Any PhD in Nursing Applicants?

Nursing Students Post Graduate

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I just finished my last PhD application this month, and I wanted to know if there was anyone else completing applications and waiting. I'm hoping to make a little group of people waiting together to ease the strain a little.

I applied to a reach program, one that I think is a great match, the other two are really interesting and all of them offer great opportunities. If anyone responds to this, I'll be more specific about programs, etc. For now, I feel a little exposed and just want to test the waters!

Hey Calinp! I was searching for the PhD forum but there is that many threads on allnurse.com. Which PhD program are you in now? What were some questions that you were asked at the time of your interview?

Oh, I forgot to add:

I don't know anything either about financial aid. I have a couple of friends who have completed their PhD using a combination of TAs, RAs, and loans. I assumed that's what I would have to do as well.

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Specializes in Women's Health.

Hi Wall-E,

It's nice to have so many people responding to this! First, I'm not in a PhD program yet. I'm in the terrible "waiting" period after applying, but before being admitted (hopefully).

Two of the schools that I've applied to are sending out results in March, one doesn't interview (news I found out from NPtoPhD) and one hasn't called me for one...I don't know how bad of a sign that is. The other two programs don't notify until April and May, so I'm still hoping for interviews from them.

However, both BayArea2010 and NPtoPhD have gotten interviews. If they read this they might be willing to talk a little bit about their interviews. I would love to know as well!

Where are you in the application process? Which schools are you applying to and what is your area of research interest? Do you currently practice and in what specialty?

I hope that you're having a great day! And if you're waiting on word from programs, I hope that wait is short and the response is only positive!!

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Hey calinp,

I was probably reading another member's post and got it mixed up with yours. I'm still applying for a few PhD programs. The process seems overwhelming and I don't know if I get a shot in this year's class. I will read some of your posts to catch up on what's going on.

More questions to come later... :)

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Specializes in Women's Health.

So today I panicked. I woke up and was immediately in a full panic about this whole process. Now since I'm posting this on a nursing website, I want to clarify my statement. I did not have a panic attack, I don't have those, I just could not do anything but sit, petrified, at my desk and review in my mind every single reason that I will not be getting in to any programs. And I could not make it stop. Neither could my husband. Or my cat. :uhoh3:

Finally my brain came up with a coping skill that seems to be working: the Plan B. I have decided as of this morning that if I don't get in anywhere this year, that is okay. It just gives me plenty of time to save more money for next year, bolster my application, and do some more traveling.

Good luck to everyone! And if anyone is freaking out today or tomorrow or next week during the wait, just know that you're not alone.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Orthopedics, Hospitalists.

So I've been following this thread a bit (MSN, not PHD student),but wanted to ask a few questions if I could. I've been considering going for my PHD, but want to do this slowly over several years.

1) What is the general time frame for a full time student to get a PHD?

2) What about a part time student? Is it possible to go part time?

3) How are you paying for your degree (loans, grants, etc)? With the nursing faculty shortage, I really don't want to have to pay for my schooling, so would love any info y'all might have on how to finance this degree!

4) Are there many online programs or do you have to go to class? I'm not really sure where I'll be living the next several years, but would like to take a class or two at the time over the long term and that might be diffiuclt with a physical campus.

Thanks for the info! Good luck everyone! This thread has been quite informative!

~Christen :)

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Christen:

Glad to hear that you are considering a PhD program. While I cannot speak for the 90+ Nursing PhD programs in the country, I can give you a data point for the program where I am an assistant dean.

1) What is the general time frame for a full time student to get a PHD?

At UVa, the mean duration from entry to graduation over the past 10 years has been 4.2 years for fulltime students (two years for classes, two years for comps/IRB/dissertation).

2) What about a part time student? Is it possible to go part time?

This varies from school to school. We do not permit parttime status for PhD students, but we have a non-accelerated option (classes 1 day a week instead of 2 days/week). This adds a additional 1-1.5 years to the duration of the degree. Our PHD classes are Tues/Wed (9-4 both days) and we have students enrolled from VA and surrounding states (PA, MD, DC, NC, WV) who come to town for those days.

3) How are you paying for your degree (loans, grants, etc)? With the nursing faculty shortage, I really don't want to have to pay for my schooling, so would love any info y'all might have on how to finance this degree!

At my University we are in a very fortunate position to be able to provide 2-3 years of full scholarship to all nursing PhD students. If you want to become a faculty member, definitely look at program that have HRSA funding for the Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP). This allows you to borrow the cost of tuition and it would be forgiven up to 85% if you became a fulltime faculty member anywhere in the US when you graduate. This is a great deal and over 100 nursing programs in the US have NFLP funding. Some other states (NC and VA for example) provide PHD students with up to $25,000 a year for living expenses if you pledge to become a fulltime faculty member in those states after you graduate. Another option is to look at nursing schools with GAANN funding (Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need). This provides PHD students with scholarship assistance and a stipend to prepare them to be faculty members.

