Nursing Courses - Careers, Salary, Jobs, Scope

Why Nursing?

Nurses in all job roles are responsible for taking care of patients, monitoring their vitals, assisting them in their needs, noting down complaints, providing medication, explaining medical information and also acting as a liaison between doctor and patients. They are also required to update medical records and create nursing care plans. Some higher order nurses can also diagnose and treat patients and work independently without a doctor.

They can work in all areas of healthcare such as hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, prisons, embassies, companies, schools and community centers. They may work in large or small hospitals, in urban or rural areas and in government or private sector. The nurses need to be patient and dedicated to their work. They also need to have an understanding of the patient’s mind and an ability to work well with doctors. Hence they need strong communication and organizational skills.

They are in most cases required to work indoors in clinics, hospitals or community health centers or at patient’s home. On an average, 8 hours a day is their working time but in most cases, they are made to work beyond their time and even called for duty when required.

Nursing Courses

Degrees offered at diploma, undergraduate courses, and postgraduate level are as follows:

Jobs and career opportunities in Nursing Industry

Some of the popular job roles in this field are:

Clinical Nurse Specialist: They are licensed or registered nurses and are of advanced practice. They are responsible for providing patient care and consultation services for a variety of healthcare areas. They may practice medicine or conduct research or manage staff for a specific patient population or setting.

They are usually experts in a specific area such as gerontology, cardiovascular health or public policy. Their average salary is Rs 4,50,553 annually.

Legal Nurse Consultant: These are experienced professionals in the nursing industry who are classified to work as a legal consultant on medical cases. They act as a liaison between physicians, client, and attorney.

They also perform an assessment of nursing and hospital facilities and provide expert advice on the activities associated with nursing and healthcare such as arranging medical care, surveying medical records or preparing reports. Their average salary is Rs 5,30,989 in a year.

Forensic Nurse: This specialization involves the intersection of medical care with the law. The nurses in this specialization treat patients and individuals involved in crime and sexual assault incidents as well as in evidence collection and death investigation.

They must have nursing skills as well as knowledge of the legal system and are required to gather and secure evidence in the treatment of casualties. Their average salary is Rs 4,94,720 in a year.

Nursing Professor: These are registered nurses also with graduate degrees and they are responsible for the development and implementation of the curriculum in order to prepare students for the challenges in the nursing field.

They may also revise their programs when necessary and are often specialized in teaching one or more areas such as pediatrics or mental or acute care according to their interest and experience. Their average salary is Rs 9,13,657 in a year.

Staff Nurse: These nurses monitor and administrate medication and intravenous infusions. They generally take a patient’s pulses, samples, temperature and blood pressure. They also maintain notes regarding patient’s care and development and create discharge plans for each patient.

They may also specialize in fields such as pediatrics or emergency care. Their shifts also require a lot of standing, walking, and lifting. Their average salary is Rs 2,37,186 in a year.

Other Job Roles-

• Nurse Practitioner
• Nurse Anesthetist
• Case Manager
• Psychologist
• Research Associate

Salary in Nursing Industry in India

The average annual salary of a registered nurse in India is around Rs 230,050. The salary differs according to specialty and locality and it also increases with experience and education. 10 years or more of experience increases the pay of a registered nurse to Rs 400,000 or more in a year.

The healthcare sector is growing and there is a huge gap in the number of nurses available, so the demand for nurses is expected to grow by about 6 Lakhs in the near future. Nurses can find employment in multiple areas in this sector in India and abroad if they have good knowledge, degree, and experience.

As far as the global outlook is concerned, The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics expects a growth of 19% in the pay rates of nurses so the salary is expected to rise in near future.

Recruiters Nursing Recruiters

Among the top recruiters are medical colleges, nursing homes, clinics, medical labs, community health center and many more. They are both in the private and public sectors. Some of the recruiting companies are:

• Indian Red Cross Society
• Indian Nursing Council
• State Nursing Councils
• Kailash Hospital
• Metro Hospital
• AIIMS
• Fortis Hospital
• Apollo Hospitals Enterprises
• Manipal Hospital
• Columbia Asia Hospital

Specializations offered

• Hospital Nursing– These nurses are required to work in hospitals as a part of a team of physicians, healthcare professionals, and other nurses. They are involved in various areas such as surgery, maternity, pediatrics, rehabilitation etc.
• Industrial Health Nursing– These nurses work in industries under the direction of industrial physicians and help to keep employees healthy and safe at work. They also provide for emergency care during accidents in industrial premises.
• Military Nursing-This specialization involves providing nursing in the healthcare services of the armed forces such as army, navy and air force. They work in different settings and provide ambulatory, maternal and rehabilitation nursing care.
• Paediatric Nursing-These nurses provide nursing care to babies and children suffering from diseases, illness or those recovering from surgery. They also focus on young patients with specific needs such as oncology or developmentally disabled patients.
• Psychiatric Nursing-This specialization involves dealing with patients who are suffering from emotional and psychological distress. Nurses under this profession work as a part of the team in coordination with the psychiatrists, doctors and other specialists.

