MSc Nursing is a 2 year postgraduate course in nursing, clinical speciality and clinical practise. MSc Nursing syllabus is designed to skill and educate students advanced knowledge in the field medical care and treatment. Students learn about nursing research & statistics, nursing management, pediatric nursing, cardiological nursing, medical-surgical nursing etc.
Students who want to take admission in MSc Nursing should have completed their bachelor’s or undergraduate degree in BSc Nursing or Post-basic BSc Nursing with a minimum score of 55%. The ones with a post-basic degree should also have work experience of one year before or after post-basic BSc nursing.
Top MSc Nursing Colleges in India such as AIIMS, PGIMER, JIPMER, Christian Medical College etc offer this course on the basis of both merit and entrance exams. Some of the top entrance exams conducted for MSc Nursing are AIIMS PG Entrance Exam, DSAT, MET etc.
The Nursing industry is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 4.9% during 2020 – 2021. The global nursing market is expected to grow from USD 1,010.1 in 2020 to USD 1,058.6 in 2021, despite the economic slowdown across countries due to the pandemic. This is mainly because of the huge demand for nursing care providers including emergency medical staff, nurses, nursing assistants etc.
What is MSc Nursing?
MSc/M.Sc Nursing or Master of Science in Nursing is a postgraduate degree program of 2 years that focuses on caring for the patients both physically or mentally and helps them productively live their life. MSc Nursing Admission 2023 is granted through various entrance examinations such as AIIMS MSc Exam, MET, DSAT, etc which are conducted by the institute or university and followed by the other rounds such as GD and PI rounds.
Mentioned below are some of the crucial facts about an MSc Nursing course,
- M.Sc Nursing is a two-year post-graduation degree that will provide the theoretical and practical knowledge required to be registered as a professional nurse.
- MSc Nursing is aimed at imparting knowledge on nursing and applied sciences so that the nurse would act as a consultant in clinical practice.
- The course delivery method for MSc Nursing includes seminars, lectures, extensive lab, and practical work, and on-field training. In the last semester, students also have to submit a research thesis, which forms an integral part of the syllabus of the course. For the final evaluation, class assignments, end-semester exams, and research projects are taken into account.
Why study MSc Nursing?
Some of the reasons why one should take up MSc Nursing as their field of study are listed below for your reference,
- There are plenty of reasons to study MSc Nursing. MSc in Nursing is one of the most popular nursing courses in India that trains aspirants to practice nursing in different environments
- MSc Nursing is in demand currently due to the ongoing Covid 19 Pandemic.
- With MSc Nursing students can get employed in Hospitals, Military hospitals, and nursing homes. Health care centers, old age homes, educational institutes, etc
- With MSc Nursing students can expect a handsome salary in Healthcare Industry in job roles such as a registered nurse, nurse in charge, nursing supervisor, nursing executive, nurse educator, paramedic nurse, certified professional coder, clinical nurse manager, nursing director, etc
- The MSc Nursing course makes you eligible to pursue higher education such as M.Phil and Phd.
Admission Process for MSc Nursing
Students who want to secure admission into MSc Nursing should have completed a BSc Nursing/ Post-basic BSc Nursing with a minimum score of 55%. The ones with a post-basic degree should also have work experience of one year before or after post-basic BSc nursing.
MSc Nursing Eligibility Criteria
Following are some of the MSc Nursing Eligibility criteria to be fulfilled:
- BSc Nursing/ BSc (Hons) Nursing/ Post Basic BSc Nursing with a minimum of 55% of marks from an institute by the Indian Nursing Council/recognized university or equivalent.
- There’s a 5% relaxation for ST/SC candidates in the minimum pass percentage required for admission.
- Should be a registered nurse.
- Should have a work experience as a nurse of a minimum 1 year before/after post-basic BSc Nursing.
- The admission process depends on the university, therefore you might have to appear for entrance exams.
MSc Nursing: Admission 2023
MSc Nursing Admission into most of institutes is taken through the entrance examination conducted by the institute or university, followed by the counseling process.
However, few colleges like DMCH Ludhiana, GMC Chandigarh, etc offer admission through merit, followed by the rounds like Personal Interview and Counseling Process.
Merit-based Admission
Some of the colleges in India offer Direct Admissions i.e., admissions are offered based on the merit obtained by students in Bsc Nursing or its equivalent from a recognized board.
Entrance Exam based Admissions
MSc Nursing Admission 2023 is granted through various entrance examinations such as AIIMS PG Exam, MET, DSAT, etc which are conducted by the institute or university and followed by the other rounds such as GD and PI rounds if any.
