Essential requirement for those who B.Sc. or M.Sc. in nursing is an wish to serve as nurses. The levels of functioning that a nurse goes through in the course of her career are:

• Ward Sister.
• Tutor.
• Senior Nursing Superintendent.
• Matron.
• Training.

Due to the complexity of skills and advanced knowledge required, formal training, both practical and theoretical, is essential for a career in nursing.

A large number of institutions in India now offer diploma, graduate and postgraduate course in nursing, as well as midwifery courses. Nursing colleges in some states like Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Kerala are open exclusively to candidates domiciled there. However, admissions on a national level are open at many other institutions such as:

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, Rajkumari Amrit Kaur College of Nursing, New Delhi, The Leelabai Thakersey College of Nursing (SNDT), Mumbai, The Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, College of Nursing, Jaipur, and the College of Nursing, Ludhiana.Other nursing colleges in Annamalainagar, Bangalore, Calcutta and Vellore keep some seats open for admission on an all–India basis.

Eligibility
There are three kinds of programmes from which prospective nurses may choose. Eligibility criteria for admission to these are:

B.Sc. Nursing: 10 + 2 with biology, physics, chemistry.
General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM): 10+2 with biology, physics, chemistry.
Auxillary Nurse Midwife (ANM): Class X pass.
Health Worker: Class X pass.

Training
Training periods vary with different institutions and the courses they offer. Approximate duration of various basic nursing courses are as follows:

B.Sc. Nursing: between three and four years.
GNM, General Nursing & Midwifery: three years and six months.
ANM, Auxiliary Nurse Midwife/Health Worker: 18 months.

Academic Programme
B.Sc. Nursing
In the B.Sc. course, nurse are provided with basic knowledge about nursing, first–aid and midwifery. They are trained in all the theoretical as well as practical aspects of nursing.

GNM (General Nursing & Midwifery)
The purpose of this programme is to prepare general nurses who function as members of the health team, to hold first–level positions in both the hospital and the health team.

ANM (Auxiliary Nurse Midwife/Health Worker)
These workers are specially trained to look after the health needs of people living in the rural areas, particularly mothers and children.