Mercy Wasike: Nurse Makes History As The First Kenyan Deputy Chief Nurse In The UK

summary

• Mercy Wasike studied education at Kenyatta University but left to the UK in pursuit of better opportunities.
• She enrolled for a nursing diploma and was registered by the UK’s Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) in 2003. She has immense experience in leadership and clinical practice.

A Kenyan nurse has made history after being appointed the Deputy Chief Nurse at Royal National Orthopedic Hospital in London. The facility is the largest orthopedic (bone issues) specialist hospital in UK and is also among the best globally.

Wasike assumed the role in May, 2022 and became the first Kenyan to hold such a high echelon in the National Hospital Service (NHS). As established by this site, Wasike’s rise has been meteoric ever since she made the decision to relocate to England.

Switching from education to nursing

Wasike pursued a Bachelor’s of Arts in Education at Kenyatta University between 1992 and 1997. However, she relocated to United Kingdom in search for better life opportunities.

“I left home to explore an opportunity to use my gifts in service to humanity, this position validates that decision,” she said as quoted by nursingtimes.net.

In 2000, she registered for a Diploma in Adult Nursing at University of Brighton – Institute of Nursing and Midwifery. Wasike was registered by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) in 2003.

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Impressive leadership qualities

Wasike practised in various hospitals in UK and then went on to pursue an MA in Clinical Education at IOE-UCL Faculty of Education and Society between 2009 and 2011.

Just like Florence Nightingale who pioneered professional nursing, Wasike has proved beneficial in the NHS. In 2013, while working as the Learning Disability Coordinator at Barts Health NHS Trust, she helped in laying out and implementing the initial strategic frameworks.

She then worked as the Practice Experience Facilitation Manager for the North East London Foundation Trust. As listed on her LinkedIn profile, she accomplished several goals including mentorship and improving students’ learning environment.

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Wasike also served as an Assistant Director of Nursing, Central and North West London where she was in charge of 5 directorates: community health, mental health, addictions, health and justice and sexual health.

Prior to the current appointment, she worked as a senior nurse at the Royal National Orthopedic Hospital emergency department.

It is for these achievements that Mercy Wasike dots herself as a ‘senior culturally competent and inclusive nurse leader’ on social media. She also details her competencies in strategic leadership, workforce transformation, clinical practice, education and mentorship.