After completing 12th, the main aim of any student is to choose a promising career path. With so many options available it gets hard for a lot of students to make a choice. Nursing is one of the noblest professions you can think of. It is not only of the highest chosen careers around the world but the work you are going to do for the benefit of people will give you immense satisfaction as well. Nursing as a profession covers a large area of the healthcare sector.

The Indian Nursing Council is also known as INC is the recognition body for nursing in India. If you are looking for a good college for your degree or diploma in nursing, make sure that it is accredited with INC. Nursing has a vast variety of courses that includes Diploma, Under Graduate, Post Graduate, Philosophy and Doctoral degrees. Apart from colleges some healthcare centers and hospitals also provide 6 month or 12-month courses in nursing.

List of courses:

1. Diploma courses

a. ANM (Auxiliary Nursing & Midwife) – The duration of the course is 18 months. The candidate must be 10th passes with minimum 45 percent marks. The age should be between 17 years and 45 years. For some prestigious nursing colleges, the candidate has to go through an entrance test.
b. GNM (General Nursing & Midwife) – The duration of the course if 3.5 yrs. Minimum qualification is 12th pass with 45 percent marks and age between 17 and 35 years.

2. UG Degree courses

a. B. Sc – Basic (Bachelor of Science in Nursing – Basic) – The duration of the course is 4 yrs and qualification is 12th pass with science subjects.
b. B. Sc – Post Basic (Bachelor of Science in Nursing – Post Basic) – The duration of the course is 2 yrs and qualification is 12th pass with science subjects.
c. B. Sc – Distance (Bachelor of Science in Nursing – Distance) – 3 yrs

3. PG Degree courses

a. M. Sc (Master of Science in Nursing) – It can be done after any graduate course in nursing. The duration is 2 yrs.

4. Doctoral courses

a.M. Phil (Master of Science in Nursing) – After completing PG course you can also do this advanced degree that has the course duration of 1 yr. It is a Full-time course.
b. M. Phil (Master of Science in Nursing) – This is a 2 yr part time advanced course in nursing.
c. Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy) – This is the longest advanced course that has the duration of 3 to 5 yrs but the career options are very fruitful after the course.

The starting salary of a nurse is between Rs.15000/- to Rs.20000/-. Apart from India, the demand for nurses is also very high in US and UK.