A PhD in Nursing is a worthy investment as the competition for nurses’ employment has increased more today than in any other decade in the medical and healthcare industry. There are a number of good nursing schools in California where you can earn a graduate degree in nursing. The nursing profession is also tough on the job searching market, because being a nurse is a serious commitment. Public and private employers in the medical and healthcare industry only accept competitive and devoted nurses in their respective rosters. What will put a registered nurse back on track and in demand when out job hunting? Obtaining a PhD in Nursing puts you on edge from all the other Nursing applicants out there.
In the United States alone, nursing schools in California is only second to the largest in New York. However, there are only nine out of forty colleges in California which offer Doctorate in Nursing Practice or DNP programs. DNP programs consist of courses which are directly associated with the field of nursing and contribute to the advancement of the professional nurse holistically.
The DNP program also trains healthcare providers with advanced methods including treatment and diagnosis in approaches similar to a doctor. Those who have completed the program nurture a sense of leadership to other nurses when on the field.
Top requirements for a PhD in Nursing program include a working experience as a nurse in a hospital or any other healthcare setting. Applicants need to have finished a four year degree. All applicants will be required to submit their official records at the time of enrolment and may be generally required to have a master’s degree.
Loma Linda University in California requires a BSN and MSN and takes generally three years to successfully complete the PhD in Nursing program. Loma Linda University’s DNP program is integrated with ethics and Christian Leadership courses designed to provide ethical and quality practices in the field.
University of California, San Francisco’s PhD in Nursing curriculum is designed to develop habits of scholarly approaches and applying them to problems relevant to the field of nursing. Other areas include independent study and dissertation focus for the completion of the program.
AZUSA Pacific University is proud of its PhD in Nursing for interested applicants, as it emphasizes on Health of the Family and Community or International Health, which are both research-based programs designed to prepare its graduates for a life of teaching and academic excellence.
With California State University, interested applicants can choose between Doctor of Nursing (ND) which requires three to five years of study focusing on the role of advance nurse practitioner or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), an emergency program requiring a full time study of three years, intended to prepare its graduates for leadership and managerial positions in research, clinical care delivery and system management.
Fairfield University’s Doctor of Nursing Practice is a clinical doctorate program which is competitive in advanced specialty nursing practice comparable to clinical doctorates in other health care disciplines like pharmacy, physical therapy and medicine. Its focuses include population-level healthcare, leadership, business management, clinical scholarship, policy making and information technology.
The graduate of any PhD in Nursing program will be able to provide excellent care to patients and apply leadership skills among peers and evaluate policies in the medical and healthcare industry. This puts the premium on DNPs who are involved in evaluating and structuring patient care programs, equipping graduates with analytical skills and procedures. Becoming a PhD in Nursing graduate is a challenge which promises professional growth and career satisfaction in the field.
In California, graduates of PhD in Nursing take special licensure examinations before they are allowed to practice at this level. They are also allowed to prescribe drugs after applying and having been approved by the DEA.
