Best Courses and Career Options after BSc Nursing in India

Nurses are one of the most essential groups of professionals around the world. Their role in healthcare is crucial, and their need has been growing over time in the healthcare sector. The role of a nurse is entirely different from that of a doctor, they are the caretakers of patients and assist doctors in doing their tasks effortlessly. As the nurse’s tasks differ from doctors, so does the course that needs to be done to become a nurse. 

To pursue a career in nursing, you need to complete a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSc Nursing), which is a four-year degree program. To qualify for admission, you must have achieved at least 55% marks in your 12th-grade exams. You should have studied science subjects, including Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (PCB). This program is designed to give you the knowledge and skills required for a nursing career. Throughout the four years, you will learn about various aspects of nursing, including patient care, medical procedures, and healthcare practices. Completing this degree will prepare you for various nursing roles in hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare settings.

To begin your nursing career, you need to take entrance exams conducted by AIIMS, JIPMER, or CPNET. Once you pass one of these exams, you can gain admission to top nursing colleges in India. During the four-year BSc Nursing program, you will study a range of subjects, including anatomy, biochemistry, nursing basics, psychology, orthopedics, and operating room techniques. This education will equip you with the essential knowledge and skills needed for a successful career in nursing. Completing the program will prepare you for various roles in healthcare, such as working in hospitals, clinics, or other medical settings.

You can have various career options after the completion of this degree course. Graduates get jobs in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, health departments, the pharmacy sector, path labs, etc. 

However, if you want to become a specialized nurse want to grow your career, then you can opt for courses after your BSc Nursing. Other than M.Sc. Nursing a full-time master’s degree spanned over two years. You can opt for certain short-term courses. 

Courses after BSc Nursing

There are several courses after BSc Nursing, which you can do to get specialization and enhance your knowledge and skills. These courses will provide you with a better BSc Nursing scope. Here are some of the best courses to after a BSc in Nursing.  

1. Diploma in Critical Care Nursing 

It is an advanced course for people who have an undergraduate degree in nursing. Nurses are trained to provide care and serve people in critical condition. Critical care is essential for critically ill patients undergoing surgery or any serious health condition.  

Thus, critical Nurses handle patients admitted to an ICU or under other intensive care treatment. These patients need 24/7 care, and the nurses need to check up on them very frequently. 

Eligibility Criteria

1. The candidate must be from the nursing field and have completed BSc Nursing, GNM, or M.Sc. Nursing. 
2. It is a one-year course program. However, the duration can get extended varying from college to college. 
3. Candidates with no nursing background cannot be admitted to this course 

Admission

Admission is taken on a merit-based or entrance exam basis. 

2. Diploma in Cardiovascular and Thoracic Nursing 

A Diploma in Cardiovascular and Thoracic Nursing is commonly known as CVT Nursing. It can be pursued as one of the courses after BSc Nursing. During this diploma, nurses are trained to deal with patients who have/are undergoing cardiac problems such as using a pacemaker, bypass surgery, stents in the cardiac region, etc. They work under a team of cardiologists and are trained in all kinds of issues related to cardiology. The program duration is 2 years. 

Eligibility Criteria 

1. 10+ 2 along with GNM or BSc Nursing. 
2. The candidate must have enrolled as a medical caretaker by any recognized State Nursing Council or Nursing Board of India.

Admission 

Entrance exam and merit-based admission system.

3. Diploma in Nursing Administration

While many strive to become bedside nurses, other professionals are interested in managing teams and working in a more behind-the-scenes role. This is one such BSc Nursing course, this diploma course teaches management and administrative skills to the student.  

Nursing administrators will know and implement all nursing procedures in a healthcare environment. They manage a team of nurses who will work on the front lines interacting with the patients seen in the facility.

 They also ensure that standards and guidelines are followed at the health care centre and ensure that there is enough staff to look after the patients. It is a one-year course after BSc Nursing.   

Eligibility Criteria

1. The candidate must have a valid nursing degree BSc Nursing, Post basic BSc Nursing or GNM. 
2. The candidate must have registered as RNRM and have 2-years of work experience. 

Admission

Admission is taken on an entrance and merit-based differs from college to college. 

