List of government nursing schools in Zambia

A list of government nursing schools in Zambia especially those well known to offer nursing training and midwifery. 

government nursing schools in zambia
Image Credit: GNC

 Here is a list of prominent government nursing schools in Zambia:

Lusaka

  1. Lusaka School of Nursing and Midwifery - Located at the University Teaching Hospital, it offers various diploma programs, including Registered Nursing, Midwifery, and Critical Care Nursing
  2. Chainama College of Health Sciences - Focuses on Mental Health Nursing, Public Health Nursing, and Clinical Officer training

Copperbelt Province

  1. Ndola School of Nursing and Midwifery - Provides diploma courses in Nursing, Midwifery, and Pediatric Nursing
  2. Kitwe College of Nursing - The oldest nursing school in Zambia, offering a range of nursing and midwifery programs
  3. Mufulira School of Nursing - Offers diplomas in nursing and related fields

Southern Province

  1. Livingstone School of Nursing and Midwifery - A key institution for training healthcare professionals in the region

Central Province

  1. Kabwe School of Nursing and Midwifery - Offers training in general nursing and midwifery

Northern Province

  1. Kasama School of Nursing and Midwifery - Located in Kasama General Hospital, focusing on diploma programs

Luapula Province

  1. Mansa School of Nursing and Midwifery - Provides nursing and advanced diploma courses

Other Notable Schools

  1. Chitambo School of Nursing (Serenje, Central Province) - Offers a range of nursing and midwifery programs
  2. Solwezi School of Nursing (North-Western Province) - Offers diploma and advanced diploma programs
  3. Roan School of Midwifery - Specializes in midwifery training

Common nursing courses in Zambia

In Zambia, nursing courses are structured to address various aspects of healthcare delivery. The programs are the same with private nursing nursing schools. Here are the most common nursing programs:

Diploma Programs (3 Years)

  1. Registered Nursing (RN):

    • Basic training for general nursing practice.
    • Focuses on clinical skills, anatomy, pharmacology, and patient care.

  2. Registered Midwifery:

    • Specializes in maternal and neonatal care.
    • Includes training on prenatal, delivery, and postnatal care.

  3. Public Health Nursing:

    • Focuses on community health, disease prevention, and health promotion.

  4. Mental Health Nursing:

    • Covers psychiatric care and psychological support for mental health conditions.

Advanced Diploma Programs (1 Year)

  1. Critical Care Nursing:

    • Training for nurses working in ICU and emergency settings.

  2. Operating Theatre Nursing:

    • Focuses on perioperative care in surgical settings.

  3. Paediatric Nursing:

    • Specialized care for infants, children, and adolescents.

  4. HIV/AIDS Nurse Practitioner:

    • Training on managing HIV/AIDS patients and community awareness.

Certificate Programs (6 Months to 1 Year)

  1. In-Service Midwifery:

    • For practicing nurses to gain midwifery qualifications.

  2. Abridged Diploma for Enrolled Nurses:

    • A transition program to upgrade enrolled nurses to diploma status. It's not from secondary school leavers

Undergraduate Programs (4-5 Years)

  1. Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSc Nursing):
    • Comprehensive nursing education combining theory, research, and practice.
    • Prepares nurses for leadership roles and specialized care.

Postgraduate Programs (2 Years)

  1. Master of Nursing:
    • Advanced training in nursing leadership, research, and education.
    • Often includes a specialization like midwifery, critical care, or public health.

Clinical Instructor Programs (1 Year)

  • Designed for experienced nurses to become educators in clinical and classroom settings.

These courses are offered by institutions such as the Lusaka School of Nursing, Chainama College of Health Sciences, and Ndola School of Nursing, among others. Admission typically requires credits in biology, chemistry, mathematics, and English at the O-Level. Programs are regulated by the General Nursing Council of Zambia


Reasons Zambian nurses seek employment from outside.


Many nurses in Zambia seek employment opportunities abroad due to a combination of push and pull factors that make working outside the country more appealing. Below are some of the key reasons:

1. Better Compensation and Benefits

  • Low Salaries in Zambia: Nurses in Zambia often face low wages compared to their counterparts in countries like the UK, Canada, or Australia. For example, nurses abroad may earn several times what they do domestically for similar roles​

  • Better Benefits: Foreign employers often provide additional perks, such as housing allowances, relocation support, and professional insurance.

2. Limited Career Progression

  • Few Specialization Opportunities: Zambia has limited opportunities for advanced specialization in fields like oncology, critical care, or pediatric nursing. In contrast, developed countries offer clear pathways for career growth and advanced education​

  • Leadership Roles Abroad: Countries like the UK and the USA offer leadership opportunities in healthcare that may not be as accessible in Zambia.

3. Improved Working Conditions

  • Resource Constraints: Many nurses in Zambia face challenges like inadequate medical supplies, understaffing, and high patient-to-nurse ratios, which lead to burnout.
  • Better Facilities Abroad: Working conditions in developed countries are generally more favorable, with advanced technology, better-equipped hospitals, and manageable workloads.

4. Global Demand for Nurses

  • Nursing Shortages Abroad: Countries like the UK, Canada, and Australia face a chronic shortage of healthcare workers. They actively recruit from developing countries, including Zambia, due to the high quality of training Zambian nurses receive​

5. Opportunities for Personal and Professional Growth

  • Educational Access: Many foreign employers or governments offer scholarships and professional development programs for nurses, enabling them to enhance their skills and qualifications.
  • Global Exposure: Working abroad provides Zambian nurses with exposure to different healthcare systems and cultural practices.

6. Socio-Economic Factors

  • Economic Pressure: Nurses often move abroad to support their families financially due to Zambia's relatively low standard of living and limited economic opportunities.
  • Political Stability: Some nurses prefer to work in countries with stable socio-political environments, which may provide more consistent healthcare funding and job security.

7. Remittances

  • Nurses working abroad can send remittances back home, contributing significantly to their families' and communities' well-being.

Challenges of Seeking Opportunities Abroad

While working abroad offers advantages, it also comes with challenges such as cultural adaptation, initial licensing hurdles, and being away from family. Nonetheless, for many, the benefits outweigh these challenges.

These factors collectively drive the migration of Zambian nurses, contributing to a "brain drain" in the healthcare sector. This phenomenon underscores the need for policy improvements to retain skilled professionals domestically.