Introduction to Nursing Courses
One of the allied fields of medicine, Nursing is a career option for those who derive immense satisfaction in caring for the unwell. A compassionate and caring nature make for a fulfilling career as nurses. Interestingly nursing is considered a very flexible career primarily because although there is a considerable population of nurses, there exists a huge gap between the need for care providers and the actual availability. They can thus choose a career path without compromising on any personal commitments. Many nursing professionals work part-time or full-time based on their personal commitments. Some even take career breaks to go back to school or raise a family. Once their personal commitments are met they come back and pick up their career exactly where they left it, even after years in some rare cases. Nurses are in high demand now more than ever; particularly with the astonishing number of available specializations.
Different Types of Nursing Courses
Read about Nursing Courses
There are an amazing variety of certificate, diploma, graduate and post graduate level Nursing Courses. Certificate courses are usually refresher courses or short-term courses to understand a particular stream in detail. For instance a nurse looking at specializing in palliative care for cancer patients would be better able to understand her role and responsibilities if she has completed a certification in palliative care. The basic Nursing Courses include GNM (General Nursing and Midwifery), ANM (Auxilary Nurse and Midwife) and Graduate Nurses (BSc (Nursing) and BSc (Post Basic)). The course duration varies from 2 years (for ANM) to 4 years (for BSc (Nursing). Post Graduate level Nursing Courses include M.Sc, MPhil and Ph.D.
Eligibility for Nursing Courses
Students opting for diploma or graduate level nursing courses need to have completed their higher secondary in the science stream preferably with biology, physics and chemistry as subjects. An ANM can also apply for the GNM course. Graduation can be done either after higher secondary or after GNM. Those joining after GNM certification and with a minimum 1 year of work experience can complete their graduation in 2-3 years. Post-graduation Nursing Courses requires the student to hold a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Certificate courses are usually refresher courses or short-term courses that qualified nurses join as part of their continuous education or for better career prospects.
How to apply for Nursing Courses
All students who wish to apply for any of the Nursing Courses needs to refer to the concerned department of nursing or the website of the institution they wish to join. Most institutions conduct an examination to determine the candidate’s knowledge and aptitude for nursing. Prospective students are short listed after the test and screened through personal interviews for enrollment to Nursing Courses in reputed institutions.
Scope/pay scale for Nursing Courses
On completion of their chosen Nursing Courses, students can choose from different career options including Hospice & Palliative Care, Geriatric Nursing, Certified Nurse Midwife, Medical Surgical Nurse, Nurse Anesthetist, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse School Nurse Practitioner, Public Health Nurse and Pediatric Nurse. These career options and many more such specializations are in addition to working as a registered nurse in a hospital or clinic. The salary varies according to experience and location.