Which course is the best alternative to B.Sc. Nursing (Post Basic) Course: Shiksha Poll revealed

Which course is the best alternative to B.Sc. Nursing (Post Basic) Course: Shiksha Poll revealed

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Akansha
Akansha Bisht
Senior Executive
Updated on May 12, 2025 11:38 IST

Deciding to become a Nurse is the first step and the most important step in making the goal a reality. However, choosing between the Nursing course options may get overwhelming. Though Post Basic BSc Nursing is a popular undergraduate-level program providing a deeper understanding of nursing practices, patient care, and healthcare management, candidates may get confused between similar options, such as GNM, ANM, BSc Nursing, and Diploma in Nursing.

BSc Nursing Post Basic

According to the opinion poll results run by Shiksha.com, 58% of students believe that BSc Nursing is the best alternate course for BSc Nursing Post Basic. Interested candidates can continue reading the article for more details.

This article offers an overview of Post Basic BSc Nursing alternative courses and a comparison between all of them.

Table of content
  • Post Basic BSc Nursing Vs GNM
  • Post Basic BSc Nursing Vs ANM
  • Post Basic BSc Nursing Vs BSc Nursing
  • Post Basic BSc Nursing Vs Diploma in Nursing
  • Shiksha's Poll Analysis

Post Basic BSc Nursing Vs GNM

While GNM (General Nursing and Midwifery) is a diploma-level course for individuals who wish to serve the healthcare field, Post Basic BSc Nursing can be opted for after the GNM course, for higher job roles. Here are some basic differences between the two:

Q:   What is Post Basic BSc Nursing course all about?
A:

Post Basic BSc Nursing is a 3 year UG course that is meant for registered nurses who have already completed a Diploma or Certificate program in Nursing. If you’re a registered nurse Post Basic BSc Nursing will allow you to further your education and get a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
The Post Basic BSc Nursing syllabus provides registered nurses with advanced knowledge and skills in nursing practice, leadership and research. You will find subjects like nursing theory, advanced clinical skills, community health nursing, nursing management, research methods and more.
Clinical training and practical experiences in various healthcare settings are a very important part of Post Basic BSc Nursing.

Q:   Which is the best course among BSc Nursing or Post Basic Nursing?
A:

Post Basic BSc Nursing programs are designed for registered nurses (RNs) who have already completed a Diploma or certificate programme in Nursing (e.g., GNM or ANM) and hold an RN license. It allows them to earn a BSc Nursing degree.

Traditional BSc Nursing programs are designed for students who have completed high school or an equivalent qualification and are starting their nursing education from the beginning.

Candidates can check the table below to know the comparison between the two courses.

Parameters

Post Basic BSc Nursing

BSc Nursing

Course Level

UG

UG

Course Duration

3 years

4 years

Course Fee

INR 350 - INR 3.5 Lakh

INR 8,500 to INR 1.3 Lakh

Admission Process

Merit-basis

JIPMER NEET, CUET, AIIMS Paramedical, IPU CET, BVP CET, JIPMER AIIMS Nursing, PGIMER Nursing, etc.

Popular Colleges

SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Amity University, Armed Forces Medical College, NIMS Nursing College, etc.

JIPMER Puducherry, SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, NIMS Nursing College, Armed Forces Medical College, etc.

Job Profiles

Registered Nurse, Nursing Instructor, Staff Nurse, Rehabilitation Specialist, Critical Care Nurse, etc.

Executive Administrative Assistant, Staff Nurse, Emergency Medical Technician, Manager Trainee, Medical Coder, Operations Manager

Average Salary

INR 3.2 LPA - INR 14.5 LPA

Up to INR 5.1 LPA

Top Recruiters

Apollo Hospitals, Fortis Hospitals, Columbia Asia Hospitals, CMC, Ayurvedic treatment centres, AIIMS, PGIMER, etc.

Apollo Hospitals Enterprise, Fortis Healthcare, Medanta Medicity, Global Hospitals, Max Hospital, Manipal Hospital, etc.

Q:   What is the difference between BSc Nursing and Post Basic Nursing?
A:

BSc (Hons) Nursing typically refers to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing with Honors which is an undergraduate degree programme that focuses on providing a comprehensive education in nursing theory, practice, research, and leadership. 

On the other hand, BSc Post Basic Nursing is designed for registered nurses (RNs) who already hold a Diploma or an associate degree in Nursing and are seeking to further their education and specialize in a specific area of nursing practice. 

Parameters

Post Basic BSc Nursing

GNM

Course Name

Post Basic BSc Nursing

General Nursing and Midwifery

Course Level

Undergraduate

Undergraduate

Course Duration

2 Years

3 Years

Course Objective

Prepare registered nurses for advanced roles and provide deeper knowledge and skills in the healthcare field.

