The nursing profession can be considered as the noblest of professions for it is an art of caring sick people. The profession gives opportunities to serve the society and is in high demand in the present context.
The duties a professional nurse is expected to perform arrays from many functions and responsibilities depending on the level of qualification and to some extent the working environment.
The demand of well qualified nurses is growing equally in Nepal as it is abroad. Increasing number of hospitals, nursing homes and clinics are the main reason for the numerous vacancies rising each year. As a result this has led many students to choose nursing course for their career development. Also, alluring jobs abroad in nursing is creating a hype.
“Today a large number of students after SLC seem to be opting for nursing education in Nepal,” said Mahesh Parajuli, staff at Matru College of Nursing in Bangalore, India.
He also informed about the duration of different courses in Nepal of nursing. PCL (Proficiency Certificate Level) nursing , usually known as staff nursing, is a three-year course and BN Nursing (Bachelor’s in Nursing) is a two-year course after PCL Nursing. One has to have at least two year working experience to enroll in BN Nursing.
“B.Sc Nursing on the other hand is a four year nursing course to be taken after completing +2 from the science stream. A student is required to have biology background to enroll in this course,” said Parajuli. However, an individual who has completed B. Sc in nursing must have one year working experience to join Master’s. But if one has completed BN Nursing they should at least have two years working experience to do Master’s in Nursing.
“In case of Nepal, students prefer to study only in colleges which have affiliation with Tribhuvan University and Kathmandu University,” adds Parajuli. He reasons that Nepali universities do not have enough seats for students moving abroad, especially to India.3
He claimed that once a student has a bachelor degree of nursing and go abroad, they get a chance to earn $45, 000-65, 000 if hired by reputed hospitals, clinics or nursing homes.
Students these days consider India as their first option because they would not have to go through a long visa process and can easily migrate to the country too.
Tharendra Adhikari, managing director of Nepal Education Consultancy located in Kamaladi, Kathmandu, said, “Usually to study nursing, the first priority of a Nepali student is to go to India because of the high academic standard.”
Similarly, he said that as India has high standard hospitals and nursing homes, students who prefer to study in India get a chance to practice in those places.
Similar was the view of Sailendra Jha, consultant of Nepal Education Consultancy at Kamaladi, Kathmandu.
He said that as the equipments of the hospitals in India are of high standard, patients from world over come for check ups; consequently, students get a chance to practice with high class equipments and treat patients.
According to Jha, “Nursing Colleges in India provide scholarships for only those students who secure high percentage in their board exams.” He further informed, “And if a student has passed out from colleges affiliated with CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education), they are also eligible for a scholarship.”
The total cost for studying B. Sc in India is around Rs 55,000 to Rs 60,000 adding living expense of Rs 40, 000 per year.
Another advantage for Nepali students can be the fact that they do not have to take entrance exams for studying nursing in India.
“Once the training and internships are over, students can earn around Rs 16,000 to Rs 32,000 depending upon the standards of hospitals,” he said. However, to get a placement in multinational hospitals or nursing homes, one has to secure 60% aggregate marks.
(Source: Republica Nepal)
