GNM: Introduction

 GNM courses are general nursing and midwifery. It is a three and a half year diploma of paramedics. Nursing and midwifery focus on providing care to individuals, families and communities. The course can be pursued after successful completion of the 10+2 level of education in the science stream from a recognized educational board with a minimum aggregate score of 50%.

Some of the top colleges which provide admission to the course include:

• NIMS University, Jaipur
• Sharda University, Greater Noida
• Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh
• Shri Vinayak Research & Training Institute, Jaipur
• Christian Medical College, Vellore

The average tuition fee charged for the course in India ranges between INR 20,000 to 1.5 Lakhs. The course duration is 3 years which is followed by a 6 months internship program. GNM Admission are done through both entrance exams and on the basis of merit-lists.

Professionals are hired in capacities such as:

• Clinical Nurse Specialist
• Legal Nurse Consultant
• Forensic Nursing
• Teacher & Junior Lecturer
• Brand Representative
• Sale-purchase Assistant
• Midwife Nurse

Skills required being a Nurse

Nursing can, by no means, considered being an easy job. It is a demanding career pathway and requires a person who is dedicated to taking care of the unwell. A nursing aspirant must already have or be prepared to develop the following skills if he/she wants to build a successful career in Nursing.

• Effective communication skills: Nurses are required to communicate with doctors and patients continuously. They should have the communication skills strong enough to convey the observations, treatment procedure in an effective manner.
• Ability to work for long hours: No doubt, Nurses have a lot of work pressure and have to do a lot in a day. The job of a Nurse is not restricted to a typical 9 to 5 job hours and they have to work beyond the shift limitations around the clock depending upon the availability of the resources.
• Critical thinking capabilities: Nurses being the first attendants to the patients in a hospital or the clinics and have to take quick decisions at times depending upon the criticalities related to the patient’s condition which can make a big difference in the line of treatment.
• Staying alert and paying attention to detail: As the nurses spend a lot of time with the patients, hence can easily judge if there is any change in the condition or symptoms by paying attention to each and every detail.
• Strong sense of caring and empathy: Patients when admitted or visit the hospital are already in a disturbed state and hence Nurses have to make them comfortable enough by taking care of them by empathizing the pain and physical and mental condition of the particular patient.

Career prospectus

·         Nursing is one of the most dedicated workplaces you can find in a profession anywhere in the world. He is responsible for the care of primary and daily patients and plays an important role as a life-saving physician.

·         The statement that nurses form the backbone of the health workforce in India is better illustrated by the fact that nurses form over 60% of the health workforce in India. Although that might seem like a lot, the patient-to-nurse ratio in India is nowhere near the WHO-specified standard and India is still facing a shortage of nurses. According to a 2016 report, India needed over 24 lakh nurses to overcome the shortage and the demand was only expected to grow with the years.

·         The statement that nurses form the backbone of the health workforce in India is better illustrated by the fact that nurses form over 60% of the health workforce in India. Although that might seem like a lot, the patient-to-nurse ratio in India is nowhere near the WHO-specified standard and India is still facing a shortage of nurses. According to a 2016 report, India needed over 24 lakh nurses to overcome the shortage and the demand was only expected to grow with the years.

·         In such a job market that is facing an acute shortage and expecting an increase in demand, taking up nursing as a career after 12th is a great option for any student. For dedicated students who have managed to get into a good college, nursing courses even offer excellent career prospects abroad.