B.Sc. in Nursing

The B.Sc. nursing degree program is a four-year fulltime program comprising eight semesters, which prepares a student to become a registered nurse qualified to practice in either public/ government or private healthcare settings. It adopts credit system and semester system as per UGC guidelines. The program encompasses foundational, core and elective courses. The choice-based creditsystem is applicable to electives only and is offered in the form of modules. Modular learning is also integrated in the foundational as well as core course that is mandatory.

The program prepares nurses for generalist nursing practice. Knowledge acquisition related to wellness, health promotion, illness, disease management and care of the sick is core to nursing practice. Mastery of competencies is the main focus. Students are provided with opportunities to learn a whole range of nursing skills in addition to acquiring knowledge related to nursing practice. This is achievedthrough learning in skill lab/simulated labs and clinical environment. Simulation is integrated throughout the curriculum wherever feasible to enable students to develop competencies before entry into real field of nursing practice.

The revised curriculum embraces competency-based approach throughout the program integrating mastery learning and self-directed learning. Through the educational process the students assimilate and synthesize knowledge, cultivate critical thinking skills and develop care strategies. Competencies that reflect practice standards of Indian Nursing Council (INC) address the areas of cultural diversity,communication technology, teamwork and collaboration, safety, quality, therapeutic interventions and evidence- based practice. They are prepared to provide safe and competent care to patients across life span and influence patient outcomes.

AIMS

The aims of the undergraduate program are to

• Produce knowledgeable competent nurses with clear critical thinking skills who are caring, motivated, assertive and well-disciplined responding to the changing needs of profession, healthcare delivery system and society.
• Prepare graduates to assume responsibilities as professional, competent nurses and midwives in providing preventive, curative and rehabilitative healthcare services in hospital or public health settings.
• Prepare nurses who can make independent decisions in nursing situations within the scope of practice, protect the rights of individuals and groups and conduct research in the areas of nursing practice and apply evidence-based practice.
• Prepare nurses to assume role of practitioner, teacher, supervisor and manager in clinical or public health settings.

Core competencies for nursing practice by B.Sc. Graduate

The B.Sc. Graduate nurse will be able to:

• Patient centric care: Provide holistic care recognizing individual patient’s preferences, values and needs, that is compassionate, coordinated, age and culturally appropriate safe and effective care.
• Professionalism: Demonstrate accountability for the delivery of standard-based nursing care as per INC standards that is consistent with moral, altruistic, legal, ethical, regulatory and humanistic principles.
• Leadership: Influence the behaviour of individuals and groups within their environment and facilitate establishment of shared goals.
• System-based practice: Demonstrate awareness and responsiveness to the context of healthcare system and ability to manage resources essential to provide optimal quality of care.
• Health informatics and Technology: Use technology and synthesize information and collaborate to make critical decisions that optimize patient outcomes.
• Communication: Interact effectively with patients, families and colleagues fostering mutual respect and shared decision making to enhance patient satisfaction andhealth outcomes.
• Teamwork and Collaboration: Function effectively within nursing and interdisciplinary teams, fostering open communication, mutual respect, shared decision making, team learning and development.
• Safety: Minimize risk of harm to patients and providers through both system effectiveness and individual performance.
• Quality improvement: Use data to monitor the outcomes of care processes and utilize improvement methods to design and test changes to continuously improve the quality and safety of healthcare system.
• Evidence based practice: Identify, evaluate and use the best current evidence coupled with clinical expertise and consideration of patient’s preferences, experience and valuesto make practical decisions.

Career Scope

With surplus private as well as government hospitals in India, there are various job opportunities for nursing graduates in both sectors. The rapid growth and privatization of the healthcare industry have enhanced employment in this sector. Each year the government hires 22,000 nurses. There is still a requirement of 4 lakh nurses in the country. Graduates can also apply for nursing posts at private healthcare centers. Following are some of the profiles that are available in this field:

Nursing Officer
Nursing Service Administrators
Assistant Nursing Superintendent
Industrial Nursing Officer
Department Supervisor
Nursing Supervisor or Ward Sister
Community Health Officer
Rehabilitation Specialist
Nursing Superintendent
Community Health Nurse (CHN)
Director of Nursing
Military Nurse
Deputy Nursing Superintendent
Teacher of Nursing
Critical Care Nurse
Clinical Instructor