General Duty Assistant - Advanced Options: Maternal and Newborn Care/Critical Care/Dialysis/Parturition
Supports patient care and comfort in hospital or home settings, working alongside doctors and nurses.
Overview
A General Duty Assistant (Maternal & Newborn Care/Critical Care/Dialysis/Parturition) provides the patient with care and helps maintain a conducive environment in the various departments in a hospital/home setting. Some of the key responsibilities include maintaining the patient's daily standard of living, seeing to the patient's comfort, safety and health needs. They monitor or report changes in the health status of the patients. They work in collaboration with doctors and nurses.
Where they work
- Hospitals
- Clinics
- Home care agencies
Work environment
You have to work for at least 8 to 9 hours and for 5 to 6 days a week. Shift duties may be there. Overtime is common.
Opportunities for work exist for differently abled in this field.
Skills and interests
This career might suit you if…
- You have good communication skills
- You like to assemble things
- You have good analytical skills
- You are organised in your work
Eligibility and education roadmap
Durations are as printed on the source card for each level; please check the duration of the course during enrolment.
- 1Certificate — Certificate in General Duty Assistance or Certificate in Maternal and New born Care Assistance. Eligibility: Basic education (typically 10th-grade completion or equivalent). Duration: 6 months to 1 year, depending on the program format and institution.
- 2Diploma — Eligibility: Completion of high school (12th grade or equivalent). Duration: 1 to 2 years. Examples: Diploma in General Duty Assistance, Diploma in Maternal and Child Health Nursing, Diploma in Midwifery and Obstetrics.
- 3Undergraduate — Eligibility: 12th grade with a background in science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology). Duration: 3 to 4 years. Examples: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.Sc. Nursing), Bachelor of Medical and Health Sciences, Bachelor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Nursing.
- 4Postgraduate — Eligibility: A bachelor's degree in nursing, medical sciences, or a related field. Duration: 2 years. Examples: Master of Science in Nursing (M.Sc. Nursing) with specialization in Maternal and Newborn Care, Master of Public Health (MPH), M.Sc. in Midwifery and Women's Health.
- 5Doctoral — Eligibility: A Master's degree in a related field (Nursing, Public Health, Medical Sciences). Duration: 3 to 5 years. Examples: Ph.D. in Maternal and Newborn Health, Ph.D. in Nursing Science.
- 6Short-Term Courses — Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP), Advanced Training in Obstetric Emergency Care, Newborn Care, Lactation Support, or Postpartum Care.
Forms, exams and applications
Exam names above are as printed in the source card. Application windows, eligibility and syllabi change — always check the official notification for current dates.
Where to apply
The course is offered by the Department of Gynaecology, as printed on the source card. This list of institutes is indicative only.
Government institutes
- Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi
Private institutes
Please check if the institute is affiliated and accredited before applying.
- VIVO Healthcare Institute, Nagpur & Gurugram
- Unique Skills Academy, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
- K F Nursing Institute, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
- YLS Healthcare Academy, New Delhi
- Symbiosis Centre for Health Skills (SCHS), Lavale, Maharashtra
These institute lists are indicative examples from the source card, not a ranked or complete directory. Always verify accreditation on the institute's official website.
Career outcomes
Growth path
- 1General Duty Assistant → Senior General Duty Assistant → Supervisor (Level 5)
- 2General Duty Assistant → Clinical Nurse Supervisor → Head Nurse
Expected income
₹6,000 – ₹12,000 per month
These figures are taken from NCS and are indicative and subject to change.
SourceRelated careers to explore
Auxiliary Nurse Midwifery (ANM)
Nursing professional specialising in maternity care, emergency health care and minor ailments.
Nurse
Trained to care for sick and infirm patients at hospitals or nursing homes.
Student action plan
What you can do this month
- Read this whole roadmap and note any subjects, exams or institutes you don't recognise yet.
- Talk to a teacher or school counsellor about how your current subjects connect to Science, Any Stream.
- Look for a school club, competition or online course related to helping people.
- Shortlist 2–3 institutes from the list above and check their official website for current admission details.
- Save this career and compare it with 1–2 others you're considering.
Example from the field
Pinky Kumari — A 21-year-old girl from the village of Gobrahia in the West Champaran district. It wasn't all smooth sailing for Pinky as she is from a financially poor background and had to fight against all odds. She lives with her parents, three sisters and one brother. In order to let her siblings continue their education, she had to drop school after her Class 12 as she wanted to support her family financially. Pinky then opted for the General Duty Assistant Course which is supported by HSBC. Pinky's confidence secured her a job as a Nursing Assistant in Hyderabad where her present salary is more than INR 16,000 with accommodation. Pinky wishes to become a good nurse someday.
SourceThis profile is shared for training/educational purposes only, as printed in the source card.
Sources and update notice
- Career card source: Exploring Career Paths with Career Cards, Volume 1, printed page 347 (NCERT / UNICEF India / PSSCIVE Bhopal, First Edition, April 2025).
- Income source: https://bit.ly/3XQLXxz
- Last reviewed on this site: 2026-08-21
Eligibility, fees, exam patterns and admissions change often. Always verify current details on official institute, exam-body or government websites before making decisions.