Advice on PhD in Nursing

Specialties Doctoral

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Hi everyone, this is my first post on allnurses, but I've been "lurking" around for awhile now. I've always wanted to be involved in clinical research, and I'm considering getting a PhD in Nursing. I have a BSN and several years of nursing experience in different specialties, but haven't been able to break into research nursing. Here are my questions:

  • Are PhD Nursing programs similar to other PhD programs in that they expect applicants to have significant research experience already? I looked under admission requirements for different schools and didn't find this requirement listed.
  • I want to do either cancer research (specifically GYN cancers) or Alzheimer's research, and I'd prefer the research to be more biomedical than sociology-based (in other words, not fluffy), if that makes sense? I don't want to apply nursing theories, I want to focus on early detection, finding treatments, and discovering ways to improve the quality of life for patients with these conditions. Is this possible with a nursing PhD, or would I need a biomedical or epidemiology PhD instead?
  • Lastly, does anyone have any experience with UPenn's (University of Pennsylvania's) PhD Nursing program?

Thank you so much!

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

Welcome DoItAll1 .... hope one of our PhD members can assist you. Univ of PENN SON is well respected program with faculty that can guide you in your areas oof interest.

Best wishes in your journey.

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Thank you, NRSKarenRN!

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

Having some research experience is a positive -- but not having it is usually not a barrier for admission to most PhD programs. Having said that though, you need to check the admission requirements of any school that interests you. Each school has its own requirements.

As for not wanting to work with nursing theories ... if your PhD is going to be in Nursing, then be prepared to spend some time studying Nursing Theory. Each discipline will require you to be quite knowledgeable about the major theories (and theoretical issues) of that discipline. If you don't want to study and use nursing knowledge, than maybe a PhD in nursing is not a good fit for you. You might be envisioning something more along the lines of a PhD in one of the biological sciences rather than nursing. But on the down side, in order to switch disciplines, you would probably have a whole lot of coursework to do to make up for the biology classes (and lab work) that you did not do as an undergrad.

So, don't give up on nursing just yet. Look at the curricula of the schools that interest you and the research that their faculty members are doing. Find as school with faculty members who are doing the types of research that you want to do. That's how you find a good fit for a PhD program. You go where the experts are in the field that you want to study -- people familiar with that body of knowledge and the methodologies used in that type of research. That's what you look for.

As for the U of Pennsylvania, they are considered one of the best nursing schools in the country -- at all levels.

Good luck.

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Prior research experience would certainly advantage you in both the PhD program and the admissions process. However, it is not necessarily required at many schools. However, you do need to demonstrate an aptitude for scholarly inquiry.

There are some nursing PhD programs that are more or less theoretically grounded than others. However, you should know that theory really does guide the research question and methodology of any science. I too feel that there are some nursing theories that are a bit "fluffy" but it is nevertheless important to understand the foundation of the science of nursing and how this is likely to change over time. I took several theory classes through my BSN and MSN and DNP programs and it was not until my PhD that I realized the usefulness of theory in guiding the state of the science.

Most of nursing research falls more in the realm of the social science. However, there are nurses that are involved in bench research. UPenn seems to have a fairly capable nursing lab equipped to handle biomarkers and other assays. https://www.nursing.upenn.edu/research/onr/nursing-research-lab/services-equipment/

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Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.

I don't have a PhD and certainly not an expert on doctoral education but my understanding is that if you are applying with a BSN (meaning you wanted a BSN to PhD), the rules are more stringent in terms of making sure you are ready for the rigor of doctoral education in schools that are research intensive (which appears to be what you want in the first place). You may be asked about previous experience with research involvement and may be required to have graduate level statistics and research courses prior to officially being accepted as a PhD student.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.

[*]I want to do either cancer research (specifically GYN cancers) or Alzheimer's research, and I'd prefer the research to be more biomedical than sociology-based (in other words, not fluffy), if that makes sense?

OP: First I would like to say, thank you for your question. It is helpful to the rest of us to know of the diversity of research opportunities in nursing through the responses of others. Also, I think you have received a lot of good advice and should take what works for you. In addition, I am thrilled that you have an interest in improving quality and treatment for patients living with cancer. With that said, in the future you may want to refrain from using the term "fluff" to identify any research that is based rigor, is valid, and is reliable to be respectful of your future colleagues in nursing. Just a thought....

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Having some research experience is a positive -- but not having it is usually not a barrier for admission to most PhD programs. Having said that though, you need to check the admission requirements of any school that interests you. Each school has its own requirements.

As for not wanting to work with nursing theories ... if your PhD is going to be in Nursing, then be prepared to spend some time studying Nursing Theory. Each discipline will require you to be quite knowledgeable about the major theories (and theoretical issues) of that discipline. If you don't want to study and use nursing knowledge, than maybe a PhD in nursing is not a good fit for you. You might be envisioning something more along the lines of a PhD in one of the biological sciences rather than nursing. But on the down side, in order to switch disciplines, you would probably have a whole lot of coursework to do to make up for the biology classes (and lab work) that you did not do as an undergrad.

So, don't give up on nursing just yet. Look at the curricula of the schools that interest you and the research that their faculty members are doing. Find as school with faculty members who are doing the types of research that you want to do. That's how you find a good fit for a PhD program. You go where the experts are in the field that you want to study -- people familiar with that body of knowledge and the methodologies used in that type of research. That's what you look for.

As for the U of Pennsylvania, they are considered one of the best nursing schools in the country -- at all levels.

Good luck.

This is excellent advice. Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions! :)

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Prior research experience would certainly advantage you in both the PhD program and the admissions process. However, it is not necessarily required at many schools. However, you do need to demonstrate an aptitude for scholarly inquiry.

There are some nursing PhD programs that are more or less theoretically grounded than others. However, you should know that theory really does guide the research question and methodology of any science. I too feel that there are some nursing theories that are a bit "fluffy" but it is nevertheless important to understand the foundation of the science of nursing and how this is likely to change over time. I took several theory classes through my BSN and MSN and DNP programs and it was not until my PhD that I realized the usefulness of theory in guiding the state of the science.

Most of nursing research falls more in the realm of the social science. However, there are nurses that are involved in bench research. UPenn seems to have a fairly capable nursing lab equipped to handle biomarkers and other assays. https://www.nursing.upenn.edu/research/onr/nursing-research-lab/services-equipment/

Thank you, Null! Great advice!

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I don't have a PhD and certainly not an expert on doctoral education but my understanding is that if you are applying with a BSN (meaning you wanted a BSN to PhD), the rules are more stringent in terms of making sure you are ready for the rigor of doctoral education in schools that are research intensive (which appears to be what you want in the first place). You may be asked about previous experience with research involvement and may be required to have graduate level statistics and research courses prior to officially being accepted as a PhD student.

Thank you, Juan! :) I think graduate level research and statistic courses would be very beneficial prior to becoming a PhD student, even if they aren't required for the program.

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OP: First I would like to say, thank you for your question. It is helpful to the rest of us to know of the diversity of research opportunities in nursing through the responses of others. Also, I think you have received a lot of good advice and should take what works for you. In addition, I am thrilled that you have an interest in improving quality and treatment for patients living with cancer. With that said, in the future you may want to refrain from using the term "fluff" to identify any research that is based rigor, is valid, and is reliable to be respectful of your future colleagues in nursing. Just a thought....

Hi SummerGarden! Thank you for your response to my post! I didn't intend to be disrespectful with using the term "fluff," and I'm sorry if it came across that way. In the future, I will try to be more considerate with my wording.

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Maybe a good way to enter doctoral education would be to become non-judgmental and stop dismissing an entire method of research as fluff.

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