Candidates are shortlisted for the Counseling round based on the overall marks scored.
MSc Nursing Entrance Exams
The following table depicts the list of entrance exams such as AIIMS M.Sc Exam, MET, WBPGNAT, DSAT, etc. which are conducted nationally as well as conducted by the state government.
Some of the books that can be referred to are NCLEX, for preparing the theoretical part, and TARGET HIGH, for practicing objective questions.
Entrance exams Important Dates
Some of the top entrance exams along with their important dates are tabulated below for your reference,
| Exam | Registration Date | Exam Date |
|---|---|---|
| AIIMS MSc Nursing Exam | February 15 – March 16, 2023 | July 2023 |
| CMC Vellore MSc Nursing Entrance Exam | March 01 – April 03, 2023 | July 2023 |
| PGIMER MSc Nursing Entrance Exam | May 2023 | June 2023 |
| RAKCON Entrance Exam | Feb 15, 2023 – March 17, 2023 | April 30, 2023 |
| GPAT | February 13 – March 13, 2023 | April 2023 |
| MET | October 13 – March 31, 2023 | April 28 – 30, 2023 |
How to Prepare for the Entrance exam?
Listed below are the top 4 vital aspects that one should adhere to before applying for admissions,
- Understand the Syllabus: The syllabus of the course is one of the most important factors for a student to focus upon as it helps a student to focus during the time of the exam.
- Plan: Making a course plan can help the student to plan according to the study of the work which helps them to keep both balanced.
- Connecting with Students and Experts: Start connecting with peers and experts and are eligible to help you with providing a clear idea of the concepts along with scope and knowledge exchange that might help you to excel.
- Keep Yourself Updated: The students need to keep themselves updated on the latest Computer Science techniques used by popular names in the relevant field.
Syllabus for MSc Nursing
There might be variations in the syllabus from college to college. The course is divided into a set of Core and Practical courses. The detailed syllabus is as follows:
| First Year | |
|---|---|
| Advanced Nursing and Allied Subjects | Nursing Education |
| Research and Statistics | Clinical Nursing 1 |
| Second Year | |
| Nursing Management | Clinical Nursing 2 |
| Thesis | – |
Recommended Books For MSc Nursing
Some of the important books for MSc Nursing are tabulated below,
| Advance Nursing Practice | A Textbook of Community Health Nursing | A Textbook of Nursing Management |
| A Textbook of Critical Care Nursing | A Textbook of Nursing Education | – |
MSc Nursing Course Comparison
The table below shows the comparison between MSc Nursing and Masters in Public Health. The comparison given below is in terms of impact, overview, average fee, average salary, and orientation.
MSc Nursing Vs MPH
| Parameters | MSc Nursing | MPH |
| Full-Form | Master of Science in Nursing | Masters in Public Health |
| Course Level | It is a postgraduate level of study | Postgraduate level program |
| Course Overview | Designed to provide care to patients dealing with different kinds of health problems. | Designed to prepare students to promote community awareness about injury, violence prevention, communicable diseases, and other issues that affect health and safety. |
| Core Areas of Study | Core areas of study are nursing education, advanced nursing practice, nursing research & statistics, nursing management, and clinical specialty like pediatric nursing, psychiatric nursing, cardiological nursing, medical-surgical nursing, OG nursing, etc. | Core areas of study are statistics/ biostatistics, epidemiology, environmental health, policy, and behavioral science. |
| Average Fee | INR 30,000- INR 1 Lakh per annum | INR 3-6 Lakhs per annum |
| Average Salary Offered | INR 3 Lakhs per annum | INR 3-10 Lakhs per annum |
| Career Opportunities | The course offers jobs as a nurse educator and can also indulge in the research work. | The course offers fewer opportunities for research and academic positions. |
Top MSc Nursing Colleges in India
India is home to more than 850 nursing colleges, out of which some are owned by the Government and some are financed privately. The table below shows the various government and private nursing colleges in India for your reference,
Top MSc Government Nursing Colleges
Some if the top Government Nursing Colleges are as follows,
| Name of the College | Average Fees (INR) |
|---|---|
| AIIMS, New Delhi | 1,305 |
| PGIMER, Chandigarh | 13,050 |
| Christian Medical College, Vellore | 38,915 |
| JIPMER, Pondicherry | 2,760 |
| DR. DY Patil Vidyapeeth, Pune | 1,30,000 |
| Saveetha Medical College, Chennai | 1,00,000 |
Top MSc Private Nursing Colleges
Tabulated below are the top MSc private colleges in India,
| Name of the College | Fees (INR) |
|---|---|
| Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research | 1,00,000 |
| Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal | 1,34,000 |
| Jamia Hamdard University, New Delhi | 1,85,000 |
| Christian Medical College, Ludhiana | 2,03,500 |
| SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai | 90,000 |
| KS Hegde Medical College, Mangalore | 1,06,000 |
| Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University, Pune | 1,00,000 |
| RR Nursing Institutions, Bangalore | 1,50,000 |
MSc Nursing Distance Education
MSc Nursing Distance Education admission to most institutes is accomplished through the entrance test followed by counselling process.Some institutes may offer admission based on merit obtained in Bsc Nursing or its equivalent from a recognized board.
