General Nurse and Midwife (GNM)
Nurse who cares for individuals during childbirth, monitoring pregnancy and helping at delivery.
Overview
A GNM (General Nurse and Midwife) is a person who takes care of individuals during childbirth. As a midwife, a GNM works with pregnant women till they deliver the baby. They take care of the woman's health, monitor the pregnancy, give needed medicines, and help in childbirth.
Where they work
- Government hospitals and dispensaries
- Private hospitals and clinics
- Medical companies and departments
Work environment
Your work timings would depend on the hospital you work at. Most hospitals operate 6 to 7 days a week with workers working in shifts of 8 to 9 hours per day. Entrepreneurship: a GNM nurse can also work independently and offer their services for a fee conducting home visits.
Opportunities for work exist for differently abled in this field.
Skills and interests
This career might suit you if…
- You like to help others
- You have good communication skills
- You pay attention to details while working
- You like to have clear instructions to follow while working
Eligibility and education roadmap
Please check the duration of the course during enrolment.
Route 1
- 1Complete 10+2 in the Science stream (Physics, Chemistry, Biology)
- 2Complete a Bachelor's degree (B.Sc) in Nursing.
Alternative route 2
- 1Complete a Bachelor's degree followed by a Master's degree in the same field.
Alternative route 3
- 1Opt for the GNM nursing degree/diploma after clearing state specific entrance exams such as WB GNM, MH GNM, Assam GNM, Kerala GNM and so on.
- 2For admissions, you must qualify exams such as NEET, AIIMS BSc Nursing, JENPAS, JIPMER and so on.
Forms, exams and applications
State-specific GNM entrance exams (WB GNM, MH GNM, Assam GNM, Kerala GNM and so on) and national exams such as NEET, AIIMS BSc Nursing, JENPAS and JIPMER. Check the official notification for current eligibility and dates.
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 Nursing. This list of institutes is indicative only.
Government institutes
- All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi
- Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh
- Aryabhatta Knowledge University, Patna, Bihar
- Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh
- Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, New Delhi
- Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University, Patan, Gujarat
- Islamic University of Science and Technology, Awantipora, Jammu and Kashmir
- Kerala University of Health Sciences, Thrissur, Kerala
- Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, Maharashtra
Private institutes
Please check if the institute is affiliated and accredited before applying.
- Acharya Institute of Health and Nursing, Bangalore, Karnataka
- Apollo College of Nursing, Hyderabad, Telangana
- Army Institute of Nursing, Guwahati, Assam
- St John's Medical College, Bengaluru, Karnataka
- Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu
- Chandigarh University, Chandigarh
- NIMS University, Jaipur, Rajasthan
Distance learning
Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)
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
- 1Intern
- 2Junior Nurse and Midwife
- 3General Nurse and Midwife
- 4Head of Nursing Department
Expected income
₹8,000 – ₹35,000 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.
- 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
Samuel Sathe — A nurse in Mumbai. He pursued a four-year BSc Nursing course at a private college and followed it up with a one-year diploma course in auxiliary nursing and midwifery.
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 349 (NCERT / UNICEF India / PSSCIVE Bhopal, First Edition, April 2025).
- Income source: https://bit.ly/3WdqkHc
- 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.