Nursing Course | Definition, Colleges, Admission, Jobs, Salary
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Nursing Courses and Degrees after 12th

By Daksh kapoor on 19 Jan 2020
9 mins read

The nursing course focuses on your training and learning to become a competent nurse. You can pursue a nursing course after your 12th with a minimum aggregate of 50% in science, preferably biology.

There are multiple opportunities for you in the nursing domain with various courses such as B.Sc Nursing, B Sc Nursing Post Basic, GNM Nursing and ANM Nursing. The minimum nursing course qualification for these courses is 10+2 certification. On the other hand, courses like M.Sc Nursing (General) or M.Sc Nursing in different subjects can be done as a specialisation to boost your career. 

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What is Nursing Course

Nursing is defined as the protection, promotion, and optimisation of health and abilities, prevention of injury and illness, alleviating suffering through diagnosis and treatment of the health condition, and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, communities, and the population. These critical tasks make the nursing course a crucial part of the healthcare system.

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What are the Types of Nurses?

Depending on your choice of nursing course, nursing course subjects in your specialisation, previous work experience and location, there are different types of nurses:

  • Nursing Degree: Being an aspiring nurse, you can either become an auxiliary nurse and midwife (ANM), general nurse and midwife (GNM), or graduate nurse (B Sc or M Sc Nursing). As a graduate nurse, you can expect an approximate salary of 3.5 lakhs per annum. On the other hand, ANM nurses can expect 1.5 lakhs per annum and GNM nurses between 2-3 lakhs per annum.
     
  • Nursing Specialisations: After graduation, you can take a specialisation under M Sc. The nursing course subjects include obstetrics, paediatrics, emergency medicine, intensive care unit (ICU), emergency room, and so on. Based on the field, you can expect a salary between 3-4 lakhs per annum.
    Job Location: The nursing course salary also depends on the city they work in. E.g., a staff nurse in Mumbai and Delhi receives an 11-33% salary higher than an average nurse in any other city.
     
  • Job Experience: As fresher, staff nurses can expect around 3 lakhs per annum. After 2-4 years of experience, you can expect 3.5 lakhs per annum, and in the later stages of your career, you can receive up to 5 lakhs per annum.

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Scope of Nursing

Nurses collaborate with surgeons and doctors and are called frontline healthcare workers. They also help in educating the general public to prevent injury or illnesses. 

In the post-COVID-19 era, the healthcare system demands strong and skilled healthcare workers, especially nurses. Nursing course is in great demand, and hospitals are relentlessly looking for skilled professionals. Keeping this in mind, you can create a successful career by opting for various nursing course subjects by going through nursing course syllabus from different universities. 

The course will give you an in-depth understanding of patient care and prepare you to face challenges along with doctors.

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Nusing Job Profile

After completing a nursing course, you can find below jobs:

  • Staff nurse.
  • Nurse educator.
  • Nurse supervisor.
  • Home care nurse.
  • Counsellor.
  • Professor.

In hospitals, nurses perform the following functions:

  • Ensure the safety and sterilisation of hospital instruments.
  • Prep up dressing tray for first aid of wounds.
  • Perform initial assessment of patients.
  • Clean up and dress wounds of patients.
  • Assist doctors in preparing injections or administering enemas.
  • Assist surgeons during operations.
  • Administer medications to patients.
  • Record progress and vital signs of patients.
  • Educate patients in the hospitals and their families

Skills Required for Nursing Course

A nursing course demands specific skills from you:

  • Stamina and mental strength – To work for unprecedented or long hours in challenging conditions; should be prepared to perform physically tiring jobs too.
  • Autonomy – Authority and ability to assess and perform nursing actions.
  • Observational and communication skills – Must assess the health status minutely and should be able to communicate effectively.
  • Compassion – Should be empathetic when taking care of patients.
  • Organisational skills – This should ensure that each patient is given the appropriate care at the proper time.
  • Integrity – To act with integrity and dignity and be accountable and responsible for what they consider is the right thing to do.
  • Management skills – To effectively and efficiently manage resources to attain the goal of improved health of the masses.