Courses & Subjects

The course content for some course are mentioned below:

Top colleges offering Nursing courses in India

Below is a list of some of the popular colleges in India offering Nursing courses–

Let’s look at some renowned colleges that provide this course in detail:

All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi

The college was established in 1956 as an autonomous institution with the intention to nurture the young minds so that they excel in all aspects of healthcare. It is the leading institute in medical care and aims to demonstrate a high standard of medical education in all other colleges in India.

Recognition: Ranked 1/20 in Outlook for B.Sc. in Nursing

Course: B.Sc. in Nursing, M.Sc. in Nursing

Fees: INR 1,591 per year; INR 1,243 per year

Eligibility:10+2 with at least 50% marks in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and English

B.Sc. in Nursing with at least 55% marks

Average placement salary: INR 75,000 to 1.25 lakh per month

 Armed Forces Medical College, Pune

The college was established in 1948 under the flagship of MUHS, Nashik. It is a prestigious medical institute and is known for its excellence in education and research. It provides training and has assured career prospects for its students in the defense sector.

Recognition: MCI, Ranked 2/20 in Outlook for B.Sc. in Nursing

Fees: INR 45.5K per year for B.Sc. in Nursing and INR 82.4K per year for M.Sc. in Nursing

Course: B.Sc. in Nursing, M.Sc. in Nursing

Eligibility: 10+2 with 3 years diploma in GNM with minimum 2 years’ experience or Graduation/equivalent.

Christian Medical College, Vellore

The college was established in 1900 and is under the flagship of The Tamil Nadu DR. M.G.R. Medical University, Chennai. The purpose of this institute is to train the dedicated persons so that they are able to provide health care through mission hospitals.

Recognition: MCI, Ranked 3/20 in Outlook for B.Sc. in Nursing

Course: B.Sc. in Nursing, M.Sc. in Nursing

Fees: INR 15,910 per year in B.Sc. Nursing and INR 28,228 per year in M.Sc. Nursing

Eligibility: 10+2 with minimum 45% marks in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology

B.Sc. in Nursing or equivalent

Symbiosis International University, Pune

The college was established in 2002 with a vision to promote international understanding through quality education. It believes in the concept of ‘VasudhaivaKutumbukam’ and nurtures and cares all students irrespective of their backgrounds.

Recognition: AICTE, UGC, NAAC-A

Course: B.Sc. in Nursing, M.Sc. in Nursing

Fees: INR 81,000 per year for B.Sc. in Nursing and INR 106,000 per year for M.Sc. in Nursing

Eligibility: 10+2 from a recognized board; B.Sc. in Nursing

Placement: Fortis Hospital, Apollo Hospital

Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai

The college was established in 1985 with a mission to preserve high ethical values in education, healthcare, and research and to promote excellence in all these areas thus serving the humanity at large with all fairness and without any prejudice.

Recognition: UGC, NAAC-A

Course: B.Sc. in Nursing; M.Sc. in Nursing

Fees: INR 100,000 per year in B.Sc. and INR 125,000 per year for M.Sc.

Eligibility: 10+2 in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, English with minimum 45%

B.Sc. in Nursing

Placement: Healthcare MNCs

Requirements for Nursing course

The requirements vary according to the degree courses and institutes. In most institutes, the requirements are:

• For Undergraduate courses, the candidate must have done 10+2 or Equivalent with a minimum of 45% marks from a recognized board in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.
• For Postgraduate in nursing, one needs to have done B.Sc. basic or post basic in Nursing.

Scope of Nursing in India

The demand for a nurse is expected to grow and more employment opportunities are to be created because of the growth in the health sector. There are multiple opportunities for work in areas such as government and private hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, crèches, schools, offices, factories, orphanages and old age homes. Also, there are various opportunities abroad as well.

The job of a nurse is physically and mentally demanding. Jobs are easily available but one needs to have patience in dealing with patients and have an understanding and a passion to work for the people. It also needs one to have a positive attitude to encourage and influence the weak and the ill to survive. In nursing, learning goes on constantly and one should go for this job if there is a genuine desire to care for all.