civilian employment immediately after graduation.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 349 health sciences courses

Public275k to 364k

275k at Kenyatta University364k at University of Nairobi

Private240k to 319k

240k at Kenya Methodist University319k at Mount Kenya University

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

BScN track. KU 275,400; UoN 364,000. KEMU 239,500; MKU 318,900 KUCCPS.

The programme is government-funded for KDF personnel. No additional scholarships are required.

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+
Alternative entry: Must be a serving Kenya Defence Forces member selected for medical training. Diploma in Nursing from a recognised institution may qualify for credit transfers.

Biology or Biological Sciences
C+
Chemistry or Physical Sciences
C
English or Kiswahili
C
Mathematics or Physics
C

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment Tests
Written examination30% of the mark
Mid-semester and end-of-semester written tests covering anatomy, physiology, microbiology and pharmacology.
Clinical Skills Practicals
Practicum40% of the mark
Assessment of clinical skills laboratory sessions including patient assessment, wound care, medication administration and combat casualty care simulations.
Clinical Placement Assessment
Practicum100% of the mark
Assessment of clinical rotations at the Defence Forces Memorial Hospital and other military medical facilities, covering patient care competencies.
Research Project
Project100% of the mark
A final-year research project on a military nursing or military health topic, assessed through a written dissertation and oral presentation.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE) in March 2023. The programme is regulated by the Nursing Council of Kenya (NCK) and offered at the Defence College of Health Sciences (DCHS), NDU-K.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education
AcademicRequired
Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE) in March 2023. Regulated by the Nursing Council of Kenya (NCK). Offered at the Defence College of Health Sciences (DCHS), NDU-K.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

Military Nursing Officer
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 250,000
Provides nursing care in military hospitals, field medical units and combat support operations, serving as a commissioned officer in the Kenya Defence Forces.
Trauma Nurse
High demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 200,000
Specialises in trauma and emergency care, managing critically injured patients in military and civilian emergency settings.
Field Nurse
Low demandKsh 75,000 to Ksh 180,000
Provides nursing care in field environments during military operations, peacekeeping missions and humanitarian operations.
Military Healthcare Administrator
Low demandKsh 85,000 to Ksh 220,000
Manages military medical facilities, oversees healthcare logistics and coordinates medical evacuation and field medical operations.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates serve as nursing officers within the Kenya Defence Forces, providing healthcare at military hospitals, field units and peacekeeping missions.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Military nursing is the same as civilian nursing with some military drills added.
Military nursing includes specialised training in combat casualty care, field nursing, trauma management in austere environments, and military medical administration, preparing nurses for healthcare delivery in combat and peacekeeping settings.
The programme is open to all civilian students.
The programme is restricted to serving Kenya Defence Forces members selected from the Army, Air Force and Navy. Civilians are not eligible for this programme.
Military nurses only work in military hospitals.
Military nurses serve in military hospitals, field medical units, combat support operations, peacekeeping missions, humanitarian operations and disaster response, providing healthcare in diverse and challenging environments.
A military nursing degree is not recognised in civilian healthcare.
The programme is accredited by CUE and regulated by the Nursing Council of Kenya, making graduates fully qualified registered nurses recognised in both military and civilian healthcare sectors.