Why Pursue a Diploma in Nursing?

 Nursing diploma are a great option for candidates starting out in related healthcare fields. Nursing diploma help you prepare for your career and hone your skills. Local experts are responding to the growing demand for critical resources in the health sector. Candidates enthusiastic about more advanced studies like B.Sc Nursing / M.Sc Nursing have found that some universities offer diploma holders direct enrollment in B.Sc Nursing courses, so there are additional benefits.

India's nursing profession has a considerable range and the demand for specialists in the field is so high that early salaries will be a little lower; especially for graduates of diplomas, but experienced nurses you can earn salaries from Rs 50,000 to Rs 75,000.

ANM vs GNM vs BSc Nursing, which is to Choose?

If a person who has passed a class 12 exam from a non-scientific stream and is determined to have a career in nursing is the only option to start ANM. After successful completion of ANM, graduates can register themselves as nurses and are eligible to continue their GNM graduation program.

Through this process, you will be eligible for B.Sc Nursing and B.Sc (Post Basic) Nursing programs. If the candidate belongs to a science stream with biology as the subject, a GNM diploma is the best option he can start. GNM graduates can go to B.Sc Nursing and B.Sc (Post Basic) Nursing. In addition, GNM graduates with at least two years of work experience are eligible to participate in the B.Sc Nursing Distance Program.

On the other hand, candidates of Science Stream who want to concentrate on their studies before employment should consider obtaining a bachelor's degree in order to increase the possibility of obtaining a master's degree or a graduate degree. After completing the master's degree nursing, candidates are able to further select a PhD or apply for a job.

Key Roles and Responsibilities of a Nurse

Following are the duties that a nurse has to perform daily.

• Assist physicians and health professionals in installing equipment and performing medical procedures.
•  Creating and maintaining medical records.
•  Ensuring that the patient is taking the necessary medication as directed by their doctor.
•  Communicate daily with patients and instruct them on best practices that can help them.
•  Observing a patient for existing or new symptoms.
•  Providing first aid.

About General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM)

General Nursing and Midwifery or GNM is a three-year and six-month diploma course designed for aspirants who want to pursue a career in clinical nursing. The programme teaches candidates how to care for individuals who are sick or have been injured in order to help them attain full recovery. Although the curriculum design of the course varies from university to university, GNM courses are designed to prepare the students for the clinical approach of handling patients. The curriculum of some universities includes a six-month internship at the end of the course and the diploma is granted only after the candidates complete this internship.

The GNM course has been designed to enable eligible candidates to address the health needs of the country, community, and individuals.

 

GNM Course Highlights

Some of the basic details of the GNM course are as follows:

Course Level	Diploma
Course Name	General Nursing and Midwifery
Short Name	GNM
Duration	3.5 Years
Examination Type	Semester System/ Year-wise
Eligibility	10+2 with minimum 50% marks in aggregate with science subjects
Admission Process	Merit-Based/ Entrance Exam
Course Fee	INR 30,000 to INR 2.5 Lacs
Top Employment Areas	Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Universities, etc
Job Roles	Clinical Nurse Specialist, Legal Nurse Consultant, Forensic Nursing etc.

General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM) Eligibility Criteria

• Minimum Qualification Required: 10+2 (Physics, Biology and Chemistry)
• Minimum Marks Required (Aggregate): 50%
• The minimum marks may vary from institute to institute

GNM Admission Process:

Nursing aspirants can apply for the General Nursing and Midwifery programme once they have completed their class 12 exams with Biology, Chemistry, and Physics as compulsory subjects. Admissions in GNM courses are done mostly on the basis of marks secured by a candidate in class 12 exams. Colleges release a merit list on the basis of candidates' performance in the 10+2 exam.

Few of the institutes also conduct their own entrance exams for these courses or take students on the basis of state-level diploma entrance exams. Those candidates who qualify the entrance exams will be eligible for admissions to the GNM course.

GNM Entrance Exams

Some of the popular entrance exams for GNM course are as follows:

• AIIMS Nursing Entrance Exam
• BHU Nursing Entrance Exam
• JIPMER Nursing Entrance Exam
• PGIMER Nursing
• MGM CET Nursing
• IGNOU OPENNET
• RUHS Nursing Entrance Exam

Career Options and Job Prospects

Nursing is full-time occupation and candidates who have acquired the required skills and education in the field of care-taking and nursing can take up jobs at hospitals, clinics, health departments or can work as a private health care-taker. GNM diploma holders can also take up community services and can work for NGOs that spread medical awareness or help the sick. The salaries offered after the GNM courses can vary from Rs. 1.5 lakh to Rs. 3 lakh. Some government jobs pay better packages to freshers who complete this course. Following are some of the job profiles that a GNM diploma holder can apply for:

• Staff Nurse
• Home Nurse
• Health Visitor
• Community Health Worker

Since GNM is a diploma programme, most of the candidates apply for advanced nursing courses after completing the GNM course in order to enhance their career prospects. There are various courses that candidates can pursue after this diploma programme including the Auxiliary Nursing Midwifery (ANM), B.Sc. in Nursing, M.Sc. in Nursing, PG Certificate in Nursing and Doctorate (Ph.D.). Job options after pursuing these courses along with GNM are better than the career options and salaries offered after the GNM alone.

• Health Care Nurse
• Nursing Tutor
• Clinical Nurse Specialist
• Certified Nursing Assistant
• Legal Nurse Consultant
• Senior – Nurse Educator
• Forensic Nursing
• Home Care Nurse
• Emergency Room Nurse
• ICU Nurse
• Teacher – Nursing School
• Staff Nurse
• Community Health Nurse

Salaries offered after pursuing GNM followed by PG diploma or master courses in nursing are lucrative. Nurses working in forensics, ICU and private home care, can earn up to Rs. 4.9 lakh to Rs. 5 lakh per annum. Salaries also increase with the job profile of the nursing professional. Specialists, consultants and professors in this field get packages varying from Rs. 5.5 lakh to Rs. 9.13 lakh per annum.