General Nurse Midwife

The General Nurse Midwife training program started in July 1982 with UNDP support under the project BHU/HMD/002. It was a three and half year course after passing class 10. Both male and female candidates are selected for this program, although more preference is given to the female candidates in view of the nature of job responsibilities. On successful completion of the training program, the GNM are posted as a Staff Nurse in BCSR Grade 09. The Royal Government of Bhutan has approved for the Bachelor of Nursing conversion program for General Nurse Midwife in 2000. The General Nurse Midwife after serving for a minimum of 5 years and those having aptitude will be selected for the B.Sc. nursing conversion program. Once they have acquired the Bachelor of Nursing degree with distinction, they can pursue even for Master and Doctorate degrees. The entry qualification requirement for GNM is enhanced to class 12 passed from 2000 onwards as desired by the Royal Civil Service Commission.

The major chunk of the GNM Curriculum consists of Nursing and Midwifery although they have others subjects like Anatomy & Physiology, Psycho-sociology, Food and Nutrition, Medical Emergencies, First Aids, Microbiology, Pharmacology etc. While all theoretical classes are conducted in the RIHS,  they are posted to different Wards and Units of the Jigme Dorji Wangchuk National Referral Hospital for clinical practice. They are required to fulfill all the minimum requirements in order to be eligible to sit for the Annual and Final Examinations.

On this program we have students from the Republic of Maldives, and so far 15 students have completed the program in RIHS.