A Career in Nursing : A Noble Profession to Serve the Humanity
Nursing is one of the foremost noble professions in the world which teaches a person to serve the humanity with utmost compassion and with selfless devotion. With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we can see how the nurses are toiling hard day and night to care for their patients without paying much attention to their own well-being.
The virtuous profession gained prominence because of renowned English social reformer Florence Nightingale who is also considered as the founder of modern nursing. Nightingale rose to fame while serving as a manager and trainer of nurses during the Crimean War, in which she organised care for wounded soldiers at Constantinople. In 1860, she laid the foundation of professional nursing with the establishment of her nursing school at St Thomas’ Hospital in London.
Job Roles :
Nurses have to take care of patients suffering from any kind of sickness. For this reason, there are a number of nursing degrees or diplomas offered as a part of studies in nursing today. Apart from monitoring the health conditions of a patient at regular intervals, nurses also need to ensure that patients are getting proper medicines, injections or any other form of treatment as prescribed by a doctor. They assist medical specialists and help set up medical tools in operation theatres and clinical laboratories.Moreover, a good nurse should also be a great counsellor for the sick. They should provide help to ease the difficulties of a patient who is suffering from some major illness.
Courses :
The most popular courses in nursing includes General Nursing & Midwifery (GNM), Auxiliary Nursing Midwife (ANM), Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) Nursing , Post Basic B.Sc. Nursing and Master of Science (M.Sc.) Nursing
General Nursing & Midwifery (GNM) : This is a three year diploma nursing course. The minimum eligibility criteria for pursuing this course is 10+2 (Preferably Science) or its equivalent with aggregate of 45% marks for General Candidates & 40% for SC/ST candidates
Auxiliary Nursing Midwife (ANM) : This is a two year diploma nursing course. The minimum eligibility criteria for pursuing this course is 10+2 or any other equivalent examination
Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) Nursing : This is a four year degree nursing course. The minimum eligibility criteria for pursuing this course is 10+2 or Senior School Certificate Exam (10+2) or Pre degree Exam or any degree passed with Science subjects (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) with minimum of 45% marks in PCB.
Post Basic B.Sc. Nursing : This is a two year degree nursing course. The minimum eligibility criteria for pursuing this course is Intermediate/ 10+2 (Arts/Science/Commerce) or its equivalent and Diploma in General Nursing & Midwifery (GNM). The candidate must be registered under respective nursing council & Midwifery (GNM)
Master of Science (M.Sc.) Nursing : This is a two year postgraduate degree nursing course. The minimum eligibility criteria for pursuing this course is minimum 55% in B.Sc. Nursing , Post Basic B.Sc. Nursing
Job Prospects :
Nurses get jobs in private and government run hospitals, nursing homes, orphanages, old age homes, industries, sanatoriums and the armed forces. They can also seek employment in the Indian Red Cross Society, Indian Nursing Council, State Nursing Councils and various other nursing organisations. Even nurses who have completed the ANM course get to work as primary health workers and midwifes in primary health care centres that are spread throughout the country.
With the demand rising for access of better healthcare facilities across the country , the requirement of nursing posts in different kinds of health centres is also increasing. Moreover, with a good salary package and huge employment opportunities, pursuing a career in nursing will help in the growth of a bright future. Lastly, a nurse gets immense job satisfaction when their duties helps in bringing happiness in the lives of their patients. Nurses earn huge respect in the society because of their selfless service in healing the sick. The beautiful bond between a patient and a nurse can even last for a lifetime.
