Amos Orwa, a US-based Kenyan nurse, has intimated that many Africans who move abroad turn to nursing because it offers strong demand, competitive pay and a clearer path to professional licensing than many other careers.
Orwa explained that Africans who relocate with qualifications in other professions may struggle to continue in their original fields because their foreign credentials often have to go through accreditation, evaluation and licensing processes.
He used medicine as an example, noting that a doctor trained outside the US cannot simply start treating patients after relocating.
The doctor may need credential evaluation, additional training and licensing examinations, and the process can take months or even years.
According to Orwa, this is one reason nursing has become such a popular option among Africans abroad.
The profession has a high demand for workers and a defined licensing pathway for internationally trained nurses.
For some immigrants, retraining as a nurse therefore provides a more direct route into the US job market than spending years trying to get another professional qualification recognised.
Orwa also linked the trend among Kenyans to the growing number of nursing institutions in Kenya and the increasing awareness among students that nursing can create opportunities to work internationally.
He said international employment has therefore become a factor for some students when deciding what to study.