4. Diploma in Surgical Nursing / Operations Room Nursing 

Clinical surgeons need professionally skilled surgical nurses who can assist them during the surgery. To address this need, nurses should acquire knowledge of the different techniques used during the surgeries and how they will impact the patients. This is one of the courses after BSc Nursing trains them with tools before surgery. This is a 1-year diploma course.  

Eligibility Criteria

The candidate must have a BSc degree in nursing, or Diploma in Nursing and Midwifery, or a post-basic BSc in Nursing. With a minimum of 50% marks from a recognized college or university.  

Admission

Admission is taken on merit-based or entrance exams. 

PG Nursing Courses in India

Other than diploma courses, there are many PG courses one can do after BSc Nursing courses.  Here is a list of some of the best PG courses: 

1. PG Diploma in Paediatrics Critical Care Nursing

This is a one-year course after BSc Nursing that can be pursued. It is a specialized course that trains nurses to take care of infants and children. Nurses detect the condition of kids based on their responses. They know how to take care of children and their needs. 

Eligibility

The candidate must have scored 50% in Graduation with a related subject under the (10+2+3) scheme from a recognized college or university. 

2. PG Diploma in Neo-Natal Nursing 

This is again a diploma that trains nurses to deal with children. But this is a training in which they are taught to handle newborns. Newborns require utmost care since they are very delicate. This is also a one-year course after BSc Nursing. 

Eligibility

1. The candidate must have passed BSc Nursing with 55% marks. 
2. Candidates who passed Post Basic BSc Nursing or GNM with 55% aggregate marks, from a recognized university can also apply.  

3. PG Diploma in Emergency Nursing 

This is a one-year course that trains nurses to cater to patients who need immediate assistance. They get placed in emergency wards and deal with patients in emergency conditions. Emergencies include heart attack, stroke attack, trauma, or suicidal attempts. It is a very demanding job since patients constantly need nurses. 

Eligibility 

1. The candidate must have passed BSc in Nursing or GNM 
2. Have at least one year of work experience as a staff nurse. 
3. Should be a registered nurse R.N. & R.M. 

4. PG Diploma in Mental Health Nursing

This is also one of the best courses after BSc Nursing. This PG Diploma course trains nurses to deal with patients suffering from mental health issues. They assist people with mental anxiety, depression or personality disorder issues.  However, this job is very strenuous since nurses must work patiently as these patients need intensive care and attention. The nurses work under a psychiatrist and know how to treat unstable patients. 

Eligibility 

Candidate must have completed a BSc in nursing from a reputed university or college with valid marks. 

Top 10 Colleges in India for Nursing

If you have decided to choose the career option of becoming a Nurse, then it is crucial that you get your nursing education from the best institutes. Here is the list of the top 10 Nursing colleges in India. 

Institute Name	City
AIIMS Delhi	Delhi
Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research	Chandigarh
Lady Hardinge Medical College	Delhi
Armed Forces Medical College	Pune
Kasturba Medical College	Mangalore
Christian Medical College	Vellore
Banaras Hindu University	Varanasi
Madras Medical College	Chennai
SDPS Women’s college	Indore
Jai Institute of Nursing and Research	Gwalior

Source 

Part-time Jobs for Nursing Students

Having a part-time job as a nursing student or nursing graduate is a great way for nurses to gain valuable experience and earn some side income. Here are some part-time jobs that you can do while pursuing your BSc in Nursing. 

i. Part-time Lab Technician

A nursing student can take up the job of a part-time Phlebotomist/ Lab Technician. The qualification required is just a BSc Nursing. So, while pursuing any of the after-BSc Nursing courses, you can earn through this part-time opportunity.  The responsibilities would include blood sample drawing and separation, vitals, and medical examination. The remuneration will be according to a per-hour basis/ duty hours. You can easily opt for a convenient time and make some money while doing your specialization. 

ii. Home Visiting Nurse 

A nursing degree is a minimum requirement for this part-time job. The nurse works with chronic disease patients. You need to provide infusion home counselling and guide the patients with day-to-day tasks.  You need to take care of the patients at home when the family is not available or fulfil tasks that only a professional nurse can do, such as administering daily medicines. The payment is according to per day/per hour visits. 

iii. Nurse Trainee 

You can also enroll yourself under a Nurse Trainer to teach you the workings of the job. Shadowing their everyday activities is one of the best ways to learn from them. As a nurse trainee, you might not be interacting with the patients but understanding what the job entails and your response. 

iv. Take Online Classes 

There will never come a day when a student will not require extra help from tutors. This is where you can use your study material to help school students or even other college students and teach them online and earn some side income. It is one of the top ways to make money online using your skills and knowledge. 

