GNM Course (General Nursing & Midwifery)

The Healthcare industry is filled with an array of career opportunities for those who want to work towards ensuring the health and well-being of society. There is a plethora of specialised diploma and degree courses offered in Medical Science that you can choose from. One such specialised course is a GNM course. General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM) course is a job-oriented diploma program that aims to train individuals in advanced skills in nursing with a focus on midwifery services as well. The duration of this course is three and a half years and enables students to the knowledge of maternity care. This article details the specifics of a GNM course and the career prospects you can explore after completing the course.

Types of Program	Diploma
Program Name	General Nursing and Midwifery
Short Name	GNM
Duration	3.5 Years
Eligibility	10+2 (Science Stream) with a minimum of 50% marks
Admission Process	Merit or Entrance Exam Based
Course Fee	Up to 2.5 Lakhs
Popular Employment Sectors	Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Universities, Private Clinics, NGOs
Job Roles	Clinical Nurse Specialist, Legal Nurse Consultant, Forensic Nursing

What is GNM (General Nursing & Midwifery)?

The GNM course is a variant of a nursing course and is geared towards addressing the essential need for qualified nursing professionals that are well-versed in all aspects of nursing, maternity care, post-trauma care, rehabilitative care, and mental care amongst others. It prepares an individual with the necessary technical know-how and practical training to help them enter the healthcare industry. It also imparts students with essential communication, administrative and leadership skills which are significant for pursuing a career in General Nursing and Midwifery.

The components of a GNM course are specifically curated to train students to become fully-fledged nursing professionals. Though all courses differ slightly, the course generally runs for 3 years with six months of practical experience included or additional. This ensures a well-needed blend of theory and on-the-ground training. The first year tries to build a strong foundation in Medical concepts and Fundamentals of Nursing. The last two years focus on giving a holistic understanding of the discipline of Nursing. 

Why Study GNM Course?

The reasons why you should study GNM Course are listed below:

• Nursing programmes, such as GNM Nursing, are critical in the healthcare profession, particularly in these challenging times. As a result of their occupational training, students can apply clinical ways to assist patients with their needs.
• The work comprises administering to patients and assisting doctors in giving broad public treatment.
• The curriculum of a GNM Nursing programme is specifically designed to prepare students to work as full-fledged nurses. Applicants receive a mix of theoretical and practical teaching to aid in the learning of fundamental skills.

GNM Types

Here is a list of different types of GNM courses for students to pursue:

• Auxiliary Nurse & Midwife (ANM)
• General Nursing & Midwifery (GNM)
• B.Sc. Nursing / B.Sc. Hons. Nursing / Post-Basic B.Sc. Nursing
• MSc in Nursing
• MPhil in Nursing
• PhD in Nursing

Must Read: Diploma in Nursing

GNM Nurse: Skills Required

After the GNM diploma, the graduates are lodged as RNRM (Registered Nurse Registered Midwife). This work requires administering the patients and assisting doctors in rendering care. Here are the basic skills required for the job:

• While dealing with patients, the Nurse should have the endurance to empathize with patients. 
• The Nurse should demonstrate skills like excellent communication skills and compassion while working with doctors, patients, and other hospital administrators. 
• A nurse should be skilled enough to interact both in medical jargon (with doctors) and in laymen’s terms (with patients). 
• A nurse should have strong organizational skills and management skills as a nurse is also liable for managing patient documentation.

Also Read: Diploma in Physiotherapy

General Nursing & Midwifery Curriculum

The course curriculum followed during a GNM course is meticulously planned to cover important topics like Mental Health Nursing, Child Nursing, and Maternal Care, amongst others. Institutes in India follow the curriculum layout set by the India Nursing Council (INC).

