Nursing
Nursing, a profession that recalls the name of Florence Nightingale is indeed one of the noblest professions in the world. It is the art of caring for sick people with the science of health care. It is a vital component of any form of medical care.
Nursing includes a wide range of responsibilities and functions. At the initial levels, the nurses take general care of patients. At the senior levels, they require specialized skills for managing pediatric, psychiatric and intensive care patients. The nurses are engaged in dispensing medication, setting up and operating medical equipment, keeping records of patient's progress and administration.
With increasing health consciousness in India, the quality of health services has improved. Skilled and specialized nurses are in high demand by the health organizations.
The nurses can get excellent employment opportunities in government or private hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, orphanages, old age homes, military services, industries and schools.
Majority of the nurses in India go abroad. Most of the nurses working throughout the world are from the Indian state of Kerala. The skilled nurses can get the employment in specialized fields like Surgical, Medical, ICU, Telemetry and ER.
Courses:
1.B.Sc Nursing:
Eligibility: 10+2 with Biology, Physics and Chemistry
Duration: 3 to 4 years
B.Sc nursing course provide basic knowledge about nursing, first-aid and midwifery. They are trained in all the theoretical as well as practical aspects of nursing.
2.M.Sc Nursing:
Eligibility: B.Sc Nursing
Duration: 2 years
3.General Nursing & Midwifery (GNM):
Eligibility: 10+2 with Biology, Physics and Chemistry
Duration: 3 1/2 years
GNM programme is to prepare general nurses who function as members of the health team, to hold first-level positions in both the hospitals and other such places.
4.Auxiliary Nurse Midwife/ Health Worker (ANM):
Eligibility: 10th
Duration: 18 months
ANM course provide training as to how to take care of health related needs of the people living in rural areas especially children, mothers and old persons.
5.Hospital Nursing:
Hospital nurses form the largest group of nurses. Hospital nurses are usually assigned to any special area of work such as surgery, maternity, intensive care, pediatrics, obstetric, rehabilitative etc.
6.Public Health Nursing/ Community Health Nursing:
Public health nurses / Health worker work in government and private clinics and health departments in urban and rural areas to provide basic medical services to the local population. They instruct individuals, families and other groups in health education, disease prevention, nutrition and child care. They arrange for immunizations, blood pressure testing and other health screening.
7.Military Nursing:
Provide health care services in armed forces.
8.Educators:
This field combines nursing with the teaching of students of nursing and administration of educational programmes.
9.Industrial Nursing/ Occupational Health Nursing:
They work under the direction of the industrial physicians and assist in taking preventive safety measures. They provide emergency care at the time of accidents taking place inside the industrial premises.
10.Psychiatric Nursing:
This nursing involves working with patients suffering from emotional and psychological distress. Nursing these patients requires devotion and patience. They generally work in coordination with the psychiatrists, doctors and other specialists.
11.Pediatric Nursing:
It is concerned with the care of sick babies and children.
12.Orthopaedic Nursing:
It requires a knowledge of physiotherapy and rehabilitation
Institutions:
