Nursing courses focus on learning and training to become a nurse. BSc Nursing, BSc Nursing Post Basic, GNM Nursing, and ANM Nursing are popular Nursing Courses After 12th. Students can also pursue nursing courses after graduation. Courses like MSc Nursing (General) or MSc Nursing in various specializations help students specialize in a particular area and create opportunities for career advancement. Nursing professionals play a prominent role across hospitals and healthcare sectors. They act as the link between patients and doctors.
The eligibility criteria for nursing students remain basic to a certain extent. These are some criteria mentioned by most colleges:
The student should have completed 10th and 12th from a recognised board or institute.
They should have obtained a minimum of 50 per cent at the 10+2 level.
For Postgraduate Nursing Course they should have a BSc degree in the medical field..
The students should be from the science stream. They should have taken Biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics as their core subjects.
Most of the top nursing colleges conduct entrance exams for admission: NEET-UG, AIIMS BSc JIPMER BSc, NEIGRIHMS BSc, PGIMER BSc/MSc and BSc Nursing
Popular Nursing Courses
General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM)
GNM or General Nursing and Midwifery is a three-year course with a six-month Internship that deals with equipping students with the knowledge of several Nursing methods under various clinical approaches to managing patients in Health Centres. GNM course is designed to enable potential aspirants to acquire job opportunities such as nursing assistants, specialist nurses, nursing aides, etc.
- Course Duration – 3 Years 6 Months
- Age Requirement – Minimum age limit is 17 years
- Subjects Required – 10+2 Examination with Science Stream
- Selection Process – Merit-Based/Entrance Exam
- Employment Roles – Pharmaceutical Industry, Technical Industry, Research Labs, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Legal Nurse Consultant, Forensic Nursing, Nurse, Nursing Assistant, Nursing Aides, etc.
Auxiliary Nursing and Midwifery (ANM)
ANM Nursing is a two-year diploma course that provides vocational training in core healthcare skills such as patient care, maternity and child health services, and community health care, qualifying them for entry-level nursing positions in primary care settings. Graduates get the opportunity to work in various roles such as Nurse, Staff Nurse, Nursing Tutor, Healthcare Nurse, ICU Nurse, etc.
- Course Duration – 2 Years
- Age Requirement – Minimum age limit is 17 years
- Subjects Required – 10+2 Examination with Science Stream
- Selection Process – Merit-Based/Entrance Exam
- Employment Roles – Nurse, Assistant Nurse, Staff Nurse, Nursing Tutor, Healthcare Nurse, ICU Nurse, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Legal Nurse Consultant, Forensic Nurse, Travelling Nurse, Nursing Tutor etc.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.Sc)
BSc Nursing is a four-year undergraduate program that focuses on providing students with the knowledge and abilities they will need to work as nurses in the future and have a positive impact on the medical community. BSc Nursing course provides adequate career opportunities to students with diverse job roles such as Staff Nurse, Registered Nurse, Nurse Educator, Medical Coder, Registered Nurse etc.
- Course Duration – 4 Years
- Age Requirement – Minimum age limit is 17 years
- Subjects Required – 10+2 Examination with Science Stream
- Selection Process – Merit-Based/Entrance Exam
- Employment Roles – Staff Nurse, Registered Nurse (RN), Nurse Educator, Medical Coder, Registered Nurse (RN) - Emergency Room, Nurse - Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Registered Nurse etc.
Master of Science in Nursing (M.Sc)
M.Sc Nursing is a two-year-long postgraduate course that deals with the study of advanced nursing subjects, clinical nursing, nursing education, research, and statistics, etc. M.Sc Nursing courses prepare students for a wide range of job opportunities, such as Nursing Instructor, Staff Nurse, Nurse Supervisor, Nurse Assistant, ICU Nurse, Clinical Nurse Manager, Ward Nurse, Tutor, Paramedic Nurse etc.
- Course Duration – 2 Years
- Age Requirement – Minimum age limit is 17 years
- Subjects Required – 10+2 Examination with Science Stream
- Selection Process – Merit-Based/Entrance Exam
- Employment Roles – Nurse Educator, Staff Nurse, Lecturer / Speaker, Tutor, Registered Nurse, Marketing Executive, Clinical Nurse Manager, Nursing Director, Certified Professional Coder etc.
Post Basic Bachelor of Science in Nursing (PBBSc)
Post Basic B.Sc Nursing is an undergraduate program for a duration of two years that deals with the promotion of health, care of illness, and dying persons. During these two years, the students are trained to obtain in-depth knowledge in the nursing field. Students with Post Basic B.Sc Nursing degrees can apply for top job opportunities or job positions such as Chief nursing officer, Critical Care Nurse, Rehabilitation specialist, Nursing manager, Nursing supervisor, etc.
- Course Duration – 2 Years
- Age Requirement – Minimum age limit is 19 years
- Subjects Required – 10+2 Examination with Science Stream
- Selection Process – Merit-Based/Entrance Exam
- Employment Roles – Practical Nursing Instructor, Nursing Assistant, Certified Nursing Assistant, Assistant Director of Nursing - Nights, Nursing Instructor - Adjunct, Nursing Assistant etc.
Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD Nursing)
PhD in Nursing in India is a full-time doctorate degree which deals in the field of Nursing for the betterment of Health care facilities. PhD Nursing is a research level program, where PhD Nursing course duration ranges from 3 to 5 years. Upon completion of this research level program, students will be able to find employment as a Director of Nursing, Rehabilitation Specialist, Critical Care Nurse, Nurse Manager, Community Health Specialist etc.
- Course Duration – 3 Years
- Age Requirement – Minimum age limit is 19 years
- Subjects Required – Master's degree with 55% marks
- Selection Process – Merit-Based/Entrance Exam
- Employment Roles – Chief Nursing Officer, Rehabilitation Specialist, Critical Care Nurse, Nurse Manager, Community Health Specialist, Assistant Nursing Officer, Paramedic Nurse, Educator/Instructor/Lecturer etc.
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Frequently Asked Questions
BSc Nursing is the best Nursing course as per job opportunities & career prospects. A BSc degree in Nursing can ensure entry-level jobs as a Nurse. The starting salary of a registered nurse is INR 3 – 4 lakhs annually. Further, students can pursue a diploma, GNM or ANM in Nursing for better career prospects.
Yes, you can do Nursing after class 12. Students from the Science stream (Biology group) can pursue either BSc Nursing, GNM Nursing & ANM Nursing. Students from the commerce or arts stream can pursue GNM Nursing provided they have studied English in classes 10 & 12.
Yes, students from the Arts and Commerce stream can pursue ANM and GNM Nursing courses. To be eligible for ANM and GNM Nursing, students must have qualified 10+2 with English as a mandatory subject.
No, Nursing is not a difficult subject. As it is a training-based course so students need to pay a little extra attention to the practical classes and practical-based subjects. The rest of the subjects in Nursing are similar to those taught in classes 11 and 12 like Anatomy, Physiology, General Biology, Human Body, Biochemistry, etc.
Around 300 – 500 marks are required in the NEET-UG exam to secure admission to BSc Nursing course in a government college.
No, in order to start working as a Nurse, a student is required to have a bachelor’s degree in Nursing. If they decide to pursue ANM or GNM in Nursing that also requires more than 2 years to complete the course and then register themselves as a Registered Nurse. Those who pursue ANM Nursing might also require to undergo some training before starting to work as a Nurse.
The subjects in the Nursing course are Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Nutrition, Pharmacology, etc.