Subjects Covered in the First Year

• BioSciences
  • Anatomy and Physiology
  • Microbiology
• Behavioral Sciences
  • Psychology
  • Sociology
• Nursing Foundations
  • Fundamentals of Nursing
  • First Aid
• Community Nursing
• Environmental Hygiene
• Health Education and communication skills
• Nutrition
• English 
• Computer Education
• Co-curricular Activities

Subjects Covered in the Second Year

• Medical-Surgical Nursing
• Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing
• Child Health Nursing
• Co-curricular Activities

Subjects Covered in the Third Year

• Midwifery and Gynaecological Nursing
• Community Health Nursing
• Co-Curricular Activities
• Nursing Education
• Introduction to Research and Statistics
• Professional Trends and Adjustments
• Nursing Administration and Ward Management

GNM Nursing: Syllabus

1st Year	2nd Year
Psychology	Pharmacology
Microbiology	Communicable Diseases
First Aid	Orthopedic Nursing
Personal Hygiene	Computer Education
Third Year	Fourth Year
Midwifery and Gynaecology	6-month Internship
Community Health Nursing – II	–
Pediatric Nursing	–
Educational Methods and Media for Teaching in the Practice of Nursing	–

Clinical Areas in General Nursing & Midwifery

The following clinical areas are where students are commonly posted during a GNM course to get hands-on practical experience in the field of Nursing. 

• Medical-Surgical Nursing
• Community Health Nursing
• Child Health Nursing
• Midwifery and Gynaecological Nursing
• Mental Health Nursing

Note: To know more about the hours of study and the breakup between theory and practical portions and any other relevant information, you can view the official INC syllabus for the GNM course.

Must Read: Hospital Management Course 

Eligibility Criteria for a GNM Course

To enrol in a GNM course at any institute in India, prospective students need to fulfil the minimum eligibility criteria set by the INC. These essential requirements help in maintaining the quality of standards required for nurses. Familiarity with computers is also desirable. The prescribed eligibility criteria for a GNM course are:

• Age Limit: 17-35 years
• Educational Requirements: Candidates need to have at least 40% in their 10+2 exams from any stream through science students are preferred. It is also mandatory for students to have passed the English subject. Open School candidates are also eligible provided they fulfil other requirements.
• Those with 40% marks in 10+2 with English in a vocational Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) program recognised by the INC or vocational stream and healthcare science from the CBSE board are eligible.
• Registered ANMs with passing marks are also eligible.

GNM Fee Structure in India

College	Total Fees
Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore	INR 70,000
Christian Medical College (CMC), Ludhiana	INR 2,40,000
Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (IPGMER), Kolkata	INR 45,000
KIIT Bhubaneswar	INR 30,000
Government Medical College, Kozhikode	INR 15,000
Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh	INR 1,20,000
TD Medical College, Alappuzha	INR 1,80,000
Maharajah’s Institute of Medical Sciences, Vizianagaram	INR 51,000
Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Faridkot	INR 60,000

GNM Colleges in India

Students from all streams are qualified to pursue the GNM  course, though Science students with Biology as a subject, are chosen over commerce and art students. Few top GNM colleges require a minimum of 60% results in Class 12th though most other colleges require 50% marks. Here is a list of GNM Colleges as per NIRF Rankings in India:

NIRF Medical Colleges	College Name	Location	Fees (INR)
3	Christian Medical College (CMC)	Vellore	35,000
14	St. John’s Medical College	Bangalore	5,00,000
25	Government Medical College and Hospital	Chandigarh	25,000
31	SRM Institute of Science and Technology	Chennai	55,000
32	KIIT	Bhubaneswar	1,50,000

Must Read: Best Nursing Colleges In India

GNM Abroad

College Name	Country	Fees (INR)
University of Pennsylvania	United States	40,62,000
King’s College London	United Kingdom	24,55,000
John Hopkins University	United States	45,55,000
University of Washington	United States	26,32,411
University of Southampton	United Kingdom	20,00,000
Yale University	United States	41,52,070
The University of Technology Sydney	Australia	19,65,400
University of Manchester	United Kingdom	23,35,000
University of Toronto	Canada	30,00,000
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill	United States	27,68,000

