Passing the Nursing Council of Kenya (NCK) licensure exam isn’t just about hard work; it’s about using the right resources. Whether you are a BScN student at UoN or Moi University, you need the gold-standard textbooks. If you are a KRCHN candidate preparing for your finals, those textbooks are your first step toward that “Pass” grade.
At ReviQuiz, we’ve analyzed the NCK syllabus. We bring you the definitive list of nursing textbooks you need to ace Paper 1 and Paper 2. Below you will find the authoritative, subject-by-subject breakdown of recommended BScN nursing textbooks for the NCK exam
Quick Note: The NCK exam is computer-based and tests application and clinical reasoning, not pure recall. That means reading textbooks is only half the equation — the other half is practising with scenario-based MCQs. We cover both in this guide.
Quick Reference: Subject Priority for the NCK BScN Exam
Before diving deep, here is a bird’s-eye view of every major subject area. Each subject includes its NCK exam weight. It also lists the single most important textbook per subject.
| Subject Area | NCK Priority | Top Textbook |
|---|---|---|
| Fundamentals of Nursing | HIGH | Potter, Perry, Stockert & Hall |
| Anatomy & Physiology | HIGH | Marieb & Hoehn (10th/11th Ed.) |
| Pharmacology | HIGH | Lilley, Rainforth Collins & Snyder |
| Medical-Surgical Nursing | HIGH | Brunner & Suddarth (13th/14th Ed.) |
| Paediatric Nursing | HIGH | Wong’s (Hockenberry & Wilson) |
| Obstetrics & Midwifery | HIGH | Myles Textbook for Midwives |
| Psychiatric Nursing | MEDIUM | Townsend (8th Ed.) |
| Community Health Nursing | HIGH | Stanhope & Lancaster |
| Pathophysiology | MEDIUM | McCance & Huether |
| Nursing Research | MEDIUM | Polit & Beck |
| Microbiology & Biochemistry | MEDIUM | Tortora, Funke & Case |
| Nursing Leadership & Management | MEDIUM | Yoder-Wise |
1. Fundamentals of Nursing: The Core Foundation
Fundamentals of Nursing is the bedrock of every NCK paper. Clinical reasoning is thoroughly examined in both Paper 1 and Paper 2 for BScN candidates. The nursing process is also covered in depth. Additionally, patient assessment is examined thoroughly. Documentation and safety are also scrutinized extensively. If you have time for only one subject to revise deeply, this is it.
- Fundamentals Of Nursing – Potter, Perry, Stockert & Hall – DOWNLOAD
- Kozier & Erb’s Fundamentals of Nursing: Concepts, Process and Practice
- Bates’ Guide To Physical Examination and History Taking – L.S. Bickley – DOWNLOAD
- Nursing Care Plans & Documentation – L.J. Carpinito
- Fundamentals of Nursing: The Art and Science of Person-Centered Care – Carol Taylor, Pamela Lynn
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2. Medical-Surgical Nursing (The “Big” One)
Medical-surgical nursing forms the largest content block in the NCK BScN examination. Think cardiovascular disorders, respiratory conditions, diabetes, renal disease, cancer nursing, perioperative care — the breadth is enormous. Brunner & Suddarth is so universally prescribed that many Kenyan nursing lecturers simply call it “the B&S.”
- Brunner & Suddarth’s Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing — Hinkle & Cheever – DOWNLOAD
- Medical-Surgical Nursing: Assessment and Management of Clinical Problems — Lewis, Bucher, Heitkemper & Harding
- Smeltzer & Bare’s Medical-Surgical Nursing
- Lewis’s Medical-Surgical Nursing — Mariann Harding et al.
- Saunders Medical-Surgical Nursing — W.B. Saunders
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3. Anatomy & Physiology
A solid grasp of human anatomy and physiology underpins every clinical question in the NCK exam. You cannot understand pathophysiology, pharmacology, or patient assessment without it. Most Kenyan universities standardise on Marieb & Hoehn. It remains the single most referenced A&P text across UoN, KU, Moi, and other institutions.
- Ross and Wilson Anatomy and Physiology in Health and Illness — Anne Waugh & Allison Grant – DOWNLOAD
- Gray’s Anatomy for Students — Drake, Vogl & Mitchell – DOWNLOAD
- Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology – DOWNLOAD
- Human Anatomy & Physiology — Elaine N. Marieb & Katja Hoehn
- Anatomy & Physiology for Nurses — Roger Watson
- Principles of Anatomy and Physiology — Gerard J. Tortora and Bryan H. Derrickson
- Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology for Nursing Practice — Neal Cook, Andrea Shepherd
Complement your A&P studies with our BScN Degree Paper 1 Revision Questions—over 1,000 questions mirroring NCK formats.
