Table of Contents
Quick Summary
RRB Staff Nurse exam is unique because 30% of the paper is Non-Nursing (Maths, Reasoning, Science). This article breaks down the 100-mark syllabus, provides a topic-wise list for General Science, and offers a strategy to score 80+ marks.
Understanding the RRB Exam Pattern
The Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) Staff Nurse exam is highly coveted for its perks and allowances. Unlike AIIMS, RRB places a significant weightage on General Awareness, Arithmetic, and General Science. The total duration is 90 minutes for 100 questions.
The competition is fierce, and the margin for error is low. Since the nursing questions are generally of moderate difficulty, the selection is often decided by the candidate's performance in the non-technical section.
Detailed Syllabus Breakdown
The syllabus is divided into two main parts: Professional Ability (Nursing) and General Section. Let's decode them.
1. Professional Ability (70 Marks)
This covers the GNM/B.Sc Nursing syllabus. Key focus areas for Railways include First Aid, Emergency Nursing, and Anatomy. Unlike AIIMS, RRB asks direct factual questions.
2. General Science (10 Marks)
Physics, Chemistry, and Life Sciences of 10th standard level. Do not ignore this. Questions on vitamins, diseases, units of measurement, and chemical formulas are common.
3. General Awareness & Arithmetic (20 Marks)
Current Affairs, Indian Geography, History, and basic Math (Profit/Loss, Time & Work, Averages). Reasoning questions on coding-decoding and series are also included.
Topic-Wise Weightage Table
Based on the 2019 and 2015 cycles, here is the expected distribution of questions.
| Section | Subject | Questions (Approx) |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing | Anatomy & Physiology | 12-15 |
| Nursing | Med-Surg Nursing | 15-18 |
| Nursing | CHN & Nutrition | 10-12 |
| Nursing | OBG & Peds | 10-12 |
| General | General Science (Bio/Phy/Chem) | 10 |
| General | Arithmetic & Reasoning | 10 |
| General | Current Affairs/GK | 10 |
The "Non-Tech" Strategy
Most nursing students struggle here. The strategy is not to become a mathematician but to master the basics. You need to score at least 15/30 in this section to be safe.
Focus on "easy kill" topics like Blood Relations, Number Series, and Static GK (National Parks, Capitals). For Science, read NCERT summaries of Class 9 and 10.
Common Mistakes in RRB Prep
Over-preparing for Nursing and zero prep for Math is the #1 reason for failure. Remember, everyone will score well in Nursing. You need the edge.
RRB Preparation Pitfalls
1. Ignoring 10th-grade Physics and Chemistry. 2. Getting stuck on complex calculations in the exam (skip and move). 3. Not practicing online CBT mock tests. 4. Underestimating the cutoff (it goes very high).
Step-by-Step Study Plan
A 3-month focused plan is sufficient if you have your basics clear.
Step-by-Step Process:
Month 1: Complete Anatomy, MSN, and 10th Std Science.
Month 2: Cover CHN, OBG, and start practicing basic Math/Reasoning daily.
Month 3: Full revision + 30 Mock Tests (1 daily).
Daily: Read Current Affairs for 15 mins (Apps or YouTube).
Weekly: Solve one previous year RRB paper.
Comparison: RRB vs. AIIMS Syllabus
Understanding the difference saves time. Don't study "Deep Clinical Scenarios" for RRB.
| Feature | RRB Staff Nurse | AIIMS NORCET |
|---|---|---|
| Depth | Superficial / Factual | Deep / Conceptual |
| Non-Nursing | 30% (Critical) | 10% (Important) |
| Science | Physics/Chem included | Only Applied Science |
| Maths | Basic Arithmetic | Aptitude only |
Best Books for RRB Staff Nurse
Apart from your standard nursing guides (Target High / PR Yadav), you need specific resources for the general section.
Lucent's General Knowledge is the bible for the GK/Science section. For Math, R.S. Aggarwal (selective topics) is sufficient.
Example Questions Analysis
Real World Example
Ans: Vibrio cholerae (Direct fact).
Science Q: What is the unit of Power?
Ans: Watt (Direct fact).
Math Q: If 10 men do a work in 5 days, how many days for 5 men?
Ans: 10 days (Basic formula).
Final Tips for Exam Day
Speed is key. 90 minutes fly by. Attempt the GK and Nursing sections first as they take the least time. Keep Math for the end but ensure you save at least 20 minutes for it.
Do not guess in the General Section. If you don't know the capital of Peru, you don't know it. Move on.