Overview
M.Sc. in Child Health Nursing is a 2-year long full-time, post-graduate course divided into 4 semesters. The program is for registered nurses interested in undertaking a beginner-level specialised practice in child, adolescent, and family health nursing in the community. This course lays special focus on children’s early years, and also middle childhood and adolescent health. This course has been designed to impart to eligible candidates:
· Theoretical knowledge and clinical skills in child health nursing.
· Skills in relation to the Paediatric and Child Health Nurses Competency Standards.
· Skills in Midwifery Competency Standards.
· Awareness and understanding of primary health care needs.
· Specialty in physical and developmental stages of children.
· Awareness of rules and ethical issues associated with providing care for children.
· Skills in dispensing quality healthcare to children from diverse cultural backgrounds.
· Awareness of community child health settings including school-based and youth health nurses.
Students enrolled to the course are taught to:
· Work in community child and family health nursing services.
· Work within the primary health care framework of new public health systems.
· Professionally perform clinical practice.
Caring for children and young people with a wide range of needs is a challenging and fulfilling career. Such professionals are responsible for:
· Taking care of new-borns to adolescents and beyond.
· Supporting children and their families during periods of great change and stress.
· Diagnosing, assessing, and treating patients with undifferentiated and undiagnosed conditions.
· Managing patients across all sectors of healthcare.
· Operating as not only nurses, but also as:
· Non-medical prescribers
· Pharmacists
· Optometrists
· Independent and/or supplementary prescribers
· Physiotherapists
· Radiographers
· Podiatrists.
Eligibility
· Graduation completed from a recognized educational Board.
· Preferably, graduation needs to have been completed in any of:
· Basic B.Sc. in nursing
· Post Certificate Nursing
· B.Sc. Nursing in Health Science.
· A minimum aggregate score of 50% (45% for SC/ST/OBC candidates) at the level of graduation.
· Candidates appearing for their final graduation-level examination are also eligible to apply for the course on provisional basis.
Admission Process
Most institutes offering the course in India admit students based on their performance in a relevant entrance test, followed by a subsequent round of counselling.The round ofcounselling consists of two additional rounds of group discussion and personal interview, wherein the candidate’s general aptitude for the course is examined. Some institutes conduct their own entrance tests for offering admission. Admission process generally varies across colleges. A few institutes also provide direct admission based on the candidate’s score at the level of graduation. Children's nurses are needed to show empathy, sensitivity, and excellent communication skills. Also known as paediatric nurses, they work with children of all ages suffering from many different conditions. Such nurses play a key role in:
· Assessing the nursing needs of children.
· Taking into account children’s social, medical, cultural and family circumstances.
· Communicating appropriately with children and their care-givers.
· Interpreting the child's behaviour or reactions.
· Assess children fully.
· Delivering care in a variety of settings.
· Meeting requirements of good health and good character.
· Carrying out safe and effective practice without supervision.
| Job profile | Job description | Average salary | |
| Nurse Educator | A nurse educator focuses on teaching aspiring nurses about patient care. They develop a curriculum and teach using the lab/clinical work. They mentor aspiring nurses. | A nurse educator focuses on teaching aspiring nurses about patient care. They develop a curriculum and teach using the lab/clinical work. They mentor aspiring nurses. | 3,59,436 in 0-2 Years |
| Staff Nurse | A staff nurse looks after the patients who are admitted in their care. They maintain charts and administer their charts and medications according to the chart. They carefully monitor the patient’s diet and proper timing of their medicines. | A staff nurse looks after the patients who are admitted in their care. They maintain charts and administer their charts and medications according to the chart. They carefully monitor the patient’s diet and proper timing of their medicines. | 2,40,421 in 0-2 Years |
| Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (PNPs) | Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (PNPs) often work independently, or with pediatricians and other healthcare providers in settings that range from hospitals to physicians’ offices. Some even provide home care services. They perform routine developmental screenings, and diagnose and treat common childhood illnesses. Also, they teach and counsel children and their families on issues related to health. | Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (PNPs) often work independently, or with pediatricians and other healthcare providers in settings that range from hospitals to physicians’ offices. Some even provide home care services. They perform routine developmental screenings, and diagnose and treat common childhood illnesses. Also, they teach and counsel children and their families on issues related to health. | 4,00,000 in 0-2 Years |
| Pediatric Nurse | A Pediatric Nurse is a Registered Nurse (RN), who is capable of providing the same level of care as other registered nurses but specializes in treating children, from infants to teenagers. Sick children are put under the care of Pediatric Nurses, as their job requires them to be sensitive to the needs of young patients and have a special way of understanding and relating to them. | A Pediatric Nurse is a Registered Nurse (RN), who is capable of providing the same level of care as other registered nurses but specializes in treating children, from infants to teenagers. Sick children are put under the care of Pediatric Nurses, as their job requires them to be sensitive to the needs of young patients and have a special way of understanding and relating to them. | 6,00,000 in 0-2 Years |
* Average salary are subjective to change based on various factors
