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Nurse

A nurse is the person who spends the most time with a patient. The doctor makes the diagnosis and prescribes treatment, while the nurse makes sure that treatment actually happens: setting up IV drips, giving injections, watching how the patient feels and noticing first when something goes wrong. If you care about people and stay calm in a tough moment, take a closer look at this job.

Nurse

Nursing is for both girls and guys: male nurses are needed in intensive care, surgery and ambulance teams. The job takes precision and stamina, since there are night shifts and a lot of moving around during the day. In return, you see the result of your work right away - a person starts feeling better. It is also a solid starting point if you later decide to study further in medicine.

What the job involves

  • Gives injections, sets up IV drips and changes dressings
  • Checks blood pressure, temperature and other vital signs
  • Hands out medicines as prescribed by the doctor
  • Assists doctors during procedures and operations
  • Explains to patients and families how to care for someone at home

Skills you need

  • Precision

    A mistake in a dose or in hygiene can harm a patient, so every action has to be exact.

  • Empathy

    Patients are often frightened, and a kind word helps them as much as a procedure.

  • Physical stamina

    Nurses spend most of the day on their feet and sometimes work at night.

  • Observation

    It matters to notice early when a patient's condition changes and tell the doctor.

  • Teamwork

    In a hospital everyone works together with doctors, orderlies and other nurses.

Who it suits

Personality types

Strong intelligences

  • Interpersonal
  • Bodily-kinesthetic
  • Naturalistic

UNT subjects to take

State grants 2026

  • Nursing B084

    13 grants, passing score from 93, median 104 (Ministry of Health order)

Main competition, full-time study. Quotas and separate state orders can have lower scores. Check your chances

Where to study

The most common route in Kazakhstan is a medical college with a Nursing program. You can enroll after grade 9 or grade 11, and the program lasts a few years with plenty of practice in hospitals and clinics. After college, graduates pass a qualification exam and can start working as nurses.

There is also a university route: a bachelor's degree in nursing at a medical university, where admission is based on the UNT with biology and chemistry. This degree opens the way to senior nurse positions, teaching and managing nursing services. Many people work for a while after college and then continue their studies at university.

Outlook

Nurses are needed wherever people get treatment: hospitals, polyclinics, maternity hospitals, ambulance services, schools, kindergartens, sanatoriums and private clinics. In Kazakhstan the role of nurses is gradually growing, with nurses doing more independent work with patients. Experience in this job is also valued if you move to another city.

Frequently asked questions

Can I become a nurse after grade 9?

Yes, medical colleges accept students after grade 9. In that case you also complete your general secondary education along the way, so the program takes longer than after grade 11.

Which subjects do I need to get in?

College entry requirements depend on the school and often take your certificate grades into account. For a bachelor's degree in nursing, you take biology and chemistry on the UNT.

Can a guy work as a nurse?

Absolutely. Male nurses work in intensive care, surgery, trauma units, ambulance teams and many other departments. The job is not split into male and female - what matters is knowledge and how you treat patients.

Is this career right for you?

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