Clinical Nursing in Kenya

The program was structured to support learning while allowing students to fully immerse themselves in a new healthcare environment. Their placement at PCEA Chogoria Hospital, a mission-driven facility, introduced them to a style of healthcare delivery very different from what they were accustomed to back home. Limited resources, high patient volumes, and deep community trust in the hospital shaped each day’s learning.

Students quickly moved from observation to meaningful engagement. They participated in daily hospital routines, interacted with patients, and witnessed procedures that left a lasting impact. One moment that stood out for many was observing a skull skin-grafting surgery on a diabetic patient with a severe head wound. Skin was taken from both arms and grafted onto the patient’s head, with the donor sites carefully sutured. For the students present, it was intense, humbling, and unforgettable a powerful reminder of resilience, skill, and the realities of global healthcare.

Perhaps the most meaningful part of the experience came through connection. Each visiting student was paired with a local nursing student, creating a space for shared learning, honest conversations, and cultural exchange. Through these partnerships, students learned not just about nursing practices, but about life, perseverance, and the universal commitment to caring for others.

Every evening, the group gathered for reflection sessions, openly sharing their highs and lows. The heat often made its way into the “low” category, but it was consistently outweighed by the “highs”—the warmth of the people, the kindness of patients, and the hospitality of every community they encountered.