Choosing a career often depends on the availability of flexible opportunities. In this regard, healthcare offers many options for those willing to prioritize society’s needs. Once you decide to join the healthcare profession, you take on multiple responsibilities. Ensuring optimal care for human life isn’t easy, but it brings its own thrill and excitement for those who seek it. Nursing, in particular, carries significant societal responsibility, requiring you to provide the best patient care, no matter the circumstances. The most important thing is to be certain of your choice. If you are clear about how to become a registered nurse in India and confident in your decision, nothing can block your path to a successful career in nursing in India.
Introduction
A medical career is rewarding but also comes with stress, commitment, and hard work. Knowing your future goals helps you stay focused. Along with the rewards, nursing as a profession also has a factor of nobility added to it which highlights the need of care, concern and empathy from nurses towards patients. One must confide differences and work in harmony with all the departments treating the patients in consideration.
Many healthcare workers choose nursing to be their choice of career because of the multi-fold opportunities which come their way. Being a nurse entitles you to advocate the health conditions of your patients and collaborate with all the working departments to bring out the best possible treatments and services for your patients. Job of nurses does not end when the patients recover and improve their health because assessment, rehabilitation and post treatment diagnosis also constitute to be the important elements of job responsibilities of a nurse. Keep a record of all the patient’s hospital visits after treatment. Following the same, it’s justified to say that a nurse work like a doctor’s right hand.
Nursing careers have a high scope of introducing you to global opportunities as healthcare services are such which are highly required in each of the nations. Countries like Africa, Bangladesh, Indonesia, India, Argentina, Canada and New Zealand are always in a dire need of nursing services because of the increasing population being unwell, old and dependent on medical facilities. Being a nurse can open a gateway of multiple opportunities if you become a registered nurse in your country.
Who is a Registered Nurse (RN) ?
A nurse is said to be a registered nurse (RN) if he/she has completed a nursing diploma or is a graduate in nursing and has passed the NCLEX-RN exam conducted by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN).
To be a registered nurse, it is important to meet all the eligibility criteria’s and licensing requirements by the respective state’s board of nursing. Many a times, a licensed practical nurse and a registered nurse might sound like they are the same but there are quite a few differences which separate the two.
Being a RN calls for primary medication, treatments and educational advice to patients and the public whereas a licensed nurse is more actively involved in the basic nursing care to the patient and their family. RNs are self-regulated health professionals and are accountable to follow the values in the code of ethics of nursing. A complete study of an approved nursing program and successful completion of the RN exam can only make you earn this designation. A registered nurse does not only limit the operations and services towards patient care but also takes up multiple responsibilities including administration, patient & family counseling, research, teaching, policy making, to mention a few.
EDUCATION OPTIONS TO BE RN IN INDIA
Health literacy is improving, making it crucial to understand the value of proper education programs for nurses. With patients becoming more aware, providing top-notch healthcare services is essential. To treat patients effectively, recognizing the true value of nursing education is vital. Many education options are available to become a registered nurse in India, and here are the most widely considered ones.
- Bachelors of Science in Nursing
Complete bachelors of Science in nursing (BSN) and be a registered nurse. Doing so, can make you eligible to take up a responsible job with supervisory roles and higher salaries. This educational program typically lasts 4 years, combining practical sessions and classroom learning to teach the details of practicing nursing.
- Short term certificate and graduate diploma courses
You can also choose to study short term certificate and graduate diploma courses in nursing which have a duration of 2-3 years. The most popular ones include Auxiliary Nurse and Midwife (ANM) and General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM).
Every country has a governing body for nursing education. India’s nursing programs follow the guidelines of the Indian Nursing Council, State Nursing Council, and Nursing Examination Board.
Many nursing students ask, “Why do we need to register?” or “What happens if we don’t register as a nurse?” In India, registration is essential. Without it, nursing students can’t work professionally in hospitals and healthcare institutes.
CAREER OPTIONS FOR REGISTERED NURSES
Being a RN in India marks the beginning of your career as a nurse. Over the past few years, this profession has gone through rigorous stages of development in terms of payrolls and working conditions. The statistical data states that until May’17, India was short of 1.94 million nurses which unarguably is an alarming figure. It is stated by the World Health Organization that “the country ranks at a dismal 112 in ranking of health systems globally”.
Once you start working as a nurse, it’s important to put in action the theoretical knowledge gained during your program. Every profession, medical or non-medical stands firm on the learning power vested in practical experiences. The more cases you work on, the better you learn. Also, time and again one can be reminded that no profession comes with a guide book. We will each have our own experiences, shaping our achievements and learnings.
Being a nurse comes with a guarantee that one cannot remain unemployed unless it’s by choice. The ever increasing global need for healthcare services has always made sure that there are ample of opportunities around nurses. One can easily get jobs in private and public sector in India. The Indian Nursing Council, state nursing councils, and education institutes are key employers in this field. Besides working in hospitals, experienced nurses can find opportunities in nursing schools, medical colleges, and teaching centers.
INTERNATIONAL CAREER OPTIONS FOR INDIAN REGISTERED NURSES
Once you’ve explored all domestic opportunities, consider becoming an international nurse. Working abroad will expose you to global healthcare practices and highlight differences in patient care. Countries like Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and the United States offer competitive salaries and significant authority in patient care. It’s no surprise that India has become a leading provider of nurses to various countries.
However, it is important to fulfil the required immigration criteria which usually varies from country to country. Say, if you plan to explore nursing opportunities in Canada then there are a few prerequisites which you must fulfil. Internationally educated nurses can find opportunities in Canada due to the high demand for healthcare services.
Similarly, if you move to New Zealand, the process can be a little less time consuming. So with every country, there are different set of rules which one must confirm to. It is important to register with the council of the respective country where you want to work. Some councils also demand a written examination clearance after which you can be a registered nurse in that country.
International nurses have plenty of opportunities. In fact, many countries increasingly depend on healthcare services due to growing elderly and unwell populations. This further boosts the demand for nurses abroad.
PAY SCALE AND ALLOWANCES
Hospitals and healthcare settings use a hierarchy to define nurses’ roles based on their education and licensure levels. Along with the job commitments, pay scales for each of the nurses may also vary. In India, a nurse’s starting salary ranges from INR 7,000 to INR 17,000, depending on specialty, qualifications, and hours. A mid-level nurse can earn between INR 18,000 – INR 37,000, while highly experienced nurses can make up to INR 72,000 per month.
However, nurses in developed countries like Canada are paid significantly more, often earning by the hour. Despite the pay differences, nurses everywhere face similar levels of work stress, multitasking, and time management challenges. This is what makes the profession both thrilling and demanding.
MAKE A CHOICE
Discussing the scope and future of being a registered nurse in India is crucial. Consider all influencing factors to make the right career choice. While healthcare is a complex field and can’t provide complete information, knowing as much as possible helps. From graduate certificates to doctorates, you can pursue various educational achievements but remember to maintain your field experience.
You can explore various nursing disciplines to see what each adds to your knowledge. By doing so, you can increase your credibility and add extra feathers to the cap of specialties. Working in healthcare, you may encounter recognition issues and emotional shifts. But if your end goal is clear, you’ll overcome any hurdles in your way. Creating ideal patient-centric care plans requires significant effort and research. Nurses have endless responsibilities, so it’s crucial to thoroughly study every healthcare aspect before advancing in the field. Now is the time to analyze the information in hand, and make the right choice.
