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Students' Corner

Thinking About a Doctorate in Nursing?

Angela Starkweather, PhD, MSN, CCRN, CNRN
Washington State University
Intercollegiate School of Nursing
Spokane, WA

Many people wonder what the career advantages are in obtaining a doctoral education in nursing. This is quite apparent from the paucity of nurses currently pursuing the degree; of the more than 2.5 million nurses in the U.S., less than 1% have a nursing doctorate (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2002). Enrollment data compiled by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (2004) found an increase of 5.6% (171 students) for a total enrollment of 3,229 doctoral nursing students for the 2003-2004 school year. However, graduations from doctoral programs decreased by 9.9% (44 graduates) for the same academic year. Thus, it will take several years for the increase in doctorally-prepared nurses to be an influence on the severe shortage.

The profession of nursing is suffering from the small percentage of doctorate-prepared nurses. Thousands of potential nursing students were turned away from being admitted last year due to a shortage of doctorally-prepared faculty (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2004). Institutional nursing practice is also at risk with non-nursing administrative personnel, who lack education about nursing science and practice, being delegated to make practice decisions and policies. Nursing scholars qualified to speak on the various issues concerning nurses and the nursing profession, who are able to articulate a vision of progress and apply innovative research and technology are desperately needed in these institutions as well as in the political and legislative domains of society.

The future of our profession depends upon the success of doctorate nurses in achieving quality nursing education, continuing to build and apply a distinct body of nursing science and research, and to be a driving force behind healthcare system management. Whether it is in academia, clinical practice, research or administration, doctorate nurses are at the forefront of directing nursing science and practice, nursing policies and legislation, nurse preparation, patient care delivery systems, models of nursing practice in organizational settings and healthcare research. The small number of doctorate-prepared nurses as well as the current nurse and nurse faculty shortage, have created a prime job market for those pursuing a career in academia (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2003). Opportunities in research industry, healthcare administration and clinical practice are also abundant.

A doctoral education in nursing is an investment toward a lifetime commitment to our profession and a journey filled with new ways of thinking, improving healthcare and technology, and building networks that you will depend on for the rest of your career. Doctoral programs are designed to prepare expert nurses with a vision and drive to improve lives, practice, and systems of healthcare. Every school of nursing has unique faculty and its own fields of expertise, so you will want to research prospective schools before beginning this exciting journey toward attaining your doctorate.

Choosing the Right Degree

There are four degrees of nursing doctorate education, each offering a variation in the focus of the program, so you will want to consider which degree best conforms to your own educational desires.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) is the traditional academic-oriented degree in research and education. Ph.D. programs provide a general program of study in nursing theory, concepts, teaching and research. It is up to the student to specialize in the area of expertise that they want to attain. Thus, it is critical to find a program that has faculty experienced in the area you are interested in. The freedom allocated in a Ph.D. program allows students to pursue research in clinical and practice-derived phenomena as well as basic science. Every program has different levels of expectation regarding the amount of teaching experience you will obtain, in fact, some do not require any teaching internships at all.

Doctor of Nursing Science (D.N.Sc.) programs are very similar in content to Ph.D. programs. The D.N.Sc. degree was designed to prepare expert nurse scholars in understanding health care issues and delivery to advance nursing knowledge and generate new knowledge. The emphasis is on education and research in academic settings. Dissertation research is directed toward nursing phenomena, conceptual models and theories and systems design.

Nursing Doctorate (N.D.) programs provide strategic planning experience, modes of communication, data management and application of business concepts. N.D. graduates are prepared for a career in clinical management by learning how to affect change through system redesign, evidence-based decision making and social policy.

Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) programs focus on evidence-based practice and research utilization for the improvement of clinical care delivery, patient outcomes and system management. D.N.P. graduates are experts in designing, implementing, managing and evaluating health care delivery systems while concentrating on improvement of individual, population and systems level outcomes using sound business practices (quality of care, access and fiscal responsibility).

There are several pathways to attaining one of the doctorates in nursing. If you already have a bachelors of science in nursing, there are programs that allow you to earn your doctorate directly without earning a master’s in nursing or that earn them simultaneously. If you already have earned your master’s in nursing, you may be able to apply some of your credits toward the required coursework of a doctorate program.

