BSc Nursing or Bachelor of Science in Nursing is a 4-year undergraduate program in the field of Medical Science, preparing students to serve humanity with the help of medical treatment. The minimum eligibility criteria in order to study BSc Nursing degree is to complete the higher secondary degree with at least 50% marks in the science stream with the following core subjects: English, Chemistry, Biology, and Physics. Another way to apply for a BSc Nursing degree is to complete a Diploma in Nursing. A BSc Nursing course focuses on imparting knowledge to students on critical care, and advanced analytical skills, and helps them inculcate values that are necessary for becoming professional nurses.
In India, a total of 1,00,930 colleges are there that offer Nursing degree to their students. BSc Nursing can be pursued in three modes: online, offline, and in distance learning mode. BSc in Nursing Syllabus provides a detailed insight into the important topics included in the course structure. Admission to a BSc Nursing Course is provided through major exams such as the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), as well as some individual state conducted native nursing entrance exams for admission to prestigious institutions.
The average course fee for a BSc Nursing degree in India lies within the range of INR 20,000 to INR 5 LPA. There is a chance of creating a bright future and promising career by studying the course as it allows a student to take up on a number of important BSc Nursing job roles such as becoming a clinical nurse specialist, certified nurse midwife, case manager, nurse anesthetist, nurse educator, nurse practitioner, or staff nurse. Some of the top BSc Nursing colleges are AIIMS New Delhi, PGIMER Chandigarh, CMC Vellore, BHU, etc. and the average course fee for BSc Nursing ranges from INR 8000 to INR 2LPA. The average BSc Nursing Salary may range from INR 2 LPA to INR 12 LPA based on a number of factors.
A Bachelor of Science in Nursing has a lot to offer to students in terms of a bright career. Here are some of the important highlights to focus on:
| Course level | Under-graduate |
| Course duration | 4 years |
| Eligibility | 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry and Biology as compulsory subjects |
| Admission process | Entrance exams like NEET, PGIMER, RUHS, BHU UET, JIPMER, etc. followed by counselling |
| Average BSc Nursing fees | INR 20,000 to INR 5 lakh for four years |
| Average salary for fresher | INR 3 Lakh to INR 9 Lakh |
| Top colleges offering BSc Nursing course in India | Acharya Institute of Health Science (Bangalore), All India Institute of Medical Science (New Delhi), Christian Medical College (Vellore), Chandigarh University (Chandigarh), Armed Forces Medical College (Pune), NIMS University (Jaipur), Kasturba Medical College (Mangalore), Madras Medical College (Chennai), and King George’s Medical University (Lucknow). |
| Top recruiters | Public Health Departments, Hospitals, Home Health Agencies, Community Organizations, Wellness Centers, Faith Communities, Schools, etc. |
| Common job positions | Assistant Nursing Officer, Chief Nursing Officer, Rehabilitation Specialist, Critical Care Nurse, Paramedic Nurse, Nurse Manager, Educator, Instructor, Lecturer, Community Health Specialist, etc. |
If a candidate is wondering whether a BSc Nursing course is the right choice, then there are some solid reasons that state why one should choose the course to begin their career as a licensed and professional nurse:
Job Satisfaction: The most important reason behind choosing to study BSc in Nursing and the nursing profession is job satisfaction. Almost 94% of nursing graduate students get a job within 6 months of completing their 4-year undergraduate degree.
Career Mobility: After completing a BSc Nursing course, a Registered Nurse can choose to work in a variety of workplaces like hospitals, healthcare facilities, etc. They can also choose to work in frontline trauma care or choose to extend to public health or community setting. If a candidate is interested in teaching, job roles as educators in nursing schools also are excellent career choices.
Variety of Specialization: While a registered nurse is eligible to work in any hospital or clinic, the nursing profession offers you the choice to specialize in different sub-fields. Many students after completing their BSc Nursing degree opt for a field of specialization that makes them qualified to become an infant nurse, midwife, or neonatal nurse. So choose the desired field accordingly and pursue a master’s degree in the future for specialization.
Learning Opportunities: Every job comes with its set of challenges and difficulties and therefore, this is no exception. However, a nurse can tell you that each day is different and they keep learning more and more which keeps them interested and excited about their profession.
Expanded Opportunities: Nurses often need to work with teams of healthcare professionals and are required to lead the team. They have managing duties while coordinating with patient care, planning, implementing and evaluating different programs. So these are all learning opportunities that a student can look forward to when studying for a BSc Nursing degree.