4. Pharmacology & Nursing Care
Pharmacology questions are notoriously feared in the NCK exam — and rightly so. Drug classifications, mechanisms of action, dosage calculations, side effects, nursing implications, and patient education all fall within scope. A question asking what a nurse should assess before administering digoxin is testing pharmacology, physiology, and clinical reasoning simultaneously.
- Lehne’s Pharmacology for Nursing Care (10th Edition) – DOWNLOAD
- Basic & Clinical Pharmacology — Katzung, Masters & Trevor – DOWNLOAD
- Clinical Pharmacology for Nurses by Trounce J. and Gould D – DOWNLOAD
- Pharmacology and the Nursing Process — Lilley, Rainforth Collins & Snyder
- Clinical Pharmacology Made Incredibly Easy — Lippincott
- Pharmacology: A Nursing Process Approach — Kee, Hayes & McCuistio
- Pharmacology for Health Professionals — Broncosio J. Bryant and Kathleen M. Knights.
- Pharmacology for Nurses: A Pathophysiologic Approach (Adams & Koch)
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5. Maternal Health & Midwifery Nursing
Midwifery and maternal health nursing is another high-yield area in the NCK exam. Antenatal care, labour and delivery, postnatal care, obstetric emergencies, and family planning are all tested. The Myles Textbook for Midwives — available in an African Edition — is particularly relevant for Kenya’s context.
- Myles Textbook for Midwives (African Edition 3rd Edition) – Diane Fraser & Margaret Cooper – DOWNLOAD
- Williams Obstetrics — Cunningham et al. – DOWNLOAD
- Mayes’ Midwifery — Macdonald & Johnson
- Maternity and Women’s Health Care — Lowdermilk, Perry & Cashion
- Fundamentals of Obstetrics — A. Chohan
Need a Midwifery boost? Access our Midwifery NCK Revision Notes here.
6. Paediatric Nursing
The NCK exam dedicates a sizeable portion of Paper 2 to paediatric nursing. It covers growth and development milestones and immunisation schedules (Kenya’s KEPI programme). It also includes common childhood illnesses, IMCI protocols, and neonatal care. This subject trips up many candidates who under-prepare it.
- Wong’s Essentials of Pediatric Nursing — Hockenberry & Wilson – DOWNLOAD
- Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics — Kliegman et al.
- Child Health Nursing: Partnering with Children and Families — Ball, Bindler & Cowen
- Paediatric Nursing — Colyar
- Child Health Nursing: Partnering with Children and Families — Ball, Bindler & Cowen
- Essentials of Paediatric Nursing — Kyle & Carman
Enhance your peds knowledge—check out our Paediatric Nursing NCK Revision Notes & Practice Questions.
7. Psychiatric & Mental Health Nursing
Mental health nursing questions in the NCK exam focus on therapeutic communication. They also cover common psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder, and substance abuse. Additionally, they address crisis intervention, psychotropic medications, and ethical-legal issues in mental health. Do not neglect this section.
- Townsend Essentials of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing — Mary Townsend – DOWNLOAD
- Videbeck Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing — Sheila Videbeck – DOWNLOAD
- Mental Health Nursing — Norman & Ryrie
- Your A-Z on Mental Health — Prof. David Ndetei
- Psychiatric Nursing — N. L. Keltner
- Introduction to Mental Health Nursing — Videbeck
Your A–Z on Mental Health by Prof. David Ndetei carries particular relevance. It reflects Kenya’s mental health landscape and local case presentations. It also includes country-specific mental health legislation. All of these can feature in NCK questions.
8. Community Health Nursing
Community health nursing is a cornerstone of Kenya’s Primary Health Care (PHC) model. It carries significant weight in the NCK exam for both KRCHN and BScN candidates. Expect questions on disease surveillance, maternal and child health, immunisation, community assessment, and health promotion.
- Community Health Third Edition — Chris Wood – DOWNLOAD
- Community and Public Health Nursing — Rector
- Community Health Nursing: Advocacy for Population Health — Stanhope & Lancaster
- Community Health Nursing (Basavanthappa)
- Public Health Nursing: Population-Centered Health Care in the Community — Stanhope & Lancaster
- Community Health Nursing in Kenya — Local Handouts/References
- Critical Care Nursing: The Humanised Approach — Sara J White & Desiree Tait
supplement with ReviQuiz’s Community Health Nursing Notes and Practice Questions.
9. Medical Biochemistry & Microbiology
Questions on infection control, nosocomial infections, antibiotic stewardship, and the principles of microbiology appear regularly in the NCK exam. Biochemistry questions tend to focus on clinical relevance — electrolyte imbalances, acid-base balance, and metabolic processes.
