Investigation Of Bachelor Of Science Nursing Student Performance In The Nursing Council Of Kenya Licensure Examinations In Kenya

ABSTRACT

Kenya has seen a drastic growth in nursing education sector recording high rates of

enrolment of students to training while their performance in Nursing Council of Kenya

(NCK) examination remained variable. This study investigated performance of BSc

nursing students in NCK examinations by determining student characteristics,

examining institutional characteristics and analyzing regulatory body characteristics in

relation to performance. NCK identified it as priority area of research. The research

design was retrospective, using mixed method approach to collect data. A total of 1292

records of students who sat examinations July 2012-June 2015 from NCK nurses’

database was used. Cluster and purposive sampling were done for key informants

interviewed from schools of nursing. Quantitative data was converted from MS Access

to SAS version 8 and analyzed. Odds ratio was used to measure strength of association

between student, institutional and regulatory body characteristics and performance with

p ≤ 0.05 being considered significant. Qualitative data was recorded and transcribed for

content analysis. The proportion of those who passed and aged 30 years and above was

significantly higher than those who were less than 30 years (OR: 1.6, 95% CI: 1.2-2.2,

p= 0.002). Both class attendance policy and faculty experience had marginal association

(OR: 0.4, 95%CI: 1.0-2.0, p=0.068) and (OR: 0.7, 95%CI: 0.5-1.0, p=0.068)

respectively. Admission criteria, marital status and employment, together with validity

and timing of examination were reported by key informants to influence performance. In

conclusion the study identified age, faculty years of experience and class attendance

policy as significant factors that were associated with performance. Marital status,

employment, timing of examinations and validity were reported by key informants to

influence performance. The study recommends training institutions to continue with

upgrading programmes, identify ways of addressing low performance, uphold class

attendance policy, select faculty based on experience. NCK to review their examination

process, set examination that test competency and conduct licensure examinations after

internship.Results can be used to predict performance and facilitate development of

policies for recruitment and examination.