Nursing Career Options, Job Prospects, Salary

Nursing Career, Nursing Jobs and Colleges

Nursing Career and Job Prospects

NURSING – A Paying Career Option

What can one say about one of the noblest professions there is. The nursing profession might have gained momentum after the works of the most eminent nurse, Florence Nightingale, came to light but the profession is age old and quite possibly the most dignified. No great medical feat can be achieved, nor can patients be cured of diseases without the services of a Nurse. Nurses comprise that part of the medical community who rarely come to limelight for doing their work. But the contribution of Nurses to the sick and the infirm people is not less than that of doctors. It is the Nurses who render the caring band and the warm ear to patients, in order to help them get rid of their illnesses. Although some believe that the work in this field is women centric but with time more and more men have ventured into the nursing profession.

Nursing is one of the strongest pillars that the medicine profession stands on. The profession revolves around taking care of people which includes their physical as well as psychological maladies. At a senior level the wok in the nursing department includes managing particular groups of patients from pediatric ward, psychiatric ward, ICU, etc. Apart from that the job revolves around in taking care to the medication of the patients, maintaining patient records, administration, routine work, setting up of medical equipment and so much more.

The profession of Nursing involves taking care of the sick and the infirm people. A Nurse is one who apart from taking care of ill and convalescing people also assists and aids doctors during examinations and operations on patients. A Nurse is responsible for the post-operative care of a patient, in administering medicines and giving basic services. A nurse also takes care of the hospital records and medical equipment. Nursing is one of the few careers that is dominated by women.

Though there is great disparity in the pay, position and benefits between the doctors and nurses, they are the cogs in the same medical wheel. Initially, Nurses are given the task of the bedside care of patients. As one gains seniority, one specialises in the management of patients in a particular section like Psychiatry, Pediatrics, Cardiology, etc.
One requires specialized skills to work in these sections.

The career opportunities in nursing are very high not only in India but also abroad. With more and more nursing colleges opening up each day, it is a sign of the requirement of skilled and qualified people required for the service. Undoubtedly, the career is not for everyone as it asks for a lot of patience and hard work.

 

Skills required for nursing career

The most important quality one needs to possess in order to make a successful career in Nursing, is the ability to establish a rapport with patients and respect them. One should be able to understand situations and tackle them effectively.

To become a good nurse, one helps patients to fight off diseases and illnesses. Hence, qualities like patience, perseverance, responsibility and punctuality are required for one who in inclined to follow the profession of Nursing. Organizational skills, adaptability and the ability to make observations and to arrive at decisions rapidly and qualities, which are needed to be cultivated in order to be successful in this profession. Nursing career also requires the qualities of team spirit and alertness of mind in order to tackle emergency situations. A high level of physical fitness is a must since the job involves a lot of handwork.

 

Eligibility for Nursing courses

For admission into Bachelor’s Course, the student needs to have completed their Class XII with Physics, Chemistry and Biology. The duration for a bachelor’s degree is usually three to four years.
In order to take admission in a Master’s Course, the student needs to have a bachelor’s degree in Nursing. The duration for a Master’s degree is usually two years.

For admission in a Diploma Course the minimum eligibility is Class 10th or equivalent. This may be a one year or two year course, depending upon the course.

In order to take admission in Ph.D in Nursing the eligibility criteria is the successful completion of a Postgraduate Degree in Nursing.

 

Fees for nursing courses

The fees is most courses would range from Rs 30000-40000 per annum for a 4 -year course.

Job Prospects in nursing

There is still a great deal of demand for skilled nurses in the field of Medicine. The world is far away from reaching its brink when we talk of qualified and skilled nurses. The nursing field from medicine has also made its way to the corporate sector which further increases the need of skilled people in the stream. Talking only of India, we are far- far away from reaching the adequate nurse-patient ratio.

There are opportunities available in the private as well as government sectors. A person from this profession has the option of working with government or private hospitals, old homes, armed forces, orphanages, industries, Indian Red Cross Society, State Nursing Councils, Indian Nursing Council and so many other endless possibilities exist today.

On gaining enough experience one can freelance and work as a nurse for someone in private.

Also See : B.Sc Nursing Entrance Exams 2021

 

Nursing Salary – Pay scales and salaries of a nurse

Early on in the profession one can start earning a monthly salary of Rs.7,000 to Rs. 15,000 per month. Mid-level professionals earn anywhere in between Rs.18,000 to Rs.35,000 per month. On gaining experience in this field one can expect somewhere around Rs.48,000 to Rs. 72,000 per month.