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Nursing Course Duration

Based on the nursing course duration, the nursing courses are of the following types:

  • 6-Month Nursing Course

A 6-month nursing course is called a nursing certificate. This short-term course focuses mainly on the principles of nursing or can help you in gaining expertise in various nursing course subjects. For example, you can pursue a Certificate in Critical Care Nursing, a Certificate in Pharmacy, Certificate in Paramedical, and Certificate in Practical Nursing. The best part about this course is that it is available online and offline in dignified universities across India. 

The nursing course fees for a 6-month program depend on the nursing course and college you are applying to. On average, you can expect fees from 25-70 K.

  • 1-Year Nursing Course

As a part of 1-year nursing course, you can opt for Post-basic diploma Nursing or M.Phil Nursing. Like a 6-month course, a 1-year nursing course also allows you to get skilled in various nursing course subjects. Some of these are:

  • Post Basic Diploma in Operation Room Nursing.
  • Post Basic Diploma in Psychiatric Nursing.
  • Post Basic Diploma in Neurology Nursing.
  • Post Basic Diploma in Midwifery Nursing.
  • Post Basic Diploma in Cardio-Thoracic Nursing.
  • Post Basic Diploma in Emergency and Disaster Nursing.
  • Post Basic Diploma in Oncology Nursing.
  • Post Basic Diploma in Neonatal Nursing.
  • Post Basic Diploma in Forensic Nursing.
  • Post Basic Diploma in Geriatric Nursing.
  • Post Basic Diploma in Critical Care Nursing.
  • Post Basic Diploma in Ortho and Rehabilitation Nursing.
  • Post Basic Diploma in Haematology Nursing.
  • Post Basic Diploma in Burn and Reconstructive Surgery Nursing.
  • M. Phil Nursing.

The post-basic diploma in different nursing subjects is conducted by State Nursing Council or the university, while M. Phil is only conducted by the university.

  • Diploma in Nursing

A diploma in nursing is also a popular choice for you after the 12th. It is a shorter course than B Sc called GNM or ANM. Apart from these, you can also choose specific nursing course subjects for your diploma:

  • Diploma in Home Nursing.
  • Diploma in Nursing Administration.
  • Post Graduate Diploma in Neonatal Nursing.
  • Post Graduate Diploma in Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Nursing.

The average nursing course fee is around 20K-1 lakhs.

GNM Nursing Course

General Nursing and Midwifery, or GNM course, is a recognised diploma course in nursing. The nursing course duration is up to 3.5 years, including a 6-month internship in the final year of the course. The average nursing course fee is around 40K-1 lakhs. 

ANM Nursing Course

Auxiliary Nursing Midwifery, or ANM, is another recognised diploma course in nursing. The nursing course duration is up to 2 years, including a 6-month internship in the final year of the course. The average nursing course fees is around 40K-7 lakhs.

  •  B Sc Nursing Course

A professional B Sc nursing course is a 4-year full-time course. Apart from regular B Sc, you can also pursue B Sc Hons (Nursing) or Post-basic B Sc Nursing. The nursing course fees depend on your choice of B Sc. For traditional B Sc, the fees are between 16-23 K, while the fees for B Sc Hons are 3K-5 lakhs and 20K-1 lakhs for Post-Basic Nursing.

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Nursing Course Eligibility

The nursing course eligibility depends on your choice of nursing course:

  1. 6-month and 1-year Nursing Course

A 10+2 certificate is required to take admission in a 6-month and 1-year nursing course.

  • Diploma Nursing Course

A 10+2 certificate is required to take admission to a diploma nursing course. The criteria, however, are different for GNM and ANM.

  • GNM

The nursing course eligibility for GNM is as follows:

  1. A minimum score of 40% in English and other subjects in classes 10th and 12th.
  2. Minimum qualifying marks in ANM.
  3. Minimum qualifying marks in vocational courses from CBSE, NIOS, or State Boards.
  • ANM

The nursing course eligibility for ANM is as follows:

  1. Minimum qualifying marks in class 10th and 12th in arts or science. 
  2. Age between 17-35 years.

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Which Nursing Course is Better?