Train students for Nursing practices in rehabilitation, mental health care, maternity care, post-traumatic care, etc.

Course Eligibility

Class 12 from a recognized board and be registered as Registered Nurses and Registered Midwives (RNRM).

Class 12 from a recognized board with any stream.

Core Subjects

Nursing Foundation, Nutrition & Dietetics, Biochemistry & Biophysics, Psychology, etc.

Anatomy and Physiology, Community Health Nursing, Nutrition, Child Health Nursing, etc.

Career Options

Critical Care Nurses, Nurse Instructors, Nurse Educators, Paramedic Nurses, etc.

Home Care Nurses, Community Health Nurses, Travel Nurses, Mental Health Nurses, etc.

Average Salary

INR 4.4 LPA

INR 2.9 LPA

Note: The information is sourced from various external sites and may vary.

Post Basic BSc Nursing Vs ANM

While an ANM (Auxiliary Nurse Midwife) is focused on community health and basic nursing skills, the Post Basic BSc Nursing is opted for by registered nurses. Here are some basic differences between the two:

Parameters

Post Basic BSc Nursing

ANM

Course Name

Post Basic BSc Nursing

Auxiliary Nursing Midwifery

Course Duration

2 Years

2 Years

Course Level

Undergraduate

Undergraduate

Course Objective

Prepare registered nurses for advanced roles and provide deeper knowledge and skills in the healthcare field.

Provides Nursing education, particularly in maternal and child health.

Course Eligibility

Class 12 from a recognized board and be registered as Registered Nurses and Registered Midwives (RNRM).

Class 12 from a recognized board with any stream.

Core Subjects

Nursing Foundation, Nutrition & Dietetics, Biochemistry & Biophysics, Psychology, etc.

Community Health Nursing, Health Promotion, Child Health Nursing, Primary Health Care Nursing, Midwifery, etc.

Career Options

Critical Care Nurses, Nurse Instructors, Nurse Educators, Paramedic Nurses, etc.

Community Health Workers, Home Nurses, Rural Health Workers, Nurse Educators, Midwives, etc.

Average Salary

INR 4.4 LPA

INR 2.2 LPA

Note: The information is sourced from various external sites and may vary.

Post Basic BSc Nursing Vs BSc Nursing

BSc Nursing is a full-fledged UG program providing nursing education, while Post Basic BSc Nursing is for registered nurses (GNM diploma holders) seeking to advance their knowledge and skills. See the differences between the two in the table below:

Parameters

Post Basic BSc Nursing

BSc Nursing

Course Name

Post Basic BSc Nursing

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Course Duration

2 Years

4 Years

Course Level

Undergraduate

Undergraduate

Course Objective

Prepare registered nurses for advanced roles and provide deeper knowledge and skills in the healthcare field.

A UG-degree program to provide an all-inclusive knowledge in the healthcare field, including patient care, medical procedures, and healthcare management.

Course Eligibility

Class 12 from a recognized board and be registered as Registered Nurses and Registered Midwives (RNRM).

Class 12 with PCB and English Core/Elective subjects with a minimum of 45% aggregate from a recognized board.

Core Subjects

Nursing Foundation, Nutrition & Dietetics, Biochemistry & Biophysics, Psychology, etc.

Anatomy, Physiology, Genetics, Medical-Surgical Nursing, Pediatric Nursing, Midwifery, and Obstetrical Nursing, etc.

Career Options

Critical Care Nurses, Nurse Instructors, Nurse Educators, Paramedic Nurses, etc.

Staff Nurses, Military Nurses, Nurse Managers, Clinical Instructors, Nurse Educators, etc.

Average Salary

INR 4.4 LPA

INR 5 LPA

Note: The information is sourced from various external sites and may vary.

Post Basic BSc Nursing Vs Diploma in Nursing

While the Post Basic BSc Nursing is focused on providing advanced knowledge and skills, a Diploma in Nursing offers foundational nursing knowledge and skills for direct patient care. See the table below for more differences between them:

Q:   What is ANM Vs GNM Vs BSc Nursing?
A:

Both ANM & GNM graduates can work in public as well as private sectors. The ANM nursing course has helped aspiring candidates to pursue their dreams of becoming a nurse if they come from a non-science 12th background.

Other than that, the primary distinction between ANM & GNM courses is the time taken for both these programmeme. GNM is of longer duration than the course of ANM thus, it has more opportunities in terms of growth and compensation.

Again, candidates have the option to pursue GNM Nursing course after they have completed the ANM Nursing Diploma course.

