ANM vs GNM vs B.Sc Nursing - Which is Better?

Nursing in India is one of the most sought-after professions respected and applauded in its healthcare system. To get into the nursing field, one needs to pursue a nursing course. Three of such courses are ANM, GNM, and B.Sc Nursing.

ANM or the Auxiliary Nursing Midwifery is a diploma course that emphasizes the nurses' training as community health workers. In contrast, GNM or the General Nursing and Midwifery course focus on providing care for individuals, families, and communities. Finally, B.Sc Nursing is a professional undergraduate degree in nursing that offers an in-depth understanding of nursing for sick people. So, which one to choose? Let's find out.

ANM Vs GNM Vs B.Sc Nursing - Key Highlights 

Top diploma programs like ANM and GNM offer a basic understanding of general nursing required in the public and private sectors. Whereas professional courses like B.Sc in Nursing offer a different dimension of the study. Here is a quick at-a-glance comparison of the three most popular nursing courses in India:

ANM Vs GNM Vs B.Sc Nursing - Key Highlights 

Factors	ANM	GNM	B.Sc Nursing
Full Form	Auxiliary Nursing Midwifery	General Nursing and Midwifery	Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Duration	2 years	3 years 6 months	4 years
Eligibility	Completed 10 + 2 from a recognised board	Completed 10 + 2 from a recognised board	Completed 10 + 2 from a recognised board
Mandatory Subjects in 12th	(10 + 2) in Arts or Science Stream	(10+2) with Biology, Physics, and Chemistry as the main subjects	10+2 in any stream with biology as a mandatory subject
Entrance Exams	Conducted by State Nursing Examination Boards	Conducted by State Nursing Examination Boards	State-level or university-level Examination
Average Starting Salary	INR 10K - 15K	INR 8K - 12K	INR 15K - 20K

ANM Vs GNM Vs B.Sc Nursing - What is it All About?

Students who are interested in pursuing nursing have this one common question in their minds: "What is ANM or GNM?". Auxiliary Nursing Midwife or ANM is a diploma course in nursing that focuses on providing nursing training for public health services. The course trains students on aspects of nursing such as medical theatre setup, patient monitoring, immediate first aid care, and medications. ANM is a very short course compared to GNM and can be taken up by students interested in basic-level nursing.

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On the contrary, GNM is a long-term diploma certification course in general nursing. Students can take the course after completion of high school. GNM focuses on providing in-depth knowledge of general nursing in the public health and private health sectors. The course also includes mandatory internship training, helping students to get some practical experience in the field.

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B.Sc Nursing is a professional undergraduate course in nursing and is very different from the diploma courses. Like the other B.Sc courses, B.Sc in Nursing requires students to have basic biology knowledge, as coursework will focus on understanding biological concepts. The course will train students to take care of virology and sick patients apart from general nursing. The coursework will also train students in medical procedure assistance and ward coordination.

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ANM Vs GNM Vs B.Sc Nursing - Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria for both ANM and GNM are similar. For an aspirant to meet the eligibility criteria to pursue an ANM course, the aspirant should be 17 years and not more than 35 years in age. The other eligibility criteria include :

• The aspirant must have passed class 12 in Arts and English Core/English Elective or Science or Health Care Science - Vocational stream from a recognised board.
• The aspirant should be medically fit.
• The aspirant must have passed class 12 with English subject, scoring 40 percent in the vocational ANM course from a school recognised by the Indian Nursing Council.

Some of the basic eligibility criteria for the GNM course include:

• The aspirant should be 17 years old nd not more than 35 years in age.
• The aspirant must have passed class 12 with science and obtained a minimum of 40 per cent in aggregate and English individually from any recognised board for the GNM course.
• The aspirant must have passed class 12 with English subject scoring 40 per cent in the vocational stream-Healthcare Science from a recognised CBSE board/Centre, and the aspirant must be a registered ANM with pass marks.

The eligibility criteria for B.Sc in Nursing is different from ANM or GNM. While any graduate with a knack for nursing can pursue ANM and GNM, B.Sc. in Nursing requires students to be strong in fundamental biology. The basic requirement for this course is 50% in any stream, with biology as a mandatory subject. Apart from that, students should clear the entrance level exams conducted by specified universities to ensure admission.

