CAREER FOCUS
 Nursing: The Noble Profession
By: Tharchin Y Gonpo

It all began with Florence Nightingale, whose unflinching pouring of compassion in the form of selfless service to the wounded soldiers lit the healing aura of the world. Today Nursing is a highlight amongst the wide range of Career choices.  Since time immemorial this noble profession has gained great importance. Then down the ages it got embedded into the realm of medical practices, not to undermine its virtuous values. It is this social art of caring for sick people combined with science of health care that it earned its place as a special profession yet fervently respected by people. In fact nursing profession today becomes a pivotal part of health sector in every country. From general ward in a hospital to operation theatre, nursing is a lifeline for millions of ailing patients around the year. This is one of the few domains of professionalism where the women force is overwhelmingly present. 

Nursing duties are manifold and calls for strenuous commitments and responsibilities of varying levels. At the infancy level, nurses are more or less ward hostesses and later they foray into managing complexities like psychiatric, paediatric and intensive care patients etc which require specialised skills. They are also involved in dispensing medication, keeping records of the patient’s progress, setting up and operating medical equipment, administration and several other routine dispensing of services.   

The profession demands a high level of both mental and physical tenacity. Often nurses are exposed to health risks while attending their patients when it comes to communicable diseases. Along with that nurses are required to withstand a long hours of work and shifts. The aspiring individual has to be patient, compassionate, adjustable, very hard working and flexible to work for extra hours (day and night). However, the advent of medical technology has made the modern day nursing profession a bit convenient now a days. The blessing of science and technology has achieved that wonderful uplifted the quality and efficiency of medical treatment and services.

The wonders of medical world had increased the general life span of human beings. Thus today we have this upsurge of ageing population so much so that it has exerted tremendous pressure on the economy of many countries. It also adds challenges to medical practitioners for this unprecedented demand for trained nurses and midwifery. In simpler terms, the mushrooming growth of clinics, hospitals and nursing institutes in India is an evidence to prove that nursing profession is indeed a prospective career still demanding many trained nurses. 
 
In today’s fast-paced globalizing era, there has been a spiralling growth of demands for the thousands of trained and experienced nurses in the developing countries from the rich and developed western countries. Perhaps the phenomenon of nursing profession not being preferred as a prime career on western world due to its demanding work loads and stresses has opened up this profession to the skilled and trained work force in the developing countries.  It is mandatory to have nursing degree to become a registered nurse in the west while in countries like Canada; nursing degree is imperative to qualify as a registered nurse.

The most unique feature of this profession is sanctity and humanism it generates unlike other professions in the world. To its merits, this noble profession touches upon or is in harmony with values and virtues preached and highlighted in all religious traditions in the world.

Basic Information:
A large number of institutes in India offer diploma, graduate and postgraduate courses in nursing as well as midwifery courses

Required Minimum Qualification:
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 functions as members of the health team.

4. Auxiliary Health Worker (ANM) Eligibility: 10th Standard Training Duration: 18 months. ANM course provide as to how to take care of health related needs of people living in rural areas especially children, mothers and older citizens. 

Personal attributes: The nursing profession calls for tremendous patience, responsibility and dedication. The job requires alertness of mind, team spirit, tactfulness, compassion etc. One should also be physically fit for the job as it involves a lot of manual work. They are not supposed to establish relationships with patients.

Career options: 
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, paediatrics, obstetric, rehabilitative etc. 
Public Health Nursing/Community Health Nursing: nurses/Health workers work in government and private clinics and health department 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 immunisations, blood pressure testing and other health screening. 

Military Nursing: Provide health care services in Armed Forces. 

Educators: This field combines nursing with the teaching of nursing students and administration of educational programmes.

Industrial nursing/Occupational Health Nursing: They work under the direction of the industrial physicians and assist in taking preventive and safety measures. They provide emergency care at the time of accidents taking place inside the industrial premises. 
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 co-ordination with the psychiatrists, doctors and other specialists. 
Paediatric Nursing: is concerned with the care of sick babies and children. 
 
Orthopaedic Nursing: requires knowledge of physiotherapy and rehabilitation.