Now, as far as BSc Nursing is concerned, it is a 4-year degree course in comparison to ANM & GNM, which are at the Diploma level. It has additional emphasis on practical exposure of the nursing students. It has further more opportunities available in terms of growth and compensation. The undergraduate degree will help those students who have an inclination for pursuing postgraduate courses in nursing. 

Q:   Is ANM and BSc Nursing the same?
A:

No, a BSc Nursing and an ANM are not equivalent. ANM, or Auxiliary Nursing and Midwifery, is a Diploma programme that concentrates on educating nurses for positions as community health professionals. Students learn how to maintain medical equipment, set up an operating room, promptly give patients their medications, and maintain patient records in small communities in this course. The programme is primarily concerned with fundamental instruction.

A four-year undergraduate degree plan in nursing is known as the BSc Nursing. Anyone who has successfully finished a nursing Diploma (ANM or GNM) or who has completed class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology topics is qualified to apply for the curriculum. The primary goal of the BSc Nursing programme is to equip students to provide medical care for the ill and injured, hence the curriculum includes courses in Biochemistry, Nutrition, Anatomy, Physiology, Psychology, and other subjects.

Q:   What is the difference between BSc Nursing and GNM?
A:

The main difference between BSc Nursing and GNM is the level of education and the duration of the program. BSc Nursing is a degree programme with a broader focus on Nursing theory and practice, while GNM is a Diploma programme with a specific emphasis on nursing care and midwifery skills.

Candidates can view the table below to see the comparison between the two.

Particulars

BSc Nursing Course Details

GNM Course Details

Course Level

UG

Diploma

Duration 

4 years

6 Months - 3 years

BSc Nursing fee

INR 8,500 to INR 1.3 lakhs 

INR 40,000 - INR 1,00,000

Entrance Exams

NEET UG, AIIMS Nursing, PGIMER Nursing, CMC Ludhiana BSc Nursing, Indian Army Nursing, JIPMER Nursing, KGMU Nursing, RUHS Nursing, BHU Nursing, Jamia Hamdard Nursing 

WBJEE ANM-GNM, Kerala GNM, Maharashtra GNM, etc. 

Top Colleges

AIIMS Delhi, King George's Medical University, Armed Forces Medical College, JIPMER, Government Medical College

CMC Vellore,  St John's Medical College,  Jamia Hamdard University,  CMC Ludhiana

Average Salary

Up to INR 5.1 LPA

Up to INR 9 LPA

Top Recruiters

Apollo Hospitals Enterprise, Fortis Healthcare, Medanta Medicity, Columbia Asia Hospital, etc.

The Indian Red Cross Society, Max Hospital, Community Health Centres, Manipal Hospital, etc.

Job Profiles

Executive Administrative Assistant, Staff Nurse, Emergency Medical Technician, etc.

Pharmaceutical Industry, Technical Industry, Research Labs, etc.

Note: The information is sourced from external sites and may vary.

Parameters

Post Basic BSc Nursing

Diploma in Nursing

Course Name

Post Basic BSc Nursing

Diploma in Nursing

Course Duration

2 Years

3 Years

Course Level

Undergraduate

UG and PG

Course Objective

Prepare registered nurses for advanced roles and provide deeper knowledge and skills in the healthcare field.

Providing fundamental knowledge of Nursing, Health Economics, Community Diseases, and more.

Course Eligibility

Class 12 from a recognized board and be registered as Registered Nurses and Registered Midwives (RNRM).

Class 12 from a recognized board in any stream.

Core Subjects

Nursing Foundation, Nutrition & Dietetics, Biochemistry & Biophysics, Psychology, etc.

Anatomy and Psychology, Microbiology, Community Health Nursing, Nutrition, Environmental hygiene, etc.

Career Options

Critical Care Nurses, Nurse Instructors, Nurse Educators, Paramedic Nurses, etc.

Nursing Assistants, Community Health Nurses, Emergency Nurses, Nursing In-charge, etc.

Average Salary

INR 4.4 LPA

INR 2.8 LPA

Note: The information is sourced from various external sites and may vary.

Shiksha's Poll Analysis

According to the recent poll conducted by Shiksha, students are exploring a variety of Nursing paths as alternatives to the Post Basic BSc Nursing program. The results show a diverse preference: 25% of students opted for the GNM Course, whereas only 8% chose the ANM and Diploma in Nursing program, respectively. Meanwhile, 58% of total respondents selected the BSc Nursing program, pointing to the appeal of studying a full-fledged undergraduate degree program in the Nursing field.

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About the Author
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Akansha Bisht
Senior Executive
Akansha Bisht is an education content specialist with over 1 year of experience in student guidance and academic writing. At Shiksha.com, she focuses on helping students get the right courses by simplifying details Read Full Bio