ANM Vs GNM Vs B.Sc Nursing - Course Curriculum

The ANM course focuses on studying the health care of various individuals, while the GNM course includes assessing multiple people various needs from birth to death. Listed below are some of the topics and subjects which aspirants can expect during the course:

ANM Subjects:

• Medical-Surgical Nursing
• Health Promotion
• Primary Healthcare Nursing
• Child Health Nursing
• Midwifery
• Health Centre Management
• Community Health Nursing
• Mental Health Care
• Gynaecology and Midwifery
• Mandatory 6-month internship

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GNM Subjects:

• Research & Statistics
• Nursing Administration & Ward Management
• Medical-Surgical Nursing
• Community Health Nursing
• Nursing Education
• Child Health Nursing
• Nursing Foundation
• Bio-Science
• Behavioural Science
• Medical-Surgical Nursing
• Compulsory 6-month internship

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B.Sc Nursing Subjects:

• Nutrition and Dietetics
• Pediatric Nursing
• Pathology and Genetics
• Pharmacology
• Mental Health Nursing
• Microbiology
• Physiology
• Community Health Nursing

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ANM Vs GNM Vs B.Sc Nursing - Scopes

After completing these courses, one can become a nurse. Both of these courses provide an opportunity for students to choose a career in the nursing field.

Besides the bright employment scope, students can pursue higher studies after completing the ANM, GNM, and B.Sc Nursing courses. As the GNM course is longer than the ANM, it offers better opportunities in salary and growth. Students can take up a B.Sc even after the completion of either of the diploma courses.

B.Sc graduates have better job prospects than ANM and GNM graduates. After completing the ANM or GNM diploma course, an aspirant will be eligible for registration with the State Nursing Council.

Some of the job scopes and areas of employment for the graduates of this course are given below:

ANM Vs GNM Vs B.Sc Nursing - Scopes

	ANM	GNM	B.Sc Nursing
Employment	Anganwadi Programmes, Community Health Centres, Government, and Private Hospitals, Private Clinics, Dispensaries, Government Jobs, Nursing Homes, etc.	Anganwadi Programmes, Community Health Centres, Government, and Private Hospitals, Private Clinics, Dispensaries, Government Jobs, Nursing Homes, etc.	Public Health centres, Private Health centres, Medical Research Institutes, Blood bank institutes, Nursing homes, etc.
Designation	Homecare specialist, Personal Nurse, General Nurse, Apprentice Nurse, etc.	General Ward Nurse, Certified Nursing Assistant, Nursing Trainer, Homecare Nurse, etc.	ICU Nurse, General Ward Nurse, Neuro Nurse, Psychiatric Nurse, Pharma Nursing, Staff Nurse, Paramedic, etc.

ANM Vs GNM Vs B.Sc Nursing - Salary

The average salary for graduates depends on several factors, including job designation and the sector they're employed. The average salary of ANM graduates ranges from INR 1.5 - 1.8 LPA across various sectors. In government sectors, graduates can earn up to INR 2 - 2.5 LPA as a fresher. For experienced nurses, the pay scale will double as years progress.

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The average pay scale for GNM freshers is quite similar to that of ANM freshers. Graduates can earn between INR 1.8 - 2.4 LPA initially, based on their employed sector. The payscale limit increases from INR 2.4 LPA to INR 3 LPA. Experienced nurses can earn up to 5 LPA. per month in both the private and public sectors for government staff.

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B.Sc Nursing graduates have a better scale than diploma graduates as they can earn up to INR 3.6 LPA as a fresher across various sectors. The pay scale is pretty high for experienced nurses as they can earn up to INR 7.29 LPA with additional responsibilities and roles.

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ANM Vs GNM Vs B.Sc Nursing - Top Colleges in India

Listed below are some of the top colleges which offer the ANM course:

• Sankalchand Patel University
• IIMT University
• Yamuna Group of Institutions
• Mansarovar Group Of Institutions
• Noida International University
• Teerthanker Mahaveer University
• Parul University
• R.P. Indraprastha Institute of Technology, Karnal

Listed below are some of the top colleges which offer the GNM course:

• LNCT University
• KIIT University
• Swami Rama Himalayan University
• NIMS University
• Rayat Bahra University
• Indian Academy Degree College

Listed below are some of the top colleges which offer the B.Sc Nursing course:

• AIIMS Delhi
• CMC Vellore
• Stanley Medical College
• Sri Ramachandra University
• Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University
• Army Medical College
• Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences
• MGR University

ANM Vs GNM Vs B.Sc Nursing - Which One to Choose?

"Which one to choose, ANM or GNM?" is one of the most asked questions regarding the selection of the courses.

Choose Nursing Career After 10th: If anyone passed the class 12 exam from a non-science stream and is determined to make a nursing career, the ANM is the only option to start with. After completing the ANM, the diploma graduates can register as nurses and are eligible to pursue the GNM diploma program. The process will make them suitable for B.Sc Nursing and B.Sc (Post-Basic) Nursing programs.

First Step for Professional Nursing Graduation Course: GNM graduates can go for B.Sc Nursing and B.Sc (Post-Basic) Nursing. GNM graduates with at least two years of work experience are eligible to join B.Sc Nursing Distance programs. On the other hand, a science stream aspirant who wishes to focus on academics before starting a job should consider B.Sc Nursing.

It is conclusive that all sets of graduates enjoy equal job scopes and opportunities in the job market. The choice ultimately depends on students' willingness and their plans for a successful career path.