BSC Nursing: An Overview

Medical science has come a long way in helping patients. As much as physicians are needed in the medical process, nurses also hold an important place when it comes to providing their patients with the doctor’s recommendations to improve their health. Nursing, as a profession has had a significant effect and impact on many lives. One may ask the question about how the nurses are equipped with the knowledge and skills required to ensure the best for their patients. This is where a nursing school or a school for nurses comes into the picture.  

As rapid change continues to transform the profession of nursing and the health care system at large – in the contemporary world that we reside in, nurses bring knowledge, spirit, and expertise to various expanding roles, that are based on increased participation and responsibility. In today’s world, Nursing can be considered one of the fastest-growing careers in the field of health care. So, what is Nursing all about, and what do we have to do to become a Nurse?
The first step is pursue BSc Nursing, and in this article we will be explaining  everything you need to do before and after you complete this degree

Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing once said that “Nursing is the act of utilizing the environment of the patient to assist him in his recovery.” As a profession, its practice and approach are described as a dynamic, caring, and helpful relationship, in which the nurse assists the patient to achieve and sustain optimal health. In order to become a Nurse, one must pursue B. Sc in Nursing. The BSc Nursing full form is Bachelor of Science in Nursing. It is a 4-year Undergraduate course through which the students are trained in the concepts of nursing, both theoretically as well as practically, providing detailed nursing knowledge to medical aspirants.  

It is a course that is offered to students who have completed their Class 12 having the Science stream with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology as their compulsory subjects. Candidates wishing to get admitted to this particular course, either have to sit for the NEET exams or an entrance exam, depending on the state that they are residing in. Universities such as the Delhi University are provided on the basis of marks obtained in their Class 12 or equivalent examinations, while several other colleges such as JIPMER, BHU, AIIMS, etc conduct an entrance exam to offer admission to the BSc Nursing course.  

While the exam and application dates for NEET are yet to be announced, the application date for the AJEE Entrance Exam is from June 7, 2022, to July 14, 2022, and the exams are supposed to happen from June 15, 2022, to July 15, 2022, and for the MNS Entrance Exam, the date to apply began in February, and the exams will be held in the month of July.  

The average BSc Nursing salary received after completing the course ranges from INR 2.5 – 8 lakhs per annum. A registered nurse having less than 1 year of experience usually begins their career with an average salary package of INR 2,33,151 per annum. After 4 years of service, the average salary of nurses rises to INR 2,49,994, and nurses with 5 and more years of experience are paid a salary of 4,96,269 per annum. The candidates after completing BSc Nursing will have a lot of options for jobs at this stage. There are various BSc Nursing jobs available for graduates. Some of the options they can choose are – Clinical nurses in government or private hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, health departments, medical services of the army, navy, or air force, Nurse educators in nursing colleges, training institutes, etc., Nurse researchers in research institutes and health care companies, Nurse managers or administrators in hospitals.

A candidate can either pursue a Basic BSc Nursing course or a Post Basic Bsc Nursing Course. BSc Nursing (Post Basic) is a 2-year course that is designed to enhance the nursing skills of professionals who already have a background in nursing or a similar field. The basic eligibility criteria are that students should have completed Class 12 with a certificate in General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM) and should have a registration in Registered Nurses and Registered Midwives (RNRM).
BSc Nursing (Post Basic) courses are offered as UG courses. The main difference between both the courses is the duration. The duration of the BSc Nursing (Post Basic) is 2 years. Job opportunities include working as a Staff Nurse, Industrial Nurse, Nursing Superintendent, Nursing Service administrator, Military Nurse, Community Health Nurse, Director of Nursing, etc. The average salary offered to the graduates of PB BSc Nursing ranges from INR 2 lakhs to INR 5 lakhs depending upon the skills, experience, and the job position.  

BSc Nursing syllabus covers a wide arena of topics and sub-topics covering the nursing and medical industry. The entire BSc Nursing syllabus is divided into 8 semesters with subjects and courses related to the nursing field. In the first year of the course, subjects like English, Anatomy, Physiology, Nutrition, Biochemistry, and Psychology are taught while giving the students a Foundation of Nursing and an Introduction to Computers. During the second year, students are acquainted with the disciplines of Sociology, Pharmacology, Pathology, Genetics, Microbiology, and know more about Medical-Surgical Nursing and Community Health Nursing. From the 3rd and 4th year onwards, students are introduced to the various areas that exist in Nursing – Child Health Nursing, Mental Health Nursing, Midwifery, and Obstetrical Nursing, while doing research, and learning about the management of nursing service and communicational and educational technology.  

BSc in Nursing skills that every nurse should have is patience. Apart from this, the aspirants need to have the zeal to work with doctors, hospital administration, and patients cordially. They need to have compassion and flawless communication skills in both laymen’s terms and medical jargon. Candidates also need to be medically fit. There are more than 850 nursing colleges in India that train students to become professionals in this field. These colleges also teach students the process and procedures of taking care of others with proper hygiene, while being trained technically. Given the increasing growth in the industry of health care, the demand for nurses has become the need for the hour, and hence there is a lot of prospect and scope in the field.