- Jawetz, Melnick & Adelberg’s Medical Microbiology – DOWNLOAD
- Microbiology: An Introduction — Tortora, Funke & Case
- Medical Microbiology — Murray, Rosenthal & Pfaller
- Mims’ Medical Microbiology — Goering et al.
- Microbiology for Nurses — R. Panjarathinam
- Basic Medical Biochemistry: A Clinical Approach — Michael Lieberman and Allan Marks
10.Pathophysiology
Pathophysiology bridges anatomy and clinical nursing. The NCK exam tests whether you understand why a patient presents the way they do, which directly informs nursing interventions. McCance & Huether is the gold standard, but Porth’s Pathophysiology is equally well-regarded across Kenyan universities.
- Porth’s Pathophysiology by Sheila Grossman – DOWNLOAD
- Pathophysiology: The Biologic Basis for Disease in Adults and Children by McCance & Huether: Detailed mechanisms.
- Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease by Kumar, Abbas & Aster: Used at UoN for pathology.
- Pathophysiology: Concepts of Altered Health States by C.M. Porth: Conceptual approach.
11. Nursing Research, Stats & Management
NCK Paper 1 for BScN candidates includes a nursing research component. Expect questions on research designs (quantitative vs qualitative), sampling methods, data collection, and evidence-based practice. The Mugenda & Mugenda text is specifically written for the Kenyan academic context and is invaluable here.
- Polit & Beck’s Essentials of Nursing Research — Polit & Beck – DOWNLOAD
- Burns & Grove’s The Practice of Nursing Research – Jennifer Gray & Susan Grove
- Introduction to Nursing Research — Carol Boswell & Sharon Cannon
- Research Methods: Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches — Mugenda & Mugenda
- Essentials of Nursing Research — Denise F. Polit and Cheryl Tatano Beck
12.Nursing Management & Leadership
Leadership and management questions in the NCK BScN exam typically cover delegation principles and staffing. They also include ethical decision-making, quality improvement, and nursing administration. This section is often underestimated but can make a significant difference in your overall score.
- Leadership Roles & Management Functions in Nursing – Marquis & Huston – DOWNLOAD
- Nursing Leadership and Management by Kelly: Principles for managers.
- Leading and Managing in Nursing by Yoder-Wise: Practical leadership.
- Nursing Management: Principles and Practice: Various editions for basics.
- Leadership and Management in Nursing by Eleanor Sullivan: Strategies for nurses.
How to Use These Textbooks Effectively for NCK Exam Revision
Having the right textbooks is only the first step. Here is a battle-tested strategy used by top-performing NCK candidates:
Step 1 — Map the NCK Syllabus to Your Textbooks
Download the official NCK syllabus outline and map each topic to the relevant textbook chapter. This stops you from reading chapters that have no exam relevance. For example, the NCK exam does not test advanced surgical oncology detail. You should skip those chapters. Instead, focus on core principles.
Step 2 — Summarise, Don’t Transcribe
Active recall is significantly more effective than passive re-reading. After reading a chapter, close the book and write down the five most important clinical principles. Then check your summary against the text. This technique, backed by cognitive science research, dramatically improves long-term retention.
Step 3 — Practise With MCQs Immediately
For every chapter you complete, immediately attempt 15–20 MCQs on that topic. The NCK exam is entirely MCQ-based (computer-based testing). This means your ability to apply knowledge under time pressure is what gets tested. It does not test how well you annotated your textbook.
Step 4 — Review Rationales, Not Just Scores
When you get a question wrong (or right by guessing), read the full rationale. Understanding why an answer is correct helps solidify the clinical reasoning pattern. This pattern will serve you across hundreds of similar questions in the actual exam.
Stop Worrying About PDFs—Start Testing Your Knowledge!
Reading is only half the battle. Since the NCK exam is now computer-based, you need to practice in a digital environment. At ReviQuiz, we’ve combined the best questions from these textbooks and vetted them with examiners to ensure you are ready.
Which ReviQuiz Course is Right for You?
- BScN Students: Access Paper 1 and Paper 2 specialized banks.
- KRCHN Students: Get started with Diploma Paper 1 and Paper 2.
- The Ultimate All-in-One: Join the NCK Pro Revision Course for the most comprehensive experience.
Don’t leave your career to chance. 👉 Visit the ReviQuiz Home Page to start your journey today!
About ReviQuiz
ReviQuiz (kitomart.co.ke) is Kenya’s leading NCK exam preparation platform, offering comprehensive revision courses, practice MCQs with rationales, and digital nursing textbooks for BScN and KRCHN candidates. Our question bank is built in close collaboration with experienced Kenyan nursing educators. It covers the full NCK licensure examination syllabus.
Disclaimer: All textbook recommendations are for academic revision purposes. ReviQuiz is not affiliated with any textbook publisher. Textbook availability and editions may vary. Always verify your institution’s current reading list with your nursing school.