Like any other field the salary of a professional in this field also depends on factors such as qualification, experience and reputation.

 

Also see – List of top nursing colleges in India

 

Top colleges offering Nursing Courses in India

  1. CMC Vellore: College of Nursing
  2. RAK College of Nursing, Delhi
  3. Department of Nursing: All India Institute of Medical Sciences
  4. Manipal College of Nursing: Manipal University:
  5. B.M. Birla College of Nursing, Kolkata
  6. Government College of Nursing, Kozhikode
  7. Father Muller College of Nursing, Mangalore
  8. Sree Ramachandra Medical University, Chennai: College of Nursing
  9. SNDT Faculty of Nursing, Mumbai
  10. Govt. College of Nursing, Thrissur
  11. National Institute of Mental health and Neurosciences, Banglore: Department of Nursing
  12. Govt. College of Nursing, Kottayam
  13. Govt. College of Nursing, Alappuzha
  14. Govt. College of Nursing, Thiruvananthapuram
  15. Apollo College of Nursing, Chennai
  16. Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research: Department of Nursing
  17. Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai: Nursing
  18. School of Health Sciences: IGNOU
  19. Hinduja Hospital, Mumbai: College of Nursing
  20. St. John’s College of Nursing, Bangalore

 

Frequently asked Questions on Nursing Career/ BSc Nursing

Q. Can B.Sc. nursing student do MBBS?

A. A B.SC nursing student cannot take admission in MBBS in India. In Europe, you can easily take lateral entry in MBBS after B.Sc nursing. If you want to do MBBS after B.Sc. nursing then you have to move to Europe.

 

Q. Can B.Sc. Nursing students do MBA?

A. Yes, you can do MBA after the completion of B.Sc Nursing. It will enhance your management skills, business skills and marketing skills as well. There is a great demand of candidates who have done an MBA degree after B.Sc Nursing.

 

Q. Can I do B.Sc. Nursing after GNM?

A. Yes, you can do B.Sc Nursing after GNM. GNM stands for General Nursing and Midwifery which is a diploma program. After the completion of GNM, you can do Bachelor’s degree which has a great scope than just the B.Sc. Nursing diploma. The scope of working abroad becomes stronger with the GNM bachelor’s degree.

 

Q. How to get admission to B.Sc. Nursing?

A. The eligibility criteria to take admission in B.Sc. nursing is 12th pass with Physics, Chemistry and Biology. You can appear in the entrance examination to get admission to this course. The top colleges in India give admission to this course on merit basis. Some top institutes for B.Sc nursing are DU (Delhi University), B.H.U (Banaras Hindu University), Nandvandan College of Nursing, Jabalpur.

 

Q. How many years is B.Sc. nursing Course?

A. The Bachelor of nursing is a 4 year undergraduate course which has very good scope. You can take admission in B.Sc. nursing after 12th. If you have completed your 12th in Physics, Chemistry and Biology then you can easily make your career in nursing. You can apply for the top nursing colleges in India.

 

Q. Is it better to do a diploma of nursing or a bachelor of nursing?

A. If you want to do a short term course, then you can go for diploma of nursing. In order to get a good salary and a post in nursing, you cannot ignore the bachelors degree. You can also do bachelors of nursing after your diploma. If you want to be a nurse, you require a higher degree, so, bachelor of nursing is always better that diploma of nursing. Bachelor degree is always better than a diploma.

 

Q. What nursing degree programs are available online?

A. There are different nursing programs available online such as Associate degree, Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree, Graduate certificate, doctorate and much more. You can choose any of the courses as per your interest and choice. The online nursing programs also have a wide range of scope.

 

Q. Is it possible to work abroad as a nurse without experience?

A. If you want to work as a nurse in a developed country like US or Australia then you must have experience in nursing. It is very difficult to get a nursing job abroad without any experience. As a fresher, you can practice nursing in your country. Once you get experience in your country then you can also try for a job abroad.

 

Q. What are the job opportunities for Indian nurses abroad?

A. An experienced Indian nurse has good opportunities abroad. As a fresher, Indian nurse cannot get nursing jobs abroad easily. Once they have a few years of experience in nursing, then can easily get a good job in developed countries like US, Australia.

 

Q. Is nursing a good career?

A. Yes, nursing is a good career and there are various reasons to choose nursing. It has unlimited job opportunities, and it is also a profession that is in high demand. The demand of nursing is increasing day by day. If you want to make your career in nursing, then it is a great decision.

 

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