Joyce started her nursing career in Kenya where she joined Kaplong Mission Hospital School of Nursing and graduated as an Enrolled Nurse in 1989 (Equivalent To License Practical Nurse). She joined Pumwani Maternity Hospital School of Midwifery in Nairobi and graduated with Enrolled-Midwifery in 1998. She worked for three years in Eldoret Kenya and five years at Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi before moving to Canada with her family in the year 2000. Joyce is married to Paul Thuku they have four children, Serah, Alex, Nelson and Milkah Thuku. She credits her continuous achievements to her husband and children for their continuous dedication and support.

She joined Rankin School of Nursing as an international student in 2000 and graduated with Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2004. She recently graduated with a Masters of Education degree with a focus on curriculum with concentration in Nursing/health sciences. She worked full-time as a Registered Nurse at St. Martha’s Hospital and as a casual RN at the R.K MacDonald Nursing Home in Antigonish for ten years before joining Rankin School of Nursing as a Nurse Educator in 2014 on a contract employment. She teaches clinical component in Medical-Surgical, Pediatric as well Healthy Aging. She has worked with nursing students at all levels from first year to fourth year clinical component. She is a hard worker, dedicated and flexible when assigned and takes on extra duties to meet the needs of the Rankin School of Nursing. Her graduate research was focused on how to retain and graduate minority nursing students in order to diversify Nursing and Health-Care Profession. She was invited to co-author a book chapter in Realities of Canadian Nursing 5th edition book.

Joyce brings her lived international nursing experience, years of clinical practice and diversity into the Rankin School of Nursing.