Popularity Of Nursing Profession In Nepal

By Roshana Karki

Nursing is a social service-oriented and a highly respected profession. However, its formal study started from the 18 th century in Europe after which it began to be recognized as a profession. Its study in Nepal started from 1999 B.S. after the establishment of Nepal Nursing school. Having started from a single school, presently the nursing is taught in more than three dozens of nursing campuses in both the government and private sector. Between 14 to 45 nurses are produced per year from each of these campuses.

After passing the SLC examination, nursing comes as one of the most attractive subject for studies among the girls. For many girls, nursing is the first choice and they want to shape their career in technical field. Since last few years, nursing has become one of the most popular professions. However, the profession was not held in high regards in Nepali society till a few years ago. But now, not only the students but even the parents are quite keen to make their daughters nurses. The increasing demand of nurses in the health sector all over the world has also promoted the nursing profession.

In Nepal , nursing education can be had from different Universities like Tribhuwan University (TU), Kathmandu University (KU), B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Science and Center for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT). There are altogether six nursing campuses under TU and they are: Maharajgunj Nursing campus, Lalitpur Nursing Campus, Biratnagar Nursing Campus, Birgunj Nursing Campus, Pokhara Nursing Campus and Nepalgunj Nursing Campus. There are 30 nursing campuses under CTEVT whereas Kathmandu University and B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences have their own individual Nursing Campuses.

The nursing education begins with 3-year Proficiency Certificate Level (PCL) courses. The campuses affiliated with the TU demand at least 50% marks in SLC whereas the CTEVT campuses demand second division rank in the SLC examination. The students interested in studying nursing must pass English, Science and Math scoring 50% marks in those subjects. Between 30 to 60 students are admitted in each nursing campus and admission is granted through entrance tests where questions on English, Science, Math and Health are asked and candidates are chosen according to their scores in the test.

Nursing campuses affiliated with TU are often packed with students and they conduct their entrance tests normally in the last week of Magh (February/March). But Kathmandu University and B.P. Koirala Institute hold their exams in the last of Ashad (June/July) whereas the CTEVT campuses hold the same in the last week of Bhadra (August/September).

Financially speaking, it costs around Rs 100,000 to study nursing in TU nursing campuses whereas the CTEVT Campuses fee is much higher and we need around Rs 300,000. The students studying in TU Campuses are also entitled to get a monthly stipend of Rs 200 per month to meet their expenditure. Nursing is a technical and practical-based education. Therefore, the students are exposed to different hospitals and health centers from the beginning of the first year and they have to do all the practical course in hospitals.

After studying for 3 years of PCL course, the nurses need to have three years of job experiences to be eligible to study bachelor’s level in TU Nursing Campus. Two years of job experience will suffice to study Bachelor level in CTEVT Nursing Campus. The Nursing Campuses, which teach Bachelor level education, include Maharajgunj Nursing Campus, Lalitpur Nursing Campus, B.P. Koirala Institute and some of the CTEVT-affiliated campuses.

Nowadays, in order to cater to the need of aspiring nursing students, many institutes have cropped up promising to provide basic foundational guide. They conduct Nursing Entrance preparation classes; take 2-3 months classes and charge about Rs. 4000 to 5000 per course.

Nursing professions is highly regarded and is in demand all over the world. It has increasingly better scope in the western countries like the United States , Britain , Australia , Canada etc. And many Nepalese nurses are also working abroad. As such, health workers are in high demand everywhere and nursing professionals need not fear about remaining unemployed. It has become a globally recognized profession and its demand is increasing day by day.

In the end, being a Nurse, myself, I would like to suggest all interested students to first understand the Nursing profession, know about the course and then only join it. Never let yourself feel bad for studying Nursing just because you have to face many challenges and difficult circumstances in course of study. So, you need to have inner drive to study Nursing. You must not join nursing just to make your parents happy but you should really need to have interest in sharing, caring and social service.