Nurse education consists in the theorical and practical training provided to nurses with

the purpose to prepare them for their duties as nursing care professionals. This
education is provided to nursing students by experienced nurses and other medical
professionals who have qualified or experienced for educational tasks. Most countries
offer nurse education courses that can be relevant to general nursing or to specialized
areas including mental health nursing, pediatric nursing and post-operatory nursing.
Courses leading to autonomous registration as a nurse typically last four years. Nurse
education also provides post-qualification courses in specialist subjects within nursing.

Course Aims
The course is structured to prepare students to function competently as registered nurses in
various healthcare settings. The graduate will assess, manage and prevent problems related
to health and illness in individuals and their families.

The course is designed to develop nurses who are committed to excellence in the care they
provide, and to their continuing professional development. Graduates will be equipped to:

apply the knowledge gained in nursing, biological and behavioural sciences to nursing
practice;

provide safe and competent care in various healthcare settings;

use a problem-solving approach to provide holistic and individualized nursing care;

use communication skills to establish and maintain effective helping relationships; and

pursue ongoing educational and professional development.

Areas of Employment
There are some limitations on diploma nurses. While these nurses can generally find entry
level positions in hospitals or inpatient facilities, they are limited to just that. Most are not
trained extensively enough to be able to work in specialty practices such as oncology,
pediatrics or anesthesia. This path is a good

alternative for someone who wants to quickly obtain RN licensure. Nurses who hold a BSN
have more flexibility in where they can work. Even at an entry level, An RN BSN can start
working within his specialty such as cardiac, pediatrics, critical care, neurology and hospice in
either home care or a medical facility.

Areas of Expertise
Although they are trained in many of the same subjects as a BSN, diploma nurses need to go
to an accredited college or university to obtain an ASN, BSN or MSN degree. At that point,
they may take the required courses to obtain a specialty credential if desired. There are
hundreds of varied credentials, certifications, degrees and state licensures that can be
obtained by a nurse who has her BSN.

Industrial Attachment
Nursing is a practice-oriented profession. During the academic semester, students
undergo six to eight hours per week of preparatory work in the nursing laboratories. These
specialized laboratories resemble actual hospital wards. After acquiring the necessary skills,
the students spend several weeks during intra-semester and vacation periods attached to
hospitals and/or the institutions/community settings. Under supervision, they are given the
opportunity to develop their clinical expertise and confidence in the working world of the
professional nurse.
In the first year, students will begin with basic care of individuals of all ages focusing on the
basic care of individuals of all ages. Clinical practice begins in the first semester with
attachment to the hospital and community health services. In the second year, students will
concentrate on acute care including medical and surgical nursing of children and adults.
Third-year students will progress to complex nursing care such as accident and emergency,
operating theatre, mental health and critical care nursing. They will consolidate skills learnt in
the first two years and acquire further nursing skills. They will also learn and apply managerial
and research skills.