The lowdown
Nursing is a rewarding career that offers a satisfying future for people with a sense of service. As a member of the modern health team, nurses render significant service in the care of the sick and prevention of illness and injury. Nurses are the backbone of a health care team. If the doctor is the head, nurses are the hands and the head cannot work without the hands. Nurses manage the day-to-day care of patients and administering them the prescribed medicines. Skilled nurses reduce the period of hospital stay of the patient by promoting quick recovery. Nursing is usually a women-dominated profession but nowadays it is attracting men as well. Though none of Delhi institutes take male students, Karnataka, Kerala, and Rajasthan have quite a good number of them.
Clockwork
People involved in clinical jobs work round the clock in three shifts for a day. Those who are in teaching profession have a regular shift from 9am to 5pm
The payoff
Entry level: Rs. 8000 - Rs. 15,000 per month, one can earn more at the entry level in the government sector, middle level: Rs. 20,000 - Rs. 35,000 per month, senior level: Rs. 50,000 - Rs. 70,000 per month
Skills/TRAITS
* One should be patient, polite, empathetic and sympathetic
* Adequate knowledge of hi-tech modalities of treatment
* Presence of mind to be able to take appropriate action in times of emergencies
* An inherent desire to take care of the ill and the infirm
* Have emotional strength
* Ability to work for long hours
Getting there
After completing diploma in general nursing and midwifery course and BSc degree in nursing, one can be employed in clinical areas, hospitals, clinics, dispensaries, schools, red cross, community settings, private nursing centres etc. One can also go for MSc in nursing, MPhil and PhD if one wishes to get a job in the health ministry, Indian Nursing Council, state nursing councils and trained Nurses Association of India etc. You can go to United States, United Kingdom, Ireland and Middle East countries for better salaries and promotional avenues
Getting there
After completing diploma in general nursing and midwifery course and BSc degree in nursing, one can be employed in clinical areas, hospitals, clinics, dispensaries, schools, red cross, community settings, private nursing centres etc. One can also go for MSc in nursing, MPhil and PhD if one wishes to get a job in the health ministry, Indian Nursing Council, state nursing councils and trained Nurses Association of India etc. You can go to United States, United Kingdom, Ireland and Middle East countries for better salaries and promotional avenues
Institutes and URLs
* Christian Medical College, Vellore www.cmch-vellore.edu
* AIIMS, Delhi www.aiims.edu
* RAK College of Nursing, Delhi www.du.ac.in
Pros and cons
* Trained nurses are immediately absorbed within and outside the country
* Long working hours
Quality care is expected of a nurse but the nurse patient-ratio in our country is still very poor, leading to increased workload for a nurse --- Rita Sapra, principal, School of Nursing, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi