ANM vs GNM vs BSC nursing

In this blog, we will be discussing the basic differences between ANM Vs GNM Vs BSc Nursing courses, their course curriculum, career prospects, and eligibility criteria. After going through this blog you will be able to find out which course/program is most suited for you and what you can get out of it.

Stay tuned, to figure out what your career and life would be like in the Nursing industry after completing one of these courses. 

ANM vs GNM vs BSc Nursing is a tough nut to crack after class 12, especially when nursing as a profession holds bright earning potential in the Indian subcontinent. Undoubtedly, nursing is a highly sought-after profession among medical aspirants as it offers high regard and esteem in the healthcare sector as well as among patients and people.

Why Nursing as a Career?

Courses such as ANM, GNM, and BSc Nursing offer an opportunity to become a Nurse. Nursing professionals are extremely devoted workers of the country's healthcare system. Nurses have always demonstrated their mettle in all aspects of patient and disease management and care, whether it is ward nursing, emergency case management, or managing a worldwide pandemic. Being the primary workforce, extending primary treatment and day-to-day care to patients, they are indispensable in saving lives. 

Crucial Statistics about Nursing Industry in India

Here are some key statistics about the nursing industry in India. Get familiar with the state of the Indian healthcare industry with these highlights: 

1. The Nurse workforce accounts for more than 60% of the Indian health workforce, making it a supporting pillar of the Indian health workforce.

2. India, the world's second-largest country in terms of population, struggles with a nursing shortage and falls far short of the WHO-specified patient-to-nurse ratio.

3. India has 1.7 nurses per 1,000 people, which is 43% fewer than the WHO standard (3 per 1,000).

4. Nurses, midwives, women's health visitors, and auxiliary nurse-midwives are all included.

5. On March 3, 2020, the government informed the Rajya Sabha that India has 3.07 million registered nursing personnel.

Because of the extreme scarcity, there is a big opportunity in the job market. As the country recognizes the necessity of a strong healthcare system, demand will rise over time. As a result, nursing as a profession is one of the most gratifying careers in the market, and choosing nursing as a career after completing class 12 opens up many opportunities for any student.

About ANM vs GNM vs BSc Nursing 

ANM, or Auxiliary Nursing Midwifery, is a diploma program that focuses on preparing nurses to work as community health workers. The course teaches students how to care for medical equipment, set up an operation theatre, administer medication to patients on time, and keep patient records in small towns. The program is mainly focused on fundamental training. Hence, Candidates pursuing the ANM program are expected to have a basic understanding of nursing concepts as well as the ability to offer first aid and primary medical care to patients. Due to the short duration of this program, the ANM course curriculum contains fewer courses than the GNM and BSc Nursing programs.

After completing class 12, you can pursue a GNM (General Nursing and Midwifery) study. The GNM diploma takes three and a half years to complete, including a six-month internship. Individuals, families, and communities are the emphasis of GNM's services. As previously stated, GNM prepares students to care for patients on a large scale and is not limited to a single community. The training is within the category of paramedics. The diploma program is meant to prepare students to work as nurses in a hospital setting and execute tasks such as delivering first aid, assisting in research activities, performing wound procedures, and working efficiently in a team. Students will also benefit from the GNM curriculum if they wish to pursue higher education.

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing or BSc Nursing is a four-year undergraduate degree program. Anyone who has completed a diploma in nursing (ANM or GNM) or has passed class 12 with physics, chemistry, and biology topics is eligible to enroll in the program. The BSc Nursing program primarily prepares students to care for the sick and diseased, and hence the curriculum includes disciplines such as biochemistry, nutrition, anatomy, physiology, psychology, and others. Students pursuing a BSc in nursing are trained in both theoretical and practical areas of nursing. Nurses are taught to do more than just provide first aid and primary medical treatment; they are also trained to brief patients, coordinate hospital wards and ward workers, and help doctors during medical operations.

ANM vs GNM vs BSc Nursing Eligibility Criteria

Below are the eligibility criteria of the ANM, GNM and BSc Nursing courses as laid by the Indian Nursing Council (INC): 

ANM, GNM, BSc Nursing Course Curriculum

Below is the summary of the topics and subjects which candidates can expect during the course: 

Career Prospects - ANM vs GNM vs BSc Nursing 

ANM and GNM

Both the ANM and the GNM are diploma degrees, they offer nearly identical options in the field of nursing. Aside from the promising job prospects, students who complete the ANM and GNM courses have the option of continuing their education program sates of ANM GNM programs and are qualified to work in both the public and program sectors. Because the GNM programme is longer than the ANM program, it offers more opportunities in terms of compensation and growth. A candidate can also pursue GNM after completing an ANM diploma. Hospitals (public and private), nursing homes, assisted living facilities, various healthcare enterprises, residences, orphanages, sanatoriums, and the military forces are some of the areas where ANM and GNM graduates might work. A candidate will be eligible for registration with the State Nursing Council after the program the ANM or GNM diploma program.

