Nagaland Elevates Three Nursing Schools to College Status

The Nagaland Health and Family Welfare Department has announced the upgrade of three existing schools of nursing into full-fledged nursing colleges. These institutions are: the College of Nursing at Naga Hospital Authority in Kohima, the College of Nursing at District Hospital in Dimapur, and the College of Nursing at Imkongliba Memorial District Hospital in Mokokchung.

This major upgrade marks a significant change in the state’s nursing education framework. As per a notification issued by the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare, beginning from the academic session 2025–26, the General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM) course, which was earlier offered by these institutions, will be discontinued. Instead, they will now offer the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.Sc Nursing) degree course.

To facilitate admissions into these newly established nursing colleges, the state will follow a standardised national-level entrance examination system. Admission will be conducted through the Common University Entrance Test for Undergraduates (CUET-UG). This move is aimed at aligning the admission process with national norms and ensuring a competitive and transparent selection system.

Seat allocation for these colleges will be managed by the Directorate of Technical Education, which will issue separate notifications in due course with updates and further instructions. Students interested in applying for the B.Sc Nursing program are advised to regularly visit the concerned official websites for the latest announcements.

Regarding the seat distribution, the College of Nursing at Naga Hospital Authority in Kohima will offer 20 seats. Meanwhile, both the College of Nursing at District Hospital Dimapur and the College of Nursing at Imkongliba Memorial District Hospital in Mokokchung will each offer 40 seats. This brings the total number of seats across the three institutions to 100.

The notification also urged aspiring candidates to be aware of these structural changes and adjust their application plans accordingly. The move to convert nursing schools into degree-granting colleges is seen as a strategic step to enhance the quality of nursing education in Nagaland, ensuring that graduates are well-prepared for evolving healthcare needs and national-level professional standards.

This reform is expected to improve academic rigor and clinical training opportunities for nursing students in the state. It also aligns with broader national goals of standardising healthcare education and promoting professional growth in the nursing sector.

Overall, the transition from diploma-level to degree-level nursing education reflects the state government’s commitment to improving healthcare infrastructure and services by producing more qualified nursing professionals. With these changes, Nagaland joins several other Indian states that are upgrading their nursing education standards to meet current healthcare challenges and industry expectations.