Demand for Nurses: A nurse will always be in demand due to the increase in demand for their role in the healthcare sector. Just like a healthcare setting cannot function without qualified doctors, without qualified and registered nurses, there will be an increase in the hospital mortality rate and a reduction in patient satisfaction and quality of life. Hence, a nurse’s job is here to stay and the demand for RNs (Registered Nurse) will increase in future.
BSc Nursing has two course options for candidates to choose from:
Basic BSc Nursing: To enroll into this course, a candidate needs to pass his or her 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry and Biology as mandatory subjects. They also need to be medically fit.
Post-Basic B Sc Nursing: To enroll into this course, candidates must take up Physics, Chemistry and Biology as mandatory subjects in their 10+2 and get a certificate in GNM Nursing. He/she must also be a Registered Nurse Registered Midwife (RNRM) from the State Nurses Registration Council.
One also has to provide proof of their training done under the INC (Indian Nursing Council) or a body that is equivalent in these domains:
| Operation Theatre (OT) Techniques | Neurological and Neurosurgical Nursing |
| Community Health Nursing | Psychiatric Nursing |
| Orthopedic Nursing | Leprosy Nursing |
| Cancer Nursing | TB Nursing |
The BSc Nursing course is available in two segments- BSc Basic and BSc Post Basic. Here are the details of the eligibility criteria:
Any male nurse who has received training prior to the implementation of the new and integrated course besides being registered as a nurse under the State Nurses Registration Council must produce evidence of training that is approved by the Indian Nursing Council for a similar duration to that of midwifery in any of these following areas:
All candidates wishing to pursue BSc in Nursing must be well-versed with the details of the admission process for the same.
As part of the BSc Nursing admission process, students need to clear entrance test that are arranged both at the national and state levels. In India, there are a number of entrance exams that are conducted so students can gain admission in B Sc Nursing courses. Here is a list of the most common entrance exams:
| Exam Name | Exam Date | Details |
| PGIMER exam | July 26, 2024 | A total of 100 questions will be asked to the students. All the questions will be multiple choice based. It will be conducted in offline mode. Students will get 1 hour and 30 minutes to complete the test. |
| RUHS Entrance exam | August 11,, 2024 | Students will have to answer 120 multiple choice questions. There is no negative marks. Exam will be conducted in online mode. |
| BHU UET exam | May 15 - 31, 2024 | A total of 100 questions will be asked from Physics, Chemistry, Botany and Zoology subjects. All the questions will be multiple choice based. |
| JIPMER Entrance Exam | May 5, 2024 | The exam will be conducted in online mode. Students will get 2 hour and 30 minutes to complete the test. English will be the only language of the test. Questions will be asked from Physics, Chemistry and Biology. |
| NEET exam | May 5, 2024 | This is conducted at the national level. Students will have to take the test in offline mode. The full marks of the exam is 720. |
| JENPAS UG | June 30, 2024 | This is a state-level entrance exam conducted by WBJEE for admission to several undergraduate nursing, paramedical, and allied sciences courses in the state of West Bengal. |
| CP NET | June 24, 2024 | This is a state-level entrance exam that grants students admission into several Pharmacy, Paramedical, and Nursing courses in the state of Uttar Pradesh. |
| WB ANM & GNM Entrance | August 4, 2024 | This exam is conducted for students to take admission into the 2-year Diploma course in Nursing across colleges in the state of West Bengal. |
In order to enrol oneself in a B Sc Nursing, preparing for the entrance exam is extremely important. Check out some of the most important guidelines for clearing the BSc Nursing Entrance exam without any kind of difficulty.
