Qualities of a Nurse - Know Essential Qualifications Required
Find out how to strategically advance your career in the nursing domain. Know the qualities of a nurse and all about the eligibility, top exams, career scope, and jobs in this field through this article.
- Types of Nurses in India
- Nursing Qualifications in India
- Qualities of a Nurse: What Medical Industry Requires?
- Essentials to Become a Nurse
Types of Nurses in India
- Auxiliary Nurse and Midwife (ANM): Two years of training with ANM certification. Candidates are taught about the Operation Theatre, its operation, various types of equipment, and how to use them while taking the ANM course. The minimum age of the candidate should be 17 years on or before 31st December in the year in which admission is sought
- General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM): Three years and six months of training with Registered Nurse (RN) and Registered Midwife (RM) certification. Aspirants can begin their GNM career by joining as a Home Nurse, Health Visitor, Community Health Worker, Basic Health Worker, Rural Health Worker, Aanganwadi, or ASHA worker.
- BSc in Nursing (Graduate Nurse): Four years of training with University examination and RN RM certification.
- MSc in Nursing (Post Graduate Nurse): Two years of a master’s degree
Also Read: BSc Nursing Admission 2026 Without NEET: Colleges & State-wise Process
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Nursing Qualifications in India
Apart from these four qualification levels, GNM nurses can take up a Post Basic Nursing course to be qualified as BSc Nurses. Nurses, after completing an MSc in nursing and after two years of professional experience, can also take up a PhD in Nursing.
Nursing Qualifications in India
Also Read: BSc Nursing Admission After 12th: PCB Marks Required & Age Limit
Qualities of a Nurse: What Medical Industry Requires?
A nurse, as a professional, is entitled to patient care, along with acting as an excellent team player. She has to coordinate with the doctors, patients’ relatives, head nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists, and other members of the health care team. More than prompt patient care, she should also be proficient in prompt documentation to avoid legal issues. It is mandatory to work in shifts and to work for many hours straight when entitled to intensive care for critically ill patients. To thrive in this profession, the nurse should have the following skills:
- Excellent communication skills
- Sound theoretical and practical nursing knowledge
- Confidence in care
- Stamina to work in long shifts
- Compassion and empathy towards the suffering of the clients
- Willing to work in odd hours
- Strong emotional and mental health
- Should be able to deal with difficult patients
- An eye for detail
Explore more Nursing exams with upcoming dates
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The AIIMS nursing entrance is conducted for admission to AIIMS BSc (hons). A separate entrance exam is conducted for admission to the AIIMS Nursing (Post Basic) programme. Candidates must check the AIIMS Nursing eligibility criteria mentioned below to appear for the entrance exam:
Eligibilty Criteria for AIIMS BSc (Hons)
- It is mandatory to clear or have passed Class 12 exams or equivalent exams from a recognised board with Physics Chemistry, Biology and English subjects.
- Candidate must have secured a minimum of 55 per cent marks in aggregate in class 12.
- SC/ST category candidates should have secured 50 per cent in aggregate.
Eligibilty Criteria for AIIMS BSc (Post basic)
- To appear in the BSc (Post basic) nursing exam, candidates possessing a Diploma in GNM (General Nursing and Midwifery) from any Indian Nursing Council recognised institution are eligible to apply.
- In addition, the applicant must have registered themselves as nurses or midwives with the State Nursing Council.
- A mandatory six months of training as a registered nurse.
Yes, candidates will have to appear for the AIIMS nursing 2026 entrance exam because NEET UG is not accepted by the AIIMS for nursing courses. AIIMS Delhi conducts a separate exam for granting admission to AIIMS BSc nursing program
Essentials to Become a Nurse
To become a registered nurse and midwife in India, one has to complete a relevant Nursing course, such as GNM or BSc in nursing, from a recognised nursing school or college and register with the state nursing council. The Indian Nursing Council (INC) is the governing body that regulates the quality of nursing education in the country. To become a nurse, one has to:
- Choose a relevant nursing course: The ANM course is not much preferred by multi-specialty hospitals. They can, however, work as nursing assistants in small nursing homes. GNM, BSc, and MSc are the best-preferred courses to grab good job opportunities in India and abroad.
- Secure admission: Admission is based on the 10+2 marks and entrance examination marks. Selected candidates are offered admission after counseling.
- Registering with state nursing councils: After completing the nursing training, it is mandatory to take the state nursing and central nursing licensure. This licensing process varies from state to state; it is also important to get membership from the INC and the Trained Nurses Association of India (TNAI). The nurse is not legally allowed to start working in a hospital before taking licensing certifications as a registered nurse (RN) and a registered midwife (RM).
A candidate must be a citizen of India. The applicant must be domiciled in the state of West Bengal. The candidate must have passed or must be appearing for 10+2/class 12 in system only in 2026. The applicant's age must be 17 years as on 31.12.2026. The applicant should have been born on or before 31/12/2009. Only female candidates are eligible to apply for the BSc nursing course in both government colleges.
The candidates who secure the qualifying marks as per the cutoff will be considered qualified. The qualifying status of the candidates will be mentioned on the AIIMS Nursing 2026 result.
As per the guidelines issued by the exam conducting body, students must not be more than 25 years of age and should not be less than 17 years on 1st September, 2026. Hence, applicants born after 01.09.2008 and before 01.09.2000 are not eligible to apply for the course. For the BSc Nursing course (4 years), only FEMALE students are eligible to apply within this age bracket.
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Only FEMALE candidates who have cleared class 12 exams or equivalent exam from a recognised board with Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English subjects and have secured a minimum of 55 per cent marks in aggregate in class 12 and SC/ST category candidates should have secured 50 per cent in aggregate. The detailed eligibility criteria is provided in the programme prospectus released by the exam conducting authorities.