Optimum Hospital has been at the forefront of providing patient focused care and exceptional clinical services to the people of Kenya from Nakuru. We provide a broad range of services which cut across various medical fields the ultimate aim of which is to take care of you and support you, and your family through what may be a distressing period. The Hospital has been thoughtfully planned and equipped to support the highest levels of patient safety, service excellence and quality clinical care. We believe that the patient rooms are some of the best in Nakuru. The hospital is equipped throughout with leading-edge equipment that has become one of the hallmarks of the Nakuru Medical Industry

The Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) provides strategic, clinical, and operational leadership for all nursing services within the hospital. The role is responsible for ensuring high-quality patient Centered care, professional & compassionate nursing practice, regulatory compliance, workforce excellence, and alignment with the hospital’s strategic objectives. The CNO is a key member of the Senior leadership Management Team, contributing to organizational planning, patient safety, quality improvement, and service delivery excellence.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Governance

• Provide visible, confident leadership to the nursing department and ensure clear lines of authority.
• Establish and maintain discipline, accountability, and professional conduct among nursing staff.
• Prevent parallel decision-making structures and ensure adherence to reporting hierarchy.
• Ensure evidence-based practice, adherence to clinical protocols, infection prevention standards, and patient safety guidelines.
• Foster a culture of professionalism, respect, and patient-centered care.

Workforce Planning & Development

• Ensure appropriate staffing levels and optimal skill mix based on patient acuity and workload.
• Oversee duty rosters and deployment to maintain seamless service delivery.
• Ensure performance management, appraisal, and accountability systems are implemented consistently.
• Identify training needs and coordinate continuous professional development, leadership growth, and succession planning.
• Promote staff engagement, wellbeing, and retention in collaboration with Human Resources.
• Mentor nursing staff to build confidence, competence, and leadership depth.
• Promote psychological safety while maintaining professional boundaries.

Policy & Clinical Standards

• Develop, implement, review, and enforce clinical policies, SOPs, and patient safety protocols.
• Ensure full compliance with hospital standards and regulatory requirements.
• Champion adherence to nursing best practices across departments.

Quality & Patient Experience

• Lead continuous quality improvement initiatives and risk management within the nursing department.
• Monitor patient satisfaction, complaints, and service recovery actions related to nursing services.
• Safeguard the hospital’s value proposition of personalized nursing care.

Operational, Financial & Resource Management

• Oversee efficient utilization of nursing resources, including staffing, consumables, and equipment.
• Monitor resource allocation, wastage reduction, and productivity across departments.
• Coordinate with other departments i.e. medical, pharmacy, laboratory, radiology, theatre, and support services to ensure seamless service delivery.
• Support implementation and monitoring of the hospital risk register and mitigation actions related to clinical services.
• Supervise daily ward operations ensuring efficiency, cleanliness, and patient comfort.

Staff Development & Culture

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree of science in Nursing (BSN).
• Master’s degree in nursing, Healthcare Management, Public Health, or related field – added advantage.
• Valid Nursing Council of Kenya (NCK) license.
• Minimum 7–10 years progressive nursing experience, with at least 5 years in senior leadership/management within a hospital setting.
• Updated BLS and ACLS certification (additional leadership or quality certifications are an added advantage).

Personal Attributes

• Strong clinical governance and patient safety expertise.
• Structured, organized, and systems-driven.
• Demonstrated strategic leadership and decision-making capability.
• Excellent financial, operational, and resource management skills.
• High level communication, stakeholder engagement, and interpersonal competence.
• Proven ability in team leadership, mentorship, and change management.
• Sound knowledge of healthcare regulations, accreditation standards, and quality improvement frameworks.
• Ability to manage crisis, lead under pressure, and drive organisational performance.
• High integrity, professionalism, and accountability.

• Provide visible, confident leadership to the nursing department and ensure clear lines of authority.
• Establish and maintain discipline, accountability, and professional conduct among nursing staff.
• Prevent parallel decision-making structures and ensure adherence to reporting hierarchy.
• Ensure evidence-based practice, adherence to clinical protocols, infection prevention standards, and patient safety guidelines.
• Foster a culture of professionalism, respect, and patient-centered care.
• Ensure appropriate staffing levels and optimal skill mix based on patient acuity and workload.
• Oversee duty rosters and deployment to maintain seamless service delivery.
• Ensure performance management, appraisal, and accountability systems are implemented consistently.
• Identify training needs and coordinate continuous professional development, leadership growth, and succession planning.
• Promote staff engagement, wellbeing, and retention in collaboration with Human Resources.
• Mentor nursing staff to build confidence, competence, and leadership depth.
• Promote psychological safety while maintaining professional boundaries.
• Develop, implement, review, and enforce clinical policies, SOPs, and patient safety protocols.
• Ensure full compliance with hospital standards and regulatory requirements.
• Champion adherence to nursing best practices across departments.
• Lead continuous quality improvement initiatives and risk management within the nursing department.
• Monitor patient satisfaction, complaints, and service recovery actions related to nursing services.
• Safeguard the hospital’s value proposition of personalized nursing care.
• Oversee efficient utilization of nursing resources, including staffing, consumables, and equipment.
• Monitor resource allocation, wastage reduction, and productivity across departments.
• Coordinate with other departments i.e. medical, pharmacy, laboratory, radiology, theatre, and support services to ensure seamless service delivery.
• Support implementation and monitoring of the hospital risk register and mitigation actions related to clinical services.
• Supervise daily ward operations ensuring efficiency, cleanliness, and patient comfort.

• Strong clinical governance and patient safety expertise.
• Structured, organized, and systems-driven.
• Demonstrated strategic leadership and decision-making capability.
• Excellent financial, operational, and resource management skills.
• High level communication, stakeholder engagement, and interpersonal competence.
• Proven ability in team leadership, mentorship, and change management.
• Sound knowledge of healthcare regulations, accreditation standards, and quality improvement frameworks.
• Ability to manage crisis, lead under pressure, and drive organisational performance.
• High integrity, professionalism, and accountability.

• Bachelor’s Degree of science in Nursing (BSN).
• Master’s degree in nursing, Healthcare Management, Public Health, or related field – added advantage.
• Valid Nursing Council of Kenya (NCK) license.
• Updated BLS and ACLS certification (additional leadership or quality certifications are an added advantage).