Why Pursue a PhD in Nursing?
Working towards a PhD in Nursing is a fantastic undertaking for any nurse to attain greater clinical expertise, as well as financial reward. Simultaneously, however, the nursing profession needs more nurses educated with a doctorate in nursing level in order to supplement the growing need for nursing faculty and scientists, particularly due to the nation’s shortage of faculty. Those who begin their studies now will be able to meet this ever growing deficit of faculty – ensuring a place for future generations of nurses. One problem that is contributing to this shortage is the number of nurses attaining an education at the doctoral level. It’s not that students aren’t enrolling in PhD in Nursing programs, it’s just that their numbers aren’t enough. Only 50% of nursing faculty holds a doctorate.
According to Carole A. Anderson, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, Vice Provost for Academic Administration, Ohio State University, some reasons for the shortage of PhD in Nursing personnel and faculty is that the majority of nurses remains female. She suggests that females experience more interruptions in their studies due to their domestic duties. I find this an odd excuse, as many females pursue graduate degrees in many other fields, despite their obligations at home. The only reasoning I can think of is why nurses may be different is because most PhD in Nursing students did not go into the field seeking such a high level of education. It wasn’t until the demand kept increasing that pressure was put on these young women to return to school.
Yet, I also cannot fully disagree with Dr. Anderson when she points out that graduate level programs for nurses on the PhD in Nursing track are not open to them unless they have had at least one year of clinical experience. That is the difference between being on the PhD track and the Medical Doctor track. Newly licensed MDs are required to work as residents before going to work on their own. The initial years of schooling for a medical doctor is roughly eight years and then they are required to serve as resident doctors, which lasts for periods of 3-7 years. On the other hand, the rise of male nurses has also doubled in earlier studies (1980-1990), so this begs the question as to why Dr. Anderson does not address this segment of the population in her calculations. According to Dr. Anderson, which I have no reason to doubt that her facts are correct, many female nurses pursue higher education on the part-time basis – again due to their domestic responsibilities. Seemingly, I can further blame the nursing profession for not having a resident period for nurses as is in place for doctors, as nurses are required a minimum of one year clinical experience as a prerequisite to graduate education. This career path leads to less people finishing the doctoral in an earlier stage within their career, therefore truncating their productivity as academics, scientists, and managers. To reverse this trend, many nursing schools allow us programs that admit students into graduate (doctoral and masters) programs from their undergraduate or masters programs.
Therefore, on the surface, I cannot offer another plausible excuse for Dr. Anderson’s reasoning, except according to a recent study by the Royal College of Physicians finds that 43% of all female doctors are under the age of 35. It is assumed by the study that most of these female doctors have not yet started a family and therefore their careers are not interfered with by domestic responsibilities.
Whether you agree with Dr. Anderson’s conclusions or even like the hard facts, the bottom line is that earning your PhD in Nursing will pay substantial dividends – rewarding you with extreme job security and marketability, and paving the way for you to write your own ticket.
Written by Brenne Meirowitz, BA, MA, MS
©2011 Brenne Meirowitz & Online Nursing Programs, PhD in Nursing, & DNP Programs. All Rights Reserved.