Must Read: BSc Nursing in UK

GNM Course Entrance Exams

Colleges publish a credit list based on competitors’ performance in the 12th examination. Some institutes also administer their entrance exams for these programs or select students based on state-level diploma entrance examinations. Those applicants who pass the entrance exams will be accepted for admittance to the GNM course. Some of the famous entrance exams for the GNM course are:

• AIIMS Nursing Entrance Exam
• BHU Nursing Entrance Exam
• JIPMER Nursing Entrance Exam
• PGIMER Nursing
• MGM CET Nursing
• IGNOU OpenNet
• RUHS Nursing Entrance Exam

Must Read: NCLEX Exam for Nursing

State Wise Entrance Exams for GNM Course

Every state also has its entrance examination for entrance into GNM courses. These are some famous GNM entrance examinations administered in the states of India:

Exam Name	Conducting Body
Andhra Pradesh GNM Exam	Directorate of Medical Education
Assam State GNM Exam	SRM Institute of Science and Technology
Bihar GNM Exam	Ambedkar Institute of  Higher Education
Gujarat State GNM Exam	Gujarat Nursing Council
Himachal GNM Exam	Directorate of Medical Education and Research
Jharkhand GNM Exam	Jharkhand Combined Entrance Competitive Examination Board
Karnataka GNM Exam	State Diploma in Nursing Examination Board
Kerala GNM Exam	Directorate of Medicine Education
Madhya Pradesh GNM Exam	Madhya Pradesh Nurses Registration Council
Maharashtra GNM Exam	State Nursing Council
Meghalaya GNM Exam	Department of Health and Family Welfare
Mizoram GNM Exam	Mizoram College of Nursing
Odisha GNM Exam	Directorate of Nursing
Rajasthan GNM Exam	Directorate of Medical and Health Services
Tamil Nadu GNM Exam	Health and Family Welfare Department
Uttar Pradesh GNM Exam	University of Medical Science
West Bengal GNM Exam	Health Department

Career Prospects After GNM Course

After completing a GNM course, there are a variety of paths a graduate can take to pursue a career in Nursing. Recruiting organisations include hospitals, nursing homes, NGOs, dispensaries, first-aid clinics, nurse teaching companies, etc. Some of the major career prospects in Nursing are mentioned below.

• Midwife Nurse
• Clinical Nurse
• Emergency Care Nurse
• Legal Nursing Consultant
• Mental Health Carer
• Nursing Educator
• Child Nurse
• Social Worker
• Community Nurse
• Forensic Nurse
• Health Promotion Official

Must Read: Adult Nursing Degree

Employment Sectors for General Nursing & Midwifery

Some of the standard jobs where an ANM & GNM graduate can employ their skills are given here:

• Rural Health Centres
• Government hospitals
• NGOs
• Old age homes
• Government health schemes
• Community Health Centres
• Government dispensaries
• Nursing Homes
• Private hospitals/clinics

GNM Nursing: Top Recruiters

Company	Salary Offered
Apollo Hospitals	INR 3.40 LPA
Fortis Hospitals	INR 2.40 LPA
Fortis Healthcare	INR 3.42 LPA
Medanta	INR 4.0 LPA

GNM Course Salary

GNM diploma bachelors can anticipate a starting pay ranging from Rs 8,000 to Rs 12,000. But with practice and achievement of additional educational qualifications, they can make Rs 3.2 L per annum to 7.8 L per annum. The pay may alternate depending on the employer’s association and hospital.

Job Profile	Average Annual Salary
Clinical/Hospital Nurse	INR 4,50,553
Legal Consulting Nurse	INR 5,30,989
Teachers	INR 9,13,657
Forensic Nurse	INR 4,94,720
Home Nurse	INR 2,37,186

Thus, a GNM course is a perfect program for those who want to become a part of the medical community by pursuing the field of Nursing. When considering a specialised degree in Medical Science such as nursing or physiotherapy programs, it is only natural to feel unsure about the career prospects it provides.

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