What does one do with a PhD in nursing?

[greygooseuria]

So I applied to, and got accepted to, a PhD in nursing program to start this fall. However, recently I've been questioning exactly what the point of it is. Initially I applied because I was interested in research/teaching, but now I am not so sure I can see myself doing that the rest of my life, and many positions I see ask for a PhD OR DNP, and now that I've found more clinically oriented DNP programs I am wondering if those might be more suited to my interests.

What does one do with a PhD in nursing other than research/teaching?

[llg, PhD, RN]

I work for a hospital doing Nursing Professional Development. My job is a combination of research, teaching, and project coordination in a hospital setting. (And I teach an ocassional class at a local university.)

You are asking a good question for yourself ... but maybe you should think about it from the other direction. What kind of work to do you want to do in the future? Do you want a lot of direct patient contact? Do you want want to mostly take care of patients, utilize research, manage programs, etc.? ... and just do a little teaching/research on the side? Or do you want a career that is mostly teaching/research, with just a little patient care? Figure out what kind of work YOU WANT TO DO, and then choose the program that will fit best with that career path.

Good luck!

[TiffyRN, BSN, PhD]

My job is a combination of research, teaching, and project coordination in a hospital setting. (And I teach an ocassional class at a local university.)

What kind of work to do you want to do in the future? Do you want a lot of direct patient contact?

Figure out what kind of work YOU WANT TO DO, and then choose the program that will fit best with that career path.

Good luck!

Great insight llg!

I was just accepted to a BSN to PhD program. As I worked through my BSN the last couple of years I found myself fascinated by the research and wanting to be involved in that. I have also always had an interest in being a nursing professor. Initially I applied and was accepted to an MSN education program when my husband showed me info on the BSN to PhD programs around here. It seemed the perfect fit for my interests.

I have concerns I might miss patient contact, but i am pretty sure I am not interested in advanced practice as in NP.

I liked the description of what you do in your professional life and would like to do that in the future. Also the larger hospitals around here have a dedicated PhD nurse researcher on staff, that appeals to me also.

[iteachob, MSN, RN]

Hopping in on this thread....I am a current PhD student with 28 hours (2 years, part-time) of my program complete. I'm just wondering if anyone has ever got to the point in their program where they think "what have I gotten myself into"? Because, I'm there. My grades are fine, I've bonded with my cohort, but......ugghh.

I'm just hoping that some time to myself this summer revives some of my motivation. Please share your stories.