Options for nursing graduates

Options for nursing graduates

MANY AVENUES: Graduates in nursing can pursue MBA programmes or public health courses, besides opting for PG courses. Photo: P.V. Sivakumar
Q & A B.Sc. Nursing is a professionally-oriented course and the mainstream higher study option is a postgraduate degree in nursing with different kinds of specialisations. Those who desire to become nursing tutors can pursue their PG and doctorate degree in nursing.
I am a B.Sc. Nursing student and would like to know more about the postgraduate courses that I can join other than M.Sc. Nursing.
VIJAY V.R., Thiruvananthapuram
B.Sc. Nursing is a professionally-oriented course and the mainstream higher study option is a postgraduate degree in nursing with different kinds of specialisations. Those who desire to become nursing tutors can pursue their PG and doctorate degree in nursing.
The Sree Chitra Thirunal Institute for Medical Science and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram, offers diploma course in cardiovascular, thoracic nursing and nuero nursing.
Meritorious nursing graduates can apply for admission. Nursing graduates can also opt for courses in hospital and health care management and public health.
The health service sector requires professionally trained manpower to manage multi-specialty hospitals and medical facilities. Many hospitals need well-trained managers who have professional skills in general management and health care delivery systems.
The most suitable academic programme in this field is the MBA course in hospital and health care management or a Master's degree in hospital or health administration.
These programmes combine training in management skills, management principles, accounting and business communication along with specialised knowledge on the working of a hospital, marketing its services and logistics management.
They also offer students a basic knowledge of health care and nutrition, prevention of communicable diseases, community health and other medical personnel related aspects.
A sense of responsibility, team spirit, and dedication for patient care, decision making capacity, communication and negotiating skills are required for this profession.
MBA programmes
MBA programmes in hospital and health care management and other related disciplines are rare. The following are a few MBA or postgraduate programmes:
Symbiosis Institute of Health Sciences, Senapati Bapat, Road, Pune-411004, offers MBA in hospital and health care management, a two-year fulltime Master's degree programme. Graduates in any discipline including nursing with 50 per cent marks are eligible for admission.
The selection is based on the SNAP test score, group discussion and personal interview.
The Department of Management Studies under the Madurai Kamaraj University in collaboration with Meenakshi Mission Hospital and Research Centre, Madurai, offers MBA in hospital administration. Graduates in any discipline can apply.
The selection is based on the performance in the Tamil Nadu Common Entrance Test (TANCET), group discussion and interview. Website: www.mkuniversity.org.
The Manipal University, Manipal-576014, offers an MBA course in hospital administration and health care management. More information can be collected from the university website www.manipal.edu.
The Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute, Porur, Chennai-600116 offers MBA in hospital and health systems management. The selection is based on an all India level entrance test. Website: www.srmu.edu.
The Apollo Institute of Hospital Management and Allied Sciences, Nugambakkam, Chennai-600034 offers an MBA programme in health care services management in affiliation with Alagappa University. Graduates in any discipline with 50 per cent marks can apply for admission.
The Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Chennai-600044, offers MBA in hospital and health systems management.
The Department of Management Sciences under the University of Pune offers an MBA course in biotechnology. Science, medical, engineering and pharmacy graduates with at least 45 per cent marks can apply. Website: www.pumba.in.
MHA
A postgraduate course in health administration or hospital administration is another suitable option.
The Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Deonar, Mumbai-400088 offer Master of Health Administration and Master of Hospital Administration programmes.
The selection is based on a national level entrance test, group discussion and a personal interview. Website: www.tiss.edu.
The School of Medical Education under the Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, offers Master of Hospital Administration course on a self-financing basis.
Entry qualification is a degree with at least 50 per cent marks. Website: www.mguniversity.edu.
The Department of Commerce and Management Studies under the University of Calicut conducts a Master of Hospital Administration (MHA) course. Website: www.universityofcalicut.info.
The Amrita School of Arts and Science, Kochi- 682024, offers a Master of Hospital Administration (MHA) course for graduates in any discipline with 50 per cent marks. Website: (www.amrita.edu)
The CMS College of Science and Commerce, Coimbatore-641006, offers a Master's degree course in hospital management (MHM) and postgraduate diploma course in hospital health care management. Website: www.cmscbc.com.
The Administrative Staff College of India, Hyderabad- 500034 in co-operation with Hinduja Institute of Healthcare Management, offers a PG diploma course in hospital management course for graduates in any discipline with 60 per cent marks.
Christian Medical College, Vellore-632002 offers diploma courses in hospital administration for graduates and fellowship in hospital administration to postgraduates. Website: http://home.cmcvellore.ac.in
Clinical Research Programmes at the postgraduate level, including M.Sc. clinical research, PG diploma in clinical research and regulatory affairs conducted by some UGC approved institutions and authorised training centres are also a higher study options for nursing graduates.
Public health courses
Some universities and institutes are offering Master of Public Health (MPH) programmes for meritorious graduates in any discipline including medicine and nursing. MPH programme is aimed at developing public health administrators with expertise in related areas of community health including disease characteristics, prevention and control, management in crisis situations; forecasting strategic disease, prevention policies, quality assurance, regulatory affairs and so on. Duration of the MPH course is two years.
The following Institutes are conducting MPH course. The list is only indicative.
The Tata Institute of Medical Sciences (TISS) Mumbai offers a Master of Public Health programme. Those who have Master's degree in any discipline, MBBS or Bachelor's degree holders in any discipline with at least two years work experience in the health sector after graduation are eligible for admission. Medical graduates should have completed their internship. Selection is based on an entrance test, interview and academic merit.
The Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani (Rajasthan) offers Master of Public Health Programme. Those who have obtained MBBS, BDS, M.Sc. Nursing with at least 60 per cent marks in aggregate are eligible for admission.
The All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, Kolkata offers an MPH programme for meritorious graduates.
The Allahabad Agricultural Institute (Deemed University) conducts MPH course in reproductive health. Graduates in any discipline are eligible for admission.
The School of Medical Education under Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, offers MPH programme on self-financing basis; course duration is two years.
Any graduate with at least 50 per cent marks are eligible for admission.
Those who successfully complete the above regular academic courses are eligible to become healthcare professionals and managers or administrators in government, non- governmental and public sector organisations and hospitals.

Source Link: http://beta.thehindu.com/education/article294653.ece