Nurse your future: Professional guidance for aspiring nurses

DIMAPUR — With little clarity about her career path, Akanglemla Imchen took up nursing, thanks to her father who persuaded her to consider the profession, sensing the potential prospect in the field. Looking back on her journey, she feels fortunate to have discovered a fulfilling direction in life.

After completing a B.Sc. in Nursing from the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Imphal, Manipur, and an M.Sc. in Nursing (Oncology) from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi, Imchen served as an assistant lecturer and nursing tutor. She passed Nursing Officer Recruitment Common Eligibility Test (NORCET) 2020 exam, following which she started working as a Nursing Officer at AIIMS, Kalyani, West Bengal. She is currently working at AIIMS, Guwahati, Assam, having passed another NORCET in 2022. 

In an interview with Eastern Mirror, the 34-year-old Nursing Officer shares extensively on nursing as a field of study and profession. 

Can you briefly outline the process for studying nursing in India?

There are different nursing courses available such as Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM), General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM), Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.Sc. Nursing), or Post Basic B.Sc. Nursing. So, the first step is to choose the right nursing program meeting the eligibility criteria such as, for B.Sc. Nursing, one needs to have completed 10+2 with a science background (Physics, Chemistry, and Biology). GNM requires 10+2 with any stream (preferably Science), while for ANM, 10+2 with any subjects. Similar to other fields, the most effective way to pursue a career in nursing is by passing entrance exams such as those for AIIMS, JIPMER, or state-level exams. Once selected, individuals can continue their studies and advance in the field. Upon completion of the course, in order to practice, Licensing is a must i.e., registering with the respective State Nursing Council. Any graduate can pursue higher studies like M.Sc. Nursing, Ph.D in Nursing, or other Specialised Certification Programs.

What does a B.Sc Nursing course include, and what can students do after graduating?

B.Sc. Nursing is a four-year degree course that offers comprehensive education in Nursing, combining theory with extensive practical training. The students are also prepared for rendering Evidence-based Care while also inculcating the role of leadership and management skills by including Nursing Research and Management in the nursing curriculum. For practical training, students undergo clinical rotations in various departments of the hospitals or healthcare centres and community visits.

After graduating in B.Sc. Nursing, one can work as a Registered Nurse under central or state government, private hospitals, as a military or aviation nurse, public health nurse, school health nurse and Community Health Officer under National Health Mission (NHM). Other options include working as nursing educators in different colleges or institutions. Individuals interested in working abroad can do so by passing language proficiency exams such as International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or Occupational English Test (OET).

What are the steps to pursue a Master’s degree, and what career options follow?

M.Sc. Nursing is a two-year post-graduate program where the eligibility criteria is to hold a B.Sc. Nursing or post basic B.Sc. Nursing degree from a recognised institution with a minimum of  55% marks in the qualifying exam, having one year of work experience as a registered Nurse (not required for AIIMS). Premier institutes like AIIMS, JIPMER, CMC Vellore conducts independent M.Sc entrance examinations for those not making through, the alternative  route would mean opting for private institutions where admissions are mostly merit-based however incurring high fees.

After the completion of M.Sc. Nursing one may take up options like Nurse Practitioner who can provide advanced care, diagnose illnesses,, etc. Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) is another option where one can be an expert in a specific area of nursing such as critical care, Pediatrics, or Oncology. For those having the passion for teaching one can delve into teaching and academia by becoming a nursing educator or lecturer in nursing colleges and universities. One may also pursue a Ph.D in Nursing for further academic and research opportunities.

Nursing Administration is also a bright option where one may take up leadership roles like nursing supervisor, nursing manager, or director of nursing, working in hospital administration, overseeing nursing staffs and operations. Public Health and Community Nursing is also a way to go about where one may work with different Government Health Programs, NGOs, or International Health Organisations to promote community health and preventive care.

Lastly in the field Research and Policy, one may engage in nursing research, contributing to healthcare innovations and policy-making and working with Health Policy Organisations or as a consultant in healthcare sectors.

