M.Sc in Nursing course is a postgraduate course for those students who are nursing graduates but want to specialise in a specific domain of nursing. The course has the duration of two years in most colleges. Several private and public institutions offer the M.Sc nursing programme with varied specialisations. The Masters-level course in nursing is mostly available to be pursued on a full-time basis. However, a few institutions also offer it as a part-time programme. Different colleges offering specialised nursing courses charge different course fee. Still, the total course fee may fall between INR 1 lakh and 5 lakhs.
The Indian Nursing Council recognises and governs the M.Sc in Nursing course in the country. The course aims at imparting the knowledge of nursing care to be provided to individuals, families, and communities. After completing the course, nursing professionals can help patients in achieving a good quality of life as well as in maintaining optimal health and recovering from illnesses. Students in this course also learn about various advanced clinical nursing practices, nursing theories and applications, nursing research practices and statistical methods, nursing management and specialities and community health nursing.
Several colleges and universities across the country offer a variety of nursing programmes in different specialisations. Some popular institutions providing the M.Sc in Nursing course include the following:
Before nursing graduates decide to pursue a specialised postgraduate course, they should ensure to possess some essential skills. While an interest in the nursing domain and a constant smile while dealing with patients are some expectations, the following skill set will help students excel in the M.Sc in Nursing course:
Candidates willing to apply for admission in the M.Sc in Nursing course must meet the following basic eligibility criteria:
As there may be additional eligibility criteria for admission in specific colleges and universities, candidates must ensure to check every single condition before submitting their applications to a particular institution. A few institutions may even demand some work experience after B.Sc in nursing.
The M.Sc in Nursing course offers a detailed study of nursing research and education, as well as allied sciences. Students may pursue this course in a chosen specialisation that may turn them into nursing specialists of high calibre. As every medical facility and programme has the requirement of nurses and medical assistants, the scope of M.Sc nursing in any specialisation is vast. Those with an interest in medical care and aftercare can choose out of the following specialisation options that are commonly offered under M.Sc nursing:
The specialisation of Obstetrics and Gynaecological Nursing deals majorly with the reproductive health of women. Whether it is the time of pregnancy or childbirth, the nursing specialists in the field of obstetrics and gynaecology are able to handle every reproductive system and health issue with women. Students of M.Sc in Nursing course under this specialised field learn to impart teaching on the subject of women. They also treat women with issues like endometriosis, sexually transmitted diseases, and even cancer.
Job Prospects: After completing the nursing course in obstetrics and gynaecology, students can go on becoming obstetricians, gynaecologist, or both. They can also take up job roles like a technical officer, consultant gynaecologist, or lecturer in nursing in medical facilities.
The M.Sc in Nursing course offers another specialisation that deals with the health of women, especially those going through the process of childbirth. Students in the maternity nursing specialisation learn about being patient and efficient while dealing with expectant mothers and those giving birth to children. They also learn to make the process of childbirth smoother and deal with any emergencies.
Job Prospects: The specialisation of maternity nursing can help students in making a career as healthcare assistants, staff nurses, nurse managers, ophthalmology nurses, and nursing superintendents. They can find the right roles in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, hospital administration or laboratories, etc. Professionals in this domain can also work in medical colleges or provide babysitting services.
Medical-surgical nursing is a complex specialisation under the M.Sc in Nursing course. Students pursuing this course are trained to provide nursing intervention in cases of cardiovascular and thoracic conditions. Students not only gain an understanding of advanced nursing practices but also of advanced health assessment, advanced pathophysiology, nursing research and statistics, and advanced pharmacology.
Job Prospects: The specialisation of medical surgical nursing can help students in exploring job opportunities in medical labs, hospitals, nursing homes, medical research institutes, etc. Students can take up job roles like lab technician, medical transcriptionist, embryologist, therapist, dialysis technician, nutritionist, dietician, and medical coding trainee. They can even explore the domain of medical content writing.
As the name suggests, this specialisation in the M.Sc in Nursing course focuses on providing care and nursing help to children and adolescents. Students in this field are not only trained to deal with young patients but also with their families in a compassionate and caring manner. They learn about the treatment options available for children’s conditions, as well as the ways to provide them emotional support.
Job Prospects: Students specialising in child health nursing can work as health specialists, nurse educators, clinical instructors, therapists, dieticians, nutritionists, and even school health nurses. They can find a large number of work opportunities in rural health clinics, migrant clinics, medical colleges, group clinical practice, speciality practice, and school-based clinics. They can also work in other medically underserved areas.
Students can take up this M.Sc in Nursing course specialisation to learn about the community health nursing practice. They receive the training to analyse and evaluate the evidence in community nursing practice and to develop a proactive approach towards meeting the healthcare needs of communities. Students also get the training of various approaches to the assessment of patients and contemporary nursing practices in social care.
Job Prospects: Those who pass out of the specialisation course in community health nursing can work as health specialists or community nurses in hospitals, armed forces, nursing homes, and orphanages and old age homes. They can also find suitable roles in medical colleges or NGOs. There are various career opportunities such as clinical instructors, nurse educators, cytopathology technicians, and school health nurses.
This specialisation in M.Sc in Nursing course deals with the healthcare of infants, children, and adolescents. It is more about the holistic care and support provided to young patients. Ranging from the historical development of paediatric nursing in the country to the current status of infant and child health care, the specialised course teaches it all to students. They also learn about the ethical and cultural issues involved in paediatric care. Students pursuing this course are able to conduct developmental, physical, nutritional and family assessments of paediatric patients. They even get to learn about behavioural and preventive paediatrics.
Job Prospects: After successfully completing the M.Sc in Nursing course in Paediatric Nursing, students can look for positions like a nursing supervisor, assistant nursing superintendent, nurse educator, paediatric nurse, or medical advisor. They can work in various types of clinics, speciality practice, rural health centres, and other medical facilities.
Like physical illnesses, it is also important to offer nursing care to patients with mental illnesses. Students specialising in mental health nursing while pursuing the M.Sc in Nursing course learn about the same. They receive training to care for those with mental disorders like depression, schizophrenia, and dementia. Students learn to be sensitive and responsive to the physical needs, as well as psychological, spiritual and social needs of patients.
Job Prospects: Specialists in mental health nursing can work as community nurses, psychologists, psychiatrists, or nutrition managers. They can also work as health writers in firms or lecturers in nursing colleges. Students can find relevant positions in brain hospitals, mental health clinics, medical laboratories, and even defence services.
The M.Sc in Nursing course has another specialisation called psychiatric nursing that is similar to mental health nursing. While some institutions may term the course as psychiatric nursing, it covers what mental health nursing does.
Job Prospects: Students have similar career options as they have in mental health nursing.