There is a good deal of money out there for future faculty -- so look around for GAANN or NFLP funding.

4) Are there many online programs or do you have to go to class? I'm not really sure where I'll be living the next several years, but would like to take a class or two at the time over the long term and that might be difficult with a physical campus.

There are a number of online PhD programs in the country. However, PhD education in any discipline is grounded on a close mentoring relationship with your faculty. It can be tougher to develop a thriving relationship where you are working jointly on research projects (and being mentored to become a nursing researcher) solely via email.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Orthopedics, Hospitalists.

Thank you so much for the information! I really appreciate it! I would hate to miss out on the mentoring aspect of the PhD...If I'm going to do this, I want to do it the right way and get the full experience (mentoring, stats, and all! ;) )My concern comes from the fact that I may be moving a bit over the next several years, and it would be nice if state boarders didn't matter, ya know?

Thank you,

~Christen

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Hello Calinp and Wall-e,

Calinp I hope your day is better today. We all have those kind of days. Wha do you plan to do with your degree? More research or more teaching?

Wall-e: I had two different interviews over the phone with University of Minnesota (the questions were very close to my essay questions). I also had a phone interview with University of Michigan (why do you want to come to this school, why now, what do you believe would be your worst deficiency while in the program?) Just be yourself, be honest, articulate your thoughts.

Make sure you send thank you notes to anyone who has helped you along in the process.

Good luck!!!!

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BayArea2010,

Thank you so much for your response. Yes, I dread on receiving a rejection letter in the mail but if I don't get in, I'll work harder to get into the school next year. I plan to do research and teach with my degree. There is a strong need to understand certain aspects of the population (esp. health pertaining to the LGBT and Arab American communities) and I feel that the studies I've been reading don't address these populations. For this reason, I want to go back to school, contribute knowledge, add my voice, and advocate for these two groups.

What are your reason for pursuing the PhD, BayArea2010, CalinP, and anyone else who is reading this? Which area of research are you guys interested in?

UMich is an excellent research institution. I was blown away by the number of programs they offer to their graduate students.

Hello Calinp and Wall-e,

Calinp I hope your day is better today. We all have those kind of days. Wha do you plan to do with your degree? More research or more teaching?

Wall-e: I had two different interviews over the phone with University of Minnesota (the questions were very close to my essay questions). I also had a phone interview with University of Michigan (why do you want to come to this school, why now, what do you believe would be your worst deficiency while in the program?) Just be yourself, be honest, articulate your thoughts.

Make sure you send thank you notes to anyone who has helped you along in the process.

Good luck!!!!

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Specializes in Women's Health.

Thanks BayArea2010! I have been having a better day. It is helping that I really think I'm in the home stretch of waiting.

How were your campus visits? I'm interested to know if they helped you to decide or gave you any insight into the programs.

I want to do more research, I think. Actually I waver day to day. I'm passionate about nursing and I know that I want to teach and pass on that passion. So hopefully, I'll be okay at both! How about you, do you have a preference?

Wall-E, your research populations are interesting to me. As a women's health NP and CNM, I have often found the LGBT community to be a research neglected population. I haven't read any research that directly addresses the Arab American community either. I can't wait to read some of your research!

I've been thinking about interviews and while I haven't had one (I just found out that two of the programs I applied to don't necessarily do interviews), a mentor of mine gave me some advice earlier this year. She told me to know the interviewers, have read something recent that they published, and to have an idea of how you would "fit" as a candidate in their program. I wrote some of these ideas into my SOPs too. Every prof. that I spoke with in the programs and my mentor stressed the idea of "fit" between program and student.

Also UVA Grad Nursing, thank you for the information. I found it very interesting and helpful.

I hope that everyone is having a good week!

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Hello everyone,

UC Davis Betty Moore School of Nursing is accepting it's first cohort of PhD students. Please apply. If selected, I'd be very happy to see everyone be my future classmates.

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Whoosh, this waiting period is hard! So I have heard back from 2 schools...and still waiting on 2. Bad news: Penn said no! Kinda crushed since I had been accepted both for my BSN and MSN. BUT, good new: UCSF accepted! Yipee! And even better news is they offered me a fellowship to cover tuition. That really helps because that was one major drawback about UCSF (since the other 3 fully fund their PhD students). But now the fellowship helps level the playing field. Still waiting for Yale & Hopkins, but I just feel SSOOOO relieved knowing I will at least be going to UCSF! Anyone else getting news back???

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