Career Opportunities after BSc Nursing 

After completing your four-year program of BSc Nursing, you will have various BSc Nursing scopes opened up for you. Here are some of the best and most reputed career options that you can choose after a BSc in Nursing. 

I. Nurse 

Nurses are qualified medical professionals who assist doctors in managing the day-to-day operations within a hospital or a clinic. They are also tasked with caring for sick patients and providing support, emotionally, to the bereaved family members of the patients. One of the most important tasks for nurses is to do daily evaluations more than two times a day, check up on the patient’s needs, provide them with medications, and keep notes of their recovery. 

Average Salary 

The average salary of a nurse in India is INR 2 lakh per annum. 

II. Nurse Supervisor 

Also referred to as Nurse Administrator, the job of a nurse supervisor is to manage all the nurses in the hospital. They are responsible for coordinating the efforts of nurses and overseeing that the nurses meet all needs of patients. They also develop plans for the efficient functioning of the nursing department within the hospital. 

Average Salary

The average salary of a Nurse Supervisor after completing a BSc Nursing is INR 4 LPA in India. 

III. Psychologist 

Completing a BSc in Nursing also opens up the door for enrolling oneself in the world of psychology. Studying the human mind has always been a fascinating endeavor, and one can seek this career option if one is interested in the workings of the human mind.
A psychologist makes symptomatic psychotherapy for patients who are experiencing mental problems. These problems can be from depression to addiction. 

Average Salary

After doing a BSc Nursing salary in India for Psychologists is INR 3 LPA.  

IV. Nurse Trainer

Every hospital does shuffles of their nurses. There is always an inflow of new nurses who need to be trained and educated on the workings of hospitals or about the duties of a nurse in general. The task of training new nurses is done by Nurse Trainers and their main task is to create a robust framework for including new nurses in the hospital with ease and get them aware of the processes of the hospitals, leading to a smooth and seamless transition. 

Average Salary

On average a Nurse Trainer earns INR 4 LPA. 

Start your Nursing Career  

Nursing is a noble profession, if doctors cure the patients, then it’s the nurses who take care of patients. Choosing this profession will not only give you a reputation but also provide you with great career opportunities. You know your first step towards becoming a nurse is doing BSc Nursing. But there are various courses after BSc Nursing, which you can pursue. 

Some of the best after-BSc Nursing courses have been mentioned in the article, which might interest you. And you can pursue these courses from the best colleges in India. So, without any delay start your career journey in nursing after completing your BSc in Nursing.  

Also Read- Nursing Interview Questions and Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What can I do after BSc nursing? 

Ans. It depends on your choice, what you want to do after your BSc Nursing. If you want to study further to gain expertise then there are courses like a Diploma in Critical Care Nursing, a Diploma in Nursing Administration, a PG Diploma in Emergency Nursing, and more. And if you want to start a career then you can become a nurse, lab assistant, nurse trainer, at-home caretaker, etc. 

Q2. Which BSc Nursing has the highest salary? 

Ans. Some of the highest paying jobs after BSc Nursing are Nurse Managers, Male Staff Nurses, ICU, and Critical Nurses. If you do the specialization course to go in any of the career fields after your BSc in Nursing then, you can positively secure a higher position job with a nice paying salary and incentive. 

Q3. Can I become a doctor after BSc nursing? 

Ans. If you are pursuing BSc in Nursing and want to become a doctor after this then there are a few steps that you need to follow. You need to follow the same path as 12th-class students, it means preparing for NEET, then cracking the exam and pursuing the MBBS, that’s the way. And if choose to become a doctor in the specialized field then you need to do other courses too. 

Q4. Can I do Gynaecology after BSC Nursing? 

Ans. Yes, you are eligible to apply for a diploma in Gynaecology after completing your BSc in Nursing. This will be a great career path for you to choose after nursing, which can apply if you have a minimum of 55% marks from a recognized college or university. So, do apply for Gynaecology if you have an interest in it after BSc nursing.