Previously it was thought that nursing career does not require any certification or qualification but the trend has changed greatly. Now there are professional degree programs for the nursing field. Many universities and colleges around the world are offering nursing degree programs on bachelor and masters level. At bachelor or associate level courses related to science are the general requirement by the medical institutions. Almost 60% to 70% marks in physics, chemistry and biology subjects are required in the 12th standard or equivalent. In case of foreign students if the language of teaching is English in the medical institution then TOEFL or IELTS score may be requested.
Typically the bachelor’s degree title for nursing internationally is BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing). After that admission in master degree is quite easy but with some conditions. Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) is an internationally recognized degree offered by universities and colleges all over the world. The admission criterion for this program is bachelor’s degree in nursing or an associate degree with experience in the relevant field. The courses in the master program of nursing involve anatomy, physiology, pharmacology and toxicology. There is enough flexibility in the program as students can select subjects related to healthcare management, health insurance regulations, healthcare information systems, medical law and medical record keeping. At the final stage of the program a student must submit a research based thesis under the supervision of a Professor. The degree is awarded after the completion of thesis submission process.
Masters in nursing program is quite beneficial in terms of future prospects. More doors of opportunity open up after this qualification. Many medical institutions are offering nursing scholarship programs to promote good students to take part in this field. According to reliable resources, number of elderly people may reach to 50% in near future. This will ultimately increase the demand for healthcare facilities, clinics and hospitals. The major shift related to human resource demand in the healthcare profession has started and now almost every hospital or healthcare facility in the developed countries requires some nursing staff every week.
Nursing field is 2 steps ahead than the pharmacy field. Many students who go for masters in pharmacy program are also making good career achievements in the field of pharmacy. But the fact is pharmacists are found just one or two in a healthcare facility, on the other hand nurses are found in more quantity.