What other programs can nursing aspirants pursue besides a B.Sc Nursing, and what career paths can they follow as well?

Besides B.Sc. Nursing, the primary alternatives are:

(i) Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM): Two-year diploma course.

(ii) General Nursing Midwifery(GNM): Three-year diploma Course.

(iii) Post Basic B.Sc Nursing (PBBSc)

(iv) Bachelor of Science in Public Health

(v) Diploma in Critical Care Nursing, etc.

What study strategies and resources did you find most effective when preparing for the NORCET?

The Nursing Officer Recruitment Common Eligibility Test (NORCET) is an entrance exam conducted by AIIMS, New Delhi to recruit Nursing Officers for various AIIMS hospitals and other central government healthcare institutions in India.

Since this is a non-transferable job, one needs to re-appear for the exam depending on the preference of regions/place where AIIMS are located. For example, in order to join AIIMS Guwahati, I had to sit for the exam again while I was working at AIIMS, Kalyani, West Bengal which made balancing work and preparation quite challenging. However, I can say that I utilised the free hours or off days wisely and I managed to get a decent ranking which allowed me to join AIIMS Guwahati. My preparation was simple – Referring to leading MCQ books such as ‘Target High’, ‘NCLEX’ and ‘PR Yadav’ while at the same time preparing self notes, engaging in YouTube tutorials, self-assessment by solving online MCQs on various platforms, etc.

Given that NORCET is a multiple-choice exam, could you share your advice for students based on your experience?

As far as advice is concerned, it may sound cliché but I would encourage all to start preparing for the exam from the undergraduate years in order to make the journey easier if one is planning to sit for NORCET or  in fact any other kind of central exams. In recent years with the establishment of various coaching institutes (which also offer online courses), one may avail those facilities in order to prepare more efficiently depending on the exam patterns that often keeps on changing. Another essential component of the preparation would be time management and rigorous revision.

Being a nurse requires certain qualities and skills; how does the work environment, especially in a hospital like AIIMS, reflect these demands?

An ideal nurse should be compassionate, highly skilled, efficient, empathetic, adaptable, and resilient. Apart from these qualities, AIIMS being India’s premier healthcare institution and a benchmark in itself, the volume with regard to the influx of patients daily is humongous inviting complex and critical situations, thereby making it quite challenging at times. Therefore, the need to keep oneself updated with the latest trend or knowledge in medical science and technology and engaging in research activities is paramount.

On an average day, what does your typical work routine look like as a Nursing Officer at AIIMS?

Being the first batch of Nursing Officers in Guwahati, and as assigned by the Principal, College of Nursing, AIIMS, Guwahati, I hold the responsibilities in Nursing Administration and Management Office (NAMO) along with eight other colleagues where our role primarily is of managerial and administrative work such as manpower management of Nursing Officers, assigning or delegating their departments, conducting nursing rounds and supervision, conducting and organising in-service classes, induction training, workshops and conferences.

For those aspiring to embark on a nursing career, what advice would you offer?

For any medical or healthcare facility irrespective of government or private, the ratio vis-à-vis the demand for nurses against doctors is considerably high, and hence from the perspective of employment opportunities, the chances of employment are very high and can be deemed as one of the most stable jobs in the country, considering the trajectory in which new hospitals/medical institutions are established as well.

RAPID INSIGHTS 

What keeps you motivated each day?

The eagerness to make a difference in others’ lives by remaining true to my profession and helping people.

An unforgettable moment in your nursing journey

During my M.Sc at AIIMS, Delhi, I was on a flight from Delhi to Dimapur when a patient needed urgent help. As the only medical volunteer on board, I used my knowledge of Meitei, learned from my time at RIMS, Manipur, to assist a Manipuri teenager and render my services to the fullest. This experience remains one of the most memorable moments of my nursing career.

What’s on the top three of your bucket list?

(i) Trip to Europe (ii) Receive a Ph.D in Nursing (iii) Get a glimpse of the Northern Lights