In the very first year of pursuing a BSc Nursing course, the BSc Nursing syllabus may acquaint students with a wide variety of BSc Nursing subjects list and foundational concepts like anatomy, physiology, first aid, fundamentals of nursing, etc. Take a look at the 1st year BSc Nursing syllabus:
| Name of BSc Nursing Subjects | Syllabus (1st Year) |
| Physiology |
Composition and Function of Blood Cardiovascular System Excretory System Endocrine and Metabolism |
| Anatomy |
Skeletal and Joint System Respiratory System Muscular System Digestive System |
| Nutrition and Dietetics |
Different methods of cooking and their effect on the body Meaning of Food, Nutrition, and Dietetics Methods of Calculating Calories Therapeutic adaptations of a normal diet |
| Biochemistry |
Amino Acids Introduction and Classification of Carbohydrates Catabolism of Nucleic Acid Enzymes, Nature, and Functions |
While studying BSc Nursing in 2nd year, the focus will be on surgical assistance along with health education. Here is a comprehensive view of the second year of the BSc Nursing syllabus pdf:
| Name of BSc Nursing Subjects | Syllabus ( 2nd Year) |
| Psychiatric Nursing |
Principles and Applications of Psychiatric Nursing Nursing approaches as per the behaviours, disorders, aggression, etc Role in Chemotherapy, Psychotherapy, Occupational Therapy, etc. Psychiatric Emergencies |
| Medical-Surgical Nursing |
Maintaining the body dynamic equilibrium Medical and surgical nursing management of patients with Angina, hypertension, etc. Principles of Orthopaedic Nursing and Techniques ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) Nursing |
| Operation Theatre Techniques |
Sterilisation of Instruments Types of Anaesthesia How to care for patients before, after and during the operation Knowing the instruments |
| Health Education |
Concept, Scope, Limitations, and Benefits of Health Education Health Communication and Teaching Audio-Visual Aids Methods of Health Education |
| Microbiology | Morphology and classification of bacterial Factors and conditions affecting the growth of bacteria Immunity and Immunisation Process Serological tests and their corresponding diseases |
| Advanced Procedures | Blood Examination, Lumbar Air Study, Electrocardiography, Angiocardiography |
The third year is crucial in the BSc Nursing course and involves the completion of training programs in emergency wards of hospitals and clinics. A great deal of theoretical emphasis will be present on the economic as well as sociological fundamentals of nursing. Here is a table containing the BSc Nursing syllabus for 3rd year:
| Name of BSc Nursing Subjects | Syllabus (3rd year) |
| Public Health Nursing and Health Administration |
History of Community Medicine and Community Nursing Organisation and Administration of Health Services Role of Epidemiology in Community Health Principles and Concepts of Public Health |
| Maternal and Child Health |
Nutritional needs for children and adults Development of the Maternal and Child Health Care Socio-Economic Factors affecting childcare Family Welfare Programs |
| Sociology and Social Medicine |
Social structure of the society and individual The city and the country: Sociological and Economical contrasts Human Relations Significance of Sociology in Nursing |
| Trends in Nursing and Professional Adjustment |
Popular Nursing Programs Role of famous international organisations in the development of the nursing profession Nursing Registration and Legislation Nurse’s role in family planning |
The final year of the BSc Nursing syllabus includes imparting practical knowledge that is based on the industry standards with the help of different BSc Nursing subjects like midwifery, research methodologies, obstetrics nursing, etc.
| Name of BSc Nursing Subjects | Syllabus (4th year) |
| Midwifery and Obstetrics Nursing |
Anatomy and Physiology Embryology Preparation for Delivery Physiology of Labour |
| Principles of Nursing Services, Administration, and Supervision |
Formal and Informal Organizational Structure Elementary Principles of Medicine Philosophy of Supervision Medico-Legal Aspects of MCH services |
| Introduction to Research and Statistics |
Types of measures, graphs methods of presentation Introduction to Computer Science Microsoft Windows Introduction to Database |
| English (or any other Foreign Language) |
Literature book as prescribed by the college/ university Essay, Letter Writing Grammar topics like Speech, Articles, Direct and Indirect, Idioms, etc. |
There are several practical concepts and topics that students must know about along with theory subjects in the overall course curriculum. The table given below depicts the major practical subjects taught in most of the best BSc Nursing Colleges in India.
| Research Project on Nursing | Mental Health Nursing |
| Nursing Foundation | Medical Surgical Nursing |
| Midwifery and Obstetric Nursing | Community Health Nursing |
To grasp theoretical and practical subjects of BSc nursing better, students should refer to the most recommended books like.
| Book | Author |
| Nursing Foundation | B.T. Basavanthappa |
| Psychology for Nurses | R. Sreevani |
| Textbook of Microbiology | Surinder Kumar |
| Communication and Educational Technology | Suresh Sharma |
| Nutrition and Dietetics | I. Clement |
| Textbook of Sociology | K.P. Neeraja |
After completing the BSc Nursing course students can choose from a number of specializations like Critical Care Nursing, Cardio-Thoracic Nursing, Psychiatric Nursing, Operation Room Nursing, Oncology Nursing, Neonatal Nursing, and Dialysis technology. Let’s take a look at some of them:
Professionals who have already completed their BSc in Nursing can pursue this specialized course. The job of a critical care nurse is to provide care to individuals who are admitted to an ICU or are under some other extensive care therapy. The duration of the course can range anywhere from 1 to 3 years.
