A Kenyan nurse based in the United States has sparked debate online after detailing what she describes as a “vast difference” between working conditions in Kenya and America, dismissing claims that nurses abroad are overworked and exploited.
Judy Nyakerario, who previously worked in a county referral hospital in Kenya, used her personal experience to challenge a widely held perception among some Kenyan health workers that nursing in the US is excessively demanding.
In a detailed account, Nyakerario painted a picture of her time in Kenya as physically exhausting and under-resourced.
She said she often handled up to 20 patients per shift, working alongside only two other nurses in wards with as many as 60 patients.
According to her, the lack of support staff meant nurses took on multiple roles beyond clinical care.
These included cleaning patients, transporting bodies to the mortuary, sourcing medication, and even making critical medical decisions in the absence of doctors.
“We were everything—nurse, cleaner, porter, even mortuary attendant,” she said, describing night shifts where basic supplies such as gloves and syringes were sometimes unavailable.
She also highlighted delays in salaries, which she said could stretch up to three months, despite monthly earnings averaging about Sh35,000.
Breaks were rare, and leave requests were often denied due to staff shortages.
Nyakerario contrasted this with her current role in the US, where she handles an average of five patients per shift in a progressive care unit. She said the presence of a structured support system significantly reduces the burden on nurses.
In her account, certified nursing assistants handle routine tasks such as monitoring vital signs and patient hygiene, while technicians conduct lab work and electrocardiograms.
Administrative staff manage communication and logistics, allowing nurses to focus on clinical responsibilities.
“My job is to assess, medicate, chart, and educate. I am a nurse here,” she stated.
Nyakerario also pointed to improved working conditions, including guaranteed breaks, access to equipment, and a safer work environment.
She said she works three 12-hour shifts a week, with the option of taking additional paid shifts.
She disclosed earning about $52 per hour, with opportunities for overtime, which she said can significantly increase her income.
According to her, the structured system allows her to rest adequately between shifts, making it possible to take on extra work voluntarily.
Her remarks directly addressed critics who label working in the US as “slavery,” arguing that such comparisons overlook the challenges faced by nurses in Kenya.
“Hard is working with no gloves, no oxygen, and being blamed for system failures,” she said, adding that access to resources and institutional support in the US makes the job more manageable.
Nyakerario’s comments come amid ongoing discussions about the migration of Kenyan healthcare workers seeking better pay and working conditions abroad, a trend that has raised concerns about staffing shortages in local hospitals.