All nursing courses prepare and train you to become an excellent nurse. If you wish to gain an in-depth knowledge of nursing, B Sc is suited for you. If you do not want a full-time course, you can opt for GNM or ANM.

ParametersGNMANMBSc
OverviewA diploma program which trains you to assist doctors and provide first aid in hospitals.A basic diploma program which trains you to assist doctors.An undergraduate full-time course which gives you an in-depth knowledge of nursing. It prepares and trains you for every medical task in the hospital.
Nursing Course DegreeDiplomaDiplomaBachelor
Nursing Course Duration3.5 Years2 Years4 Years
Nursing Course EligibilityA 10+2 certificate in biology, chemistry and physicsA 10+2 certificate in arts or scienceA 10+2 certificate in biology, chemistry and physics
Nursing Course Entrance ExamConducted by colleges or states Conducted by colleges
Course Structure6-month mandatory internship in the final year NA
Nursing Course SalaryBetween 2-3 lakhs per annumAround 1.5-2 lakhs per annumStarting from 3.5 lakhs per annum

Nuring Course Admission

The admission process for nursing courses depends on the college or university you are applying to. The basic steps, however, are:

  1. Visit the official website of the college or university.
  2. Go to their admission section and fill out the nursing course application form.
  3. Once filled, pay the registration fee to begin your admission process.
  4. Some colleges conduct a nursing course entrance exam, while others admit through a merit list.

In the case of the nursing course entrance exam,

  1. Visit the college's official website and fill out the nursing course application form for the entrance exam.
  2. Pay the registration fees and appear for the entrance.
  3. The college will generate a cut-off and prepare a list of shortlisted candidates.
  4. You will be invited for counselling if your name is among the shortlisted candidates.
  5. You can choose your discipline during the counselling and verify your documents.
  6. Pay the initial amount to take admission to the choice of your course.

In case of merit list admission:

  1. Ensure you have a 10+2 certificate or diploma from a recognised board or institute.
  2. Register yourself on the website of the college.
  3. Fill out your nursing course application form and the required documents and pay the registration fee.
  4. The college will generate an admission list based on the academic records of registered students.
  5. If you are shortlisted, accept the admission letter, and proceed with the required fees.

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Nursing Courses Fees:

Types of Nursing Course

Fees

6 Month Nursing Course25-70K
Diploma in Nursing20k-1 Lakhs
GNM Nursing Course40-1 Lakhs
ANM Nursing Course40-7 Lakhs
B.Sc Nursing Course16-23K

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Nursing Course Syllabus

The nursing course includes various subjects that help you understand multiple aspects of the human body, diseases, prevention, management, treatment, and care. These include:

  1. Human body; its anatomy and physiology.
  2. Pathology.
  3. Biochemistry.
  4. Microbiology.
  5. Psychology.
  6. Sociology.
  7. Nutrition.
  8. Child health nursing.
  9. Basics of computer science.

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Job Opportunities After Nursing

After successful completion of your nursing course, you can find job opportunities in various healthcare set-ups such as:

  1. Government hospitals
  2. Private hospitals
  3. Nursing homes
  4. Clinics and dispensaries
  5. Maternity homes
  6. Schools, offices, or factories
  7. Old age homes
  8. Caregiving NGOs
  9. Orphanages
  10. Home care
  11. Laboratories
  12. Research Centres

Nursing Course Salary

The nursing course salary will depend on more than one factor. Qualification and experience are a couple of factors that influence the salary of a nurse.

It is, on average, around 12.5 to 25K per month for the ones who have cleared diploma courses like ANM and GNM.

Whereas the bachelor's or master's degree holders can earn from 25 to 65K per month.

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Which are the types of nursing courses?

What is nursing course eligibility?

What is a nursing course salary?

What is the nursing course qualification for a diploma?