Nurses also can join another important specialisation where they learn how to enhance their knowledge of taking care of patients suffering from acute and chronic cardiac issues. By pursuing this course, nurses become proficient in cardiology and cardiothoracic care which often demand special care for patients with heart problems. Nurses who completed their Diploma in CVT, after getting their BSc Nursing degree can work in operation theaters, path labs, special wards and ICUs. Based on the structure of the course, it can take a few months to two years to complete this course.
After completing a BSc Nursing course, a candidate can also choose to pursue Diploma in Nursing Administration as a specialization. This enables and prepares nurses to take up the role of leader. However, in order to go for this specialization, one must not only have a BSc Nursing degree but also have at least 2 years of working experience. This course can take anywhere between one year to 3 years.
If you have completed your BSc Nursing course and want to work in the emergency department, this is your course. Emergency Nursing Diploma trains nurses to perform various procedures like handling patients with trauma, resuscitation process, intubation, etc. This speciality is highly in demand in hospital and healthcare settings.
This important course teaches nurses to handle major surgeries and any function related to that in the operating theaters of hospitals and institutes.
A specialized course in Paediatric Critical Care Nursing is designed to teach nurses to take care of children and infants who are being treated in an ICU. This course is extremely specialized and nurses who complete their PG Diploma and Fellowships in Paediatric Critical Care Nursing are an important part of the Intensive Care Units in various hospitals.
Nurses who have completed their BSc Nursing course and want to receive specialized training to take care of patients who are suffering from various mental health issues and diseases can opt for this specialization. This course allows nurses to work in the department of psychiatry and psychiatric intensive care units.
In India, there are several BSc Nursing Colleges for students to choose from and become professionals in the field. Some of the institutions are private while others are government institutes. Here is a list of the top B Sc Nursing Colleges in India:
| Name of college or institute | Average fees in INR |
| All India Institute of Medical Sciences | INR 3,685 |
| Jamia Hamdard University | INR 1.4 LPA |
| Lady Hardinge Medical College | INR 7,360 |
| GD Goenka University | INR1.4 LPA |
| Pt. Bhagwat Dayal Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences | INR 12,395 |
| Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute | INR 17,970 |
| St. George College of Management Science and Nursing | INR 2.8 LPA |
| Indian Academy Group of Institutions | INR 1.8 LPA |
| T John Institute of Management and Science | INR 75,000 |
| Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Science | INR 68,800 |
| Integral University | INR 75,000 |
| Bhartiya Shiksha Parishad | INR 9,250 |
| Hind Institute of Medical Sciences | INR 78,000 |
| NIMS University | INR 80,000 |
More than 850 nursing colleges in India train candidates to become experienced professionals in the field. These institutes teach aspirants the process and procedures of taking care of patients while maintaining proper hygiene. Technical training is also provided to students belonging to nursing colleges in India.