BSc Nursing

In comparison to ANM and GNM Diploma programs, BSc Nursing is a full-fledged four-year degree program with an emphasis on practical aspects of nursing. It has many more opportunities to offer. Students who intend to pursue post-graduate studies will benefit from an undergraduate degree. BSc Nursing graduates, like ANM and GNM graduates, are in high demand in both the public and private sectors. Even in the educational sector, BSc Nursing offers the most promising job choices of the three nursing courses in terms of growth and compensation. BSc Nursing graduates work for the Indian Red Cross Society, the Indian Nursing Council, State organizations, and other nursing organizations in addition to government and private hospitals.

A few of the renowned BSc Nursing entrance exams are mentioned in the table below:

Because all three programs have the same career goal of becoming a nurse, their locations of employment are also similar. BSc Nursing graduates, on the other hand, can expect to get hired by better companies and command greater earnings than GNM and ANM graduates. The following are some of the places that hire ANM, GNM, and BSc Nursing graduates:

• Government and Private Hospitals
• Aanangwadi Programmes
• Community Health Centres
• Private Clinics
• Dispensaries
• Government Jobs
• Nursing Homes
• Various Nursing Schools and Associations
• The armed forces
• Educational institutions and industries
• The Indian Red Cross Society
• Indian Nursing Council and various State Nursing Councils
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Essential Skills Required for Nursing

Nursing is not an easy job by any stretch of the imagination. It is a tough job path that requires someone who is committed to caring for the sick. If a nursing aspirant wishes to establish a successful career in nursing, he or she must already have or be prepared to develop the following abilities.

• Effective communication skills: Nurses are required to communicate with doctors and patients continuously. They should have communication skills strong enough to convey the observations, and treatment procedure in an effective manner.
• Ability to work for long hours: No doubt, Nurses have a lot of work pressure and have to do a lot in a day. The job of a Nurse is not restricted to a typical 9 to 5 job hours and they have to work beyond the shift limitations around the clock depending upon the availability of resources.
• Critical thinking capabilities: Nurses are the first attendants to the patients in a hospital or the clinics and have to make quick decisions at times depending upon the criticalities related to the patient’s condition, which can make a big difference in the line of treatment.
• Staying alert and paying attention to detail: As the nurses spend a lot of time with the patients, hence can easily judge if there is any change in the condition or symptoms by paying attention to each and every detail.
• Strong sense of caring and empathy: Patients when admitted or visiting the hospital are already in a disturbed state and hence Nurses have to make them comfortable enough by taking care of them by empathizing with the pain and physical and mental condition of the particular patient.
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Salary Prospects - ANM vs GNM vs BSc Nursing 

The course duration and the experience (if any) and knowledge of the candidate can fetch a quite lucrative salary package to the ANM, GNM and BSc Nursing graduates. Below is the average starting salary of all three programs:

• ANM Starting Salary in India can be from INR 8,000 to INR 12,000
• GNM's starting salary in India is approx. between INR 10,000 to INR 15,000
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Although initial earnings are low, especially for Diploma graduates, experienced nurses can earn salaries ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 75,000 in India because the nursing profession has a lot of potential and professionals in the field are in high demand.

So, which one should you go for: - ANM vs GNM vs BSc Nursing

The ANM is the only option for anyone who passes the class 12 test from a non-science discipline and wants to pursue a career in nursing program of the ANM diploma program are entitled to register as nurses and pursue the GNM diploma program after successfully completing the ANM. They will be eligible for the BSc Nursing programs (Post-Basic) Nursing program as a result of the process. If the individual comes from a science background with Biology as a subject, the GNM diploma will be the best place to start. Graduates of tin the GNM program can pursue a BSc in Nursing or a BSc (Post-Basic) Nursing degree. GNM graduates who have worked for at least two years are also eligible programs in BSC Nursing Distance program.

A science stream candidate, on the other hand, who wants to focus on academics before starting work should pick BSc Nursing, which allows them to pursue MSc Nursing, a post-graduate degree program completing the MSc Nursing program, individuals can pursue a PhD or seek employment.