How to become a Nurse

What does a Nurse do?

Nurses care for patients, give medicines, monitor health and support doctors. In India nurses train through Indian Nursing Council approved programmes and register with their State Nursing Registration Council.

A nurse checks patients’ vital signs, gives medicines and injections, dresses wounds, keeps careful records and explains care to patients and families. Nurses are often the first to notice when a patient’s condition changes.

In India nurses work in government and private hospitals, community health centres, schools, industries and nursing colleges. With further study they can move into teaching, management or specialist nursing.

How to get there

1. Class 10Study Science well
2. Class 11–12Take Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English
3. B.Sc Nursing needs 45% aggregate and age 17 by 31 December
4. UGComplete the eight-semester B.Sc Nursing (or the three-year GNM diploma)
5. RegistrationRegister as a nurse and midwife with your State Nursing Registration Council
6. First roleJoin a hospital as a staff nurse or nursing officer

Courses that lead here

Further study

• Master of Science

Colleges for these courses

Skills you need

• Communication
• Infection control
• Medication administration
• Patient care
• Record keeping
• Teamwork

It suits people who are

• Caring
• Calm
• Observant
• Dependable

Where you work and how you grow

Where people work

• Government hospitals
• Private hospitals
• Community health centres
• Nursing colleges

Growth path

1. Staff nurse → Senior nurse → Nursing supervisor → Nursing superintendent or nursing faculty

Related careers

Frequently asked questions