| Name of the Colleges | City |
| All India Institute of Medical Sciences | Delhi |
| Lady Hardinge Medical College | Delhi |
| GD Goenka University | Delhi |
| Jamia Hamdard University | Delhi |
| Pt. Bhagwat Dayal Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences | Delhi |
| Name of the Colleges | City |
| Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute | Bangalore |
| Indian Academy Group of Institutions | Bangalore |
| St. George College of Management Science and Nursing | Bangalore |
| RR Nursing Institutions | Bangalore |
| T John Institute of Management and Science | Bangalore |
| Name of the Colleges | City |
| Sanjay Gandhi PostGraduate Institute of Medical Sciences | Lucknow |
| Bhartiya Shiksha Parishad | Lucknow |
| ERA University | Lucknow |
| Integral University | Lucknow |
| Hind Institute of Medical Sciences | Lucknow |
Some of the top private universities in India offering BSc Nursing Admissions to interested candidates are mentioned below in the table:
| Name of the BSc Nursing Private Institutes | Averge Course Admission Fees |
| Government Medical College, Nagpur | INR 28 LPA |
| PGIMS, Rohtak | INR 30 LPA |
| Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences, Pondicherry | INR 35 LPA |
| HCN, Dehradun | INR 7 LPA |
| ACN Jalandhar | INR 3 LPA |
Some of the top Government Institutes in India that offer admission to BSc Nursing courses are mentioned below for all interested candidates to get an idea, along with their average course admission fee:
| Name of the Government Institute | Average Course Admission Fees |
| Institute Of Post Graduate Medical Education And Research, Kolkata | INR 12,000 |
| Sri Venkateswara Institute Of Medical Sciences | INR 25,500 |
| Government Medical College, Chandigarh | INR 10,000 |
| JIPMER | INR 8,000 |
| AIIMS Delhi | INR 5,000 |
| Banaras Hindu University | INR 5,500 |
| Lady Hardinge Medical College, Delhi | INR 5,000 |
Here is a comprehensive tabular form for the BSc Nursing course fees along with their NIRF Ranking:
| NIRF Medical Ranking 2022 | Name of College/Institute | Fees in INR |
| 2 | Chandigarh | INR 8,045 |
| 3 | CMC Vellore | INR 71,790 |
| 4 | NIMHANS Bangalore | INR 2.4 LPA |
| 6 | BHU Varanasi | INR 11,140 |
| 8 | JIPMER Puducherry | INR 15,040 |
| 10 | King George’s Medical University, Lucknow | - |
| 12 | Madras Medical College | - |
| 13 | SRIHER Chennai | INR 4 LPA |
| 14 | St. John’s Medical College, Bangalore | - |
| 18 | CMC Ludhiana | INR 5.4 LPA |
B Sc Nursing course spans over a period of 4 years and along with theoretical concepts, there are many essential skills related to child and mental health nursing, management of nursing services, anatomy, community health, etc. are imparted.
Here is a table containing various topics covered throughout the 4-year course of BSc Nursing:
|
BSc Nursing 1st year syllabus |
BSc Nursing 2nd year syllabus |
|
English |
Sociology |
|
Anatomy |
Pharmacology |
|
Physiology |
Pathology |
|
Nutrition |
Genetics |
|
Biochemistry |
Medical-Surgical Nursing |
|
Nursing Foundation |
Community Health Nursing I |
|
Psychology |
Microbiology |
|
Introduction to computers |
Environmental Science |
|
BSc Nursing 3rd year syllabus |
BSc Nursing 4th year syllabus |
|
Medical-Surgical Nursing |
Midwifery and obstetrical nursing |
|
Child Health Nursing |
Community Health Nursing II |
|
Mental health nursing |
Nursing research |
|
Communicational and educational technology |
Management of Nursing service and education |
Post completing BSc in Nursing, many individuals often wonder about the possible future prospects regarding further studies in the field of Nursing. As they say "Learning is a never-ending process", interested candidates can opt for a higher degree such as a Master's in Nursing to strengthen their knowledge base in the practical field of study.
Here is the list of the most sought after courses after BSc nursing mentioned below:
MSc NursingMSc Nursing is a PG qualification program that lasts for 2 years. Listed below are some more details about MSc nursing.
BSc Nursing Scope in India primarily throws light into the ever expanding, dynamic medical and healthcare sector. The constant demand for well-trained nurses among various medical institutions across the country is expected to further increase in forthcoming years. Moreover, nurses form one of the key pillars of the healthcare sector and therefore, the scope for BSc Nursing graduates is vast both in terms of jobs as well as higher education.
There are a number of opportunities for candidates who have completed their BSc Nursing. It can be either a job or to continue with higher education.
Some of the popular jobs that candidates can apply for after BSc Nursing:
| Nursing Assistant | Home Care Nurses |
| Nurse- Nursery school | Nurse and Patient Educator |
| Junior Psychiatric Nurse | Psychiatric Nurse |
| Staff Nurse | Nursing Service Administrators |
| Industrial Nurse | Department Supervisor |
| Nursing Supervisor | Nursing Superintendent |
| Community Health Nurse | Director of Nursing |
| Military Nurse | Deputy Nursing Superintendent |
| Teacher of Nursing |
BSc Nursing salary in India typically provides an average idea of the salary range in INR per annum, offered to students who have graduated BSc Nursing from a recognised institution. The average salary range varies anywhere between INR 1-7 LPA depending on the designation of the candidate.
Below is the table that shows the range of BSc Nursing salary :
| BSc Nursing Salary in India | Average Salary (INR) |
| Highest Salary | 7 LPA |
| Average Salary | 3 LPA |
| Lowest Salary | 1.2 LPA |
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