B.Sc vs M.Sc in Nursing - Which to choose?

Introduction

Nursing has emerged as a crucial profession for global health and public security in the post-pandemic era. Governments and health authorities have realized that tackling future epidemics and pandemics without proper investment in nursing and nursing infrastructure is not the right manner forward.

Nurses make the backbone of healthcare; from providing medical care, and emotional care to patients, to ensuring comfort to patients, nurses remain at the forefront. As noble professionals, nurses provide patients care and support during one of the most crucial and sensitive moments of their life.

This article will discuss what is nursing, the primary job roles of nurses, the B.Sc nursing salary in India, the M.Sc nursing salary in India, and details about B.Sc Nursing course, details about M.Sc Nnursing course, B.Sc vs M.Sc Nursing, and much more.

What is Nursing?

Nursing is a healthcare profession that involves medical, mental, and emotional care of individuals of all ages, genders, families, groups, and communities. It also includes enlightening, promoting, and counseling people about nutrition, disease prevention, patient care, and personal hygiene.

Nurses are frequently the unsung heroes in health care facilities. Nurses also fulfill managerial roles like- organizing, scheduling, staffing, directing, delegation, etc.

Major job roles of nurses

A regular day for a nurse is filled with many responsibilities, some of which are listed below :-

• Identify a patient's needs, care requirements, and problems.
• Foster a healthy environment by providing psychological support to the patient and their family.
• Maintain proper documentation of the patients- their health reports, prescriptions, etc.
• Perform routine diagnostic checks and communicate them to the doctors and patient.
• Manage the staff and health care facilities.
• Provide first aid to emergencies.
• Maintain cleanliness and hygiene of the premises.
• Follow and maintain healthcare regulations and standards.
• Maintain co-operation at all levels of work.

How to Become a Nurse?

Students after class 12th can give entrance exams to join nursing courses. Some of the popular entrance exams are NEET, JIPMER, AUAT, AJEE, BHU UET, AIIMS nursing, etc. Students can either choose a diploma, Undergraduate or certificate course in nursing to kickstart their career.

B.Sc Nursing is the most popular course among students. After this course, students can join higher courses like M.Sc nursing and PhD in nursing.

B.Sc Nursing course

BSc in Nursing is an undergraduate 4-year long course. It focuses on providing exhaustive nursing education and training to medical aspirants. To join this course, students should have completed class 12th with Biology as a subject or completed a Diploma in Nursing.

Students have to crack nursing entrance exams with a good score to ensure admission into good nursing colleges.

Why choose B.Sc Nursing?

Choosing to pursue a BSc in Nursing can bring enormous benefits to the students. Some of the benefits are as follows :-

• After this course, students can join as nurses in government and private hospitals, institutions, armed forces, PSUs, Indian railways, etc.
• The national average salary for nurses is around Rs 21,364 /month. As students get more experience, they get higher pay as well.
• Indian nurses can also work abroad. Students who want to work as nurses in the USA need to clear the IELTS exam and NCLEX (Nurse Licensing Exam) and get a work visa.
• Candidates can also pursue higher education courses like MSc Nursing, where they can choose specialisations. Further, students can also start an academic career in nursing by doing PhD in nursing.
• Students, after completing graduation, can pursue MBA in hospital management to join hospitals as managers. They can work in general management, quality assurance, human resource management, etc.
• Students can also join the armed forces as nurses by cracking the military nursing exam.

M.Sc Nursing course

M.Sc Nursing is a postgraduate two-year long degree. It is designed to provide students with learning and training to meet the medical and healthcare industry requirements. This course includes a lot of lectures, seminars, lab work, and on-field training. Further, students also have to furnish a research thesis to get their degrees.

After completing this course, students can provide consultation to patients as a 'nurse practitioner'.

Students have to clear the entrance exam with a good score to join M.Sc in nursing course. Some popular entrance exams are- AIIMS M.Sc exam, MET, DSAT, WBPGNAT, etc. Some of the specialisation options for students are- gynaecology and obstetrics nursing, medical and surgical nursing, pediatric nursing, mental health nursing, psychiatric nursing, critical care nursing, oncological nursing, neonatal, infant and newborn nursing, etc.

Why choose M.Sc in Nursing?

Below are some of the benefits which students can reap by pursuing an M.Sc in Nursing :-

• This course provides students with in-depth learning and training in Nursing. Students can use this knowledge and experience to provide better patient care.
• MSc in Nursing students can join as senior nurses in government hospitals, private hospitals, nursing homes, health care centres, old age homes, educational institutes, etc.
• After this course, students who want to pursue an academic or research career can take a PhD in nursing.
• After gaining sufficient experience, students can also look for more lucrative opportunities abroad.

B.Sc vs M.Sc Nursing

After B.Sc, many students stop their studies and get totally absorbed in their practice. While some other students, after completing B.Sc go for M.Sc after gaining sufficient experience, this strategy has the following advantages :-

• A higher degree can be an added advantage for promotions and salary negotiations.
• Students after M.Sc become well qualified for foreign opportunities.
• Apart from just nursing, students can also take up teaching and start their academic careers.
• Many top-level positions and managerial positions become open after having a postgraduate degree.

Some of the challenges while going for the M.Sc course are :-

• Students have to clear the entrance exam, which can be very challenging.
• M.Sc in Nursing requires a serious mental, intellectual and financial commitment.

Students have to carefully weigh the pros and cons and make a choice. This article best summarises what they need to keep in mind while choosing B.Sc and M.Sc Nursing.

If you want to build up a lucrative career in Nursing, join the Nursing program at MGU. Sri Sai Institute Of Nursing Sciences at MGU is one of the best nursing colleges in Bhopal, offering a B.Sc Nursing course and an M.Sc Nursing course. MGU provides students with the best training, skills, and education to help them build up a lucrative career in Nursing.