- Some of the entrance exams are CEEAMPAI Masters (PG) Exam , Dravidian University Common Entrance Test or DUCET.DAVV Common Entrance Test or DAVVCET, ,Integrated Common Entrance Test ICET.
- The average course fee ranges from INR 30,000 to INR 1,00,000.
- Some of the top colleges offering MSc Nursing Distance Education are IGNOU, Annamalai University etc
Skills Required to Pursue MSc Nursing
Some of the major skill sets that must be excelled at while pursuing an MSc Nursing courses are tabulated below for your reference,
| Communication Skills | Decision-making skills |
| Attention to detail | Confidence |
| Adaptability | Flexibility |
| Endurance | Organisational Skills |
| Teamwork Skill | Diplomatic Skills |
| Leadership Skills | Multitasking Skills |
Courses after MSc Nursing
After completion of MSc Nursing, the graduates are eligible to work as professional registered nurses in various areas in the healthcare sector. The Master’s degree in Nursing usually prepares the students for a nursing career. But if they wish to go for higher studies then they can go fo following given courses:
M.Phil Nursing
Master of Philosophy (M.Phil) Nursing is an academic discipline program of 2 years. To be eligible for this course you need to secure a minimum of 55% score in PG degree from a recognized university. An average fee charged to pursue this course ranges from INR 2,000 to INR 1 Lakhs per annum. The course study is divided into 4 semesters.
Ph.D. Nursing
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Nursing is a 4-year full-time doctorate course. Admissions to this course are based on entrance exams of different colleges. You need to score 55% in MSc. or M.Phil from a recognized university or board. Several colleges are offering this course. An average fee charged to pursue this course ranges from INR 3,000 to INR 5 Lakhs per annum.
Scope of MSc Nursing
Nursing is a career-oriented program and there is a huge MSc Nursing scope.
- MSc Nursing salary in India ranges between INR 13,500 to INR 37,700 per month. The average salary is expected to be INR 22,900 per month.
- MSc Nursing salary in India usually increases with experience.
The MSc Nursing graduates after completion, of course, can work as a pediatric nurse, OG nurse, cardiological nurse, medical-surgical nurse, psychological nurse, etc according to the specialization they choose.
Top Job Profiles
Some of the top job profiles post completing a degree in MSc Nursing are tabulated below,
| Job Profile | Description |
|---|---|
| Nursing instructor | A nursing instructor is the one who educates and instructs licensed practical nurses and registered nurses for entry into practice positions. |
| Staff nurse | A staff nurse manages patient care and patient recovery in a medical unit. |
| Nursing supervisor | A nurse supervisor supervises the functioning of all the nurses. |
| Nurse assistant | A nursing assistant supports the nursing staff in taking care of patients. |
| ICU Nurse | A nurse at the Intensive Care Unit of a hospital is hired for emergencies and taking care of critical patients. |
| Clinical Nurse Manager | A Clinical Nurse Manager is hired to oversee the day-to-day operations of a nursing unit in a hospital. |
Average Salary
The average salary received post completing the course ranges from INR 2.5 – 8 LPA. A registered nurse having less than 1 year of experience usually begins their career with an average salary package of INR 2,33,151 per annum. After 4 years of service the average salary of nurses rises to INR 2,49,994 and nurses with 5 and more years of experience are paid a salary of 4,96,269 per annum.
The average salary received post completion of the course are tabulated below,
| Specialization | Average Annual Salary (INR) |
|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | INR 4.42 Lakhs |
| Staff Nurse | INR 2.81 Lakhs |
| Clinical Nurse manager | INR 2.67 Lakhs |
| Nurse Educator | INR 3.38 Lakhs |
| Certified Professional Coder | INR 2.28 Lakhs |