Diploma in Nursing

One of the noblest professions in society, nursing has always been a prominent part of the healthcare industry working towards human welfare. Be it during the war-time or in a poverty-stricken country, Nurses emerge as angels for people in need and aid to their ailments. This makes the profession quite popular among young students who want to give back to society. For those wanting to explore this field of study, there is a wide range of nursing courses available at diploma, bachelor’s and master’s level. Through this blog, we bring you a detailed guide on a Diploma in Nursing and how it can equip you with the necessary knowledge and skills to shape your career in this profession.

Course Overview

Being a multi-level profession in the Healthcare Industry, nursing offers multiple courses, with different aspects and specializations. Each course has different eligibility criteria and academic requirements. Here some basic diploma courses in Nursing you can choose from: 

Diploma in Nursing

Diploma in Nursing is an entry-level diploma course offered to students with a qualification up to class 10th. It teaches the basics of nursing and healthcare, the program generally lasts about 2-3 years. It needs to be followed with higher-level courses in nursing to earn a better compensation package in the industry.

General Nursing and Midwifery

A diploma in GNM equips students with the necessary knowledge to attend to individual and community health problems, personal ailments and providing life support to patients. It is one of the choicest course amongst those wanting to pursue a diploma in Nursing. Students need to complete their schooling up to class 12th, preferably from medical science stream, or they can get a certificate of Nursing practice from Indian Nursing school. This GNM course generally lasts 3 years, making students eligible for jobs in hospitals and other medical Institutions.

Auxiliary Nursing and Midwifery

An ANM is trained for emergency healthcare services, to be provided to the community in case of immediate need. These nurses also help in disaster or epidemic hit areas, being an expert in identifying and rectifying key areas that affect the patients. It is a 2-year Nursing diploma and requires students to have completed school up to class 12th.

Subjects Covered

Though the actual course offerings might vary as per the university and course, we have enlisted some of the major subjects covered under a Diploma in Nursing at the ANM level:

Fundamentals of Nursing	Health Education and Communication skills
Human Anatomy and Physiology	Nutrition
Microbiology	Medical Surgical Nursing
Psychology	Mental health and Psychiatric Nursing
Sociology	Midwifery and Gynaecology
Personal Hygiene	Paediatric Nursing
Community Health Nursing	Pharmacology

Here is some detail on a few major subjects taught in a Diploma in Nursing:

Sociology

Sociology is a branch of social science which deals with human relationships, social constructs and institutions. It studies the impact of social constructs and related factors on how a person behaves and reacts in certain situations. Pursuing a diploma in Nursing, you will be familiarized with the fundamentals of Sociology to ensure proper conduct and demeanour.

Recommended Read: Sociology Syllabus

Microbiology

Microbiology is a scientific discipline that deals with minute life forms and microscopic life systems. It helps in gaining the understanding of how certain drugs and vaccines work in a human body. This is a necessary course for any student pursuing medical and surgical professions and is commonly studied in a diploma in Nursing.

Midwifery and Gynecology

This subject deals with the life process of human childbirth and the female body, more specifically the reproductive system. As an essential part of a diploma in Nursing, it provides students with an understanding of the basic steps undertaken in labour, while also educating nurses on how to take care of mother and child after the delivery.

Medical-Surgical Nursing

A surgical nurse assists the doctors in performing surgical procedures, sometimes also performing basic pre and post-operative procedures. This is one of the most specialized subjects for nurses, giving them practical knowledge of how a surgical procedure undergoes.

Nutrition

This is one of the most important subjects taught to the diploma in nursing students. As nurses work closely with dieticians, they must be aware of proper nutrition and diet for patients, all the necessary exemptions and additions in food for special needs, making the whole healthcare procedure smoother and better experience for the patients.

Nursing Skills

The following are the skills required for nursing:

Soft skills

• Empathy
• Communication
• Networking
• Time Management and Organization
• Critical Thinking
• Teamwork
• Analytical skills
• Leadership skills

Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility requirements for a diploma in nursing differ as per the program and university requirements. Generally, the student needs to have completed their 10+2 in medical science from a recognized board to opt for an undergraduate diploma while a PG diploma in Nursing can ask for a higher educational qualification like a bachelor’s degree in a related field as well as a few years of work experience working at health centres, clinics, hospitals, etc. For those planning to study a diploma abroad, some additional requirements need to be fulfilled like language proficiency test scores like IELTS, TOEFL, etc. as well as an SOP and optional LORs.

Diploma in Nursing: Top Institutes

Now that you are familiarized with the course content and general criteria, let’s explore the top nursing colleges around the world offering diploma courses in this field of study. 

Institute	Course offered
Algonquin College, Canada	Diploma in Practical Nursing
Swinburne University of Technology, Australia	Diploma of Nursing
Federation University Australia	Diploma of Nursing
Victoria University, Australia	Diploma of Nursing
Trinity College Dublin, Ireland	Diploma in Nursing
Queensland University of Technology, Australia	Diploma in Health Science(Nursing)
University College Dublin, Ireland	Diploma in Community Nursing
University of Wales Trinity Saint David, Wales	Diploma in Nursing Studies and Health
CDI College, Canada	Diploma in Health Care Aide
University College Cork, Ireland	Diploma in Nursing

Diploma in Nursing: Career Scope

Completing a Diploma in Nursing opens up a host of career opportunities for students. A few prominent ones are listed below:

Higher Studies

After finishing your diploma in Nursing, you must pursue degree courses in this domain to gain expertise as well as steer towards choicer career opportunities. These degree courses provide better theoretical knowledge while making it easier to advance with the career. Students can pursue a BSc Nursing at the undergraduate level, and further develop their knowledge and skills by studying an M.Sc and PhD.

Related Read: BSc Nursing Syllabus

Private/Government Hospital Nurse

After completing their GNM or any other specialised diploma, nurses can apply for jobs in hospitals. These jobs can be entry-level, as well as specialised based on the skillset one possesses. They can also pursue their studies while working shifts for their jobs. Some of these job profiles are:

• Licensed Practical Nurse
• Travel Nurse
• Medical-Surgical Nurse
• Home Health Nurse
• Clinical Nurse Specialist
• Nursing Assistant
• Staff Nurse

Specialization Diplomas

To grow specialised skills in Nursing to tend to patients with particular requirements, nurses can pursue specialisation diplomas. These courses can last for 3 to 6 months, giving the practical skills in areas of specialisation like maternal care, ICU nursing, nursing for mental patients and others.

Must Read: PG Diploma Courses

Job Profile and Salary

The following are the popular career paths after pursuing a diploma in nursing:

Job Profile Avg. Salary
Nurse/midwifery 8.6 Lakh
Nurse educator 2.5 Lakh
Nursing Instructor 1.8 Lakh
Nurse (ICU) 4.3 Lakh
Lecturer 2.9 Lakh

Though Nursing may derive its practices from science, it is more of a social act. The care and attention provided to patients is as important as the medicines they have been prescribed. This makes the role of a nurse paramount in any sort of a healthcare environment. If you are looking for a way to get global exposure by opting a Diploma in Nursing abroad. We at Leverage Edu provide expert assistance to students aiming to pursue higher education abroad. Sign up for a free E-Meeting and get all your academic and career-related queries answered!