Qualities of a Nurse - Know Essential Qualifications Required

Nursing is a noble profession and here are some tips and tricks to become a Nurse. If you want to advance your career in the domain of nursing, read on to find out all about the eligibility, top exams, career scope, and jobs here.

Nursing in India as a career carries a very high potential.  Nurses perform several tasks from offering fundamental healthcare to taking care of critically ill patients in intensive care settings. There are four major types of nursing qualifications in India:

• Auxiliary Nurse and Midwife (ANM): Two years of training with ANM certification. Candidates are taught about Operation Theatre, its operation, various types of equipment, and how to use them while taking the ANM course. The minimum age of the candidate should be 17 years on or before 31st December in the year in which admission is sought
• General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM): Three years and six months of training with Registered Nurse (RN) and Registered Midwife (RM) certification. Aspirants can begin their GNM career by joining as a Home Nurse, Health Visitor, Community Health Worker, Basic Health Worker Rural Health Worker, Aanganwadi and ASHA worker. 
• BSc in Nursing: Four years of training with University examination and RN RM certification. 
• MSc in Nursing: Two years of master’s degree

Apart from these four qualification levels, GNM nurses can take up a Post Basic Nursing course to be qualified as BSc Nurses. Nurses after completing an MSc in nursing and after two years of professional experience can also take up a PhD in Nursing.

Qualities of a Qualified Nurse

A nurse as a professional is entitled to patient care along with acting as an excellent team player. She has to coordinate with the doctors, patients’ relatives, head nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapist, and other members of the health care team. More than prompt patient care, she should also be pertinent in prompt documentation to avoid legal issues. It is mandatory to work in shifts and to work for many hours straight when entitled to intensive care for critically ill patients. To thrive in this profession, the nurse should have the following skills:

• Excellent communication skills
• Sound theoretical and practical nursing knowledge
• Confidence in care
• Stamina to work in long shifts
• Compassion and empathy towards the suffering of the clients
• Willing to work in odd hours
• Strong emotional and mental health
• Should be able to deal with difficult patients
• An eye for detail

Qualifications Required to Become a Nurse

To become a registered nurse and midwife in India, one has to complete a relevant Nursing course such as GNM or BSc in nursing from a recognised nursing school or college and register with the state nursing council.  The Indian Nursing Council (INC) is the governing body that regulates the quality of nursing education in the country. To become a nurse one has to:

• Choose a relevant nursing course: The ANM course is not much preferred by multi-specialty hospitals. They can, however, work as nursing assistants in small nursing homes. GNM, BSc, and MSc are the best-preferred courses to grab good job opportunities in India and abroad.
• Secure admission: Admission is based on the 10+2 marks and entrance examination marks. Selected candidates are offered admission after counseling.
• Registering with state nursing councils: After completing the nursing training, it is mandatory to take state nursing and central nursing licensure. This licensing process varies from state to state, it is also important to get membership from INC and Trained Nurses Association of India (TNAI). The nurse is not legally allowed to start working in a hospital before taking licensing certifications as a registered nurse (RN) and a registered midwife (RM).

Nursing poses a tremendous scope for qualified Indian nurses within the country and abroad in countries such as Australia, Canada, USA, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UK, etc. These countries appoint BSc and MSc nurses with a minimum of two years of clinical work experience in a 200-bed hospital. They are also required to clear exams such as TOEFL, NCLEX - RN, IELTS, CGFNS, etc., to get the work Visa.