Set the Pace

For those who have not been in the classroom for awhile, try taking one course at a time until you get into the rhythm of graduate education. Easing into a program is sometimes better than jumping if you are not sure what track you want to pursue or if life events are already keeping you busy. For those ready to get started, there are many ways to complete a program. The traditional classroom setting is still available, with most programs offering evening and week-end classes. Web-based curriculum provides innovative ways to have dialogue and experience the different technologies used in teaching/learning. Although some students may be left feeling isolated in these programs by lack of exposure with other colleagues, many appreciate the self-pace and extra time afforded by not needing to travel. If you are planning on committing to a web-based program, look into the expectations of the program and professors; some require one to several face-to-face encounters throughout the semester/trimester/quarter. Another mode of learning is through immersion courses, which are offered only during the summer. Students take three to four courses over six to eight weeks each summer to complete the coursework requirements of the program.

How to Prepare

Once you have determined that a doctoral education is right for you, start by looking up the web pages of the programs of interest. Most schools of nursing include a faculty section that lists the research interests of the faculty members. Look over the areas of study that you are interested in and contact those faculty personnel via e-mail or phone to discuss your thoughts on pursuing a doctorate. Another avenue for getting a feel for the program is to contact current students and ask them about their experiences. Once admitted, some programs match you with a mentor who will guide you through course requirements and assist you in choosing the dissertation committee members. Finally, visit the campus and library and ask if they provide library access from off-site computers. The school’s graduate student handbook should establish the requirements for attaining the degree.

So, what are the advantages of having a doctorate in nursing? Besides opening up the possibilities in your career, it is a personal testament to the profession of nursing. It is becoming a leader and nurturing new leaders who will continue to improve nursing practice and the healthcare of people in our communities and our world.

Some web sites that are helpful for finding out the basics are:

www.medi-smart.com/schools5.htm
www.aacn.nche.edu
www.worldwidelearn.com
www.allnursingschools.com
www.gradschools.com
References

American Association of Colleges of Nursing (2004). 2003-2004 Enrollment and graduations in baccalaureate and graduate programs in nursing. Washington D.C.: American Association of Colleges of Nursing.

American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2003). White paper: Faculty shortages in baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs, scope of the problem and strategies for expanding the supply. Washington D.C.: American Association of Colleges of Nursing.

Department of Health and Human Services. (2002). March 2000: The national sample survey of registered nurses. Retrieved January 2, 2004, from http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/healthworkforce/reports/rnsurvey/default.htm

Sidebar — The Application Process

Each doctoral program has different application deadlines and criteria. To access the application guidelines go to the school of nursing website or contact the school directly and have them send you an application packet. Many schools now offer an online application process. A list of doctoral programs along with contact information is provided on the American Association of Colleges of Nursing website under www.aacn.nche.edu/Education/index.htm.

Most doctorate programs expect documentation of a master’s degree from an accredited college (unless applying for the BSN to PhD program); an excellent GPA and GRE scores (determined by the institution); the school’s application; references attesting to your academic performance; a personal letter stating why you want to pursue doctoral study and your intended contribution to nursing; transcripts from all secondary schools; and copies of written work, such as a master’s thesis, to demonstrate your writing ability. If you intend to use your master’s thesis or research project as an example of your written work, it must be written entirely by you. In addition, any work you have published should be included with the application as well as a detailed CV.

If the GRE (Graduate Records Examination) was not a requirement for your master’s program, you may need to take the exam for entrance into a doctoral program (the MAT [Miller’s Analogy Test] is not acceptable). The GRE is predominantly a computer-based test, and it’s very easy to schedule a test date. There is a fee of $115 (see the GRE web- site, www.gre.org, for more information). There are several options that can help you prepare for the test. You can buy test study guides at most bookstores, or you can enroll in a GRE preparatory class.

Allow adequate time to collect your references and official transcripts from your undergraduate and graduate schools. Request these items at least 6 weeks prior to any deadlines. Follow-up with your contacts to confirm that the items have been sent and that they have been received by the school of nursing. The last thing that you want is to find out that you’ve been denied because of a missing transcript!

Each institution has specific prerequisites. Copies of your graduate school catalog which list and describe the classes that you’ve already taken can be used to verify these as well as advanced standing in the doctoral program (providing you with credits toward your doctoral degree).

A personal interview, via phone or in person, is the last piece of the process before notification of acceptance or rejection. Plan on allowing a full year from the time of application to final acceptance.