Nursing Courses in India

Nursing Courses in India lead to not only noble and reputed professions but a highly paid ones, as well. Nursing is a health care profession which involves caring for the sick or injured or infirm. Nursing is an essential part of any health care system. Nursing encompasses almost all departments of a hospital, from paediatrics to intensive care. Nursing is not just technical know-how, it plays a major role in creating a positive environment for quick recovery of the patients. Since it involves service towards mankind, it is known as a 'Noble Profession'. A Nursing professional is known as 'Nurse'. A Nurse performs a multitude of activities as per her qualifications and position in a health care environment. In a typical environment, a nurse at junior level performs bedside care of the patients, while those at the senior level manages them and special group of patients belonging to various departments. Their duty also involves dispensing medication, keeping records of the patients progress, setting up and operating medical equipment, administration and several other routine chores.

Nursing in India is managed by the 'Indian Nursing Council'. It establishes a uniform standard of training for nurses, Midwives and health visitors. The council is an autonomous body of the Government of India, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. It was constituted by the Central Government under section 3(1) of the Indian Nursing Council Act, 1947 of parliament. Various Nursing Colleges offer a variety of graduate and post-graduate courses, however the most pursued one is that which is required in a hospital environment. Nursing is a challenging profession, it requires long hours of physical and mental work and as such requires lot of patience, strength and courage.

Some of its specialized fields of Nursing are -

• Hospital Nursing - When nursing is required in a hospital it is known as Hospital Nursing. Hospital nurses are involved in various areas of work such as surgery, maternity, intensive care, paediatrics, obstetrics, rehabilitation etc.
  
  
• Home Health Nursing - It is a specialised nursing where registered nurses provide home care to patients.
  
  
• Industrial Nursing / Occupational Health Nursing - When the area of Nursing is meant for Industries, it is known as Industrial Nursing / Occupational Health Nursing. Nurses here work under the direction of the industrial physicians and assist in taking preventive safety measures. Nurses here provide emergency care during accidents taking place inside the industrial premises.
  
  
• Military Nursing - Nursing provided in health care services of the armed forces is known as Military Nursing.
  
  
• Orthopaedic Nursing - When the area of nursing involves correction of injuries or disorders of the skeletal system and associated muscles, it is known as Orthopaedic Nursing. 
  
  
• Paediatric Nursing - Nursing field which is concerned with the care of sick babies and children is known as Paediatric Nursing.
  
  
• Public Health Nursing/ Community Health Nursing - Public health nurses / Health worker work in government and private clinics and health departments in urban and rural areas to provide basic medical services to the local population. They instruct individuals, families and other groups in health education, disease prevention, nutrition and child care. They arrange for immunizations, blood pressure testing and other health screening.
  
  
• Psychiatric Nursing - Nursing which deals with patients suffering from emotional and psychological distress is known as Psychiatric Nursing. Nurses here, work in coordination with the psychiatrists, doctors and other specialists.

Content

The study of this field includes all or few of these –

• Nursing Foundation.
• Behavioural Sciences.
• Nursing Education and Research.
• Nursing Administration Practical.

Objectives

1. To prepare candidates for bedside, care nursing , family care nursing, nursing supervision and nursing administration.
2. To prepare candidates to reach the top position in their profession.
3. To prepare nursing personnel to conduct research and related activities.

Basic Requirements

The basic requirement for becoming a Nurse at various educational levels are:

ANM - Auxiliary Nurse Midwife/ Health Worker.
Eligibility: 10th
Duration: 18 months.
ANM course provides training which is related to the needs of the people living in rural areas especially children, mothers and old persons. 

GNM - General Nursing & Midwifery.
Eligibility: 10+2 with Biology, Physics and Chemistry.
Duration: 3 1/2 years.
GNM makes a candidate, General Nurse, who works as a team member of health care group and holds first-level positions in both the hospitals and other such places.  

B.Sc. Nursing - Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
Eligibility: 10+2 with Biology, Physics and Chemistry.
Duration: 3 to 4 years.
B.Sc Nursing course provides basic knowledge about nursing, first-aid, midwifery and other theoretical as well as practical aspects of nursing.

M.Sc. Nursing - Master of Science in Nursing
Eligibility: B.Sc Nursing.
Duration: 2 years.
M.Sc Nursing course enables a nurse to become nurse specialists, administrators, consultants, educators and researchers in a wide variety of professional settings.

Apart form the above mentioned one can also pursue Diploma in Psychiatric Nursing (DPN), M.B.A. programmes in hospital and health care management, Master of Hospital Administration programmes, Master of Public Health programmes, M.Phil., Ph.D. and Post Basic Speciality Diploma Courses. Though nursing is mostly a female oriented field, male candidates wishing to pursue this stream can also work as a Nurse through Certificate Course in Male Nursing (MN) apart from the conventional ways.  

Nursing Colleges in India

• PGIMER
• AIIMS
• University of Delhi
• Apollo College of Nursing
• Meenakshi Academy of Higher-Education
• Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham - Coimbatore  

Click here for - List of Nursing Institutes in India