Nursing as a career choice

Ranjan K Baruah *

We should be aware that approximately 27 million men and women make up the global nursing and midwifery workforce. This accounts for nearly 50% of the global health workforce. There is a global shortage of health workers, in particular nurses and midwives, who represent more than 50% of the current shortage in health workers.

To achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3 on health and well-being, the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that the world will need an additional 9 million nurses and midwives by the year 2030. 12th May is observed as International Nurses Day around the world.

The International Council of Nurses began commemorating International Nurses Day in 1965. The legendary Florence Nightingale's birthday falls on this day. There is no doubt that nurses and midwives are central to Primary Health Care and are often the first and sometimes the only health professional that people see and the quality of their initial assessment, care and treatment is vital.

They are also part of their local community – sharing its culture, strengths and vulnerabilities – and can shape and deliver effective interventions to meet the needs of patients, families and communities.

Students who are dreaming to become nurses in India may join different nursing courses available in different parts of the country. One may get admission into the Auxiliary Nurse Midwife/ Health Worker (ANM) course; there is the General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM) course and also B Sc Nursing courses.

A. N. M: The minimum educational requirements shall be 10 + 2 in
Arts (Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Biotechnology, Economics,
Political Science, History, Geography, Business Studies, Accountancy,
Home Science, Sociology, Psychology, and Philosophy) and
English Core/English Elective or Science or Health care Science
- Vocational stream ONLY passing out from recognized Board, student shall be medically fit,
students qualified in 10+2 Arts or Science examination conducted by National Institute of Open School.

G. N. M: 10+2 with English and must have obtained a minimum of 40% at the qualifying examination and English individually for any recognized board. Candidates are also eligible from State Open School recognized Candidates are also eligible from State Open School recognized by State Government and National Institute of Open School (NIOS) recognized by Central Government.

However Science is preferable, 10+2 with English having 40% of marks in vocational ANM course from the school recognized by Indian Nursing council, 10+2 with English having 40% of marks in Vocational Stream-Health care Science from a recognized CBSE board/Centre registered ANM with pass mark.

B. Sc. (N): 10+2 class passed with Science (PCB) & English Core/English Elective with aggregate of 45% marks from recognized board, student shall be medically fit, students appearing in 10+2 examination in Science conducted by National Institute of Open School with 45% marks.

Post Basic B. Sc. (N): Passed the Higher Secondary or Senior Secondary or Intermediate or 10+2 or an equivalent examination recognized by the university for this purpose, obtained a certificate in General Nursing and Midwifery and registered as R.N.R.M. with the State Nurses Registration Council.

M. Sc. (N): The candidate should be a Registered Nurse and Registered midwife or equivalent with any State Nursing Registration Council. The Minimum education requirements shall be the passing of B Sc Nursing. Minimum one year of work experience after Basic B.Sc. Nursing. Minimum one year of work experience prior or after Post Basic B.Sc. Nursing.

There are government colleges’ as well as private colleges in the country which offer these courses. Students must be careful while taking admission in the private institutes as all institutes may not be credible. After finishing the courses one may get jobs in government as well as private institutes and hospitals. There are options to join defence forces through Military Nursing Services.

Apart from academic qualifications, employability skills are must to be placed or get a decent job anywhere in the country or abroad.